All Blacks legend Murray Mexted recently emphasized the significance of dominating possession in rugby, a strategy that served New Zealand well during their recent 40-21 triumph over Ireland in the Nations Championship. Speaking on a DSPN podcast hosted by Martin Devlin, Mexted discussed the advantages of controlling the ball and how this strategy will be pivotal for the All Blacks' upcoming tour in South Africa.
Mexted has long advocated for a more robust forward pack, believing that sizeable players are crucial in securing possession. The recent victory where New Zealand maintained control of the ball most of the time has reinforced his stance. He shared,
"So, to me before that game, I said publicly, if we can win 58% of possession, we’ll win the game by 10 points. Well, I think the way it turned out, we won 59% of the possession, and we won by 19 points. So, you’d have to say that’s a big tick. Well done, lads."
While delighted with the team's performance under coach Dave Rennie, Mexted cautioned that a formidable challenge awaits the All Blacks in South Africa. The tour includes matches against all four United Rugby Championship teams, followed by three intense encounters with the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town, culminating in Baltimore on September 12.
The strategy of having a strong forward pack seemed vindicated with Tupou Vaa’i's standout performance against Ireland while playing out of position on the blindside flank. His synergy with fellow loose forwards Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson was particularly effective, prompting Mexted to praise the trio:
"If you’ve got three individual players and they’re brilliant, the trio is going to be no good. You’ve got to have a trio that work together. And it’s got to be balanced."
Mexted expressed concerns about playing in South Africa, citing factors like altitude and environmental challenges that uniquely affect games there. He emphasized the physical style of South African rugby, focused on possession and physical dominance, as a significant hurdle the All Blacks must overcome.
Reflecting on previous encounters in South Africa, Mexted recalled a trip where gaining less than half the possession led to defeat, illustrating the critical importance of maintaining control of the ball:
"And we won 41% of ball and 42% of the ball and we got beaten. And we think that’s unusual. It’s not unusual. Everyone talks about us getting beaten. Why we got beaten? Well, we got beaten because we didn’t win enough ball."
In a broader context, the former number eight criticized the lack of emphasis on possession in rugby analysis and journalism, arguing for a greater appreciation of its importance. As the All Blacks prepare for their upcoming matches, understanding and mastering the dynamics of possession will be key to their success on the challenging South African fields.
