New Zealand coach’s Super Rugby theory for scrum struggles ‘hit nail on the head’ as ex-All Black offers ‘no argument’ response for possible solution
Springboks v All Blacks scrum and tighthead Tyrel Lomax, who has particularly struggled in the set-piece.
Shane Howarth believes that allowing All Blacks stars to play abroad could help solve their scrum problems after they were dominated by the Springboks.
Currently, NZ Rugby policy prevents New Zealand players from plying their trade overseas if they want to represent the national team, but Howarth reckons that might need to change if they want to catch up to their rivals.
South Africa claimed a 3-1 series victory over Dave Rennie’s men with their triumph based on the fundamentals of the game, particularly set-piece and kicking.
While the All Blacks played the more free-flowing rugby, their weaknesses were exposed and the ex-full-back has suggested that Super Rugby has had a part to play in that.
South Africa’s Super Rugby exit
The South African franchises were axed from the southern hemisphere competition in 2020 and duly aligned their club game with the north as the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers joined the United Rugby Championship.
As a result, the Kiwis have not been regularly faced the type of physicality and forward excellence the Boks players bring, with the scrum almost becoming a dying art in Super Rugby.
“I listened to Neil Barnes (editor’s note: he may have meant Jason Ryan) and he’s hit the nail on the head; when we lost South Africa from Super Rugby, we lost a strong ability of scrummaging and that’s now gone to Europe, that’s gone to the URC,” Howarth told Sport Nation’s The Rugby Run.
“That’s their game and they didn’t have that dominance when our Super Rugby teams were playing theirs because we were getting it every second week. We were figuring out how we could get better at it.”
The All Blacks scrum was much better in the finale in Baltimore, suggesting that they may have got to grips with the Boks set-piece, but those players will not face South African opposition until the Rugby Championship next year.
They will only have two games against the Springboks before the duo then likely face off in a Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
That might not give them enough chance to adapt and host of the The Rugby Run duly suggested to Howarth about changing the overseas policy.
South Africa had ‘no impact’ from policy change
“You’re not going to get an argument from me,” the former All Black responded. “You probably would have two or three years ago, but I look at South Africa and that’s what they do, and it hasn’t impacted them at all.”
Howarth also agreed with Watson that questions should be asked of some of the coaches, with Tana Umaga and Ryan namechecked, who have seen the areas of the game they’re responsible for struggle.
“The set-piece, the aerial dominance and the defence [have been the weakness]. We scored more tries than them, but the defence at the weekend wasn’t where it should be,” he added.
“Of course you’re going to ask questions, certainly because we have been talking about the set-piece for a while.”