Sir John Kirwan has urged the All Blacks to reproduce the physicality and intensity they showed against the Springboks when they host the Wallabies in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park.
New Zealand suffered three straight defeats to Rassie Erasmus’s side in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, but Kirwan believes Dave Rennie’s team matched the South Africans physically throughout the campaign, despite coming up short on the scoreboard.
“I think it is important [that the All Blacks start winning]. For me personally, I thought that South Africa were the better team [in the RGR series],” Kirwan said on the Rugby Rivals podcast.
“I believe that the South African side is like we were from 2011 to 2015. So, really dominant, great side, lots of experience, can play badly and win, right? And they’re great. That’s a sign of a great side when you can play badly and win. Not that they played badly in the series against the All Blacks, but I think the intensity and the level of physicality is something that I was in awe of.
“We need to replicate that without South Africa on the other side of the park. So for us as All Blacks this week, we need to have that incredible desperation and intensity that we had in the rivals.”
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Kirwan identified the scrum as a key area for improvement, though he expects a less punishing examination of the set-piece against Australia than the All Blacks faced from the Boks.
“Dave Rennie will want improvement, and what improvements do we want to see? Well, if you think about the rivals, there were some critical moments where we made some poor individual errors in decision-making, trying to get an offload and giving away a stupid penalty, and then I think the scrum will probably not be as tested, but we do need to start being really dominant there. So those things we need to see improvement,” he said.
Kirwan called for a disciplined performance against the Wallabies, who arrive unbeaten under head coach Les Kiss.
“Which means you’re going to have to play a really thorough 80-minute game against Australia and not let them start well, put them under pressure, intensity, get your set-piece right, no stupid errors, and just a real 80-minute performance,” he said.
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“Now, I’m not saying that in an 80-minute performance Australia won’t play their part in it, but when Australia have the ball, there needs to be incredible intensity.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post JK: All Blacks must replicate RGR efforts appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Sir John Kirwan has urged the All Blacks to reproduce the physicality and intensity they showed against the Springboks when they host the Wallabies in the opening Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park.
The post JK: All Blacks must replicate RGR efforts appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
