It was a scrap to the dying; an impossibly grim battle within the final 10 minutes when each side determined they had been going to play to extract penalties. New Zealand — simply — had the wherewithal to discover a method to win.
It wasn’t fairly, overly coherent or stuffed with magical highs by any means, however there was graft, an impressive scrummaging effort and sufficient rugby intelligence, refined ability and want to sneak house towards an England crew who will really feel they discovered the All Blacks’ delicate spots however couldn’t fairly exploit them.
There was actually no wow issue within the All Blacks’ victory — no extended sweeping passages of cleverly designed and exactly executed new starter performs.
They appeared weak and a bit unsure in durations — slightly flummoxed by England’s umbrella defence and a bit in need of attacking concepts when issues didn’t fairly go their manner after a couple of phases.
However what they didn’t lack was perception, and given the troubles the All Blacks had at occasions final 12 months staying targeted and disciplined, this was a breakthrough victory given the best way there was no wild acts or dumb moments.
It was a victory constructed on want, a scrum that everybody aside from the referee knew was dominant, and a masterclass in defensive work on the breakdown.
These had been the three qualities that gave the All Blacks what they wanted to remain in a combat it began to really feel they had been shedding halfway by way of the second half.
Having spent the primary half kicking almost all their possession away, England took higher management of proceedings within the first 20 minutes of the second half after they saved the ball in hand, saved their large males coming across the nook and careworn the All Blacks defence.
It was a components they won’t doubt lean into extra closely subsequent week, as a result of the All Blacks had been solely capable of thwart them because of the turnover magic of Ardie Savea.
He was capable of pull off his traditional two or three key turnovers at essential occasions and cease England after they had the All Blacks in determined straits.
The opposite star of the present was the scrum, which, regardless of a couple of impetuous moments, the odd technical gremlin, and a few mad rulings by the referee, had England in bother.
It was a weapon the All Blacks might depend on to ship them a much-needed penalty, and it’s clear the true weaponry in Scott Robertson’s crew lies within the entrance row.
He has inherited a world-class cohort of props who can ship a damaging scrum and but play on their toes, too — carry the ball, make tackles and get themselves over the ball on the breakdown.
The hassle from all 4 props was excellent, however Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax had been simply an excessive amount of for England too deal with and the All Blacks of 2024 could be assured as they construct into the season, that they’ve a pack that may most likely out scrummage each crew they meet, perhaps even South Africa.
The attacking magic must wait, however for now, there’s purpose to be buoyed by the preventing qualities the All Blacks confirmed, their calm beneath stress, and their capability to regain the momentum within the final 5 minutes.
These are vastly necessary attributes and in a way, we noticed, regardless of not seeing a lot, exactly what Razor stated the All Blacks would ship — rugby versatile sufficient to win video games.
With the ability to discover the little weak factors and exploit them are what issues in assessments and England might be feeling that was the distinction between the 2 groups in the long run. There was so little between them, however New Zealand discovered a method to pull off key turnovers, win a couple of scrum penalties and put them beneath sufficient stress to win key moments that led to point-scoring alternatives.
It could have been a tough watch at occasions, however that’s typically the character of check matches and the victory supplies assurance that the All Blacks are constructing a model of rugby that appears able to serving to them scale the summit of the world recreation once more.
What got here by way of in Dunedin was a way that the gamers knew what they had been doing on each side of the ball, and whereas there was an absence of accuracy at occasions, there was no lack of certainty about their strategic intent and particular person roles.
The Razor period, after a bumpy begin, is airborne and able to fly slightly greater within the weeks to come back.
