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All black people assistant coach Neil Barnes backed the lead on the field in the final moments of their 35-28 loss Wales in Cardiff, despite differences of opinion in the coaching box.
Wales’ heroic defense held on to help beat the All Blacks for the first time in 73 years, making 348 tackles in the process, compared to the visitors’ 134.
Steve Tandy’s side started both halves on the front foot, making the All Blacks pay for poor discipline and costly mistakes with ball in hand.
But as resilient and passionate as the Wales defense was, the visitors had their chances, struggling to finish their countless chances inside the Wales 22-metre line.
During the final 20 minutes, the All Blacks earned several penalties, opting to take a quick tap instead of a scrum or line drive.
With the squad clearly struggling, on-field leaders Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett and Richie Mo’unga looked elsewhere.
Barnes admitted the coaching box had differing opinions on which option to choose from those on the field, particularly scrum coach Jason Ryan.
“There was a message just at half-time that we wanted to go a bit more on the driving line,” Barnes told reporters in Cardiff.
“But sometimes when you have a penalty five meters from the goal line, you risk not even winning that ball when you go to the line.
“But yeah, the last one in particular, I know Jason Ryan yelled that we should go to our driving maul.”
The All Blacks forwards coach said he would have gone to the line but trusted his leaders on the field.
“When you start with a penalty five meters from the line, then it goes back to nine or ten meters, and the leaders on the field decided to do what they do and we will run with it.
“But personally, yeah, I’d go for a line maul.”
Barnes said the All Blacks players will respond, and that the group is hurting after the painful defeat.
“It’s going to happen now; it happened,” Barnes said.
“Our dressing room is not happy, it’s not where the All Blacks team wants to be, so I’m telling you now, come next weekend, it’ll be bloody better for this.
“On their (Wales) day, every day you prepare for a test match, you have to prepare for the other team to be at their best and you have to be at your best.
“That’s the difference between the world champions and those who want to be. We have to be better.”