The second test: The big questions
Let’s see how Andy Farrell copes with the blowtorch being turned his way.
During the buildup to the first test at Eden Park in Auckland last week, All Blacks coach Ian Foster was under the most pressure as he sought to address the concerning issues that emerged during the successive defeats to France and Ireland in November.
Now it’s Ireland coach Farrell’s turn to squirm after the All Blacks beat his team 42-19. Not that Foster is off the hook. An All Blacks coach rarely is.
A victory in Dunedin tonight will give the All Blacks a series win, and the chance of a cleansweep in Wellington on July 16. Just don’t underestimate Ireland. Good enough to finish second in the Six Nations, expect the Irish to go ballistic at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Stuff rugby writers Richard Knowler, Robert van Royen and Paul Cully offer their thoughts on five hot topics ahead of the test in Dunedin.
Former England player Stuart Barnes, a rugby pundit in the northern hemisphere, had a crack at All Blacks captain Sam Cane in an English publication this week. Fair or otherwise?
Richard Knowler: Look at it this way. How often do New Zealand rugby heads bang on about how great Cane is after a test match? The truth is, not that much. So maybe Barnes has just amplified those sentiments. Then there’s the issue of whether Ardie Savea should be starting at No 7. Yet it would be a mistake to under-rate Cane. He’s a good leader, courageous (remember his comeback from that dreadful neck injury) and a punishing defender.
Robert van Royen: He’s entitled to throw a few darts, and it would seem there’s no shortage of Kiwi punters in agreement with him. However, his comments are unfair on the back of 67 minutes of solid test footy last week.
Paul Cully: Criticism is an unfortunate part of the job when you are the All Blacks captain. However, Cane’s real value will be revealed when the All Blacks have to go deep into their reserves this year. He stands up when the going gets tough, and any assessment about Cane’s worth should be put on ice for the next four tests – the two remaining games against Ireland and the two tests against the Springboks in South Africa.
What are your thoughts about Ian Foster shoe-horning three No 7s into the All Blacks’ back row?
RK: Are we any closer to solving the riddle about who should play No 6 at the World Cup next year? No. Since Jerome Kaino left, and was replaced by Liam Squire in 2017, this has become the most problematic position to fill for the All Blacks. Dalton Papalii was the logical replacement for this test, given Scott Barrett had to move into the second row. If Papalii goes gangbusters, at least it gives Foster another option. But I doubt this is a long-term solution.
RVR: A good move, at least this week. Dalton Papalii is simply too good not to have on the park, and Sam Cane isn’t going anywhere as long as he’s skipper. But it wouldn’t hurt to give a specialist blindside flanker a run in the No 6 jersey in the third test. After all, it remains rather unclear what the All Blacks’ best loose forwards trio is.
PC: It’s temporary. Foster made clear that Scott Barrett would have retained the No 6 against Ireland in Dunedin had there not been injuries and Covid in the locking department. Dalton Papalii is more of a 6 and a half, with his size and strength in the tackle, so it’s probably not as dramatic a selection as it first appears.
The NZ Rugby board executed a U-turn by allowing Patrick Tuipulotu to be rushed back into the injury-hit All Blacks. Should they have stuck to the guns and continued the Big Freeze?
RK: It’s a mess. This business of Damian McKenzie and Tuipulotu not being eligible to play Ireland because they skipped Super Rugby Pacific to play in Japan, seems petty. Not to mention confusing: especially when NZ Rugby turns around and allows Tuipulotu in as injury cover.
RVR: No. Being required to turn out for his province before being eligible for the national side is a box-ticking exercise not worth losing sleep over if bypassed.
PC: He’s contracted to New Zealand Rugby, so it’s a logical decision. Previously, they picked Matt Todd when he was under contract to Panasonic in Japan, so Tuipulotu could argue he should have been eligible in any case.
If you were Ireland coach Andy Farrell, in what areas would you get your side to aim-up against the All Blacks?
RK: He needs to get his team to get its set-pieces right. Especially the scrum after last week’s hammering. You could also imagine Farrell telling his
players to picture him putting 50,000 volts through the soles of their feet if they attempt to run the ball from within their own half at Forsyth Barr Stadium. You get the picture.
RVR: In and around the ruck. They were going great guns in Auckland through the first 20 minutes, repeatedly utilising inside balls to smash over the advantage line. They got torched the moment they strayed and got too expansive.
PC: It sounds odd but Ireland need to play a bit less rugby. They got themselves into a hole last week by needlessly trying to speed things up in the first half when they were already in control. They don’t have the All Black game breakers but they look good when they are methodical in holding on to the ball.
Last week English referee Karl Dickson was excellent. Now we have another whistler in South African Jaco Peyper. Next week it will be another Englishman in Wayne Barnes. Given the complexities of the rugby law book, and how important it is for teams to get a ‘‘feel’’ for the way the rules are interpreted, does World Rugby need to look at appointing one ref for a series?
RK: Why not? Dickson was very good in the first test in Auckland; he was assertive, allowed the game to flow and did his best to reduce stoppages. I’m sure both teams would appreciate hearing the same voice in all three tests. Which could improve the game as a spectacle. Rugby desperately needs more refs like Dickson. Instead, he’s been ditched.
RVR: No. Playing under different referees week to week is hardly a bad thing, particularly when you cast an eye forward to the World Cup next year.
PC: No. It would put too much pressure on that individual. The referees operate as a team these days and are therefore on the same page already, and picking one referee for each series would really shrink the pool of officials who are capable of looking after the big tests.
Game enough to give us a score for the second test?
RK: All Blacks 30 Ireland 18
RVR: All Blacks 37 Ireland 20
PC: All Blacks 28 Ireland 22