Planet Rugby takes a look at how the New Zealand media reacted to the All Blacks’ 50-19 triumph against the Bulls in their third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match.
After being made to work very hard for victory in their tour opener against the Stormers, the men in black cruised to an easy triumph against the Sharks and built on that result by also registering a convincing win against Johan Ackermann’s charges in Pretoria on Saturday.
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie rang the changes to his starting line-up for the Bulls encounter and senior players like Codie Taylor, who made his tour debut and captained New Zealand for the first time, Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane all shone while the likes of Leroy Carter and Anton Segner also caught the eye with outstanding performances.
As the scoreline suggests, New Zealand were in a rampant mood as they made a fantastic start and held a comfortable 24-0 lead at half-time.
Although the Bulls were more competitive after the interval, the All Blacks still controlled proceedings and eventually outscored their hosts by eight tries to three.
The men in black’s next challenge is the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday and New Zealand’s rugby writers believe the men in black’s preparations are on track ahead of that showdown.
“From looking a little loose and wobbly in Cape Town in their opening game, the All Blacks were tighter, smarter and sharper in Pretoria, and provided a definitive sense that they are now locked into the mentality required to succeed in South Africa,” wrote The New Zealand Herald‘s Gregor Paul.
‘They certainly look a lot more prepared’
“It would… be a stretch to say the All Blacks look ready to play the Springboks, but they certainly look a lot more prepared than when they began this tour. There was a physical edge to the way the All Blacks played – but it was a New Zealand-style physicality.
“They fronted in the collisions, committed to the set-pieces and tackled with plenty of venom, but they also played with such pace and punch that it stretched the Bulls from touchline to touchline and exhausted them.”
Although he stressed that the entire team played well against the Bulls, Paul singled out some individuals who caught the eye and highlighted the All Blacks’ excellent scrummaging against the Bulls as one of the positives ahead of their eagerly anticipated clash with the Springboks.
“It was essentially another 80 minutes of preparation for the test series and the big positives for the All Blacks are the way they managed the game to play their rugby in the right places and subdue the Bulls in all the physical areas,” he added.
“The pace and intensity with which they were able to play and the aerobic content they were able to force the Bulls to induce was a mini triumph for the fluidity of their attack and ruthlessness when they were inside opposition territory.
“They got all the bits right that they needed to, the most important of which was their scrum. It was fair to wonder whether Xavier Numia could scrummage at this level having never seen him do it, and the answer seems to be that yes he can.
“If the Boks were thinking that he might be a weak link if, and most likely when, he comes off the bench next week in the first test, they will be a little disappointed to find that he’s a tough cookie with a destructive edge.
“They already knew that Tyrel Lomax is a big man with the technical prowess and power base to be a handful, but he certainly gave them a reminder that he’s a class act in the set-piece and the All Blacks coaching group will be delighted to have got 60 minutes into their premier tighthead.
“They will also be delighted at what they got from Anton Segner, who wore the All Blacks No 7 jersey and played like an All Blacks No 7.
“He was all over the field, won three turnovers, made big tackles, carried hard and was 80 minutes of non-stop energy in a performance that suggests he will be hard to leave out of the match-day team for the first Test.
“He’ll likely be joined on the bench by his back-row chum Peter Lakai who wasn’t so far behind Segner in effort and influence and maybe there could yet be an unexpected twist of Rieko Ioane making the match-day 23 after he was again sharp and effective in Pretoria.
“The list of individual performers who impressed could be extended to virtually the whole team, but the more important aspect to take from the running of the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld is the way the All Blacks have come to realise what it takes to win in South Africa.
“Their mentality was arguably the most impressive thing about the performance – that mindset they had to scrum for penalties, to kick long out of their 22, to hit every collision like it mattered and to be ruthless inside opposition territory.”
Ioane and Barrett back in the Test picture
Meanwhile, Stuff‘s Richard Knowler believes Ioane and Barrett’s fine displays against the Bulls have put them back into the picture for Test call-ups after both missed out during the All Blacks’ Nations Championship clashes with France, Italy and Ireland last month.
“Battle-scarred warhorses Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett could potentially find themselves clutching the equivalent of a winning lottery ticket if All Blacks coach Dave Rennie decides he can’t risk ignoring their knowledge and versatility for the test against the Springboks in Johannesburg next weekend,” he wrote.
“The performances of centre Ioane and fullback Barrett during the All Blacks’ 50-19 win over the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZT) may demand intense scrutiny from Rennie before naming his match-day 23 for the match against the Boks at Ellis Park.”
Knowler feels, however, that Ioane and Barrett would have to be satisfied with positions on New Zealand’s replacements bench.
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“With wing Caleb Clarke and centre Billy Proctor knocked out of the tour because of injuries, Ioane, who has played wing and centre during an 88-test career that began in 2016, could potentially feature prominently in the selectors’ conversations in coming days,” he added.
“His best chance of being required for active duty would likely be as a substitute – presuming Rennie opts for a 5-3 split on the bench – because the selectors also have Josh Moorby, Leroy Carter and Fehi Fineanganofo gunning for the No 11 spot.
“Ioane shouldn’t be discounted as a potential starter on the left wing, although the traffic is intense and he’s likely to considered better for the bench.
“Barrett may also come under consideration for a slot in the reserves, and not only as back-up for first five-eighth Ruben Love.
“If McKenzie isn’t cleared to play in Jo’burg, Barrett’s ability to operate at fullback – where he started against the Bulls – and goal kicking could be an insurance policy that can’t be ignored.”