August 18, 2024 • 7 mins
Former All Black Ant Strachan joins Craig Cumming to reflect on the All Black's redemption against Argentina.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The All Blacks. They played the second Test against Argentina
after going down in the first one and wanting to
a far better performance. But let's break it down and
review what went well what didn't go well. All Man
joining us as a strong good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And hey you going morning, Craig. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm sort of watching the All Blacks and I'd love
to get your thoughts. I feel a little bit lost,
and I said a little bit earlier in the show,
because I don't know what I should be expecting. You know,
I expect the good performance, but then I look back
and think, well, we still lost Argentina. You know, how
do you sum up where we're currently at?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, it is really, isn't it. I mean we often
get really disappointed when they all let los a Test match,
and of course with the rais of Robinson and his crew,
the new coaching crew, exputation was pretty high, and of
course tracking of the tests we've played so far this year,
the games against England you know, were tough but we
got through, and then of course the easy went against
(00:50):
Vgen in the lost in Wellington, I think sort of
sadd he went back on the heels a little bit, going, oh,
we're not quite at the stage we thought we would be,
but you know, for mine, a week's a long time
in rugby, as they say, and I just thought the
all about coaching stuff, and the players obviously did a
wonderful job in turning that loss around, and it was
pretty emphatic, to be fair. The first half probably the
(01:13):
most clinical performance by an all back team I've seen
for a number of years, and we saw a lot
of really nice changes and innovations to the way they
did play the game. The second half was a bit messy,
I'd have to say, keep us grounded, but I thought
the first half was very good.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
When you say innovations and what you'd like, what were
those areas that you can identify and just tell us
so we can actually see that.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well. When we played in Willington, we just keep trying
to bash them and win the game line all the time.
It was pretty narrow and direct. It just wasn't a
lot happening in terms of our tax shape. But this
time they identified space behind the Puma back line. A
couple of those early chipticks in behind just turns the
defeat around and get some seeking guessing a little bit.
We scored a wonderful try Damien McKenzie off one of them.
(01:57):
And then you'll notice when we started to try and
dent the line a little bit with our pods of
three through the middle. You know, we started to just
play with a little bit more width with those three players,
so we got outside those sort of inside hard working
defenders and we started to really dent them and get
in behind. Of course, they just opened up a lot
of space for our back three. Wonderful attencking group we've
(02:19):
got there, and we just got around them a lot easier.
But the work was got up front. We won the
physical battle and then of course defensively, they just suffocated
the Argentineans to a stage where they were just an
epts with their attack. So both sides of the ball.
Nice changes for me, and I think there's more things
(02:40):
to come, Craig.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Yeah, and I mean it is time. I mean I
look at Damian mckinzi and you know, I know people
were critical after the first test to go to Argentina,
but really important that he gets opportunities I believe to
I suppose learn grow, learn grow, because not everything's going
to go well, but he needs to have that time
in the settle to be able to I suppose game
confidence and know and be able to get better with experience.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Absolutely, and I mean our game management in Wellington, I
hate to go back to the tennis all the time
was really poor. But our game management between TJ. Piter
Andara and McKenzie of this year on tourday was superb.
Wonderful platform up front, scrumbing, line out operating effectively and
of course you know TJ head the ball and Damien
hands really early. I thought our territory game was superb too.
(03:25):
I think at halftime we doubled the kicking and territory
meters and that's down to you know, Damian McKenzie. Obviously
Boden Barrett has a big part to play in that
as well. But tactically we played really well in terms
of putting the ball in the right spots of the field.
So again that's attributed, you know, largely to the game
management partnership I thought from nine and ten, which is
(03:47):
what we didn't have the week before. So that's pleasing
and those two will be starting to build a nice
partnership now. If they're going to keep that partnership together
in South Africa, then you know, it was a good
step forward for those two.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah, because we still have to remember and don't we
I mean, we get so used to super rugby but
tess rugby stuff. And I was just I go back
to you your are And I also think, you know,
Dan Carter, we know we kick well. You play territory
and when you put teams back into their own half,
then they make a mistake, We're ready to pounce. And it
looked like we went nearly. We nearly went back to
be the new the way they approached that technically.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, I think so. And I mean everyone knows now
that the two players that sit in the backfield defensively
for any team are the ten and the fifteen, and
they sort of sit on those fifteen meter lines. It's
a lot of space through the middle. And again, when
you play territory, if you can find the grass with
your kicks, it means it gives your defensive line enough
time or more time to get up and really suffocate
(04:45):
the decision makers when they try and get out of
their end. And they also did really well there. They
didn't give up on the kicks, you know, they stayed
true to their defensive line. And I thought they'd also
played a big part, you know. I mean they suffocated
the more data offensively, but the kick chase was good too.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah, set piece while the scrum was dominant, we didn't
get that in the first test. The line out looked
more secure. But you know we've got a lot of
the same. But Sam Dowry's got to be a fine
at the moment, doesn't he?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, he does. And I thought also to Mighty Williams
putting him in the front row was a big thing
to me. He's a big tight head. We have to
get bigger and more physical against all of these international teams.
I thought his selection was superb. Bear in mind, mate,
we didn't have a scrum in the first sixty Wellington
and we had about I think ten or twelve by halftime,
(05:34):
and you know, it's going to be one of the
strengths of this all Black team withough the sod Africans
are probably their best theory of the game with so
that's going to be a great matchup. But because we
started to dominate scrum, we've got probably four or five
penalties off the back of it. You know, that enables
you to kick it into you into the half and
put pressure on so and Darry just a worker. He's
(05:55):
a big body, doesn't play flash but he does is
oh well, he works well at line out of time,
as I say, carries and clean. Well. Yeah, he has
been a fine you know. And we've got two pretty
handy lots coming back, mate too, so it's building out
our middle row stocks really nicely. I think, you know,
he's had a wonderful few tests.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Looking forward to South Africa, we'll find out really where
we are, won't.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
We're going over there, yeah, we will, and I mean
it's probably one of the hardest places in the world
to play, mate. I had the pleasure or displease that
probably are playing there a few times many years ago.
It's a cauldron in the crowd and we seventy eighty
thousand and they're playing a really simple but effective style
of play, the South Africans, and they're going to be
(06:40):
tough to beat because set piece is probably their string
and ticking territory, which is what you just mentioned before
is also one of theirs. So they're not too flamboyant
the way they play the game, and they're going to
be tough.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Appreciate your time this morning, and I have a great day.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
You too, mate, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
There we go ants Straw and he's giving me confidence.
He's given me confidence and talking about those pozzle of
things that I needed to know moving in. But so
they're going to be a different battle over there. I
think Johannesburg and Cape Town back to back test matches,
it's going to be a heck of a battle. And
throwing a coach called Tony Brown who's helping them, will
know the All Blacks pretty well and he's in charge
of the attack. So we're looking forward to that
The All Blacks. They played the second Test against Argentina
after going down in the first one and wanting to
a far better performance. But let's break it down and
review what went well what didn't go well. All Man
joining us as a strong good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And hey you going morning, Craig. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm sort of watching the All Blacks and I'd love
to get your thoughts. I feel a little bit lost,
and I said a little bit earlier in the show,
because I don't know what I should be expecting. You know,
I expect the good performance, but then I look back
and think, well, we still lost Argentina. You know, how
do you sum up where we're currently at?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, it is really, isn't it. I mean we often
get really disappointed when they all let los a Test match,
and of course with the rais of Robinson and his crew,
the new coaching crew, exputation was pretty high, and of
course tracking of the tests we've played so far this year,
the games against England you know, were tough but we
got through, and then of course the easy went against
(00:50):
Vgen in the lost in Wellington, I think sort of
sadd he went back on the heels a little bit, going, oh,
we're not quite at the stage we thought we would be,
but you know, for mine, a week's a long time
in rugby, as they say, and I just thought the
all about coaching stuff, and the players obviously did a
wonderful job in turning that loss around, and it was
pretty emphatic, to be fair. The first half probably the
(01:13):
most clinical performance by an all back team I've seen
for a number of years, and we saw a lot
of really nice changes and innovations to the way they
did play the game. The second half was a bit messy,
I'd have to say, keep us grounded, but I thought
the first half was very good.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
When you say innovations and what you'd like, what were
those areas that you can identify and just tell us
so we can actually see that.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well. When we played in Willington, we just keep trying
to bash them and win the game line all the time.
It was pretty narrow and direct. It just wasn't a
lot happening in terms of our tax shape. But this
time they identified space behind the Puma back line. A
couple of those early chipticks in behind just turns the
defeat around and get some seeking guessing a little bit.
We scored a wonderful try Damien McKenzie off one of them.
(01:57):
And then you'll notice when we started to try and
dent the line a little bit with our pods of
three through the middle. You know, we started to just
play with a little bit more width with those three players,
so we got outside those sort of inside hard working
defenders and we started to really dent them and get
in behind. Of course, they just opened up a lot
of space for our back three. Wonderful attencking group we've
(02:19):
got there, and we just got around them a lot easier.
But the work was got up front. We won the
physical battle and then of course defensively, they just suffocated
the Argentineans to a stage where they were just an
epts with their attack. So both sides of the ball.
Nice changes for me, and I think there's more things
(02:40):
to come, Craig.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Yeah, and I mean it is time. I mean I
look at Damian mckinzi and you know, I know people
were critical after the first test to go to Argentina,
but really important that he gets opportunities I believe to
I suppose learn grow, learn grow, because not everything's going
to go well, but he needs to have that time
in the settle to be able to I suppose game
confidence and know and be able to get better with experience.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Absolutely, and I mean our game management in Wellington, I
hate to go back to the tennis all the time
was really poor. But our game management between TJ. Piter
Andara and McKenzie of this year on tourday was superb.
Wonderful platform up front, scrumbing, line out operating effectively and
of course you know TJ head the ball and Damien
hands really early. I thought our territory game was superb too.
(03:25):
I think at halftime we doubled the kicking and territory
meters and that's down to you know, Damian McKenzie. Obviously
Boden Barrett has a big part to play in that
as well. But tactically we played really well in terms
of putting the ball in the right spots of the field.
So again that's attributed, you know, largely to the game
management partnership I thought from nine and ten, which is
(03:47):
what we didn't have the week before. So that's pleasing
and those two will be starting to build a nice
partnership now. If they're going to keep that partnership together
in South Africa, then you know, it was a good
step forward for those two.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah, because we still have to remember and don't we
I mean, we get so used to super rugby but
tess rugby stuff. And I was just I go back
to you your are And I also think, you know,
Dan Carter, we know we kick well. You play territory
and when you put teams back into their own half,
then they make a mistake, We're ready to pounce. And it
looked like we went nearly. We nearly went back to
be the new the way they approached that technically.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, I think so. And I mean everyone knows now
that the two players that sit in the backfield defensively
for any team are the ten and the fifteen, and
they sort of sit on those fifteen meter lines. It's
a lot of space through the middle. And again, when
you play territory, if you can find the grass with
your kicks, it means it gives your defensive line enough
time or more time to get up and really suffocate
(04:45):
the decision makers when they try and get out of
their end. And they also did really well there. They
didn't give up on the kicks, you know, they stayed
true to their defensive line. And I thought they'd also
played a big part, you know. I mean they suffocated
the more data offensively, but the kick chase was good too.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Yeah, set piece while the scrum was dominant, we didn't
get that in the first test. The line out looked
more secure. But you know we've got a lot of
the same. But Sam Dowry's got to be a fine
at the moment, doesn't he?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, he does. And I thought also to Mighty Williams
putting him in the front row was a big thing
to me. He's a big tight head. We have to
get bigger and more physical against all of these international teams.
I thought his selection was superb. Bear in mind, mate,
we didn't have a scrum in the first sixty Wellington
and we had about I think ten or twelve by halftime,
(05:34):
and you know, it's going to be one of the
strengths of this all Black team withough the sod Africans
are probably their best theory of the game with so
that's going to be a great matchup. But because we
started to dominate scrum, we've got probably four or five
penalties off the back of it. You know, that enables
you to kick it into you into the half and
put pressure on so and Darry just a worker. He's
(05:55):
a big body, doesn't play flash but he does is
oh well, he works well at line out of time,
as I say, carries and clean. Well. Yeah, he has
been a fine you know. And we've got two pretty
handy lots coming back, mate too, so it's building out
our middle row stocks really nicely. I think, you know,
he's had a wonderful few tests.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Looking forward to South Africa, we'll find out really where
we are, won't.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
We're going over there, yeah, we will, and I mean
it's probably one of the hardest places in the world
to play, mate. I had the pleasure or displease that
probably are playing there a few times many years ago.
It's a cauldron in the crowd and we seventy eighty
thousand and they're playing a really simple but effective style
of play, the South Africans, and they're going to be
(06:40):
tough to beat because set piece is probably their string
and ticking territory, which is what you just mentioned before
is also one of theirs. So they're not too flamboyant
the way they play the game, and they're going to
be tough.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Appreciate your time this morning, and I have a great day.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
You too, mate, thank you.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
There we go ants Straw and he's giving me confidence.
He's given me confidence and talking about those pozzle of
things that I needed to know moving in. But so
they're going to be a different battle over there. I
think Johannesburg and Cape Town back to back test matches,
it's going to be a heck of a battle. And
throwing a coach called Tony Brown who's helping them, will
know the All Blacks pretty well and he's in charge
of the attack. So we're looking forward to that
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