Jason Pine: Notes on last night's All Blacks victory

This was a very good test match.

I watched the Wallabies play Wales last night when I got back to my room, and the intensity, skill level and ferocity of the contest was nowhere near what we saw in Dunedin.

England are a proper rugby side, one that came within a point of reaching the Rugby World Cup final, that beat Ireland in the Six Nations, and that very nearly beat the All Blacks in New Zealand last night for just the third time in their history, and the first time in 21 years.

We knew what their strengths were -close, combative, one-off rugby with ball in hand, and a smothering defence designed to deny the All Blacks any space to weave their magic in midfield.

That leaves gaps out wide and certainly Sevu Reece’s try came from the tactic designed to combat that, the cross-field kick.

But England were also expansive when the occasion presented itself, way more than I expected them to be.

I was so impressed with the general play of England first-five Marcus Smith, he’s a true triple-threat with ball in hand - he can kick, pass or run as the fancy takes him.

The only blot on his copy book last night was his goal kicking, he left 8 points out there, and in a 1-point game, that is obviously not great.

Maro Itoje was also excellent for England, a good try and a constant physicality around the field that caught the eye.

Best on park for the All Blacks for me was Patrick Tuipulotu. It’s incredible to think he was in major doubt for this series, but his all-round play, accuracy in his core roles, ball carries, lineout takes and strong tackling was just excellent.

The obvious talking point though is Damian McKenzie’s penalty attempt being timed out. The rule is that from the moment you signal your intent to take a kick at goal; you have 60 seconds for the kick to be taken.

I think we’re probably all OK with the rule. It's designed to stop time wasting, especially late in the games. But surely there needs to be a shot clock on the big screen, a visual cue for the kicker and for us in the crowd.

Every other sport that uses shot clocks of varying degrees- basketball with its 24 seconds to take a shot, tennis for serves, cricket for DRS reviews, anything where there is a time limit for something to happen - has a visual demonstration of that on the big screen at the venue.

Why wasn’t there one there last night?

There simply must be a visual indicator for the 60 seconds it's an absolute no-brainer. Don’t be surprised to see a shot clock on the screen at Eden Park next weekend.

To give Damian McKenzie his due, he didn’t complain afterwards. He owned it, and said he has to make adjustments.

I’ve watched it back and timed it, and the referee is bang on with his timing, from the moment he points to the posts to indicate the kick, it’s exactly 60 seconds before he blows again for the timed-out call.

It took about 20 seconds to get the tee out, and Damian McKenzie doesn’t have the ball on the tee until 40 seconds. From there, he was also up against the clock, and so it proved.

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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):
A real test match. I went home afterwards and watched
the Wallabies play Wales last night and the intensity of
the skill level, the ferocity of the contest was nowhere
near what we saw in Dunedin. England are a proper
rugby side, in case we needed reminding, one that came
within a point of reaching the Rugby World Cup Final,

(00:33):
that beat Ireland and the Six Nations, and that very
nearly beat the All Blacks in New Zealand last night.
For just the third time ever and the first time
in twenty one years, we knew what their strength were.
This was no surprise close combat if one of rugby
with ball in hand, a smothering defense designed to deny
the All Blacks any space to weave any magic in
midfield that leaves gaps out wide of course, if you

(00:55):
can find them, and certainly said Ese's try came from
the tactic design to combat that the crossfield kick. But
England were also pretty expensive when the occasion presented itself,
way more than I expected them to be. I was
really impressed with the general play of England first five.
Marcus Smith a real triple threat. He can kick, pass,
run as the fancy takes him. The only blot on

(01:18):
his copy book last night was his goal kicking. He
left eight points out there and in a one point
game that is obviously not great. Maro at Toji also
excellent for England. Best on park for the All Blacks
for me was Patrick Twey Pilotsu. Hard to believe he
was in major doubt for this series, but his all
round play accuracy in hiss cor rolls, ball carries, line out, takes,

(01:40):
strong tackling excellent. The obvious talking point, though, the obvious
talking point Damien McKenzie's penalty attempt being timed out. Now
the rule, Just for clarity, here's the rule. From the
moment you signal your intent to take a kick at goal,
you have sixty seconds. It's not from when the penalty's blown.
It's from when you signal your intent. So when you

(02:03):
say to the referee we're going to have a shot,
and the referee basically points at the posts and that's
when the sixty seconds starts, I think we're probably all
okay with the rule. It's designed to stop time wasting,
especially at Layton Games. It's a good idea, but surely
to goodness there needs to be a shot clock on
the big screen, a visual queue not only for the kicker,

(02:24):
but for us as well. Every other sport that uses
shot clocks of varying degrees. Think about basketball with its
twenty four seconds to take a shot, Tennis for servs,
cricket for your DRS review. Anything where there is a
time limit for something to happen has a visual demonstration

(02:45):
of that on the big screen at the venue. So
we all know why wasn't there won there last night?
There simply must be a visual indicator for the sixty seconds.
Absolutely no brainer, So don't be surprised to see it
at Eden Park next weekend. And to give Damien McKenzie
his due, he didn't complain afterwards, he owned it and
he said he just has to make adjustment. He has

(03:06):
to be quicker. Look, I've watched it back and the
referee is bang on with his timing. From the moment
he points to the posts to indicate the kick, it
is exactly sixty seconds before he blows again for the
timed out call. It took sixty rather twenty seconds to
get the tea out there that was a bit of
an issue and Damie McKenzie doesn't have the ball on

(03:28):
the tee to his satisfaction until forty seconds and from
there he's up against the clock and so approved.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
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