All Blacks 2025
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Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat
Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.
Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.
“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.
He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.
“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.
Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.
He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.
“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC
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Razor will be super stoked our saviour is returning from injury.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360826208/all-blacks-top-halfback-cam-rogard-make-comeback-injury-npc
Full list of ABs playing NPC this week:
Taranaki: Josh Lord
Counties Manukau: Cam Roigard
Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane
Wellington: Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Ruben Love
Ta$man: Leicester Fainga'anuku
Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown
Otago: George Bower
Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane
Will be interesting where Rieko plays. Presumably Clarke will play 11 - will Rieko play 13 or 14 (or bench)
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
It took BB about 7 minutes into the game to throw a loopy pass in his own in-goal, putting Proctor under immense pressure for zero possible gain.
He was shit.edit to add: then in the 8th minute, samisoni good counterruck, next runner a bit isolated and savea turnover, quick ball, mckenzie wide pass - to beauden with a 3 on 2. hates an overlap. decides to kick. decides that too late. partially charged. just horrible.
2nd edit: 14th minute, 3 men outside him with mckenzie hitting the line at pace, no SA defence, and the cover 10m back... BB hates an overlap, takes the tackle. this one was so bad that both commentators called him out on it. -
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
It took BB about 7 minutes into the game to throw a loopy pass in his own in-goal, putting Proctor under immense pressure for zero possible gain.
He was shit.edit to add: then in the 8th minute, samisoni good counterruck, next runner a bit isolated and savea turnover, quick ball, mckenzie wide pass - to beauden with a 3 on 2. hates an overlap. decides to kick. decides that too late. partially charged. just horrible.
2nd edit: 14th minute, 3 men outside him with mckenzie hitting the line at pace, no SA defence, and the cover 10m back... BB hates an overlap, takes the tackle. this one was so bad that both commentators called him out on it.@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
It took BB about 7 minutes into the game to throw a loopy pass in his own in-goal, putting Proctor under immense pressure for zero possible gain.
He was shit.I don't think he can help himself. But clearly this is what Razor wants, otherwise surely he would be dropped for all this recidivist Harlem Globetrotter shit?
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Razor will be super stoked our saviour is returning from injury.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360826208/all-blacks-top-halfback-cam-rogard-make-comeback-injury-npc
Full list of ABs playing NPC this week:
Taranaki: Josh Lord
Counties Manukau: Cam Roigard
Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane
Wellington: Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Ruben Love
Ta$man: Leicester Fainga'anuku
Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown
Otago: George Bower
Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:
Razor will be super stoked our saviour is returning from injury.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360826208/all-blacks-top-halfback-cam-rogard-make-comeback-injury-npc
Full list of ABs playing NPC this week:
Taranaki: Josh Lord
Counties Manukau: Cam Roigard
Auckland: Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane
Wellington: Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Ruben Love
Ta$man: Leicester Fainga'anuku
Waikato: Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown
Otago: George Bower
Bay of Plenty: Pasilio Tosi
Boo, I agreed with @Chris, send EVERY single AB back to NPC this weekend (including the captains) and tell them if they don't perform to standard then they won't be considered for selection. There has to be some consequence to that embarrassing shit show they served up!
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Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked
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Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat
Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.
Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.
“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.
He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.
“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.
Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.
He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.
“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat
Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.
Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.
“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.
He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.
“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.
Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.
He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.
“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC
Another reason to move Love to 10
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Ive seen a number of photos of Finau standing next to Vaa'i and they look the same height with Finau looking a bit heavier.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat
Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.
Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.
“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.
He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.
“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.
Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.
He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.
“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC
Another reason to move Love to 10
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:
Cory Jane Criticizes All Blacks’ High-Ball Technique After Springboks Defeat
Former All Blacks star Cory Jane has voiced concern over New Zealand’s high-ball performance, describing the team’s aerial technique as “sloppy” following their recent loss to the Springboks.
Jane, a 2011 World Cup winner and one of rugby’s most reliable high-ball specialists during his 55-Test career, now coaches defense and aerial contests at the Hurricanes. He explained that while the game has evolved with more contestable kicks due to law changes, the core fundamentals of catching remain unchanged.
“The way I always try to train our boys here is to get nice and square, get your knee in front to protect you, but also to get separation from the chaser. If you let them into your airspace, it’s a genuine 50/50,” Jane told Sport Nation.
He highlighted that many current players jump off one leg, leaving them vulnerable to onrushing chasers. Against South Africa, he noted Damian McKenzie and others were jumping with the wrong knee forward, which compromised their protection.
“I just think for all the glove work, or bubble as they used to call it, protecting the catcher, the technique’s got sloppy. We need to get back to having better technique in the air, to catch more than we drop,” Jane said.
Jane emphasized that confidence is crucial in aerial battles, recalling how the All Blacks of his era built a reputation that unsettled opponents. But he warned that without sharper skills, today’s team risks losing those contests.
He also pointed out the tactical shift in defensive setups, where playmakers are increasingly exposed under the high ball. In the Springboks clash, Beauden and Jordie Barrett swapped positions in the backfield to manage pressure, with Jordie often taking the deeper role.
“There are ways you can get around it, but the reality is the majority of 10s have to catch high balls these days,” Jane concluded.
#AllBlacks #Springboks #CoryJane #RugbyUnion #RugbyAnalysis #URC
Another reason to move Love to 10
A reason to get CJ in to coach high kick receptions
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
> I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked
The fact he could theoretically get 100 test caps doesn’t sit well with me
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
> I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked
The fact he could theoretically get 100 test caps doesn’t sit well with me
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:
Here is the full list. Norris should be playing too, unless he is the reason Bower was called in.
Leicester has made a couple of nice cameos in his few games for Ta$man so far.
Few boomfah moments and a lovely long pass to put a guy in for a try against Canterbury.
Certainly more impact than we have been getting from ALB recently.
> I don't see the harm in switching him in for ALB, who IMHO is cooked
The fact he could theoretically get 100 test caps doesn’t sit well with me
The corporate walahs think it will make great telly....
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Ok I read enough of Jane's explanations to think he'd make a useful AB skills coach.
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If SB has lower back issues that explains quite a bit, and possibly some of the scrum issues. No lock should be playing in the ABs with lower back frailties.
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Ok I read enough of Jane's explanations to think he'd make a useful AB skills coach.
@nostrildamus even if he isn't, his insight is going to be superior to what we have currently which looks like maybe chucking up a few bombs for the lads to catch uncontested.
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Wasn't Itoje gen clapping after the ref had awarded the pen or knock on etc?
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If SB has lower back issues that explains quite a bit, and possibly some of the scrum issues. No lock should be playing in the ABs with lower back frailties.
@nostrildamus
Funny you say that - I was at the game and SB spent a lot of time stretching his back and legs on his own - he also didn't look to me that he was running that freely. -
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
@pakman said in All Blacks 2025:
@sparky said in All Blacks 2025:
Why the flying fuck do they persist with Beauden Barrett at First Five?
His game management is atrocious these days.
BB was actually quite good in first 60. But we need a closer rather than a joker for the difficult games.
Bruh.
He may have had the odd okay moment but he made several poor decisions that either put us under pressure or didn’t take advantage of good forward play.
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@Nepia I have deja vu, pretty sure we've had this debate before, I think you are massively under selling how effective he was at the back for us. Superb under the high ball, rock solid defender, long kicking game and good passing game are all attributes that led to him being MOTM on a number of occasions. He's absolutely saved our bacon when teams were barraging us with high balls more than once, that could have been useful on the weekend.
They moved him to the wing because they still wanted him in the back three while being able to keep Beauden on the park, but that was an absurd decision given the one thing he lacks is acceleration.
When he was moved to 12 he was our first choice FB and it wasn't close, and I'd like to see him moved back given how poor our back three have been lately.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia I have deja vu, pretty sure we've had this debate before, I think you are massively under selling how effective he was at the back for us. Superb under the high ball, rock solid defender, long kicking game and good passing game are all attributes that led to him being MOTM on a number of occasions. He's absolutely saved our bacon when teams were barraging us with high balls more than once, that could have been useful on the weekend.
They moved him to the wing because they still wanted him in the back three while being able to keep Beauden on the park, but that was an absurd decision given the one thing he lacks is acceleration.
When he was moved to 12 he was our first choice FB and it wasn't close, and I'd like to see him moved back given how poor our back three have been lately.
We've likely definitely had this debate before.
He was not initially moved to the wing, he went to the bench when BB took over at 15, then he later moved to the wing, then back to fullback, and he probably did have his best period in the time just before he moved permanently to 12, but that is all.
And like I said in another post, now that he's matured I don't mind if they give him another shot there, but I'm not going to pretend he was a superstar there previously. You can though. We can argue about it again in another couple of years.
