Andrew Saville's (early) All Blacks Christmas wishlist

1News Rugby Reporter Andrew Saville sets out what he wants to see from the All Blacks on their Northern Hemisphere tour.

Not wanting to do a “supermarket” and start putting out the chocolate Santas in September, but here’s my general wish list for the All Blacks Grand Slam tour, starting this Sunday morning against Ireland.

Even after nearly two full seasons under Scott Robertson and his coaching team there still outwardly appears to be a disconnect in the team on a few fronts. The players, at times don’t look like they’re on the same song sheet. There still appears to be confusion sometimes on the field, even in victory.

There seems to be a nervousness or unnecessary edge in and around the camp. It feels like there’s drama or changes around every corner. Maybe previous regimes were better at handling this and keeping it more in house.

Is this team happy and are they having fun? This is the cutthroat world of international rugby, with huge pressure but there is still a fun element surely. Real fun, ad lib fun, not box ticking fun. You’d hope there’s time to bond on this trip, if that hasn’t already been a focus. You’d also hope the senior leadership team in the All Blacks has a major say on this tour.

I’ve often asked the coaches this year and last, do they believe the team is overcoached. They say no but do admit at times they’ve buttoned off or chopped down the number of set plays or prescribed plays.

Yes, there has to be structure, but also, given the talent NZ rugby still has at its disposal, the players need to be given more free licence.

Northern Hemisphere teams still can’t keep up with the All Blacks from broken play or counter attacks. The international game is more structured than ever, but it doesn’t mean the All Blacks’ players must adhere to that. Let them be themselves.

Barrett’s the captain and that’s not going to change. He’s still the premier lock in the country, but continues to look like he’s weighed down by the captaincy.

That’s on the field and off it.

On it, the old school Barrett, rumbling with ball in hand or belting opponents back into last week, seems to have been watered down.

Off it, the affable Barrett seems to have the world on his shoulders.

I’m sure his experienced brothers are being leaned on at times, which is fair enough. All of NZ will be hoping for the captain to rampage through Chicago and the UK and his brothers to play with freedom as well.

There’s a number of players in the squad and surrounds who’ve been barely sighted the last few months in Tests or the NPC. Injuries are occurring more than ever in the current game of bash and attrition. The pressure is on to win and improve the current record, which causes twitchiness, but some players have become fulltime “trainers”

Ruben Love needs game time. Luke Jacobson, Samipeni Finau and Anton Leinert-Brown surely haven’t been consigned to the back-up list? Du Plessis Kirifi needs another crack.

Then we have the curious case of Rieko Ioane. A schoolboy midfielder who became a star winger, with unworldly pace. Then a Test centre, who was coming into his own. He’s now listed as a midfielder/outside back.

Maybe the trigger was pulled too early on shifting him back to the wing? Either way after 87 Test matches the clock is ticking for Ioane under the current set up. He’s off to Leinster in Ireland for his sabbatical after this current tour. Will we see him back again in the All Blacks next year and beyond? At 28 he can’t be done.

You’d like to think we don’t have another Mark Telea on our hands. One of the All Blacks' best “something from nothing” ball runners, one of the best aerial attackers or defenders, but he didn’t fit in under Scott Robertson and co.

Simple request, but the coaches are under the pump to win, even more than ever.

Four out of four on the tour and maybe it’s relatively smooth sailing towards the Springboks in 2026, then the World Cup.

A loss or two and the inside and outside noise will only intensify. All in all, this is a crucial trip for this All Blacks side. Merry Xmas.