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Stats expose where the All Blacks fell short against France
By Kim Ekin
The scoreboard was not the All Blacks‘ friend on the opening night of the Rugby World Cup in Paris, but much of the stat sheet was.
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In what was both the largest loss the All Blacks have ever suffered in a Rugby World Cup and their first loss in the pool stages at rugby’s showpiece event, New Zealand doubled their opponent’s defenders beaten tally.
New Zealand ran for 652 meters from their 112 carries, with a gain-line success rate of 62%. That running meters tally exceeds any other match the Kiwis have played this year.
France on the other hand chewed through 423 meters from 101 carries with 42% gainline success.
New Zealand were attacking in a hurry and achieving respectable breakdown speed on attack, their average ruck speed (3.53) was a whole second faster than France’s (4.67), and that was with 20 more rucks total in the match.
42 per cent of New Zealand’s breakdown clearances came under the golden two-second mark.
On average, New Zealand scored 2.17 points per entry into France’s 22, whereas Les Bleus scored 1.43 points in that metric.
All 13 of the All Blacks’ points came from attacking within their opponent’s 22, while just 10 of France’s points came from entering New Zealand’s 22.
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So, where did the All Blacks fall short?
Well, as the All Blacks pointed out post-match, discipline let the three-time world champions down.
“The biggest thing was our discipline,” veteran lock Sam Whitelock said after the match. “We gave away a few too many penalties.
“At times, we built a bit of pressure and got rewards for it but we didn’t do enough.
“You’ve got to take your opportunities, you don’t get many, and there were a couple of key moments there that we didn’t execute our simple skills, whether that’s a catch-pass or cleaning a ruck. That’s where we’ve got to adapt and grow and get better.”
Six penalties were conceded on attack and a further seven on defence gave the French the opportunity to play in the right areas of the park, runing up the scoreboard with less possession and less favourable attacking opportunities.
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That ill-discipline is in large part due to France’s ability to apply pressure around the park.
The French had more than double the number of dominant tackles and won almost double the number of turnovers in the match.
Their set-piece was more efficient, operating at 100 per cent at scrum time and 93 per cent in the lineout.
Perhaps most importantly, France dominated territory with 61 per cent.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster and attack coach Joe Schmidt have been true to the All Blacks DNA in their attacking philosophy as far as giving players license to attack from all over the park, but the team will need to better execute their exit strategy if they are to progress in the tournament.
“The lessons were just in execution and exiting our half,” halfback Aaron Smith remarked after the loss. “If you give penalties away, [Thomas] Ramos will punish you. But there were a lot of positives there.
Defence coach Scott McLeod will, on the one hand, be happy with a superior tackle completion rate, but a lack of dominant tackles meant France were able to offload 15 times, more than twice as much as the Kiwis.
Even with the slow start, France kept their composure and conceded just five penalties in the match.
Hi Poe, Not at all, although it may sound like that is the case. I have been betting against the All Black since 1986. I mean if the All Blacks aren't good I can't "get set" It's so hard to bet when a team is inconsistent. I hate "corruption" Big Bad Billy Beaumont and Bernard LaPorte and Mohed ALTRAD, who use Rugby as a "Cash Cow Vehicle should be locked up. Not 2 years suspended sentences. The game suffers and so do the players.
The All Blacks have been in decline since 2015 Rugby World Cup.
This World Cup has just "really exposed them" I can't find "Punters" who want to bet on them anymore. How bad is that Poe.
I offered 9 points start, and $2.75, (amongst a few mates)
3 takers. Fiercely Loyal fans have abandoned them in their droves.
I had to result to Fiji and Wales. I was really pissed at that ref in the last 20. It's the first time I have ever thought refs were "bent" as in paid. Apart from that it was a great game. Princess Anne's team can't be beaten by Fiji. "C'mon Billy we can't have that"
Mind you if the Top Echelon of the Exectutive Management of World Rugby are that easily bribed and convicted, I suppose it's not unrealistic to fathom, that referees could be bribed.
The Poms run World Rugby. That has been the case since the game began. Even the Royals have a big influence. The fact that those fkn "Colonials" N.Z., S.A and Australia are better at Rugby than them is a huge Piss Off to the English Aristocracy.
So Po, I am not a Ball Broken New Zealand Fan. Just don't like the way the Poms have "Corrupted the game" and unfortunately that "corruption" has ended up in the "Colonies"
Yea, I think scoring just before half time and Mo’unga getting the kicks would have put France down by 15 after 45 mins.
Also Paps pushing penalty didn't help.
No dominant tackle with Cane and Frizell out.
Can we get out of the quarters? Probably not. Hey we are still breaking records every week.
Worst loss in All Black History, Worst loss at a World Cup.
There are not a lot of brains in that All Black side, which doesn't help and less in the coaching staff.
I reckon we can break one more record. Most cards in a World Cup game.
The lack of dominant tackles and increased off loads is what happens when players adjust their tackle technique to avoid head contact. No sure what the answer ti that is defensively though.
The acceptance of mediocrity stat is a bit too high.
Fly-half missing touch and conversions is putting them on the back foot.
3 Kick chase penalties and card from miscalculation of humidity effect on ball swing and flight time
Scrum penalties for “Pull-backs” is poor refereeing.
Loose forward Clean outs, and tackle count too low.
Tight five tackle count too low. Number of mauls too low.
Penalties in kickable positions too high.
Low percentage passes too high.
You can hope nothing with the worst coach in the history and the worst team in the history.
We have really an amateurish staff coaching and in the NZRU clowns and board … clean out after the World Cup !
Im a All Black surpoter but this nah...the All Black it starting to crumble..use this players...15 will jordan....11 rieko ioane.. 12David havili... 14 caleb clark ...13 leicester fainga' anu ...10 Damain mckenzie... 9 cam roigard 8 ardie savea ...
As a Saffa I'm very disappointed in the All Blacks last night, at times it looked like they didn't know what to do with the ball, I had them winning by 15 last night because I still believe and think they are better then what we are seeing the past two weeks.
A very edgy tense game. It was like watching a World Cup final. It was no oil painting. France desperate not to lose their opening game in France. Thought at half time the ABs would win down 8-9. Then the very bad second half had other plans. Way too many penalties and turned over too easily. What happened to the ferocious AB clear outs we saw in the RC. Scott Barrett was invisible. Obviously terrified of getting a red. Jordon's yellow was dozy, what was he thinking? or not as the case maybe be. Telea is a blessing and a curse, deadly attack but can't defend for toffee. Groot was unfairly penalised, you could clearly see the French prop pulling back. The French must of done their homework and knew Groot has his feet a long way back so it was easy to make him collapse. Also AB didn't take the points when in the red zone. We are always told when ABs get into the 22 they come away with points. Not this time. Multiple turnovers, errors or penalties kept it low scoring. Haven't written the ABs off yet. I doubt either team was looking for to that match. Now it's over they can relax. There was some AB great moments. Haven't lost faith yet.
That was not a good game. AB were awful. Struggled to get going in the second half. I wonder what Irwin et al will bring to the table in the “Breakdown “ as the excuse for the loss? It’s a shame ex AB players don’t see the modern game for what it is. The AB’s have always cheated with their off ball tactics and now with technology breathing down their necks, they have been found out.
This AB side is going to find it hard to win the WC.
I look forward to how they are going to change things as they need to. Seven weeks is a long time but I still think it will be a France v Boks final.