Felix Jones has revealed that the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls raised two consistent concerns about the All Blacks following their URC clashes against New Zealand's Super Rugby sides: illegal cleanout techniques at the breakdown and obstructive tactics at defensive lineouts close to the try line.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Jones said the franchise coaches flagged tucked shoulders and reverse-arm, non-wrapping actions at the breakdown as a recurring problem. At lineouts, franchises reported that opponents were pulling, lifting a leg, or briefly going off their feet to disrupt mauls when they had worked into prime scoring positions around the 10-metre line.
"They experienced tucked shoulders going into the breakdown, which I know they weren't really happy with, reverse-arm, non-wrapping action. That was a consistent theme," Jones said. "It's tough when there's someone pulling you or trying to lift a leg or maybe just going off feet for a couple of seconds."
Jones acknowledged the cleanout approach appears to be a longstanding feature of All Blacks coach Dave Rennie's methods, tracing it back to his time at the Chiefs. He was careful to note it was not something he had previously associated with the All Blacks as a team. "It's not something I've seen regularly in them, but definitely this is the feedback we got from the franchises. We're all for the physical — we just want people to be within the law."
The comments follow Rassie Erasmus raising the breakdown brutality issue on Monday, as he pushed back against suggestions from New Zealand that the Springboks were slowing the game down. Jones confirmed that World Rugby has not raised any concerns about South Africa's pace of play.
On the All Blacks' broader game, Jones noted a clear tactical evolution from New Zealand — more ball retention, fewer kicks, higher phase counts — and said much of the franchise feedback had confirmed what the Springbok coaching staff had already observed during the Nations Championship.