The Wallabies won three turnovers in Sydney. Dave Rennie explained how the All Blacks kept their openside quiet.
“He’s probably best in the world,” Dave Rennie said of Fraser McReight. Then the All Blacks head coach explained how his side made sure it did not matter.
Rennie was talking to reporters in Sydney on Saturday 17 October, after a 43-21 win that completed a Bledisloe Cup sweep. McReight played all 80 minutes. The Wallabies won three turnovers in the whole game.
Kieran Read said before the series that the All Blacks had to nullify McReight. Sydney was what that looked like.
Is Fraser McReight the best openside in the world right now? If not, name the man ahead of him in the comments.
“He’s probably best in the world”
Rennie started with the compliment and spread it across the whole back row.
“Yeah, I look he’s probably best in the world… and as I mentioned the other day, they got a great loose trio and probably as good as any country in the world. So yeah, we’re well aware of… Fraser’s threat and he’s… not the only one.”
Harry Wilson, McReight and Rob Valetini started together in Sydney.
Stay up longer, win the race
Then the plan.
“So, yeah, that’s why the emphasis on the quality of our carry… to fight to stay up a little bit longer and win races.”
Under Law 14.1, there is no tackle until the ball-carrier is held and brought to ground. A carrier who stays on his feet for an extra beat gives the jackal nothing to attack yet.
That beat is for the support runners. When the carrier finally goes down, the race starts: McReight’s hands against the first black shirt over the ball.
Win that race and the window shuts. Under Law 15.2, a ruck forms when players from both teams are in contact, on their feet, over the ball on the ground. Once it forms, hands are out.
The tell for next time: watch the first All Black to arrive after a carry. If he is over the ball before the tackled man has finished placing it, McReight has nothing to lift.
“We had to target him”
Rennie was still answering the same question.
“We had to target him and… I thought boys were excellent. You know, it’s… he’s often in there digging, but… come up with nothing in key moments.”
Targeting a jackal means sending the first cleaner at him every time, whether he has his hands on the ball or not. It costs a body at every breakdown. Against a player of McReight’s quality, the All Blacks paid it.
Speed of ball was the other weapon. Rennie described it early in the press conference.
“I think when you get fast ball it’s harder for them to come harder at you and… then we had the opportunity to pick them off.”
Fraser McReight’s night in numbers
The figures back Rennie up. Stuff’s full-time stats had the Wallabies winning three turnovers to New Zealand’s six, and losing 19 to New Zealand’s ten.
McReight had a hard evening with ball in hand too. He knocked on five metres out after a good lineout in the first quarter. On 39 minutes he was held up over the line. Beauden Barrett’s 70-metre intercept try came a minute later.
New Zealand prepared for him, and it worked.
Peter Lakai won the turnover McReight usually wins
The jackal moment of the night belonged to the other side. On seven minutes the Wallabies had gone through 13 phases on the All Blacks’ line. Peter Lakai won the turnover inside his own 22.
Rugby Australia named Lakai player of the match. Rennie was asked about him separately.
“I thought he was phenomenal in South Africa as well… he’s just an unbelievable athlete, isn’t he? Like, you know, he runs like a back and he’s got a great skill set, but he hits hard and he’s got post tackle presence. So… he’s pretty special.”
Post-tackle presence is McReight’s trade too. On Saturday it was Lakai who showed it.
The All Blacks’ own video of the press conference has the whole exchange. The ruck law is on World Rugby’s Passport site.
Your turn: name the best openside
Rennie says McReight is probably the best in the world. The Sydney ratings gave him a 5 for a night the All Blacks built their breakdown plan around him. Too harsh, or fair? Make the case below.
Frequently asked
What did Dave Rennie say about Fraser McReight?
That he is “probably best in the world”, and that the Wallabies’ loose trio is as good as any country’s. He said the All Blacks targeted McReight and that he came up with nothing in key moments.
How many turnovers did the Wallabies win against the All Blacks in Sydney?
Three, against New Zealand’s six, according to Stuff’s full-time statistics.
Who was player of the match in the second Bledisloe Cup Test?
Peter Lakai, the All Blacks openside, who also scored a try.
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