Autumn Nations: All Blacks Ratings

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Post on Nov 17, 2024

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Autumn Nations Series: Dissecting the All Blacks' Performances

The All Blacks' Autumn Nations Series campaign in 2023 offered a mixed bag of results and performances, leaving fans and pundits alike debating the team's true potential. While ultimately finishing with a winning record, the manner of victories and the nature of the losses raised significant questions about the squad's cohesion, tactical flexibility, and overall consistency. Let's delve into a performance rating of the All Blacks across their Autumn Tests.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

While avoiding a losing record is a positive, the All Blacks failed to consistently dominate as expected. Their victories often came with periods of vulnerability, highlighting areas that require significant improvement before the next Rugby World Cup. The inconsistency in performance, coupled with the narrow escape against a spirited Italy, prevented a higher rating.

Individual Player Performances:

Assessing individual players requires nuanced consideration of their specific roles and the context of each match. However, some key observations emerge:

• Richie Mo'unga (Fly-half): 7/10: Mo'unga showcased his exceptional goal-kicking accuracy, consistently providing crucial points. However, his game management and distribution could be more assertive at times, particularly under pressure.

• Will Jordan (Wing): 8/10: Jordan was a standout performer, consistently threatening with his pace and finishing ability. His aerial prowess and defensive contributions added further value.

• Ardie Savea (Flanker): 8/10: Savea's tireless work rate, both in attack and defense, was invaluable. His ball-carrying and breakdown work were pivotal to several victories.

• Sam Cane (Captain): 6/10: Cane's leadership was questioned by some, with his influence on the field not always translating to consistent on-field dominance. His defensive contributions were solid, but his attacking impact was less noticeable.

• Beauden Barrett (Fly-half/Fullback): 7/10: When used effectively, Barrett added a different dimension to the attack, his versatility a valuable asset. However, his game time was managed, limiting his overall impact.

• Front Row: 6.5/10: The scrum performance was inconsistent throughout the series. While they often held their own, there were moments of vulnerability, particularly against stronger opponents.

• Second Row: 7/10: The second row generally performed well, offering a strong lineout and physical presence in the contact area. However, consistency in this area remains crucial.

Areas for Improvement:

The All Blacks need to address several key areas before the next major tournament:

• Lineout Consistency: While often successful, the lineout suffered some lapses, presenting opportunities for opponents to gain momentum.
• Maul Defense: The All Blacks struggled at times to effectively defend the maul, conceding crucial tries in several matches.
• Game Management: The team's game management, especially in the closing stages of matches, requires further refinement to ensure a more controlled approach to victory.
• Set-Piece Dominance: Consistent dominance in the scrum and lineout is essential to dictate the flow of the game and reduce pressure on the backline.

Conclusion:

The All Blacks' Autumn Nations Series provided valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses. While the positive results offer some solace, the performances lacked the consistent dominance expected of a team of their caliber. Addressing the identified weaknesses is crucial to ensuring a more successful campaign in future tournaments. The coming months will be critical for the coaching staff to implement the necessary changes and foster the cohesion required for a genuine title challenge.