Following a disheartening defeat to Argentina, All Blacks legend Justin Marshall has called for a shake-up in New Zealand's back three, pinpointing Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece as particularly weak links in Scott Robertson's lineup. The recent performance in Buenos Aires highlighted a glaring issue: a lack of impact and aerial prowess from the duo, leading to a vulnerable All Blacks side that struggled to maintain any semblance of attacking fluency.
Ioane and Reece, once considered dynamic weapons for the All Blacks, have seen their form dip significantly. Marshall, not one to mince words, emphasized the necessity of mastery in the air for modern wingers, a skill where both players are currently falling short. "You've got to ask the question, why is it going wrong? Those players have got to be in the zone, and to be a modern day winger, you look at the two wingers out of South Africa – [Cheslin] Kolbe and [Kurt-Lee] Arendse," Marshall critiqued on Sport Nation's The Rugby Run.
"As a modern day winger, you have to be able to do that and our wingers were non-existent."
Marshall's frustration didn't end with aerial abilities. He also highlighted Reece's work ethic, which paradoxically might be doing more harm than good. "When he doesn’t get the ball delivered to him, he wants to go looking for it but what it does is leaves us vulnerable on the wing," Marshall explained. This tendency to wander in search of the ball reportedly left gaping holes in the All Blacks' formation, which Argentina exploited effectively.
The match also saw questionable substitutions from Robertson, which according to Marshall, failed to inject the necessary dynamism into the game. Swapping like for like in key positions did little to alter the match's trajectory, with players shuffled around in ways that seemingly disrupted the team's rhythm rather than enhancing it.
The growing calls for giving newer talents a shot are becoming louder, and Marshall's pointed critique only amplifies this sentiment. With a crucial matchup against the Springboks on the horizon, Robertson might need to seriously consider these suggestions if the All Blacks are to regain their formidable stature. Marshall's parting shot was a clear message to the coaching staff: reevaluate, or risk further vulnerability.
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Following a disheartening defeat to Argentina, All Blacks legend Justin Marshall has called for a shake-up in New Zealand's back three, pinpointing Rieko Ioane and Sevu Reece as particularly weak links in Scott Robertson's lineup. The recent performance in Buenos Aires highlighted a glaring issue: a lack of impact and aerial prowess from the duo, leading to a vulnerable All Blacks side that struggled to maintain any semblance of attacking fluency.
Ioane and Reece, once considered dynamic weapons for the All Blacks, have seen their form dip significantly. Marshall, not one to mince words, emphasized the necessity of mastery in the air for modern wingers, a skill where both players are currently falling short. "You've got to ask the question, why is it going wrong? Those players have got to be in the zone, and to be a modern day winger, you look at the two wingers out of South Africa – [Cheslin] Kolbe and [Kurt-Lee] Arendse," Marshall critiqued on Sport Nation's The Rugby Run.
"As a modern day winger, you have to be able to do that and our wingers were non-existent."
Marshall's frustration didn't end with aerial abilities. He also highlighted Reece's work ethic, which paradoxically might be doing more harm than good. "When he doesn’t get the ball delivered to him, he wants to go looking for it but what it does is leaves us vulnerable on the wing," Marshall explained. This tendency to wander in search of the ball reportedly left gaping holes in the All Blacks' formation, which Argentina exploited effectively.
The match also saw questionable substitutions from Robertson, which according to Marshall, failed to inject the necessary dynamism into the game. Swapping like for like in key positions did little to alter the match's trajectory, with players shuffled around in ways that seemingly disrupted the team's rhythm rather than enhancing it.
The growing calls for giving newer talents a shot are becoming louder, and Marshall's pointed critique only amplifies this sentiment. With a crucial matchup against the Springboks on the horizon, Robertson might need to seriously consider these suggestions if the All Blacks are to regain their formidable stature. Marshall's parting shot was a clear message to the coaching staff: reevaluate, or risk further vulnerability.