In a robust discussion following the All Blacks' recent match, rugby legends Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson gave a cautious nod of approval to the performance under new coach Dave Rennie. Despite securing a 47-17 win against Italy in Wellington, both commentators highlighted a lack of improvement from the previous game against France in Christchurch, where the All Blacks narrowly won by two points. Concerns were raised about persistent errors and the team's adaptation to new strategies implemented by Rennie, who took over from Scott Robertson.
Marshall, commenting on Sky Sport NZ's Breakdown show, remarked, "A pass mark, obviously, they were able to put 47 points on a very tenacious Italy side... the majority of them in the second half—that's where they get their pass mark." However, he was critical about the team's performance consistency, noting the All Blacks did not demonstrate the expected level of improvement. "We weren’t as good as we were in Christchurch. The tempo was there, but the clinical aspect was missing. Some of the physicality was off, and obviously, there were a lot more errors than what we made against the French. So that pass mark’s really hard to get to when you won by 47 points, but ultimately what you want this team to be doing is trending that way, and I don’t think we went like that," he expressed.
"This was hot and cold for me,"
Wilson shared similar sentiments, describing the All Blacks' fluctuating performance. "It was cold in terms of temperature, and that’s what the All Blacks were. They were hot and cold in terms of their performance and a little bit untidy, particularly in the first half," he explained. He further praised the Italian team's preparation and noted, "They’re asking them to play at a consistent tempo, which I think is pressure they haven’t been under for a long time."
The new tactics and player combinations under Rennie's leadership were a focal point of discussion. "There are some new combinations out there in the back row, in the midfield, even in the back three and the front row. So, you’ve got to give some rope. And I’m happy to give that rope, but basic errors the All Blacks don’t tend to make very often, and they made a hell of a lot of handling errors and clumsy ones, which is uncharacteristic," Marshall added.
Despite the hurdles, the consensus remains that while the All Blacks are experiencing growing pains with the shift in gameplay, there is an underlying optimism about the direction Rennie is steering the team. The adjustments in play, described by Marshall as significant from what has been seen in the past four or five years, indicate a transformative phase for the team as they gear up for future challenges, including the 2027 Rugby World Cup.