All Blacks coach wants a statement performance after coming off second-best to Springboks in the physical battle
Jason Ryan wants the All Blacks forward pack to produce a statement performance against Australia.
Jason Ryan wants the All Blacks forward pack to produce a statement performance in the first Bledisloe Cup Test match at Eden Park.
The assistant coach says there is no question whether New Zealand were bettered in the physical battle against the Springboks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and wants his forwards to lay down a marker against the Wallabies this weekend.
The All Blacks head into the clash at Eden Park off the back of three defeats to the Springboks, and Ryan isn’t hiding from the fact that the team is desperate for a positive result.
All Blacks’ uncomfortable review
He added that the squad had an uncomfortable and much-needed review of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
“The tour sucked a lot of juice out of everyone, and it was good to come in last on Sunday night, and we reviewed that as a group. The leaders drove that exceptionally well, as well as the coaches in each area,” Ryan told reporters.
“And there was a little bit of discomfort in the room, as there should be when you’re reviewing something like that and obviously coming off the back of three losses.
“So we made sure we went through areas of our game with real genuine substance and clarity around what we need to move forward pretty quickly on. So, it was good to put that to bed, and then we move on as we look into the Bledisloe this week. But we’ll get on the grass this morning and see the boys jogging around, getting through some clarity.”
While he admits that the All Blacks will be desperate against Australia, he wants the team to be urgent first.
“It’s something we’ve talked about,” the forward coach said. “It’s something we’ve acknowledged, definitely individually and as a team, that we need to be urgent before we’re desperate in this Test match, and I have full confidence that as we build our week and get our timing, we’ll be on, but we need to win it.”
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No question about being bettered in the physical battle
Ryan made no bones about where the All Blacks were bettered by the Springboks, admitting that they were on the wrong side of the physical battle. However, he did see some positives, particularly in the fourth Test match in Baltimore.
“I don’t think there’s a maybe around the physical battle,” he said.
“We were on the wrong side of it at times, but other times we weren’t as well. Like, I thought we scrummed really well in that fourth Test and our maul was better as well, but we need to get into the game early and use our pack.
“We’ve talked about how we can do that and get a little bit better with the balance of our game. So yep, I do.”
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Pressed as to how the All Blacks must be urgent against the Wallabies, Ryan pointed to their carry and breakdown work. Australia have several threats over the ball in Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Harry Wilson and Angus Bell.
“I think it’ll be how we start the Test match with our ball carry and our breakdown work. They have got good threats across the back row,” he added.
“Fraser, we know what he’s capable of. Harry Wilson and Angus Bell are jacklers. So, I think that our ball-carrying footwork through contact will be important as well as defensively.”