André Pretorius, breaking down the first two tests of the Rugby Championship series on the Lekker Rugby Pod, argued that New Zealand's attack has been built around one specific problem: getting Cam Roriaard and a static first receiver to shift Jesse Kriel's channel by one, then exploiting what opens up. By introducing an extra set of hands between the set piece and the wide play, the All Blacks move the ball one channel wider than where Kriel is locked — forcing him to read rather than commit, and leaving hooker or the corner defender isolated. Pretorius was clear-eyed that the Boks' scramble defence has masked the damage, but warned it won't hold indefinitely: "You miss it, I'll make it — that's the attitude, but the All Blacks have figured that out and that's how they're making yards." His tactical suggestion for the third test was pointed: show Kriel in a different picture for the first 20 minutes — don't shut the back-door channel — to force New Zealand to question their own reads and potentially go flatter, which would suit Bok defence far better. He also flagged Cheslin Kolbe at fullback as a double-edged selection, predicting the All Blacks will specifically target him and bank on at least one costly error from an attacking instinct at the wrong moment.
André Pretorius: The All Blacks Are Manipulating Jesse Kriel — And the Boks Haven't Solved It Yet
André Pretorius dissects how the All Blacks have systematically manipulated Jesse Kriel's positioning to unlock the Bok edge defence, and makes a concrete tactical case for what needs to change in the deciding test.
André Pretorius dissects how the All Blacks have systematically manipulated Jesse Kriel's positioning to unlock the Bok edge defence, and makes a concrete tactical case for what needs to change in the deciding test.
Full transcript is being prepared. Check back shortly.
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