All Blacks: Patience, surprise the keys to victory

John Plumtree (left) says that the All Blacks had to split the Springboks cohesion by using short kickoffs and lineout variety. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Laurie Mains and John Plumtree, two coaches with intimate knowledge of South African rugby, believe the All Blacks need to build concerted pressure and confront the Springboks if they are to leave Durban tomorrow with an invaluable Tri-Nations triumph.

The experienced duo argue the All Blacks will suffer if they play adventurous football before they have quelled the Springboks' forward onslaught.

Both Mains, who coached the All Blacks in their return foray to the Republic in 1992 and then the Cats, and Plumtree who guides the Sharks, say patience has to be the All Blacks' greatest weapon. They were critical of the side's fractured approach in last week's defeat in Bloemfontein.

"I would like to see the plan change to one which is more designed to grow the pressure rather than looking to attack from first-phase or looking for too many counter-attacks," Mains said.

"When the All Blacks kept possession last week they were able to make some inroads through the defence but if they are trying one-off moves all the time from great distances, I don't think that is going to succeed.

"We just seem to be trying too hard to score tries from setpiece rather than having a deliberate three or four-phase buildup which I think you have got to have in international rugby against the good teams. You have to be patient."

Plumtree, who had a brief 2002 stint as the All Blacks analyst, said the tourists had to break up their hosts' rhythm.

"They have to reduce the airy-fairy stuff and have to build phases but when the time is right, and that is the crucial part, they then have to use their flair.

"They need to get the Boks' tackle count up first so that they start to feel fatigued whereas in Bloemfontein, I don't think they managed to do that."

The All Blacks, Plumtree suggested, had to split the Springboks cohesion by using short kickoffs and lineout variety to disrupt their rhythm and conversely, build up their own confidence.

South Africa would use forward drives and tactical kicking from Morne Steyn and Fourie du Preez as their foundation and they could not be allowed to settle into that pattern.

Mains who remains an ardent rugby follower and analyst, felt the All Blacks lacked an obvious gameplan in Bloemfontein to build pressure.

The Boks' defence was sound and the fact they did not concede many penalties suggested the All Blacks did not put them under enough heat.

"They were not accurate enough but that may be a sign of things we saw against the French a bit, that the players are not 100 per cent clear on how they should be playing. I don't know," said Mains.

"Often when you see uncertainty in players that is where you get those little mistakes and often it is because either they don't understand or don't know clearly, what their patterns should be."

Structure from the All Blacks tomorrow should be mandatory, 50-50 passes and other frilly football outlawed.

If first-phase attack was stifled, there had to be bailout plans where support players knew their roles so they could recycle possession and maintain pressure.

Plumtree added that variety and adventure were all very well but the All Blacks had to bring a tactical astuteness to this game in choosing when to counterattack. They had to surprise the Boks and make them wonder what they were going to do next.

Replacement Boks' first five-eighths Morne Steyn was someone the All Blacks should attack without being obsessed by the strategy. He was a very reliable punter and goalkicker but he did stand well behind the advantage line while his defence was not top-class.

"The All Blacks have to create opportunities where they can run at him. They have to isolate him and I think both Stephen Donald and Ma'a Nonu running down his channel can do some damage.

"The Boks will expect the All Blacks to really come out firing because they have a decent break after this," Plumtree added.

Mains thought the All Blacks were the best team available but there were areas of concern. The lineouts were too complicated and were too untidy last week. They were suffering through the lack of a midfield kicking option which was a detriment to gaining field position.

It would be an ongoing problem until Daniel Carter, Luke McAlister or someone returned but some attacking power would be sacrificed if Nonu was jettisoned. He had been heavily marked and his impact limited.

The loose forwards combination was strong, Isaac Ross had stepped up well to test rugby and the only change might be the need to use a few more pick and drive charges to keep the Boks guessing.

"There is not a lot between the two teams in ability and physique," Mains said. "But the Boks have been strengthened by the selection of Heinrich Brussouw. Previously they have not had an openside flanker and if they play him with (Schalk) Burger when he is back, that will be a dynamic combination. I don't think Juan Smith does enough work, he spends too much time out in the backs when (Pierre) Spies can do that job."

Mains lauded the return of Jimmy Cowan at halfback and thought his battle with du Preez would be a highlight. However Cowan had to keep his mind entirely on his own game, the moment he tried to upset the opposition he started to lose the plot.

Both Mains and Plumtree thought there was little between the sides. The All Blacks would be better off for the sea-level location and would have recovered fully from any jetlag.

"The Kiwis have to be brave," Plumtree said. "They have to get over a Springbok team which is feeling sure of their place in the rugby world."