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The All Blacks' bench has something 'no other team' has

Damian McKenzie with ball in hand for the All Blacks. Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Selections can be tricky business in a Rugby World Cup with injuries and suspensions to work around, but very rarely do you see a bench quite like the one the All Blacks fielded against Italy.

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The final 20 minutes of All Blacks games was once a period when the fitness and execution of some of the world’s top athletes were pushed to the limits, a period when the New Zealand side were at their most destructive.

The team would frequently ice close games or further blow out big scores in the last quarter during their reign as world champions in the 2010s.

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That era is now over and the Kiwis are desperate to regain that spark.

In their recent Tests against South Africa and France, both opponents outscored New Zealand considerably in the closing period, with a solo effort by young halfback Cam Roigard the only points on the board for the All Blacks in either final quarter.

Against Italy however, the team’s rampant scoring rate was amplified even further in the final 20 minutes as the bench took over.

Four tries were scored between the 66th and 75th minutes of the match, each of which was converted by replacement first five-eighth Damian McKenzie.

Alongside McKenzie was a wealth of experience and two future stars.

ā€œYou’ve got experience, with some youthful exuberance – and that’s what you get with Tamaiti Williams’ first game in a Rugby World Cup,ā€ Former All Black Jeff Wilson told Sky Sport. ā€œBut then, you had Sam Cane, Dane Coles and Sam Whitelock.

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ā€œNo other team in the World Cup is going to have that kind of experience coming off the bench.

ā€œBut then, I’ve got to say, Damian McKenzie made his statement, right? In terms of the fact that you’ve got to put me there, you’ve got to keep me there and I’ve got to be an option because he changed the way the All Blacks played when he came on.ā€

Points Flow Chart

New Zealand win +79
Time in lead
78
Mins in lead
0
93%
% Of Game In Lead
0%
34%
Possession Last 10 min
66%
16
Points Last 10 min
7

Returning from injury, regular team captain Sam Cane was eased back into match fitness in his 24-minute cameo off the bench. Prop Tyrel Lomax was in a similar boat as an established starter returning from a gruesome deep gash suffered against the Springboks pre-World Cup.

Even with rookies Tamaiti Williams and Cam Roigard on the bench, the impact unit boasted 470 international caps of experience.

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Many of the reserves stood out, but as he did against Namibia two weeks earlier, Damian McKenzie posed a constant threat to the Italian defence.

ā€œHe certainly did,ā€ Mils Muliaina added. ā€œAnd I think that’s where they’ve got things right. Cam Roigard came on and had instant impact once again, next to Damian McKenzie and the injection he brings.

ā€œThat’s now going to be the key for the All Blacks and everyone else, when it gets to that slow game, how can they adapt?

ā€œDo you bring guys off the bench, or how do they get that tempo back because we’ve seen the French did that to them, the South Africans did that to them.ā€

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The All Blacks have been unable to play to their strengths against more physical opposition, but having shown what they are capable of against Italy, the performance sent a message about how dangerous the team can be if they are able to play on their own terms.

Wilson was asked how he imagined potential quarter-final opponents would have reacted to the big win.

ā€œI wouldn’t say nervous,ā€ he replied. ā€œBut it’s a reminder, if you allow the All Blacks to play, with the talent they do have, and particularly around the backline, they’re settled.

ā€œI think the other countries are now well and truly aware of what the All Blacks have at their disposal, and how are you going to counter that?ā€

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Comments

41 Comments
D
Dr A 646 days ago

Can someone please confirm if Sam Cane catch a ball?

K
KB 652 days ago

Ned your over the target If NZ does stick with the same bench when they played Italy then thats 3 World Cup Winners in Whitlock Cane and Coles - I would have them as a collective ahead of any Irish bench - we are heading straight towards Ireland with massive experience belief and intent - add possibly Blackadder at the expense of a back 6 - 2 Split if he plays out of his skin tomorrow and you have all the firepower required to kick Ireland out - in fact Ireland will need 30 players on the field to plug the holes NZ will breach - thats how good they are at ball handling creating space and finishing - we wont have many issues in the front 5 - parity is all we need and dominance in the loose

NZ lost a Red card in the second test at home last year and we had coaches out due covid - it wasnt some white wash Add two Stars in Roigard and Mckenzie their dynamic synergy and an up and coming star in Williams to round out the bench with Lomax or Degroot or both

R
Rv 653 days ago

What does the All Black bench have that other teams don't? .....Bad haircuts.

r
rod 651 days ago

A hairdresser posted a quip šŸ˜€ lol!

S
SM 653 days ago

How can Sam Cane keep making this team and Blackadder can't?

r
rod 651 days ago

Well Blackadder didn’t really play well this morning admittedly it was his first game but do you really think he can replace Frizzell? The most concerning thing is Lomax’s injury does Moody come over to replace him?! Cane will captain & yes I’m not a believer. Papalii is the form 7 but Foster is old school so he will play Cane

P
Peter 653 days ago

Blackadder has been lame all year. That is why he wasn't in the team in the first place. Lets see how he goes.

I
IS 653 days ago

Because cane is better than Blackadder it's as simple as that

D
David 2 653 days ago

Personally I’d take the Irish bench, with Kelleher/Sheehan, Henderson, Murray, Henshaw, Conan all day long.

S
SF 653 days ago

Any bench as long as they're not wearing black, right?

I
IS 653 days ago

You would be stupid then because the all blacks beach that was against Italy was the best their was and tbh should of been the bench against big teams

J
Jacque 654 days ago

How does this work though? Big hype on these oaks? Will they get into the Ireland, France or Bok 23?

Dane Coles - No.

Sam Whitelock - No, but NZ don't have ANY other proper locks bar Retallick?

Sam Cane. Not good enough for Ab's. He'll be my 4th choice flanker.

I
IS 653 days ago

You obviously don't know what you're talking about

M
Michael Rƶbbins (academic and writer extraordinair 654 days ago

C’mon, bench against friggin woeful Italy who everyone and their mother is trying to kick out of the Six Nations. Stop the madness.

R
R 654 days ago

Based off the tirade of negative comments you make on this site you are more 'Super Troll' than 'Super Fan' and thus your opinion means nothing.

r
rod 654 days ago

Everyone? A six Nation team who pushed most teams this year! The news of Italy being kicked out of the 6Ns only surfaced after the game on Friday night. The ABs have only just got 3 of their influential players back out of 4 since they had the friendly game against SA! The bench is where the opponents tiring forwards & backs will feel the heat. DMac against France we didn’t have that because of injuries but they were off their feet at halftime! ABs v France final

G
GL 654 days ago

If Foster keeps picking the right bench....then it is a weapon

D
Dr A 646 days ago

Unless Fister wins this thing, he will be eternally remembered as taking a nations prime asset into submersion unforeseen.

D
Driss 654 days ago

Even poor coach foster knows now that he has his bench installed.

A
Alec 654 days ago

Agreed the bench is youthful in some key areas especially in the back and the way Roigard has played I think I'm happy giving the keys to the All Blacks after Smith calls it career. Very encouraging to see especially on the biggest stage.

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C
CO 18 minutes ago
Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Will Jordan is as good as any fullback in the world and at six foot two is backed up by younger, larger talent at fullback like Sullivan and Spencer. Ruben Love is a slightly larger but less eccentric version of McKenzie at this stage in his development.


McKenzie, he's like a wildly energetic dog that doesn't stop being a pup until the age of six.


McKenzie is no longer the young pup, he's entering his best years as a ten, he's been a test player for nine years and that's really starting to produce under Razor.


NZ sometimes pigeon holes players early and can be blind to the McKenzie late bloomers, McKenzie is a loyal, passionate Allblack and it's only because of a double world player of the year that he's not starting at ten each time for the Allblacks.


For those that get to meet McKenzie he's a relaxed, friendly, courteous and composed person and he is looking likely to peak as a ten at RWC.


However, McKenzie isn't really the guy we need to replace and Love is the nearest thing NZ has as a younger model. Instead NZ needs to be looking for a guy with the size and height of Beauden, Pollard, Farrell, Larkham, Sexton.


Carter was a freak at ten and McKenzies also really special but the games now dominated by first fives that are noticeably over six foot. A smaller guy needs to be freakishly talented.


Love is a handy player that plays well at both fullback and ten, he's got a really good mindset and a superb footballer like McKenzie but I'm a crowded fullback field that still has Jordie Barret around to fill in, Love needs to spend a lot more time at ten, a position that NZ is struggling with for world class depth.


As for Naitoa, he needs a run at six, he's a lock that's really better suited to six.


The French are a handful and the Allblacks can really build a strong year by winning the third test, once the games under control then Love should be swapped with McKenzie to have his chance at ten.

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