The All Blacks scraped by with a win over the Springboks, yet not everyone is singing praises. Legendary All Black Murray Mexted has expressed his dissatisfaction with Wallace Sititi’s performance, advocating for a reshuffling of the back-row that might just stir up more than just strategic adjustments.
In an All Blacks lineup that saw Ardie Savea, Simon Parker, and Wallace Sititi take the field together, the combination, despite securing a 24-17 victory, left much to be desired in terms of dynamism and impact. Speaking to Martin Devlin on DSPN, Mexted didn’t mince words about the current setup:
“No, I’m not [happy]. Sititi was pretty anonymous in that game, to be frank.”
Mexted’s solution? More Parker, less Sititi. “You’ve got to put a lot of emphasis on possession. We need more ball, we need more than 48 per cent possession, so I would be moving Parker to number eight and moving Vaa’i back to six,” he elaborated. This shift, according to Mexted, would not only enhance the All Blacks’ control over the game but also optimize their use of key players like Scott Barrett in aerial plays.
While coach Scott Robertson might hesitate to tweak a winning combination, the opposing camp isn’t shying away from bold moves. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has overhauled his lineup for the upcoming Wellington game, a decision that former All Blacks coach John Hart finds risky yet potentially rewarding. Hart shared his thoughts, stating, “His season’s on the line next Saturday at Wellington. So he’s obviously decided to cut away the conservative approach that he had last week. And look, some of those players are very exciting.”
As the teams head into their next encounter, the debate continues not just on the field but off it, as strategic minds clash over the best paths to victory. With the Rugby Championship hanging in the balance, these decisions could very well dictate the future of this fiercely contested tournament.