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'Some young guys have really got us thinking': Jason Ryan reacts to Japan win
By Ned Lester
Milestones were registered for the All Blacks in Tokyo over the weekend with debuts, first starts and a brand-new captain rolled out by the Kiwi selectors, selectors who admit they have been left with some headaches from the contest.
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With a contingent of established starters boarding an advance party for London prior to the Japan Test, it could be seen as a foregone conclusion who will earn selection for the England clash at Allianz Stadium.
However, as All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan was quick to point out following his side’s big win, there’s no room for complacency in the All Blacks.
“A lot of young guys took their opportunity. It was a different-looking All Blacks team when you think about it,” the coach told Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine.
“I think the fact that it wasn’t perfect was good for us as well, we started and they put us on our heels but we stayed really composed and some young guys have really got us thinking and I think that’s exciting.
“Last time we played Japan we won by four points, so to actually put them away quite convincingly was pleasing.”
The Japanese managed to find parity in the scrum for much of the contest and even outperformed the Kiwis in lineout success, but Ryan says he liked what he saw from a number of his young forwards.
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“We don’t say we want them to put pressure on us, we just want them to take their opportunity,” the coach continued. “If we talk too much, for young guys who are trying to find their way at the international level, about pressure, well that’ll make them tighten up.
“But, if you look at a few individuals, if you look at Pasilio Tosi, he started his first Test match as tighthead today and he went really well. Samipeni Finau got an opportunity at six, he hasn’t had much Test footy, did really well. Even Asafo Aumua – I’m just talking from a forwards point of view – it gets us thinking.
“Cam Roigard’s back as well, it just makes us think differently about our selection and make the boys understand this is going to be a hard team to pick. When we get that and when we build these guys’ confidence and they get exposed to Test rugby and pressure moments, it’s exciting.”
It seems the New Zealand production line is still firing on all cylinders, with world-class talents at the ready for higher honours.
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The team will of course have the All Blacks XV alongside them over the coming weeks in Europe, with fringe All Blacks expected to split time between the environments to benefit from both the top-level coaching and trainings and game time.
Peter Lakai was initially named in the All Blacks XV squad but benefitted from a trio of loose forward injuries to make his debut in Tokyo, signalling the chance to make the step up could be right around the corner for any of the XV squad members.
“Any All Blacks, whether they debut or have played 50-odd Tests, they get an opportunity. We’ve obviously sent some boys to London who are already over there, but we’re pretty clear on the squad we want to pick, after tonight, against England.
“But, we celebrate the fact that we have two new All Blacks. That’s special on its own. Any Test win is special but I just think with how we did this week, the pressure they’ve put on with selection around multiple positions is really encouraging.”
"... got us thinking" - surely no one could complain about that news. This is promising!
All Black press conferences are basically watching paint dry. Nothing has been said for years that isn't a rehashed catch phrase.
"Really got them thinking"...that they'll be great assets holding tackle bags and watching from the stands until Italy, as the same tired old veterans are selected and fail to perform against the big guns.
"Learnings" etc afterwards.
Spot on
Wonder who gets in that nz15 squad now ?
It's been selected already of course, and none of them made it into the Japan 23 in the end, but it will interesting to see who is preferred to play out of that group.
From the XV's Bradley Slater, George Bower, Fabian Holland. Christian Lio-Willie, Oliver Haig, Harry Plummer, AJ Lam helped the ABs so you have to think they are starters for both games?
What a statement. Most of us couch potatoe selectors were wondering how the hell they were not selected in the 1st place.
"some young guys have really got us thinking"
What.??
Surely these young guys he's referring to who were good enough to be picked, but only after they got some game time (some very impressive indeed) that they've got you thinking.??
Yeah they obviously want to go away from the old approach of sink-or-swim, but I feel they have gone far to far towards ensure no one sinks by limiting their opportunities.
Aumua showed that if he has jittery starts he can warm himself into the game if you give him enough of a chance. I think Razor saw Steve Borthwick refuse to bring on his young bench in that two test series and construed that keeping the experienced guys on for near 80 minutes was the reason they finished better than the All Blacks in those goes.
Hopefully he has learned that's not the golden bullet approach now. Aumua, Darry, Finau, even Lakai, are likely going to be part of the future RWC team, so now is as good a time as any to start them in one of these big games coming up.
These guys are the most uninspired selectors ever. Incumbents literally have to get injured to give new blood a chance, no matter how tired their form. Incredibly disappointing to see this old boys club mentality carry over from foster, hansen etc. Too scared to make a big call. No wonder the players freeze up under pressure on the field when the coaches are doing the same.
Theres been some new blood in every single position you know right?
You can't really think of it as a Foster example. Sure the only firm changes to the best 15 might have come via injury but in each example it's such a short window you can't suggest that they wouldn't have happened otherwise. It's not like Foster taking two years before he tried someone/thing different.
I certainly didn't agree with their approach to selection but I do still think they are better than anything in the last 12 years (the two previous coaches cycles). I'm one who has really liked the fact they've been able to have Barrett, Cane, and TJP in the team for one more year though.
Deleted first comment by mistake. Yes agree 100%
I've always had positive comments on what All Blacks Forwards Coach JR has to say about the forward pack.
Thats his department and SR would never doubt any decisions of the men he wants that are the best fit to counter the opposition forward pack.
Go the All Blacks...young multi positional players to the fore...onwards and upwards..