Michael Burgess: All Whites coaches get it wrong

New Zealand coach Anthony Hudson walks on the sidelines during the Confederations Cup defeat to Russia. Photo / AP

For a moment yesterday in Russia, it felt like we had been suddenly transported back to New Zealand, smack bang in the middle of the Lions tour.

Listening to the All Whites players reflecting on the tactical approach against Russia reminded of something you might hear from Steve Hansen or Warren Gatland.

The instructions from the All Whites' coaches for the first half boiled down to putting the hosts under pressure, by playing the game in their half.

That's fine in theory, but when it also involves constantly kicking possession away, the plan comes apart.

"We wanted to be nice and positive and just put them on the back foot," said Deklan Wynne, when asked about the game plan. "[We would] rather play in their half instead of putting ourselves under pressure, especially in that first 20 minutes. We just looked to pin them in and be positive."

"We wanted to be direct, especially at the start," added fellow defender Tommy Smith. "To get it in their half and win something off it."

That approach can still prove fruitful in the hurly-burly English leagues, but rarely against top international opposition. Not any more.

Sure, it worked for Jack Charlton's Irish side in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Egil Olsen's Norway gave opposition defenders whiplash with their route one approach that took them to consecutive World Cups (1994 and 1998) but the sport has moved on.

Some current teams have success with a direct approach - Northern Ireland and Iceland spring to mind - but their systems retain an underlying possession base.

That wasn't the case for New Zealand on Sunday, in the first half at least, as the All Whites spent most of the time giving the ball back to Russia, then chasing shadows trying to regain it.

The players can only follow the tactical instructions set by the coaches and that is the disappointing aspect. With months to prepare for this match, the approach was strangely one dimensional.

It consisted of long balls to Chris Wood, normally stationed on the left, to flick on, for Marco Rojas and Kosta Barbarouses to win the second ball. That created a degree of uncertainty in the Russian defence in the first two or three minutes, before they settled into their work and it was bread and butter from there.

It was a missed opportunity. Of course teams like New Zealand have to be pragmatic, especially against major nations, but there is more ability in this group than they were allowed to show on Sunday morning.

Chris Wood is so much more than a target man - he has a great finish off either foot and a sixth sense in front of goal - while the likes of Ryan Thomas and Marco Rojas would grace any All Whites era. Michael McGlinchey is a natural ball player and Wynne is handy going forward and has a good cross.

This current team is also relatively small by All Whites standards. Former coach Ricki Herbert used to get some profit from 'putting it in the mixer', but that era had bigger men, like Chris Killen, Ivan Vicelich, Tim Brown and Rory Fallon so it made sense.

It doesn't anymore.

By Michael Burgess in St Petersburg

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