As the All Blacks touched down in Durban after a bruising encounter with the Stormers, assistant coach Jason Barnes offered a blunt assessment: the team had been exposed. In a match that saw them reduced to 13 players at one point, the All Blacks scraped a win but were left with more questions than answers. The real test, however, is still to come.
Barnes did not mince words when reflecting on the performance. “The other team put us under a fair bit of pressure. We were on the wrong side of the referee for a fair bit of it. With all that adversity, down to 13 players, we still fought our way back to a good win so plenty of lessons to take out of that,” he said as the team flew from Cape Town to Durban.
“It’s not like we haven’t planned for what the rugby will be like over here but the boys just need to experience it. We’ll be better for it. When it gets to the Boks it’s going to go up tenfold. The lessons I see as a positive. The worst thing would have been if we got through that game without any challenges and had the Boks coming. They’ve exposed us. We’ve got to have a look at it and try and fix it.”
Scrum Concerns Loom Large
The scrum, a traditional pillar of All Blacks dominance, emerged as a glaring weakness. Prop Pasilio Tosi conceded three penalties, highlighting the need for scrum coach Jason Ryan to find solutions before the Springboks, masters of set-piece warfare, arrive. Barnes acknowledged the challenge, noting that the young front row had to learn the hard way.
“We knew what was coming. That’s the way they play over here we don’t experience it too much,” Barnes said. “Our scrums back home are a starting point. It’s a game with the referees as well over here. We’ve got to try and find ways to lessen those opportunities. The front row out there yesterday were pretty young. Now they know what it’s like.”
He expressed confidence in Ryan’s ability to turn things around. “Jason is awesome at his job as a scrum coach. I’m pretty sure he delivered some similar messages to what he [Tosi] needs to fix up. Now he’s been out there and felt what that’s like and how their props are going to scrum he has to find a way to stop that. Forwards need to train these things otherwise you’re going to be in the same position. We’ll review it harshly on ourselves and put that into work without beating ourselves up too much and then have another crack at it.”
Refereeing Frustrations Without Excuses
The match was marked by English referee Karl Dickson’s pedantic officiating, which saw the All Blacks concede 16 penalties and three yellow cards. Dickson will also take charge of the fourth test against the Boks in Baltimore. Despite the frustration, Barnes refused to blame the official, instead emphasizing the need for adaptability.
“I’m not going to say I was enjoying how it was flowing but there’s some parts of the world that’s how they play. We don’t get to dictate how everyone plays. If they want to play that way we’ve got to counter it. There’s no use complaining about how it’s officiated we’ve got to adjust and stop it ourselves. If I’m sitting in the same place in three weeks’ time saying the same things you can say to me you need to sort your crap out.”
Bright Spots Amid the Storm
In a match where few players enhanced their test credentials, loose forward Peter Lakai stood out. His dynamic ball carrying set up Leroy Carter’s second-half try, helping the All Blacks pull away with four tries in the final quarter. Fabian Holland impressed with two lineout steals on his return from injury, while Rieko Ioane remained highly involved.
Beauden Barrett, playing his first match in almost two months, delivered a scratchy performance but earned praise from Barnes. “He’s been outstanding. He’s a leader in our team. That’s his first hit out in quite a long time so if I were him, I’d be pretty pleased with his efforts.”
Injury Concerns and Rotation
Billy Proctor’s tour is in doubt after he left the field early in the second half with a shoulder injury. A definitive prognosis is yet to be determined. As the All Blacks prepare to rotate their shadow test team into the fray for the Sharks, Barnes emphasized the importance of alignment and synergy.
“We’ve trained as one the whole way through because we wanted to keep the team aligned. We had one training the day before yesterday and we’ll put another good day’s work into them tomorrow and then they’re out there.”
What This Means for the Springbok Tests
The All Blacks face a daunting task against the Springboks, who will target their scrum vulnerabilities and test their discipline. With lessons learned from the Stormers match, the team must adapt quickly. The question is whether they can fix these issues in time, or if the Boks will expose them further.
FAQ
What were the main weaknesses exposed in the Stormers match?
The All Blacks struggled with scrum penalties and discipline, conceding 16 penalties and three yellow cards. The scrum, in particular, was a concern as prop Pasilio Tosi gave away three penalties.
How did the All Blacks respond to the refereeing?
Assistant coach Jason Barnes refused to criticize referee Karl Dickson, instead emphasizing the need for the team to adapt and stop conceding penalties themselves.
Who were the standout performers for the All Blacks?
Peter Lakai impressed with his ball carrying, Fabian Holland made two lineout steals, and Rieko Ioane was highly involved. Beauden Barrett also earned praise despite a scratchy performance.
What is the outlook for the upcoming Springbok tests?
The All Blacks must address their scrum and discipline issues quickly, as the Springboks are expected to target these weaknesses. The team is rotating players for the Sharks match to build synergy.