In the wake of a gripping encounter in Christchurch, Dave Rennie, the newly minted coach of the All Blacks, expressed both pleasure and a keen eye for areas needing refinement after their narrow victory over France. The match, which marked New Zealand's first under Rennie's leadership following Scott Robertson's tenure, showcased a vibrant, attack-oriented style from the All Blacks, culminating in a 34-32 win to commence the Nations Championship.
The All Blacks demonstrated a reinvigorated offensive strategy, keen on maintaining a high tempo and utilizing quick ball movement, a tactic that Rennie found particularly impressive. "I loved the effort, I loved the optimism. There was one time where we were probably overly optimistic… but we were able to play with a really high tempo and lightning quick ball – almost 85 percent which is just outrageous," Rennie shared with reporters. This approach translated into five tries, with standout performances from Will Jordan and Cam Roigard, each crossing the line twice.
"Can’t fault the effort, I loved the mindset, we’ve just got to be a lot more accurate."
Despite the All Blacks' dynamic play, the French team kept pace, thanks largely to their own quick ruck speed, clocked by Rennie at 76 percent. The match remained tightly contested, with France exploiting every New Zealand slip-up to remain in the hunt throughout the game. "It was an arm wrestle, we couldn’t shake them. We would score and then make a couple of errors that gifted them good field position," Rennie admitted, reflecting on the ebb and flow of the game.
The All Blacks' performance, though marred by initial setbacks including an early 7-0 deficit and a yellow card, was still commendable. Rennie praised his team's resilience: "We managed the next 10 minutes really well and managed the score. We constantly got our nose in front and then gave them an opportunity, and they’re good enough to take it." He acknowledged the need for improved defensive speed and pressure to counteract France's short passing game.
While the start under Rennie was promising, the coach emphasized the need for further development: "We just need more time, more reps, more around combinations... if you can give them slow ball, it gives us time to fold, get appropriate numbers and get off the line." Both teams mirrored each other in mindset and execution, setting the stage for a thrilling tournament ahead.
As the All Blacks look forward to their next fixtures, the focus will be on refining these combinations and enhancing their tactical execution to capitalize on their evident potential and high-spirited play under Rennie's guidance.