The All Blacks' ambitions for a Grand Slam were dashed following a disappointing loss to England, a result that former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains attributed to a lack of unity and adaptability in the coaching staff and the team’s strategy.
Diving into the specifics of the match at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, New Zealand had initially taken a commanding lead with early tries from Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor. However, England clawed back, closing the gap to a mere point by halftime with contributions from Ollie Lawrence and the boot of George Ford. Post-interval, England ascended, with Sam Underhill, Fraser Dingwall, and Tom Roebuck adding tries, and Ford's accurate kicking sealing the deal.
The aftermath of this loss was a candid discussion on The Platform NZ podcast, where Mains expressed his concerns about the current coaching dynamics.
"It looks to me like there may not be 100% unity among the coaches, or cohesion might be a better word, among the coaches, as to the game-plan they’re going to play,"
Mains remarked, highlighting the crux of the issue.
Further elaborating on the tactical inflexibility, Mains noted the detrimental impact of losing key players like Fabian Holland and Cam Roigard during critical phases of the game.
"And when that was gone, it seemed to loosen England up a bit,"
he observed, pointing out how pivotal these players were to maintaining the initial game strategy against a resilient England side.
Mains also lamented the modern complexities of rugby coaching, contrasting it with his tenure when the roles within the coaching team were more streamlined, which he believes, helped in maintaining clarity and confidence among players. "I was the coach. Earle (Kirton) was my assistant coach. And we didn’t have defence coaches, and we didn’t have attack coaches. So the players, and Earle and I were exactly on the same page," Mains explained, suggesting that this helped eliminate confusion and ensured all players were aligned with the game plan.
The discussion also touched upon the national fervor for rugby, with Mains affirming the continued passion New Zealanders hold for their team despite the current challenges. The All Blacks look to regroup and finish their tour on a high note against Wales at the Principality Stadium, hoping to salvage some pride and possibly, lay down a marker for the future.
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The All Blacks' ambitions for a Grand Slam were dashed following a disappointing loss to England, a result that former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains attributed to a lack of unity and adaptability in the coaching staff and the team’s strategy.
Diving into the specifics of the match at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, New Zealand had initially taken a commanding lead with early tries from Leicester Fainga’anuku and Codie Taylor. However, England clawed back, closing the gap to a mere point by halftime with contributions from Ollie Lawrence and the boot of George Ford. Post-interval, England ascended, with Sam Underhill, Fraser Dingwall, and Tom Roebuck adding tries, and Ford's accurate kicking sealing the deal.
The aftermath of this loss was a candid discussion on The Platform NZ podcast, where Mains expressed his concerns about the current coaching dynamics.
"It looks to me like there may not be 100% unity among the coaches, or cohesion might be a better word, among the coaches, as to the game-plan they’re going to play,"
Mains remarked, highlighting the crux of the issue.Further elaborating on the tactical inflexibility, Mains noted the detrimental impact of losing key players like Fabian Holland and Cam Roigard during critical phases of the game.
"And when that was gone, it seemed to loosen England up a bit,"
he observed, pointing out how pivotal these players were to maintaining the initial game strategy against a resilient England side.Mains also lamented the modern complexities of rugby coaching, contrasting it with his tenure when the roles within the coaching team were more streamlined, which he believes, helped in maintaining clarity and confidence among players. "I was the coach. Earle (Kirton) was my assistant coach. And we didn’t have defence coaches, and we didn’t have attack coaches. So the players, and Earle and I were exactly on the same page," Mains explained, suggesting that this helped eliminate confusion and ensured all players were aligned with the game plan.
The discussion also touched upon the national fervor for rugby, with Mains affirming the continued passion New Zealanders hold for their team despite the current challenges. The All Blacks look to regroup and finish their tour on a high note against Wales at the Principality Stadium, hoping to salvage some pride and possibly, lay down a marker for the future.