Rugby Union - New Zealand's All Blacks have lost to England at Twickenham, 19-33. This has got to sting as England are starting to rack up wins a little too often.
What has gone wrong?
New Zealand seem to lack the ability to get themselves out of a slump during games. I put this down to three main factors:
1. Coaching - the team now plays two-dimensionally, they lack innovation. Gone are the 3D chess moves of Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, the current coaches' predecessors.
2. Captaincy - the current leadership on the field is lacking; they live only in the moment and make very poor strategic on-field decisions.
3. Skill - the players commit too many basic errors, such as not being able to secure the ball or retain possession, and they lack in areas of more advanced play, such as their body position when close to the line.
During the latest effort against England, there was a long period of time when the All Blacks failed to score, letting England get a feeling they were in the game. Previous teams were always able to keep the scoreboard ticking along, effectively shutting down the hopes of their opposition.
The only positive is that it is good to find this out now, rather than close to a World Cup. The All Blacks have a lot of work to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment