Dave Rennie will talk to the match officials before each game in South Africa to reinforce the All Blacks’ intention to play a high-tempo style.
Head coach Rennie and his coaching team have been open about wanting the All Blacks to play with ambition and optimism – a departure from a more kick-first mentality under previous head coach Scott Robertson and, indeed, the usual low-risk style inherent in the international game.
Finding the right balance will be key for the All Blacks – and they got closer to the right mix during their victory over Ireland at Eden Park after perhaps overplaying their hand against France – but the ultimate intention will be to run the big South African forwards around, starting with the Stormers in Cape Town on August 8.
Rennie – open and relatively expansive yesterday after announcing his squad of 44 for the tour, which includes four matches against club teams and three Tests against the Springboks plus another in Baltimore, USA – confirmed match officials would be alerted to his team’s approach.
“We do that every game,” he said.
“Sides will be aware of the tempo that we want to play at and so, yeah, we are trying to inform the officials of what’s important for us and what that looks like.
“We saw in the Italian Test that we were allowed to play when they had guys down on the field, which was pleasing.”
The sequence of play to which Rennie was referring in that Test in Wellington led to Will Jordan’s record-breaking Test try.
It began with first-five Ruben Love asking referee Luc Ramos whether he could take quick penalty tap with a couple of opposition players still on the ground, and, when informed he could, a wide pass from Jordie Barrett put Jordan away for his third try of the match and 50th of his career.
Referee Nic Berry also gave short shrift to an Irish tight forward appearing to feign injury during the All Blacks’ victory at Eden Park as the home side sought to play with pace.
So, the message appears to be getting through and so it should; World Rugby boss Brett Robinson said the day before Super Rugby’s “Super Round” in Christchurch in April that his organisation was hugely supportive of the competition’s moves to speed up the game and make it easier on the eye.
Finding the balance in a Test cauldron
Whether those interpretations continue in South Africa, especially during the three Tests there, remains to be seen.
The other side of the equation is that the All Blacks will have to exercise an element of caution in those Tests, especially at altitude (the first and third Tests will be held in Johannesburg, which is 1753m above sea level), lest they give away penalties which will be kicked towards posts or sidelines.
Rennie also revealed he considers the recalled Rieko Ioane, back from his sabbatical in Ireland and who trained with the All Blacks during the Ireland week, as a wing rather than a centre.
He sees Highlanders midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai as primarily a No.12 and admitted wing Leroy Carter could cover halfback should the All Blacks select a six-two forwards-backs split on the reserves bench.
Cam Roigard, Cortez Ratima and Kyle Preston are the only specialist halfbacks in the group, with Crusader Noah Hotham one of the unluckiest to miss selection, along with perhaps Hurricanes loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi.
Carter, a former New Zealand sevens player, has been observed training recently with the halfbacks alongside All Blacks’ assistant coach Mike Blair, a former international No.9.
Meanwhile, former assistant coach Tamati Ellison will re-join the squad for the South Africa tour, New Zealand Rugby announced today.
SHARE ME