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Scott Robertson on the biggest problem areas for the All Blacks in loss to Argentina
By Ben Smith
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson was left to rue execution as they surrendered the lead late in Wellington to lose to Argentina for the second time at home.
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The All Blacks had the lead for 65 per cent of the game, but each time Argentina maintained within touching distance.
A try to centre Anton Lienert-Brown put the home side out to a 12-point cushion at 20-8, but a quick strike off a loose kick contest to winger Mateo Carreras closed the gap to five.
The Carreras try was one of “four or five” key moments that Robertson highlighted as critical during the loss.
“A few areas, plan for the frustration, plan for us to put us on the back fence and put a grip on us and couldn’t fight out of it,” Robertson said.
“We had a week to get that part right, and obviously didn’t do it as well as we should’ve as a coaching group, so we own that.
“Like I say, we had chances, got out in front and then they got back into it, you know, that forward pass [from McKenzie to Will Jordan], and then just that little inside arm, and, oh, there’s four or five key ones during the game, even that try before half time when Sevu palmed it back and they got the bounce of the ball.
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“So well done to them. You know, we’ve got to commend them for playing their style and getting a result.”
A try right after half-time to Franco Molina from a maul allowed Argentina to hit the front for the first time, before a return penalty gave the All Blacks a slim one-point lead.
The All Blacks responded with one of their best periods of attack to march down on the Pumas before TJ Perenara put Mark Tele’a through a hole to score.
But without control of the game Argentina rallied to score 13 points in the final quarter leading to the shock loss.
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Robertson pinpointed the biggest problem areas for the All Blacks as the kicking game which was ineffective.
“Execute, finish. We’ve got to be better in kick plans. We’ve got to be better in exits. We’ve got to be better in lot areas. It starts there,” he said.
“After every kick off we just put pressure on ourselves. We covered it, but didn’t execute it. That’s hugely frustrating.
“We did some really simple things well, we looked great didn’t we, then just reverted back to put pressure on ourselves.
“I thought we had a great week on mindset, create an edge within the boys and the expectation around Argentina from that result a few years ago.
“There’s a number of little things but we’ve got to find what’s critical now so we can move on.”
The head coach was hurt with his first defeat as coach of the All Blacks, and said that we will look to see how he can improve so that there is a response next week.
“You look at yourself firstly. You go, What could I have done, personally, you know, as the head coach,” Robertson said.
“How could I frame this week a bit better? How could I create more edge? How can we get on field or off field better? So, you know, really reflect over the next 24 hours on it.
“And look I’m disappointed, I’m hurt, but they’ll look to me and I got to make sure I put everything in place for them so that we respond this week.”
Too many avg players IMO. Sam Darry, Tupou Vaai'i, Ethan Blackadder, Anton Lienert-Brown,Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord.
Absolutely NO FEAR factor in this team.
Playing Mckenzie at 10 when you have Barrett, easily in the top 5 flyhalfs of all time, playing 15 while having the most destructive counter attacking 15 on the bench & Mckenzie who can easily slot in at 15.
Patrick Tuipulotu
Scott Barrett
Will deffo be back in when they return from injury.
Why are the All Blacks looking and sounding like they crammed for the maths exam the night before?
I think the experience players in the team need to pitch up and execute better. We’re talking about AB rugby players after all.
I think some fresh, hungry, young faces are needed.
At least Ardie is still hungry, he made so many plays again this game. Even he is getting on though and just some time on the side of scrum with the fresh faces at the back.
It's gotta be done and they have to accept that not everyone can make the transition look as easy as South Africa and expect the same sorta results.
AB line kicks are poor, not enough distance.Bokke gonna eat them breakfast.
I think we have to accept that the ABs have gone from a struggling team that overachieved at RWC to one that is now to put it kindly in transition-personally I am just accepting that this at best going to be a bumpy season results wise but will be looking for evidence of growth in the playing and coaching group
Thats a healthy view but I want to continue to believe/hope that Razor is someone who can get us playing more intelligently.
Get some life into the attack, please.
Or we accept we have gone down hill rapidly since Schmidt left and Razor came in. The ABs are woeful at the moment.
Or we accept that Pumas aren't an easy-beat Tier 2 nation any longer...margins are smaller than they've ever been and the teams that succeed are the ones that build and absorb pressure the best.
I'm disappointed in Razor, he rolled the dice with his selections, but he didn't want to roll the dice with his substitutions.
No, you didn't look great on attack. Argentina gave you less space than England and there was no answer to the problems they caused in that area over a month later.
5 coaches in the box looking on and not one of them told Jordie to position himself for the kickoff receipt, and just mark the ball? Do these guys have any idea of the laws being played for this Championship?
No they don't 5 coaches tlrazor picked his mates but forgot to hire the actual guys that know howvto play against a rush defense the chiefs coaching team should be there they the ones that know how to play against a rush defense it's shocking how bad razor really has been as an international coach