Jason Pine: Here's how the All Blacks escaped with a victory

A few thoughts on last night's test match- 

Beauden Barrett was just utterly terrific. That game changed when he came on, he sparked the All Blacks, he got them on the front foot, he set up Mark Telea's second try and pulled off a huge defensive play at the end.

I saw a great tweet last night -"Is there a minimum number of minutes someone has to play to get Man of the Match? Asking for a Beauden"

Look, Stephen Perofeta's had a good couple of outings, he hasn't done anything wrong, but he's not Beauden Barrett.

Beauden will start the Rugby Championship at 15, nothing surer.

The conundrum Scott Robertson will now face is what he does when Will Jordan's fit - a nice problem to have.

Cortez Ratima had a good debut, he provided zip and zing off the bench. I reckon he's earned the right to start against Fiji next weekend.

I also thought Fletcher Newell also made a big difference when he came on.

The end to the game was a bit controversial, but correctly officiated. England were mauling from the lineout, the maul was successfully defended. Ollie Lawrence and Jamie George broke off that maul, but Lawrence was in front of George, who had the ball - and was therefore offside as the All Blacks tried to make a tackle

He was obstructing the All Blacks. You can't create a new maul with a player in front of the ball carrier, it was the correct call. In any case, Jamie George didn't get the ball down, he was held up by Beauden Barrett

What England were saying is that because there was still time to play, it should have been a line dropout, which would have given them the ball back.

There are a few issues to address for the All Blacks. The lineout was shambolic in the first half, across the game, they lost 7 of their own throws through steals or pressure, it was a huge work-on for the All Blacks.

Yes, Maro Itoje is a formidable opponent at lineout time - and had another brilliant game - but he's just one man in the lineout.

The All Blacks can't let themselves become a team that's known for being vulnerable at lineout time.

The kicking, in particular the box kicking - I don't mind it as a tactic, it's part of the game but it wasn't done effectively last night.

There was often no energy in our chase and the kicks were a bit too long as well which didn't allow them to be contested. Basically, we're just giving the ball back.

By contrast, all of England's box kicks were contested. England are a very good rugby team, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. Maro Itoje is world class, Marcus Smith could well become that, Steve Borthwick seems like a genuinely good bloke and an excellent coach.

And if we're honest with ourselves, England had the chance to win both of these test matches. Instead, the All Blacks escaped - and I think that's the right word - with two victories.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk zedb.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Boten Barrett terrific. The game changed. As I said before,
when he came on, he sparked the All Blacks, he
got them on the front foot, set up Mark Talaya's
second try and pulled off a huge defensive play at
the end as well. I saw this great tweet last
night said is there a minimum number of minutes someone
has to play to get man of the match? I
think he was certainly the decisive factor last night. Look,

(00:34):
Stephen Petefets has had a good couple of outings. He's
done nothing wrong, but he's not Boden.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
Barrett.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Boden will start the Rugby Championship at fifteen nothing sure.
He was asked actually last night how he feels about
an impact role rather than starting.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Gosh, I'm enjoying being back in the black jersey. I'm
grateful for any opportunity, but of course everyone wants to
start and be out there from the first minute. But
it's a competitive situation and I'm just happy to influence
where I can.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
I think the conundrum Scott Robinson's going to faces what
he does when will Jordan's fit a nice problem to have.
Cortees Latimer good provided zip and Zing off the bench.
I reckon he's earned the right to start actually against
Eigen next weekend. I thought Fletcher you'll also made a
big difference when he came on the end of the game.
A bit controversial but correctly officiated England mauling from the

(01:21):
line out. The mall was successfully defended. Oli Lawrence and
Jamie George then broke off that mall, but Lawrence was
in front of Jamie George and Jamie George had the ball,
so OLLI Lawrence's off site as the All Blacks tried
to make the tackle. He was obstructing the All Blacks.
You can't create a new mall with a player in
front of the ball carrier. It's the correct call. In

(01:43):
any case, Jamie George didn't get the ball down he
was held up by Boden Barrett who else. What England
was saying though, is because there was still time to play.
They shouldn't have been penalized for the off site. It
should have been a line dropout which would have given
them the ball back. I guess for one more play.
Issues for the All Blacks look let's not get ourselves.
There are some line out shambollock in the first half

(02:06):
and across the eighty minutes they lost seven of their
own throws through steels or pressure. Huge work on for
the All Blacks. And yeah, maro Otoji is a formidable
opponent at lineout time. Had another brilliant game, but he's
just one man in a lineout. The All Blacks cannot
let themselves become a team that's known for being vulnerable

(02:27):
at lineout time. Big week ahead and a big few
weeks ahead for Jason Ryan and for Corey Flynn. The kicking,
in particular, the box kicking. Look, I don't mind the
box as a tactic per se part of the game,
but it wasn't done effectively last night. There was often
no energy in our chase. The kicks were a bit
too long as well, which didn't allow them to be contested. Basically,

(02:49):
we're just given the ball back in those situations. By contrast,
all of England's box kicks were contested. England are a
good team. I'm not telling you anything. You don't know.
Maro Atoji world class. Marcus Smith so impressed with him.
He could well become a world class play. Steve Borthwick
seems like a genuinely good bloke and an excellent coach

(03:10):
and if we are honest with ourselves, England had the
chance to win both of those Test matches and the
All Blacks escaped and I think that's the right word
with two victories.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
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