Mallett praised the new coaching approach, noting the lack of critical scrutiny when a team is on a winning streak. "No one ever criticises a coach when he doesn’t lose. He has played three, won three, and the team has improved each game," Mallett remarked on the Talking Boks podcast.
Reflecting on the All Blacks' initial struggles and subsequent recovery, Mallett said, "I think they got a bit of a fright and got away with a very tough game against France, but they did well to win that one. I thought they were dreadful in their first 40 minutes against Italy, very lucky to be in touching distance at half-time."
However, their turnaround was evident as Mallett continued, "They really played well in the second half when the Italians didn’t perform, but they took a massive step up against Ireland."
"Whether that’s because Ireland were at the end of a long season and they lost focus, but they really took it to Ireland, and they carried the ball really well. I thought their defence was far better. They got off the line quickly; they didn’t allow Prendergast time on the ball."
The former Springboks boss believes that the All Blacks' performance against Ireland could serve as a strategic model for upcoming games. He emphasized the importance of maintaining those standards, "If they can maintain the standards that they showed in that game against us, we’re in for a really good series here because we’re going to present them with a lot of physicality."
Mallett elaborated on the tactical nuances that make New Zealand a formidable opponent, "So if our defensive system is tackling low and allowing them to offload, they will be very dangerous against us."
He also admired their tactical play: "What I really liked about the Ireland game was that their mixture between forwards carrying, playing with width with a two-tiered attack, and also some very good kicking, very, very intelligent kicking as well, which turned Ireland around."
Concluding his insights, Mallett expressed confidence in Rennie's leadership, aligning him with the team's ethos under the captaincy of Ardie Savea, "Dave Rennie has got this team aligned under Ardie Savea. They really like the way he’s coaching, and this team is responding to him."
As the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series approaches, these insights suggest that the All Blacks, under the astute leadership of Rennie and on-field strategies honed against top-tier teams, are shaping up to be a complex challenge for the Springboks. The strategic interplays and adaptations observed by Mallett will be key factors to watch as these historic rivals clash once more on the global stage.
