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Another Bledisloe Cup result added two wins All black people‘ The results of the 2026 season and “the most satisfying thing” about the games, according to forwards coach Jason Ryan, is the progress made in the team’s quest for 80 minutes of high-tempo Rennie-ball. However, that progress comes with a caveat as the team’s injury list grows.
Although both Tests featured dramatic shifts in momentum, New Zealand’s 93 points over two weekends came from some of the fastest, most clinical spells of play so far in the Dave Rennie era.
Opening Auckland The Test ended with a bang and the Sydney Test started with one, with 69 of those 93 points. The first half at Eden Park and the second half at Accor Stadium were much more evenly contested, with the Wallabies outscoring the All Blacks by four points in those two periods.
But I’m talking to Jason Pine Newstalk ZB after Saturday’s win in Sydney, Ryan was pleased with what he saw from his side, even in periods where they weren’t as dominant on the scoreboard.
“I think it was a real reward for what we have learned as a team together in the past period several months,” Ryan said, reflecting on the wins.
“And then, we had a lot of chaos, I guess, in our training week, and a few guys got away with injuries and bits and last-minute pieces, and then we had too Quinn Tupaea who went down with a headbutt, and then we lost Shannon Frizell.
“There’s a lot things that happen that can really mess up your timing, but I mean what we proved last night, which was probably the most gratifying, during this season, I guess we saw, we played a real 20 minutes, and then we had 40 and we probably put together 60 last night. That was it the standard we want to play to, and speed – to which we were getting used play too. So it was satisfying.”
That speed of play requires a level of fitness that has been one of the biggest challenges for the All Blacks this season, and remains a focus for the side. Continuity has also been a challenge, with managers more interested in rewarding form and providing opportunities than their predecessors, while also dealing with mounting injuries.
Ryan had all of the above in mind when asked about the biggest factors in New Zealand’s success over the past two weeks.
“I think it’s probably a balance a couple of things, but more importantly, guys I have to get used to it; hhow you train it and how you move,” he replied.
“WI had a few changes and parts and oh my gosh there’s a lot of guys hurt, right? So to put it together when we lose experience and different guys – the importance of how we’re training her to set up guys on saturday. So I think we’re getting there as a team in how we do it.
“But that’s pretty tiring too. we have to be careful. We are trying to tire the opposition, but he has a few times with the ball we’re playing, we’re probably getting a little tired. So that’s about it the right balance. But we are really, really, really pleased how the boys came out of the box yesterday.”
