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The systemic weakness in Ireland's watertight defence the All Blacks must target

(Photos by Phil Walter/Getty Images and Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Ireland’s watertight defence has been a hallmark of their game under Andy Farrell, conceding just four tries in this year’s Six Nations. While on the other side, the 24 they scored themselves gave them the best net differential in the tournament by far.

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Their high possession attacking game does aid their defence, holding the ball for long periods certainly helps reduce the chances for the opposition, but their discipline and resolve without the ball has completely smothered sides.

Wales would have been nilled if not for a chance intercept try by Taine Basham when Ireland were pushing the pass inside their own 22 with less than five minutes remaining.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 18

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 18

England, who were down to 14 men, could only manage penalties along with Italy. Scotland crafted 14 phases for a barge-over try from close range for their lone score in their 26-5 defeat.

France managed to score two of those four tries against the stingy Irish defence. The All Blacks, who also scored two tries in November, will have to work hard to break down what is a very strong system when at full strength.

There are few systemic weaknesses but there is one, and that is when Kiwi halfback Jamison Gibson-Park defends on the backside edge following a lineout.

The smaller, shifty halfback is left out there to defend large territory without the help of speed athletes at times which leaves Ireland vulnerable to mismatches.

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When France scored inside the first two minutes in Paris, they were running a launch pattern to target Gibson-Park’s edge.

They took a quick lineout and worked all the way to the left-hand touchline, before orchestrating play back right towards the lineout formation where Gibson-Park was defending.

They deliberately left Uini Antonio (3) out wide to use as crash runner to use on the way back to crater Ireland’s line. Ntamack (10) found his runner Antonio with the perfect target lined up, smallish wing Mack Hansen (11).

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The force of the monstrous French prop punctures through Hansen and indents the Irish defence, sucking in multiple defenders and leaving Gibson-Park (9) isolated on the outside.

France ended up with a situation where Hansen and Gibson-Park, two smaller backs, were manned on the thin short side against the entire French backline.

This is what France wanted to manufacture and they proceed to exploit two of Ireland’s smallest defenders with a numbers advantage. Hansen and Gibson-Park slid out which allowed Ntamack to take on the line. He flung a fortuitous pass back inside to Antoine Dupont which was gathered for a try.

Later in the half, they target Gibson-Park again from a multi-phase set-piece launch, this time isolating his halves partner Joey Carberry on the short side with him.

Communication from wing Damian Penaud to Antoine Dupont identified the space outside the Irish halfback and the French No 9 whipped an incredible long ball over the top into the space.

The pass to Penaud led to a line break which resulted in three more points for France.

From two set-piece launches hitting Ireland where Gibson-Park was defending, they found two line breaks and 10 total points.

England and Scotland found success targeting the same defensive set-up through a blindside raid directly off the maul.

Scotland had Gibson-Park isolated with a two-on-one against Ali Price (9) and Duhan van der Merwe (11). The Irish halfback did a great job of shading both players and forcing Price inside, but Scotland still peel off a massive line break.

England spent a lot off first-phase ball on kicking, so did not attack often from set-piece, but in the second half they created the same blindside setup by mauling infield.

Harry Randall (9) broke away down the blind before he linked with Marcus Smith (10). England weren’t able to manufacture a clean break but did march a long way upfield before winning a penalty a few phases later.

The All Blacks have used a similar maul play borrowed from the Crusaders’ playbook in the past that involves deliberately pushing the maul infield to create more space on the short side.

Halfback Aaron Smith (9) breaks to the open side before playing Richie Mo’unga (10) underneath on a switch line back to the short side. The Crusaders used this play against the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific final.

First phase switch plays from the maul can be a way to get wingers Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Sevu Reece or Will Jordan matched up on Gibson-Park.

The multi-phase patterns that track back down the short side are a perfect tool to find that mismatch where Gibson-Park can be isolated against powerful ball runners like Akira Ioane or Ardie Savea floating out wide.

Either way, the All Blacks must find this match-up and make the most of it because the Irish defence is otherwise very strong and has not offered much else to opposition sides.

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Ben 864 days ago

Hope we see the innovation and attacking flair that is customary for the All Blacks, return in this series.

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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
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