NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

All Blacks: Three probing questions

Herald online
25 Aug, 2013 12:20 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Sam Cane, Tom Taylor and Aaron Smith of New Zealand line up for the national anthem during The Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match. Photo / Getty Images.

Sam Cane, Tom Taylor and Aaron Smith of New Zealand line up for the national anthem during The Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup match. Photo / Getty Images.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Wynne Gray of the NZ Herald, Patrick McKendry and Daniel Richardson of APNZ and Gregor Paul from the Herald on Sunday answer three probing questions from last night's test between the All Blacks and Australia.

1. What is your assessment of Tom Taylor's test debut?

WG: Taylor did not overplay his work, he used and listened to the experience all round him and then went about the work he knows. Strong debut, obviously got the temperament, tough with lots of touchline and long range kicks.

GP: Taylor was everything the All Black coaches thought he would be. Composed, assured and certain. He didn't try to take on too much - picked his options wisely and was all about making others look good. It was an impressive debut and one that will have given some confidence he can play at this level.

PM: An excellent first-up effort from Taylor. He looked composed, showed nice hands and got stuck into his defensive duties. I just wonder if he would be better suited to second-five. The road to the No10 All Blacks jersey is a rocky one with Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett ahead of him, but his straight and incisive running suggests he could have a future at No12.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

DR: Tom Taylor was assured and didn't seem rattled by the big occasion. Bar a couple of skewed goal kicks, the Cantabrian was sound and showed a couple of nice flashes with ball in hand. His cover tackle on James O'Connor was a highlight.

2. Steven Luatua made at least two telling interventions, but is it too early to anoint him as the No 1 blindside flanker? Why?

WG: Luatua needs to get busier early but he is putting heat on Messam because of impact with the ball, lineout option and his feel for the role.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

GP: Steven Luatua is a natural athlete who will become a seriously good rugby player if he continues as is. There is no need to rush him yet - Liam Messam delivers physical, robust rugby and Luatua will be best served by occasional starts and cameos off the bench for the remainder of this year.

PM: Liam Messam is the incumbent, so Luatua will have to bide his time. However, he showed enough to suggest he will at least be putting a lot of pressure on Messam in the near future. We know about Luatua's size and skills _ now he just has to find a bit of mongrel and put a shoulder on a few people in defence.

DR: No it's not too early to anoint him as the No 1 blindside. Luatua brings a dynamic aspect to his game that Liam Messam and Victor Vito have never managed to show in the All Blacks jersey. A big performance against the physical Springboks in the future will only cement this theory.

3. Can the Wallabies take any positives from these two games?

Discover more

All Blacks

In the shadow of a champion

23 Aug 05:30 PM
All Blacks

All Blacks: 100 club set to remain exclusive

23 Aug 09:49 PM
All Blacks

All Blacks: Israel embodies a spirit which a Christian began

24 Aug 05:30 PM
All Blacks

All Blacks: Deep thinking paying off

24 Aug 05:30 PM

WG: The losing margins are coming down but the scrum problems are infecting the side. Baffling kicking tactics too but the Wallabies made enough breaks to scare teams who are less effective on scramble defence.

GP: Yes. They are over.

PM:Not sure where Ewen McKenzie goes from here. The Wallabies put a bit of pressure on in the first 10 minutes or so but that was about their lot. Backline mix doesn't seem right - they appear obsessed with kicking the ball away and lack a counter-attacking spark. Their forwards were monstered in the scrum and will wear the mental scars for some time.

DR: Not really. They lacked innovation in Wellington last night and were worse than the loss in Sydney. Their set piece was diabolical. The only time Israel Folau was given the ball in space was by an All Black; they needed to find a way to involve him.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks

France overhaul squad for second All Blacks test

10 Jul 08:13 AM
Premium
All Blacks

Why All Blacks changed selection tactics for French rematch

10 Jul 05:08 AM
New Zealand

The big All Blacks selection talking points

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from All Blacks

France overhaul squad for second All Blacks test

France overhaul squad for second All Blacks test

10 Jul 08:13 AM

Gaetan Barlot will captain the side, with Gael Fickou rested for the clash in Wellington.

Premium
Why All Blacks changed selection tactics for French rematch

Why All Blacks changed selection tactics for French rematch

10 Jul 05:08 AM
The big All Blacks selection talking points

The big All Blacks selection talking points

Savea named captain; All Blacks make three changes for second test

Savea named captain; All Blacks make three changes for second test

09 Jul 10:04 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP