If there’s one thing Jason Ryan demands from the All Blacks, it’s improvement. The forwards coach wasted no time pointing out exactly where the team needs to sharpen up, ahead of their second test against France in Wellington.
“Being a little bit more connected defensively and a bit faster off the line has been the focus,” he explained to Martin Devlin on the DSPN.
“[We must be sharper at] cleaning up the scraps, whether or not the ball’s in the air or on the ground.”
Not that an All Black coach ever needs affirmation from someone behind a keyboard, but Ryan is bang on. In the first test, New Zealand showed flashes of their exhilarating, up-tempo style and the damage it can do, especially through the backline. But that was coupled with avoidable errors in possession and worrying defensive lapses.
The 31-27 win was - let's remember - a win, but one with a sour tinge.
Even in an area where his side excelled, Ryan is banging that improvement drum. He wants more from a lineout that won 20 of the test's 25 and had a 100 per cent success rate.
“We’re still always striving for top-quality ball… the faster we can get the ball into our backs’ hands, or if we’re mauling with a little more dominance, the better,” he added.
“This week’s test might be collision-based. Our maul defence and scrum need to be better when the big rocks of the game come into play.”
But as tinkering goes on in the freshly-started 2025 season, is the pursuit of perfection unrealistic? Devlin asked Ryan if there is such a thing as an 80-minute performance in rugby.
“No, oh… maybe,” Ryan chuckled.
“You’ve got to appreciate the wins, whether it’s by one point or 30... test match rugby has momentum shifts that can change pretty fast, and conditions like this week’s wind and wet weather make it a completely different contest.”
No fan should ever complain about a win, but that is something All Blacks fans – probably uniquely – have always been good at. It isn’t a strange sore winner’s syndrome, rather the high expectations we fans have for the team. Over 100 years of being international rugby’s powerhouse (less so in recent years) conjures up a demand for results rarely seen in other sports.
“You want to [win every test]… the reality is, if you win the majority of your home tests, you're going to have some trophies. So that's sort of what we've looked at a little bit.
“But we’ve brought some younger boys into the squad this year, especially in the forwards, and we know that it’s a little bit of trial, and there can be a little bit of pain. If we’re willing to work through that, well, it is what it is.
“It’s how we respond to those test matches, and just striving to be better every day. Really, that’s all we can ask."
One change in how the squad is constructed in 2025 so far is Tupou Vaa’i’s move to blindside flanker, a position he’s played very little in before at international level.
“He [Vaa’i] has got a phenomenal skillset,” Ryan enthused. “His footwork at the line and ability as a ball carrier are exceptional – up there with the best locks in the world. Trying him in that number six position just gives us more options, especially with aerial skills in both attack and defence.”
Aerial threats and mobility with locks and loose forwards feel like two areas these coaches are really prioritising. The rhetoric tells us that, and the selections and style of play show us that.
As the All Blacks gear up for another test, Ryan’s clear-eyed approach keeps the squad grounded, but ambitious. There is a relentless chase for improvement, laced with realism about what they can and can’t achieve. Every test is another step towards rugby excellence.
Catch new episodes of the Devlin Sports Podcast Network (DSPN) every weekday on rova.
