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Veteran padlock Sam Whitelock has acknowledged that the All Blacks’ tight five have taken a step forward and two steps back in Australia, prompting the need for veteran players to take control of a group that has been lost in the game. tour.
The All Blacks big men were unable to prevail with ball in hand against a group of Pumas in Sydney on Saturday, and although scrums did not play a decisive part of the contest, the All Blacks still managed to concede two penalties in the Pumas Pienso.
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Sam Whitelock receives a double tackle during the loss to Argentina in Sydney on Saturday.
The performance stands in stark contrast to a powerful and accurate display at Bledisloe II in Sydney, and the All Blacks’ lack of consistency has not been lost at Whitelock.
“Speaking of the adjusted five, we’re probably a bit like the results of the last few weeks,” Whitelock said Sunday.
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“We’ve had some really good performances and then some where we know we can be better.
“It’s about eliminating that learning and flattening that curve so it’s not so up and down.”
The All Blacks pack has not been helped by a bad tactical kick, with Richie Mo’unga’s No. 10 being one of the culprits on Saturday.
Head coach Ian Foster was scathing about that aspect of the All Blacks game.
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The All Blacks look dejected after their historic 25-15 loss to the Pumas.
“When we resorted to a shorter, more controversial kicking game, we did well,” Foster said during his autopsy of Sunday’s test.
“But in the first half we kicked very badly, especially from behind.
“We gave loose possession when we needed to put them under pressure. It was quite frustrating. “
Nonetheless, the sight of the All Blacks scrum under pressure, and the backlash during a powerful Pumas maul in the second half, was alarming for a nation that has produced more than its fair share of tough men up front.
“It’s up to me as a senior player, obviously Dane is another player, we have to drive big around our play and breakdown and allow our team to play,” Whitelock said.
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The All Blacks group has been reduced by the absence of Brodie Retallick.
Patrick Tuipulotu made some energetic tackles early on but was generally calm, and while Tupou Vaa’i once again produced some impact from the bench, it can’t be up to the 20-year-old to be the dominant physical presence up front.
Scott Barrett may enter the account for the final test of the All Blacks tournament against the Pumas in two weeks, but in the long run the coaches are probably counting the days until Brodie Retallick returns from Japan.
In the front row, Joe Moody was solid against the Pumas, but there is an overall lack of depth in the loose head, particularly with Atu Moli recovering from a long-term hip problem.
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster says the All Blacks game has been too “tight” in recent weeks.
Still, Foster indicated that the All Blacks were his worst enemy against the Pumas as well, being sucked into a fist fight against the Pumas pack when there was room to explode elsewhere in the paddock.
“When you don’t take advantage and you don’t see some opportunities that are given against a good team, sometimes you can reduce your game,” Foster said.
“I feel like right now we have to be much more clinical to take advantage of the opportunities and that makes the defense change.
“We allowed Argentina to do what they do well, which is to get ahead and target a key carrier.
“We didn’t change that point of contact enough.”
