All Blacks 2023
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McLeod says that the defensive system has changed for the opposition they expected to play against.
How Scott McLeod Transformed the All Blacks' Defence
Losing their home Test series to Ireland forced the All Blacks to redesign their defensive approach, and that was significant in their 28-24 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal win in Paris on Sunday (NZT).
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that's an interesting interview
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the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
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"We had to develop our ability to defend the ball.
"Wherever the ball is, we had to put people in front of that.
Though we appeared to have sod all people in front of the ball when the Irish spread it to the fringes on the weekend so stuffed if I know what that means as well
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
There has been some talk of it for a while but not much with any specificity.
The Crusaders apparently use a version adapted from O'Gara
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/112674451/how-ronan-ogaras-lightbulb-moment-helped-transform-the-crusadersA bit more here about how it is used at La Rochelle
Ronan O’Gara has made La Rochelle ask ‘why not us?’
Defence is the French team’s strongest weapon, and the focus is to defend the ball and not the space
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@gt12 even with our defensive issues of the past few years, I think our line defence, particularly our goal line defence has still been excellent, which is where they are probably able to be more focused on the ball than the space?
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
Nice to see it confirmed, still stuck in a defensive time warp
That aged well!
The All Blacks will operate their Venus flytrap, dragging the opposition attack wide with the honey of easy pickings, then the jaws will clap shut at the least sign of weakness at the ruck, and the counter-attack begins. It is a formula devised by ‘The Professor’, Wayne Smith, and it has proved its value and stood the test of time.
Why All Blacks' near-century won't have Ireland or South Africa sweating
The All Blacks' 79-point win over Italy confirmed what New Zealand's main rivals already know.
But the times have moved on, and the ghosts of the three wise men, Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen and ‘Smithy’, stand in the dim distance. The spectres of a decade of Kiwi dominance may just be ripe for exorcism.
Yes sure what has Sir Wayne Smith won recently?!!
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
Nice to see it confirmed, still stuck in a defensive time warp
That aged well!
The All Blacks will operate their Venus flytrap, dragging the opposition attack wide with the honey of easy pickings, then the jaws will clap shut at the least sign of weakness at the ruck, and the counter-attack begins. It is a formula devised by ‘The Professor’, Wayne Smith, and it has proved its value and stood the test of time.
Why All Blacks' near-century won't have Ireland or South Africa sweating
The All Blacks' 79-point win over Italy confirmed what New Zealand's main rivals already know.
But the times have moved on, and the ghosts of the three wise men, Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen and ‘Smithy’, stand in the dim distance. The spectres of a decade of Kiwi dominance may just be ripe for exorcism.
Yes sure what has Sir Wayne Smith won recently?!!
Aged fine, the ABs themselves said they changed their defence to play Ireland. Exactly as suggested in the article - McLeod basically agreed with Nick Bishop
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
You and me both. I consistently drill into players that if you're watching the ball you're unaware of the man running an angle into space or a soft shoulder you can't see.
It would be great if someone could actually find a video of these defensive coaches explaining it.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
Nice to see it confirmed, still stuck in a defensive time warp
That aged well!
The All Blacks will operate their Venus flytrap, dragging the opposition attack wide with the honey of easy pickings, then the jaws will clap shut at the least sign of weakness at the ruck, and the counter-attack begins. It is a formula devised by ‘The Professor’, Wayne Smith, and it has proved its value and stood the test of time.
Why All Blacks' near-century won't have Ireland or South Africa sweating
The All Blacks' 79-point win over Italy confirmed what New Zealand's main rivals already know.
But the times have moved on, and the ghosts of the three wise men, Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen and ‘Smithy’, stand in the dim distance. The spectres of a decade of Kiwi dominance may just be ripe for exorcism.
Yes sure what has Sir Wayne Smith won recently?!!
Aged fine, the ABs themselves said they changed their defence to play Ireland. Exactly as suggested in the article - McLeod basically agreed with Nick Bishop
But the writer said "will operate" and that the times had moved on from Smithy. Not so sure.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
You and me both. I consistently drill into players that if you're watching the ball you're unaware of the man running an angle into space or a soft shoulder you can't see.
One phrase I remember from reading Carwyn James book on coaching (arguably the most influential coach of all time) was: "It's not where the ball is, it's were the ball will or could be"
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2023:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
You and me both. I consistently drill into players that if you're watching the ball you're unaware of the man running an angle into space or a soft shoulder you can't see.
One phrase I remember from reading Carwyn James book on coaching (arguably the most influential coach of all time) was: "It's not where the ball is, it's were the ball will or could be"
And then Ardie walked in for a try as Carwyn was still looking in the stands for where the ball's going to land after the dummy.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2023:
Random Friday afternoon thought, and no idea where to put this.
I think Richie Mo'unga will be the All Blacks first five at the 2027 World Cup.
A real possibility his contract in Japan finishes in 2026 he would be 33 by the time the 2027 WC comes around, not old for a test First Five.
Ritchie has also hinted he would like to come back to the Crusaders for a couple of seasons and Razor rates him of course.
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i really hope he doesnt just walk back into the crusaders/AB's, Id hope over 4 years we have the next our guys coming through, come back and earn it...great? come back and handed it because no one else has stepped up? worrying
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2023:
i really hope he doesnt just walk back into the crusaders/AB's, Id hope over 4 years we have the next our guys coming through, come back and earn it...great? come back and handed it because no one else has stepped up? worrying
I don't necessarily think it is as simple as that, but if you look at the current 10s, who will be the ones we are looking at over the next four years, I don't have any great conviction in any of them.
Blues:
Perofeta - Is he a 10? Is he good enough anyway?
Sullivan - Quality potential, but again, is he a 10?
Cashmore - Not seen enough, but unlikely to be that goodChiefs:
McKenzie - Will get first crack, and will in theory be the man in the interim, but how will he go when he loses a yard of pace... massively reliant on it
Ioane - No
Trask - Don't think soHurricanes:
Morgan - No
Cameron - Maybe? Hasn't really done it yet, perhaps next year is his year, but hardly strikes confidence, and isn't actually that youngCrusaders:
Burke - Potential, needs a big Super season, then we will see. Could be a squad option, but doesn't give me the vibe of a top All Black 10
Kemara - The fact the Chiefs didn't really want him might well speak volumes
Reihana - NoHighlanders:
Millar - Similar to Burke, but obviously less proven, and can't stay fit
Faleafaga - Reads the game exceptionally well, and is probably the best running 10 of any of the real up and comers, but his kicking game is massively lackingObviously there are Jacombs and others, but we are talking about a guy to be the All Black first five. Look at the recent All Black 10s, then look at those ones. Think it is entirely possible nobody fills the void, Mo'unga comes back, and has a good Super season, and fairly waltzs back in.
