All Blacks legend urges Scott Robertson to issue Rieko Ioane ultimatum to ‘evolve’ game plan
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson alongside Rieko Ioane.
Justin Marshall says that Rieko Ioane’s position at centre, of perhaps even in the XV, could be under threat if the All Blacks continue to be profligate.
Scott Robertson began his tenure as head coach with successive victories over England, but they were both extremely tight affairs.
On both occasions the visitors led going into the final quarter only for Beauden Barrett to come off the New Zealand bench and inspire a turnaround.
Issues against England’s defence
The All Blacks struggled with the Red Rose rush defence, often getting caught behind the gain line as they failed to garner momentum.
With that system, particularly one as brave as England’s, there is a significant risk-reward element. They often leave space in the outside channels and Marshall believes that it could have been exploited by better handling from the backs.
Ioane, who started his career at wing, was potentially one of the culprits. The former scrum-half felt “there were at least three, possibly four, times in that Test match where Rieko had an opportunity to distribute and didn’t”, and that it could cost him his spot in Robertson’s side.
“I’m sure the All Blacks will look at that, they will probably be pretty pleased they did create those three or four chances for him to distribute, which meant they’ve done enough to bring those defenders in,” he told The Platform.
“But now they need to get their game plan to evolve by actually taking that opportunity and either getting him to distribute or finding a player that can. That’s the answer if you ask me.”
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Skill set
Ioane burst onto the Test scene as an electric winger but the 27-year-old has since been converted into an outside centre and has spent the past few years in that slot.
He is not a natural distributor and Marshall wonders whether there’s a lack of confidence in his game when put under duress by a lightning fast blitz.
“30 of those Test matches have been at centre so he’s no mug in that jersey anymore. I certainly feel that they will look and review this Test series and try to understand why, when you get opportunities, we’re not taking those opportunities.
“That might be because he’s quite not confident enough just pre-contact to be able to let that ball go, and trust that it’s a good decision.
“When you’ve got that blitz defence and you do have a winger or a full-back that is the last defender or the second-last defender coming in at you, and there is a player free on the outside, then that’s how you beat that blitz defence.
“You’ve got to have the confidence and the skill set to be able to distribute under pressure, under the pump with a player zeroing in on you.”
