Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'That's part of the reason why some of us play': The big change coming for the Maori All Blacks next weekend

The Maori All Blacks perform their haka. (Photo by John Cowpland/Photosport)

While the All Blacks may have secured a 35-10 victory over Samoa on Saturday night, captain Ash Dixon wasn’t entirely happy with how his men performed in front of an empty stadium in Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

A change in alert levels in New Zealand’s capital in the lead-up to the match meant that fans weren’t able to attend the game, which led to a somewhat eerie atmosphere in Sky Stadium.

Despite scoring five tries on the night, the Maori All Blacks lacked continuity at times and were guilty of some a number of basic handling errors – though the wind and rain likely contributed to that.

Video Spacer

After a three-year absence, David Havili has reclaimed a spot in the All Blacks.

Video Spacer

After a three-year absence, David Havili has reclaimed a spot in the All Blacks.

Speaking after the match, Dixon acknowledged that while his team had managed to string some good plays together, there were also plenty of improvement opportunities for the NZ composite side.

“When you can finish like that and with a score like that, you’re always pretty happy with it,” he said. “[There was] definitely a lot of intent and endeavour in a lot of things but I felt we missed a lot of detail tonight on a few things. Even though it was a short week, I expected a little bit more from us [but] still stoked we got our game to where it was today.”

Although the team first came together as a group just a week and a half before Saturday night’s match, Dixon wasn’t willing to let the little time the squad had spent together in camp as an excuse for the errors.

“I just think we’re better than that,” he said. “We know we get short turnarounds and we know we’ve got to deal with that … and a lot of our boys have played together for a couple of years now and that same crew and the combinations are pretty similar.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I guess I just expected a bit more from us in terms of some of our ball control and [carrying] into contact was a bit soft. Bit of that kind of stuff. I thought we could have been a lot better. That’s just personal pride I think, more than anything. I’m sure we’ll work a bit on it this week and get our detail sorted.”

Dixon also shut down any suggestions that the lack of a crowd played any part in the less than fluid gameplay – although he acknowledged it can be tough running out to an empty stadium.

“It is tough, to be honest. I love playing in front of a crowd and hearing noise. That energy you get when you’re warming up and hearing the booing or hearing the celebrations is second to none. I think that’s part of the reason why some of us play, to play in front of people and showcase footy in New Zealand.

“But we knew there wasn’t going to be a crowd from Tuesday, Wednesday onwards so we prepared accordingly and I don’t think that really changed the way we would have played tonight because we knew during the week. I just think we could have been a bit better.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It would have been great to have a crowd here so let’s hope in the weekend we can have one and vibe off them and get the boys peaking for it.”

Coach Clayton McMillan shared similar sentiments.

“Everybody’s disappointed that we couldn’t get a crowd here tonight but that’s the nature of COVID-19, isn’t it?” he said.

“We’ve all become well accustomed to the challenges it throws us and even though rugby at this level is very public and obviously the impact [of COVID] is easy to see when there are empty seats in the stand but everyone else in the community and other business and other jobs are affected just as much.

“So we’ve just got to deal with it and hope that we’re a little luckier next week and things don’t move up north and we can get a really crowd great along and celebrate Maori rugby but also Pacific Island rugby with those teams up there and also look forward to seeing the All Blacks play for the first time this year.”

The Maori All Blacks play Samoa at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland next Saturday at 4:30pm NZT with the All Blacks then facing off against Tonga at the same ground at 7:05pm.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search