Kieran Read claims All Blacks ‘a long way off’ under Scott Robertson as great captain reveals what they need to ‘get right’ for Springboks
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read and current head coach Scott Robertson.
Kieran Read insists that the All Blacks still need to make vast improvements despite their impressive showing against Argentina on Saturday.
New Zealand were stunned 38-30 by Los Pumas in Wellington but responded superbly to dominate the same opponents at fortress Eden Park.
That 42-10 triumph kick-started their Rugby Championship campaign and set them up nicely for the crucial encounters against the Springboks in South Africa.
Saturday in Auckland was the All Blacks’ best display under Scott Robertson, but Read felt that they only really performed for the first half of that clash.
40-minute display
“I don’t think they’ve played their best footy yet, it’s probably been a long way off,” he told The Breakdown. “Last night they got it right for 40 minutes and it really came about through some simple things done right, like the kicking game.
“The Argies were just slightly off and it shows that you’ve got to be right on every game.”
The forthcoming Rugby Championship fixtures will ultimately reveal where the All Blacks stand under Robertson when they face the world’s best team.
New Zealand have two Tests in South Africa – with the first at altitude in Johannesburg – and Read delved into the key areas ahead of the those huge clashes.
“There’s no concern but I think what they’ll have to get right playing against South Africa is the way they defend,” he said.
“South Africa, yes they’re going to come at us through the maul, so our maul defence has got to be strong; it probably hasn’t been the strongest this year so far.
“And then, our ability to turnover ball, to defend across the park and stop their momentum, stop their gain line.
“That’s what the Argies did, they managed to get on top of us a few times, the English did that as well earlier in the year.”
Physicality
South Africa are also renowned for their brutality up front and Read was left in little doubt about what the All Blacks’ priority will be heading into the Johannesburg encounter.
“That’s a huge Test. The key that I’ve seen over these five Tests is we’ve probably only just got our mindset right. It’s been a little bit up and down, probably trying to figure out a lot of things with the new coaches and new systems,” he added.
“But going into a big Test match, especially against South Africa over there, you just can’t be thinking of too much else other than being as physically dominant as you can.
“So, essentially that’s what I think the leaders will be talking about, making sure they get a performance that showcases their physicality like what we saw last night.
“But 100 per cent they’re going to need that because what we’ve seen from the Boks so far this year against Ireland and those two Tests against the Wallabies, is that they’re not going away, they’re not shirking those traditional methods of coming hard at you in the physical battle.”
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