“We certainly weren’t high-fiving and jumping for joy afterwards but we’re happy to win and we’ve got a game under our belt now and we’ll build on that.”
This is how All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie summed up his emotions after his team’s 34-32 victory over France in Christchurch, a match which had five lead changes and drama throughout.
The All Blacks, who scored five tries after conceding one within two minutes under the roof, were very good at times and very loose in others.
Their attacking shape stretched and stressed the French and probably should have produced more tries but for poor handling. But on the other hand, the visitors, really a "B" team without their stars including halfback Antoine Dupont and left wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, could count themselves a little unlucky not to score a few more themselves.
It meant Rennie’s first Test in charge began with a triumph – a very good way to start an inaugural Nations Championship which has begun with a real bang.
For All Blacks fans it would have been exhilarating in parts and downright scary in others, like speeding in a sports car with a set of dodgy brakes.
“You did a good job in talking the French down,” Rennie told reporters afterwards. “They were good at taking opportunities and we probably gifted them possession in key spots. We have to be better there. When it got close and there were a couple of minutes left, the boys did a good job in running down the clock.
“It’s probably more relief than joy but it’s always nice to build on getting better after a win.”
He was asked to rate the performance out of 10.
“I wouldn’t rate it out of 10,” he replied. “I need to have a decent look at all the detail. Again, if I’m talking around mindset, I was rapt with it and it would be a big number. If we talk about effort that would be a big number. Combination-wise and some of our decision making on attack and [defence], we have to be a bit better.”
Overall, how was his first Test experience with the All Blacks?
“It’s not about me. I’m really happy with the boys and those that made their debut tonight. Again, we’ve talked a lot about optimism and the game we want to play and we saw a lot of evidence of that. We were probably a bit loose at times, but it’s easier to haul things back. Really happy with the attitude.”
The All Blacks did well to cope with Ruben Love’s yellow card for a high tackle and the concession of a converted try card within two minutes, and playing such a high-tempo game suited Will Jordan and Cam Roigard, both of whom scored two tries each. Flanker Peter Lakai scored the other.
For Jordan, it was his 46th and 47th tries in 54 Tests and he drew level with and then overtook the great Christian Cullen, Julian Savea and Joe Rokocoko into second behind Doug Howlett (49) on New Zealand’s all-time list. He may reach that total if he starts next Saturday against Italy in Wellington.
Love, given the responsibility of leading the attack, did well after his early disappointment – the first sinbinning of his career at any level – and was sharp and incisive at times.
“Ruben took control,” skipper Ardie Savea said. “He was real direct in his messaging and what we needed to do next… like Rens, I’m proud of the effort, there’s just some skill things and accuracy we have to fix.”
Indeed, all of the backs had their moments with the ball but, as Savea said, some poor handling and a bit of rust around combinations pegged them back a bit too and defensively the All Blacks weren’t quite up to scratch as they let in four tries.
“We gave them an opportunity and they took it,” Rennie said. “Their short passing game was excellent. We probably needed a bit more line speed [on defence] on the inside.
“We just need more time, more reps, more combinations. We scrambled really well at times. We need to get off the line and apply more pressure.”
Things did not bode well even before the kickoff, with back-up lock Patrick Tuipulotu withdrawn due to a tight calf, which led to Jamie Hannah’s Test debut in the second half. Prop Xavier Numia and wing Fehi Fineanganofo also earned Test caps after coming off the bench.
Further, skipper Savea created a scare when he went down with what appeared to be an upper leg injury during a defensive drill in the warm-up.
Asked about it afterwards, he said: "I got a knock to a nerve in my groin and my thigh went numb.”
It came right, he added, as did the All Blacks eventually.
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