It is very early days in the Dave Rennie era and the All Blacks haven’t played a Test yet, but already there are signs the new head coach will encourage his men to play with more optimism than under his predecessor.
Rennie, appointed as Scott Robertson’s replacement in March, has made no secret of wanting to design a game plan to suit his players’ strengths – those being power, pace and the ability to see space and use it with their ball handling skills, no matter the jersey number on their backs.
One of the criticisms of Robertson’s two years in the job was his team’s apparent lack of identity on the field and it appears Rennie – and his attack coach Mike Blair – will encourage an attacking style that most New Zealanders believe is inherent in their DNA or legacy.
It is an interesting development considering the All Black legacy has very much been front of mind for this group since they assembled recently.
Starting against France under the roof in Christchurch on Saturday, there will be kicking, of course, but perhaps not as much as in the recent past.
Forwards coach Neil Barnes today gave an insight into that thinking when he said some of the kicking in the modern game, especially box kicks from halfbacks, had its uses, but: “At the moment, I just think it’s [gone] a little bit overboard, what teams are doing. Everyone has their own opinions; we’ll have ours and we’ll play accordingly.”
Barnes added: “We’re here to take a positive outlook on things and not worry around the consequences if it doesn’t go well. We’re here to make sure it goes well and challenge other teams.”
As a statement of intent it may seem rather modest by international standards but, from the usually reticent All Blacks, it is a bold one – flamboyant, even.
Playmaker Damian McKenzie carried on the theme when he was interviewed afterwards, saying: “I think it’s just a mindset thing; a bit of optimism around our counterattack and our turnover ball – just making sure we’re getting our eyes up the field and seeing our opportunities and when it’s on to play, we play.
“For, me I love that style of rugby. You definitely have to be fit, there’s nowhere to hide… it suits a lot of our guys’ game styles.”
Getting the balance right under the roof at Te Kaha in what is likely to be a lively atmosphere – the first Test in Christchurch in four years – may be challenging for the All Blacks. But the positive, and fascinating, aspect of what Barnes said is that they are prepared to get things wrong along the way.
Further clues into the coaches’ thinking will be seen in the make-up of the team when it is announced on Thursday afternoon.
If the All Blacks do commit to an attacking style it would make sense for either Ruben Love or McKenzie – recent rivals in the Super Rugby Pacific grand final – to wear the No.10 jersey, with Beauden Barrett potentially on the bench or even possibly left out of the match-day squad if fullback Will Jordan is fit, which he appears to be.
Both Love and McKenzie like to play at a higher tempo than Barrett, who struggled with a quadriceps injury during the latter part of the Blues’ season.
McKenzie, speaking on the side of the field at his former school Christ’s College, also had an excellent line on Jordan, who recently struggled with a calf injury at the Crusaders.
“He’s looking very fast and very good,” McKenzie said. “We like to joke that he’s a Ferrari and we need to get him out of the garage at the right time of the week. He’s ready to go.”
As for his Super Rugby disappointment with the Chiefs against the Hurricanes, McKenzie, who has now played in four grand final losses in a row, said it had dissipated.
Asked if the defeats take a mental toll, he said: “[They] can but you have to surround yourself with people that are close to you. I was able to get home and spend time with family – my partner and boy – which was great and then getting back into camp was exciting… seeing the new faces and boys getting an opportunity.
“We have three Tests coming up so really excited for that challenge that we’ve got this week.”
Asked whether the triumphant Hurricanes players had behaved themselves around him in camp, McKenzie replied: “No, they’re good, they’re humble blokes.
“They’re obviously one up for the year but they deserved everything they got, they had an awesome year.”
Meanwhile, Scotsman Euan Mackintosh has been appointed as a skills coach of the All Blacks. Mackintosh, who has worked with the New Zealand Sevens team, has recently been with the Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan.
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