Coach blames 'mental side' for bugging NZ lineouts

It beggars belief that Anton Oliver is still struggling with his throws after such a long career with the All Blacks. Marty Melville / Getty Images

The range of All Black lineout excuses switched between the straightforward and unusual.

Coach Steve Hansen spoke about the All Blacks putting themselves under pressure by worrying too much - they had to get the "mental side" of the lineout right. It was not a case of "one person or one thing".

Hooker and thrower Anton Oliver, who has as much brainpower as horsepower, lamented something he called a "sensory overload" and the problems of too many calls.

Watching the All Black lineout struggle on Saturday, there was a feeling of inevitable confusion as they dallied with the call and delivery. It was a reminder of those other difficult days in 2000-01 when the lineout was placed under massive pressure.

The Springboks seized on the uncertainty, badgering the referee, Oliver and the jumpers and it was fortunate only three lineouts were lost. On other occasions the ball went to unintended All Black targets.

Whatever the cause, the result was Oliver's omission from Saturday's next test in Brisbane with Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore picked as the hookers.

Champion Springbok lock Victor Matfield had some sympathy for the All Black plight because of the concentration his team put on their lineout strategies.

"Sometimes you pick a spot and you are right with your guess," he said.

Oliver has made some adjustments to his throwing style but still appears awkward and unable to create consistent power and direction.

It is extraordinary after all his time with the All Blacks and the plethora of coaches involved with the team, that Oliver's technique is still flawed.

But he may also be suffering from a lack of matches, the consistent, hard grind and combinations which tight forwards talk about.

He was throwing to a new set of jumpers after his solitary other start this season against Argentina, but was not too defensive about the lineout jitters. "I feel my performance was immeasurably better than the Argentinian game," Oliver said.

"I have changed a couple of technical things and the balls were coming out a lot better and I feel a lot more confident so for me it was an infinitely better game than the last one."

Matfield had to be recognised as one of the best defensive lineout locks in the world.

"I think he gave the Wallabies a curry up and in the Australian game, we only had seven lineouts and I think we would have had more than that in the first 10 or 20 minutes," he added.

"There were a few times when the lift was great, the jump was right and the throw was on the money but they just picked it."

Lineouts were a real strength for Australia and South Africa and a work in progress for the All Blacks.

Oliver felt the problems were accentuated because the All Blacks rarely challenged the Springbok lineouts.

"We were fighting tooth and nail to get ours and they were getting theirs clean and easy. We chose to stay down and stop their drive which was a good tradeoff, but we need to learn. I know the Aussies did not get many against them either."


Key moment: 40th minute

Actually the 39th and 40th to be exact.

First Percy Montgomery pushed a highly kickable penalty wide. That would have made it 12-10 and had the Springboks right in the frame at the interval.

Instead the ball went deep to the South African 22 where halfback Fourie du Preez, with plenty of time, muffed his kick.

Dan Carter gathered the ball, made ground and with Mils Muliaina and Scott Hamilton providing expert support, Piri Weepu plunged over for the first All Black try.

In a moment, a possible 12-10 had become 19-7 and the All Blacks had their breathing space.