This Hurts to Write!
As an Australian, it hurts to write this one. As a kid in the 80's I remember winning once or twice against the All Blacks. Ahhh those were the days 😢.
The New Zealand national rugby union team, also known as the All Blacks, is one of the most successful teams in rugby history. They have won several Rugby World Cup championships and consistently rank at the top of the world rankings. One of the hallmarks of their success is their possession-based style of play.
The All Blacks possession play is characterised by their ability to maintain control of the ball and create scoring opportunities through a combination of ball retention and offloads. They prioritise ball retention and control, maintaining possession of the ball for long periods of time and wearing down their opposition. This approach allows them to control the pace of the game and limit their opposition's scoring opportunities.
One of the keys to the All Blacks' possession play is their strong ball carriers. They have a number of powerful runners in their team who are able to break through tackles and gain significant ground. In addition to their strong ball carriers, the All Blacks also have excellent support players. Their forwards are particularly skilled at offloading the ball in the tackle, which creates space and scoring opportunities for their backs. This ability to offload in contact is a key component of their possession play, as it allows them to keep the ball alive and maintain continuity.
The All Blacks' backs are also known for their creativity and ability to exploit gaps in the opposition's defence. They are skilled at running intricate lines and exploiting overlaps, which creates space for them to attack and score tries. Another factor that makes the All Blacks' possession play so effective is their fitness. They are known for their rigorous training regime and their ability to maintain a high level of intensity throughout the game. This allows them to continue to attack and maintain possession of the ball, even in the later stages of the game when their opposition may be fatigued.
Overall, the All Blacks' possession play is a highly effective strategy that has helped them achieve tremendous success in rugby union. By prioritising ball retention, strong ball carriers, excellent support players, creative backs, and fitness, they are able to control the pace of the game and limit their opposition's scoring opportunities. This approach requires a high level of skill, fitness, and tactical awareness, but when executed effectively, it can be a devastatingly effective way to play rugby.