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All black people Assistant coach Mike Blair is confident his backline is starting to fire after two impressive performances against the Wallabies as they begin their November Nations Championship this weekend’s window vs Scotland in Murrayfield.
Blair’s men caught fire in the first half at Sydney’s Accor Stadium in the second test of the Bledisloe Cup, scoring six tries in the opening 40 minutes, helped by a better combination of experienced playmakers Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie.
The 10-15 duo have represented the All Blacks together for several years and have formed a strong combination in recent weeks after first fives Ruben Love and Richie Mo’unga picked up injuries.
McKenzie started all seven Tests during Dave Rennie’s tenure as All Blacks coach in the No.15 but answered the call at No.10 for two Bledisloe Cup Tests, producing decisively.
Barrett, unlike McKenzie, has struggled to cement a starting spot in recent years, but after seizing his opportunity against Australia, the All Blacks appear set to build on his 147-Test experience at fullback.
Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Blair made it clear that the front-five and full-back positions are interchangeable, highlighted by what Barrett and McKenzie have produced in recent Tests.
“Yes, sFr our selections, probably since July, to have displayed the 10 and 15 are players WHO are in condition that play-make, and I think about it Damian and Beauden to have done that really well,” the All Blacks assistant said Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Blair believes the pair’s on-field bond is helping the All Blacks attack flourish.
“They did played a a lot of TEast matches together. Been in a a lot of squad together, itheir ability that switch in and out of a first receiver and play-to make of differently areas is really the key that our attack.”
Ahead of Saturday’s clash against a team for whom he has played 84 Tests, Blair said they want to continue to develop their counter-attacking game plan, even if conditions require more focus on game management.
“Yes, whome had a a little have a look at the forecast. That looks like like there it is a small a chance of rain. I think about it both of them Scotland and New Zealand would like a dry the ball.
“But the way we are I’m trying that to evolve our game, there it is apparently the game management inside that, using our a blow and the game that to create pressure and unstructured defense, but we also to believe we are Got a skill set that I can manipulate defense with the the ball in hand, even if the weather conditions no excellent.”
In the 120 years since these two teams have faced each other, Scotland have come agonizingly close to a famous victory but missed one of the 33 questions.
Blair admitted the All Blacks had discussed the record this week, saying the long-running unbeaten run would be a “huge motivation” on Saturday afternoon in Edinburgh.
“It’s really important,” Blair said.
“We’ve got a couple of long-standing records. The Eden Park record (unbeaten since 1994), every time we play there, there’s an added advantage because you don’t want to be the team that loses that record. It’s definitely a huge motivation.”
“We’re really proud of that record (against Scotland). We know it’s been close in the last four games, so it’s going to be a tough contest for sure.”
