Coach Dave Rennie hailed the All Blacks’ win over Ireland in Auckland on Saturday as “clinical” as focus shifts to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
New Zealand triumphed 40-21 to extend their remarkable unbeaten run at Eden Park to 53 matches, completing a clean sweep of victories in the Nations Championship against France, Italy and Ireland.
For Springbok fans, the performance offered another glimpse of what awaits when the old rivals renew hostilities next month.
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Rennie described the display as New Zealand’s best of the tournament.
“Yeah, really rapt,” he said. “They’re such a good side, Ireland, and we asked a lot of questions of them.
“I thought the balance of our game was really good tonight. Our big men carried, we were a little bit more direct and there was smarter kicking.”
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Rennie also pointed to the progress made by a squad still finding its feet under his leadership.
“They came here with a lot of confidence and with a very experienced squad who play a lot of footy together. We’re quite a new group.”
There was, however, one injury concern for Rennie, who revealed veteran hooker Codie Taylor is doubtful for the opening matches of the South African tour after suffering a calf strain.
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All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said he was “very proud of the men turning up here tonight and putting in a performance like that”.
He added: “I think it’s all been in the mindset. We talked about throwing the first punch, and you know we got a lead in the first five minutes, so that was a start.
“You’ve got to give credit to the Irish – they’re real quality. But we’re stoked to get the win.”
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Ireland, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a fourth straight loss to New Zealand.
“The All Blacks are a classy outfit, and they’ll punish you if you’re not on your A game. And at times we weren’t,” said captain Dan Sheehan.
“We wanted to test ourselves against the best, we know where we are now and we know the work we have to do because it’s a big, big year coming up leading up to the World Cup.”
– AFP
Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images
The post Rennie ‘really rapt’ ahead of SA tour appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Coach Dave Rennie hailed the All Blacks’ win over Ireland in Auckland on Saturday as “clinical” as focus shifts to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
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