John Plumtree says the All Blacks forwards coaches are under pressure to ensure their pack can withstand the Springboks’ onslaught in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The back-to-back world champions boast the most feared pack in Test rugby, with formidable forwards also coming off the bench.
Plumtree, who served as All Blacks forwards coach from 2020 to 2022, believes New Zealand’s current coaches face a significant challenge in countering the Bok pack.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the All Blacks forward coaches, Jason Ryan and Neil Barnes, because they have to be able to shut down the South African maul,” he said on PlayZN’s TMO show.
“There are technical ways you can do that. But if you’re going to allow the Springboks to get back ball, or even middle-to-back ball [in the lineout], then the All Blacks’ defence in that maul is going to be slightly vulnerable. It also opens up both sides to attack.
“You need to shut that down. They have to shut that down. Give the Boks the front and then hammer them and keep them out.”
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Plumtree said achieving parity at scrum time would be equally important.
“The scrum – they have to be able to scrum. Jason Ryan just has to make sure that forward pack doesn’t get dominated because that’s just an easy out for the Boks.
“If there’s a scrum penalty back in their own 22, it’s an easy out. If it’s a scrum penalty inside the All Blacks’ half, well, it’s either three points or they go to the corner. Now you’re defending the maul.
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“There are a couple of massive parts of the game that the All Blacks forward pack have to nail.
“If I was taking the All Blacks at training, I would be spending a lot of time defending the mauls, scrummaging and also being able to turn them around a little bit by putting them under pressure with an All Blacks driving maul as well.
“If they can get parity – even if they don’t dominate, but they can get parity – then all those boys – Ruben Love, Cam Roigard – can create magic.”
Photo: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images
The post ‘All Blacks must shut down Bok maul’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
John Plumtree says the All Blacks forwards coaches are under pressure to ensure their pack can withstand the Springboks’ onslaught in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
The post ‘All Blacks must shut down Bok maul’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
