All Blacks’ cool heads the key
Jones bullish about ABs test
Skipper Kieran Read shouldn’t have to swing a fist into his palm and distribute reminders about discipline to the All Blacks in London this week.
It goes without saying that it’s always a good idea for the All Blacks to not get too crazy at Twickenham, where the home crowd love to turn up the volume at the slightest hint of mischief.
Not that things have always worked out that way for the New Zealanders.
When the All Blacks last played a test in London, against the Wallabies in the World Cup final in 2015, fullback Ben Smith was yellow carded for a tip-tackle on Drew Mitchell in the 52nd minute; that resulted in his side coming under extreme pressure in the under-manned back field before triumphing 34-17 to retain the Webb Ellis trophy.
The previous year, when the All Blacks met England at the massive arena, hooker Dane Coles was sin-binned for poking out his boot after Dylan Hartley aggressively shoved him to the ground. And didn’t the English fans love that.
After that test, which the All Blacks won 24-21, coach Steve Hansen conceded Coles had fallen into the trap of reacting to the English forwards’ gamesmanship which began from the opening whistle.
‘‘He fell to a sucker punch,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘They were poking and prodding him and pulling his jersey.’’
The All Blacks kept a clean sheet in terms of cards when they met England at Twickenham in 2012, but the bad news was they lost 38-21.
In 2010 the All Blacks were triumphant, but not before back rower Jerome Kaino was sent to the cooler for 10 minutes.
Frenchman Jerome Garces, who red carded Sonny Bill Williams for his high shot on British and Irish Lions player Anthony Watson during the second test in Wellington last year, will control the test on Sunday morning and remaining composed if provoked, legally or otherwise, will be a prerequisite for the All Blacks as they use this northern tour as part of the preparations for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Coles, who made his first test appearance of the year against Japan in Tokyo last Saturday, may have done enough to be named on the bench as Codie Taylor’s deputy against England.
Veteran Coles has had a horrible run of injuries in recent seasons, with a serious knee problem and concussion curtailing his appearances for his country and the Hurricanes. His return to the top level coincides at a time when the All Blacks will be aiming to make a statement against northern powerhouse sides England and Ireland.
Hansen must also be tempted to shift Smith back to fullback to allow Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo to start on the wings at Twickenham.
England halfback Ben Youngs was guilty of kicking too long from rucks during his side’s 12-11 win over South Africa last weekend, and Smith would be an ideal candidate to punish such inaccuracies. Eddie Jones says he believes ‘‘100 per cent’’ that England can beat New Zealand at Twickenham.
His side was handed a major boost after World Rugby decided not to take any action over Owen Farrell’s controversial tackle on Andre Esterhuizen in the 12-11 victory over South Africa.
The Springboks were privately furious that Farrell’s hit on Esterhuizen, which was reviewed by referee Angus Gardner and the television match official in a dramatic finish to a thrilling test match, did not even merit a penalty as it would have given them a chance to kick at goal to win the match with the final play.
Farrell had been in an upright position when he hit Esterhuizen high on his chest with a possible sanction also resting on whether Farrell had used his arms in the collision.
World Rugby has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to high tackles for this autumn test series, a crackdown that has also led to a rash of red cards and suspensions in European club matches this season.
Match citing commissioner Keith Brown, of New Zealand, who had 24 hours to review the incident, however yesterday decided not to make any citings from the match, which leaves Farrell free to play. Any incident has to meet a red-card threshold to be cited, while a citing commissioner warning, which could also have been issued without a hearing, is for foul play deemed between a red and yellow.
Farrell admitted he had been worried when the collision was reviewed by the TMO but insisted he had attempted to make a fair tackle.
‘‘Whenever anybody goes to the big screen to the TMO and slows it down like they did do then of course I was worried,’’ said Farrell, who kicked three of England’s four penalties in a victory laced with courage and resilience that sets the tone for their autumn campaign.
Jones, who last week supported the crackdown on high tackles even if it meant red cards deciding test matches this autumn, also claimed the tackle had been fair. ‘‘It was a good solid tackle. It’s not for me to adjudicate,’’ he said.
The loss of Farrell would have been a blow to Jones’ hopes of plotting victory against a side who England have not beaten since 2012.
England’s co-captain, along with Dylan Hartley, delivered an imperious display on only his third start for his country at first five-eighth.
Jones said the victory, which eases the pressure on the head coach after just one win in the previous six tests, would make ‘‘everyone feel a bit better’’ and was adamant he and his squad believed they could defeat the world champions.
‘‘I said to the boys after this game that I can’t wait,’’ Jones added. ‘‘They are the benchmark for world rugby; the team you want to play against.
‘‘Any team that wins 91 per cent of their games is a great team. What other teams in world sport do that?
‘‘I remember facing the All Blacks twice as a player. Once was for my club, Randwick, and we believed we could beat them. I think we got beaten 21-12. We had the smallest losing margin of any team on tour, including Australia, because we believed we could beat them. I played against them the next week, for New South Wales, and we got beaten 50-0. No-one in that side believed they could beat them.
‘‘You’ve got to believe you can beat them. You’ve got to understand where they’re weak, understand where they’re strong and be disciplined in your game plan.’’