Match Review: NZ vs Tonga

Perceptions that the All Blacks are vulnerable and headed for a fall were to a fair extent swept aside in Newcastle last night as they absorbed first half pressure and in the end scored seven tries to none to beat the passionate but outgunned Tonga 47-9.

They are not firing on all cylinders yet, but they haven’t needed to do so to earn 19 log points from a possible 20 in their pool, and their improved skills level on attack, tight defence, and team cohesion will have instilled a measure of renewed respect from their likely play-off opponents.

The best of the All Blacks:

1     The first try (scored by Ben Smith), coming from a series of quick hands in narrow space, with sublime handling and timing skills from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Sam Cane amongst others, showed how the All Blacks can create tries when apparently boxed in under pressure of time and space.

2     There were six tries after that, a few of them from wonderfully creative skill that few teams can match.

3     Absorbing pressure in the first half, especially in the last few minutes of the half after Kieran Read had been sinbinned and Tonga used their masses of territory and possession to throw everything they had at crossing the All Black goal-line.

4     Accurate goal-kicking by Dan Carter after his erratic kicking in previous matches.

5     Some of the running off Aaron Smith caused defensive mayhem for Tonga and will have caused play-off opponents concern.

6     Dan Carter is closer to his best, Ben Smith and Aaron Smith were masterful at times, Nehe Milner-Skudder looks the real deal on attack, Jerome Kaino was brilliant on defence, Sam Whitelock had his best game for some time, and Brodie Retallick made huge impact off the bench, as did Beauden Barrett.

Concerns for the All Blacks:

1     The vulnerability to the lineout driving maul, so badly exposed by Argentina in the Rugby Championship, remains a major issue. Tonga had the All Blacks reeling backwards, smashing at their goal-line with momentum, and should probably have been awarded a penalty try when the All Blacks collapsed the maul.

2     The scrummaging was again under pressure at times, though the All Blacks may feel that the referee did not take sufficient cognisance either of the yielding St James’ Park surface causing unsure footing, or of the scrummaging angle of Tony Woodcock’s tighthead opponent.

3     Using too many forwards to run off 10 instead of 9, since running off 9 proved more effective.

4     The number of penalties conceded in the first half, though the All Blacks may have been unhappy with the referee’s judgment on a few of them.

5     The injury to Tony Woodcock.

6     Waisake Naholo’s tentative performance. He is way off his skilful and dynamic best.