Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe raised a few eyebrows when he said northern hemisphere teams are now playing a faster brand of rugby than New Zealand.
As a result, speaking on The Breakdown, O’Keeffe said it was “no surprise” the All Blacks had been beaten by Ireland and France last year, when they generated quicker ball from the breakdown.
O’Keeffe went further, saying the Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific sides had so far been “slow” at recycling the ball.
“The game is slow, we are not getting that quick ball we’ve had over the last few years.”
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O’Keeffe’s comments have made numerous headlines, and top the list of burning questions for Stuff’s rugby scribes to tackle.
Richard Knowler: Not much, really. Let’s make a judgement on the issue when the international window down here opens up. But I will say this. If teams down here bring more of that kick, kick, kick routine from the Six Nations into their performances I will spend a lot more time washing my hair.
Robert van Royen: He’s not wrong. However, the same can’t be said regarding some of his decisions during the Blues-Highlanders game in Auckland last week.
Marc Hinton: I thought he was spot on. And good on him for speaking out on a subject that might be hard to hear for New Zealand rugby fans, but is the glaring issue in our game right now as we adjust to what is happening in the north, and even in the “wannabe north”, South Africa. O’Keeffe could have gone further too. New Zealand’s props lack the ball-playing ability of their northern foes and there are major question marks about our teams’ ability to stand up to the mixture of physicality and ferocity served up by the likes of France, Ireland and the Boks.
Aaron Goile: For starters, great that a high profile referee is voicing such an opinion on the game. And he would know what he’s talking about, having been right in the thick of both hemispheres’ games. The thing that should be noted, though, is this is not a fair comparison…he is comparing test match footy with domestic action. The All Blacks’ breakdown work had clearly been a work-on, though, on the back of those losses to Ireland and France last year.
RK: It would be good to know, wouldn’t it? It’s hard to remember when the Highlanders executed so poorly, on a regular basis. Confidence levels will be down after such a poor start. It’s never easy for teams to dig themselves out of a hole when there’s a fat egg frying in the W column.
RVR: Add injuries to key players Jona Nareki and Billy Harmon to a squad already short on firepower and 2022 had the makings of a tough season before it started. Now, Mitch Hunt’s struggle for form, and an appalling lack of execution, is burying them. The lone bright light has been midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen, and even he is now dinged up.
MH: Brown’s reputation as a genius of attacking footy has certainly taken a blow. But you still need cattle in professional rugby, and the Landers lack a bit of top-end class and experience as they search for a style of game that will work for them. Too many errors and bad decisions pepper their game. But for all that they’re still competitive, and might just a few key additions from turning honourable defeats into gritty victories.
AG: It’s not like we should be at all surprised by this. Because you look at the Highlanders’ squad and there is just an absolute dearth of star power. They might have one of the world’s best in Aaron Smith, but when your next best player is Shannon Frizell, there just isn’t the quality that other sides have. It’d be awesome to see some trademark Brown trick plays, but at the moment he’d just be happy if he’s guys could hold the ball for a few phases.
RK: Yes. Players are paid to do a job and, surely, could have stayed longer. Last time I looked, Queenstown was hardly a dump. NZ Rugby may want one thing. But if they couldn’t convince the Players Association to agree they may as well be blowing kisses into the wind. What we have is this: a mess.
RVR: They might well have. But that means zilch if they can’t convince the players to pack their bags for an extended stint away from home. What they potentially could have done is timed the bubble for when cases really exploded.
MH: It seemed odd at the time that they were bailing out of the bubble right when cases were mounting around the country. Something just didn’t add up. Was it all player dissatisfaction over the gruelling commute to/from Dunedin? Sure enough, the virus has broken through and already created a challenging backlog of matches. Add more and things could get ugly.
AG: No, I don’t see what it would really have achieved. By this time I reckon Covid would have slipped into the ranks of the 300 or so people down south anyway. Plus New Zealand Rugby were in no state to fork out more dosh to keep them down there, and players have lives outside of footy that they need to be able to live.
RK: Probably Pita Gus Sowakula, of Chiefs fame. Busy in all facets, especially with his carries.
RVR: Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula edges Ardie Savea, just. Sowakula is the primary reason why the Chiefs have been the most impressive New Zealand team to date. His ability to surge off the back of a scrum and trample defenders with his speed and power is a treat to watch. Would have to make the All Blacks if Ian Foster were to name a squad tomorrow.
MH: Ardie Savea. Then daylight. The best player in New Zealand rugby has been at his inspirational best for the Hurricanes, and his prominent role in their remarkable comeback victory over the Blues highlighted what an influential figure he is. Whatever they’re paying this guy, it simply ain’t enough.
AG: Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula has been in storming form in his three games (playing 80 minutes in each), being the top carrying Kiwi player and top metre-eater, with his physicality huge in getting his side on the front-foot. Ever since coming in as a replacement player in 2018, the former basketballer has kept improving, so much so now that must be knocking on the door of All Blacks selection. He’s on record as saying he will give it till the end of next year to achieve that dream before throwing his lot in with his native Fiji instead.
RK: It has been excellent. Despite Covid-19 doing its best to spoil the party punch, the players have contributed to a great spectacle. It’s recommended viewing.
RVR: In short, entertaining. It’s just a shame Covid has stripped back what was already a compact maiden season. What’s clear is women’s Super Rugby has got a bright future, one which will hopefully include Australian teams sooner rather than later.
MH: Through no fault of anyone involved, it’s been a competition that has never got off the ground. Just not enough games and not enough of a chance for New Zealand’s top players to either showcase their skills, or make the improvements last November’s tour revealed were required. Covid squeezed and squeezed this groundbreaking league until all we were left with was a frustrating hint of what could have been.
AG: It’s shown some decent potential. Even the pre-season game between the Chiefs Manawa and Matatū was quite a cracker, and those two sides then didn’t disappoint in opening the competition proper, with a game that had plenty of speed and physicality. The whole Covid situation and reducing games to 70 minutes and having 10 players on benches has diluted the product, though, so unfortunately it hasn’t quite been the big take-off everyone had hoped for.
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