Irish woes continued at the quarter final stage yet again in Japan. Crashing out as they were crushed by a brutally strong and efficient New Zealand performance. Throughout the World Cup Ireland have played well in patches, starting strong against a Scotland team in a dominant display. However, Ireland had been unable to beat the hosts, lining up this sensational clash for the Quarter Finals. The Japan game had shown them tired and unable to control the game, kicking 11% less than Scotland. In matches where territory is everything, and given the limited opportunities they received Ireland’s lack of maintaining a strategy which had benefited them greatly was a real issue. This was a problem that stalked Ireland in the quarter finals.
However this is not to take anything away from the All Blacks. The variation of New Zealand brought Ireland to their knees. Recording a variation of 46.5% New Zealand showed why they are the masters of International Rugby. For comparison Ireland recorded a variation of 11.1% over 4 times less. This allows New Zealand to defend with ease while Ireland were fighting against a many headed beast.
New Zealand took control, the second Aaron Smith try was crucial in showing the power of set plays. While they don’t immediately score, the isolating act of the NZ attack allows them to really expose Ireland outside.
Firstly, the scrum is dominant and remains square, whilst not over accelerating. Being set in the 15m Channel, allows New Zealand to spread the ball. The dominance of New Zealand means that Ireland are forced to hold their flankers in the scrum and limits their ability to drift and cut off the space.
The key comes from New Zealand’s foreboding threat of the kick. This keeps to Irish defenders trapped back, while Reece is able to hide behind a mass of bodies. While New Zealand use their lack of width to hide Reece, the turned ball from Goodhue gives Reece the opportunity to loop.
This break is then compounded because Gary Ringrose jumps out of the line. Either not seeing the threat of Reece, or wanting to prevent the ball going wide, he jumps and is unable to shut the ball off. This leaves Earls defending the flank by himself.
The penultimate All Balck runner comes carrying hard, the speed at which he travels forces earls to go for him. This is all caused by the isolation of RIngrose. By forcing him to make baiting him into jumping out of the line the All Blacks can sweep round the corner.
The ball is then flung out to Bridge who eats up the meters and gets New Zealand within 5m. This then leaves Ireland having scrambled to try and prevent the score. Stockdale then tries to put pressure on Smith wanting to make the Scrum Half panic. However this early jump allows him space, another example of isolation, Stockdale perhaps feeling he can prevent a quick try with jumping slightly early.
The Codie Taylor try in the 46th minute took advantage of sustained pressure. However the variety of ways in which they played proves to be a great way to examine the All Blacks entire structure.
Starting with a series of close carries, the All Blacks then attack wider still relying on small carries to make ground. However it is not about scoring every time, New Zealand instead pulling the pieces into place with extreme patience.
The close ruck carries of New Zealand is what started the play. By using forward close to the ruck it is simple enough for them to expose spaces. It also allows New Zeland to use all their backs to stretch Ireland.
The Kiwis are grouped close and perhaps goad Ireland into poor decisions. Worried by the amount of numbers in the wider channels, on repeated occasions Ireland make digs for the ball. However this merely restricts their line. Slowing down the ball eventually becomes a pointless activity as New Zealand are ready to flick a switch and cut them to shreds.
While this may sound like words for words sake it is so crucial to the All Black attack. The fluidity comes from the variety and comfortableness within multiple situations. So when Beauden Barret attacks wide it forces Ireland to switch the direction of the fold and react to a new point of pressure.
However the try doesn’t come from a specific switch of style or new dynamic introduced by the players. It simply comes from well executed skills. The hard carry from Kieran Read brings them close to the line whilst the Irish tacklers double up, they miss the ball. This try was therefore a marrying of many years of practice. The using of 2 playmaker style, the redeployment of hooker and number 8 more centrally all pointing toward a score made through years not merely the minutes of the game.
The New Zealand performance was one of mastery. Controlling everything and dictating the position. This is best shown through Ireland being unable to play their style. Ireland kicked 54% of their possession against Scotland, but against the All Blacks mustered less than 45%. The beauty therefore of New Zealand was their control of Ireland as well as themselves. The variety prevented easy defence, but it mainly forced Ireland to change. Whether it was the pressure, the occasion or the early scores, Ireland looked to try to force a change in plans rather than slip into their groove and play their way. This, a clear side effect of the NZ pressure.
The Analysis Guy 