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The All Blacks' bench has something 'no other team' has
By Ned Lester
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.
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.
“You’ve got experience, with some youthful exuberance – and that’s what you get with Tamaiti Williams’ first game in a Rugby World Cup,” Former All Black Jeff Wilson told Sky Sport. “But then, you had Sam Cane, Dane Coles and Sam Whitelock.
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“No other team in the World Cup is going to have that kind of experience coming off the bench.
“But 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.”
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.
“He certainly did,” Mils Muliaina added. “And 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.
“That’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?
“Do 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.”
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.
“I wouldn’t say nervous,” he replied. “But 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.
“I 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?”
Can someone please confirm if Sam Cane catch a ball?
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
What does the All Black bench have that other teams don't? .....Bad haircuts.
How can Sam Cane keep making this team and Blackadder can't?
Personally I’d take the Irish bench, with Kelleher/Sheehan, Henderson, Murray, Henshaw, Conan all day long.
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.
C’mon, bench against friggin woeful Italy who everyone and their mother is trying to kick out of the Six Nations. Stop the madness.
If Foster keeps picking the right bench....then it is a weapon