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Analysis - The first obstacle of this very long All Black season has been cleared. Scott Robertson's side have flown out to San Diego to take on Fiji next weekend, but there's plenty to talk about in the wash up of the 2-0 series win over a very impressive England. So impressive, it's quite conceivable that it'd could've been 0-2 if a few key moments had gone the other way.
The long and short of it is that while there's a lot to like about the start, there's an awful lot to get right before the All Blacks head to South Africa.
Head coach of New Zealand Scott Robertson greets fans and supporters. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
Here's some talking points:
Lineout shambles
The All Blacks had issues in the first test but they turned into a full blown disaster in the second. A lot of it had to do with Maro Itoje's brilliance, but the lineout leaders should've prepped for him better beforehand, especially since it devolved into Itoje managing to even disrupt their low throw failsafe options.
Patrick Tuipulotu of the All Blacks contests a lineout. Photo: Steve McArthur/www.photosport.nz
Scrum heaven
While one part of the set piece was poor, the other went about as well as it could. The first scrum yielded a penalty and played a big part in the almost 2:1 count referee Nik Berry whistled up in the second test.
Pulling the trigger
The attack was more fluid than Dunedin, but nowhere near where it needs to be. Scott Hansen and Jason Holland have clearly come in with new ideas and it's taking time to implement, which should happen sooner rather than later given that all of these players are pretty familiar to each other.
The only debut
On that theme, it hasn't escaped many that Robertson has very much picked up where Ian Foster left off in terms of selections. The only changes that have been made are due to players leaving and injuries, with the only new cap Cortez Ratima being a combination of both factors. To his credit, Ratima looked right at home on a test rugby field after being injected into the game with England leading on the scoreboard.
What happens at 10 and 15?
Beauden Barrett's shift off the bench was the biggest talking point of the Eden Park win, which leads to an intriguing narrative about what happens next. Stephen Perofeta has certainly done nothing wrong and should've scored a try in the first half, plus there's Will Jordan to return soon too. So, does Beauden start or even make a challenge for the number 10 jersey? Complicating that is that Damian McKenzie was effective in the face of another blitz by the English defence, so it feels like a tight squeeze in both positions.
Auditions at wing
Sevu Reece owned the first test, Mark Tele'a the second - although Tele'a blotted his copybook by botching Perofeta's aforementioned chance with an intercepted pass that was more style than substance. Emoni Narawa and Caleb Clarke will surely start next weekend in San Diego with the brief to use the chance to get involved and impress before the Rugby Championship, really though any combination of all four feel like they can do a job in a test match.
All Blacks winger Mark Tele’a scores the opening try during the New Zealand All Blacks v England, 2nd Test at Eden Park. Photo: Photosport
Finding a way
Robertson noted that the All Blacks finding their way out of a jam and winning was what he was most proud of, and it's hard not to agree. The 2022 Irish series loss was because a good opposition did things the All Blacks weren't expecting and they couldn't figure out a plan on the fly, while the first test against England saw a complete change in tactics at halftime. The second was a slightly more nuanced shift, but they both ended in victory and that's ultimately what matters.
Home crowds need to sort themselves out
It unfortunately says a great deal about New Zealand rugby crowds that, at utterly crucial stages of both tests when all eyes should've been intently anticipating what was going to happen next, Mexican waves made their pathetic way around Forsyth Barr and Eden Park. Embarrassing.
