The Autumn Internationals Preview: New Zealand

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All Blacks Schedule
vs Ireland – Sunday November 6, 4:00am HKT
vs Italy – Saturday November 12, 10:00pm HKT
vs Ireland – Sunday November 20, 1:30am HKT
vs France – Sunday November 27, 4:00am HKT

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The All Blacks broke the record for most consecutive wins by a Tier 1 nation in their last match, claiming win number 18 against the Wallabies at Eden Park. Can Ireland, Italy or France stop them from extending that record to 22 on their end-of-year tour?

What to look out for
Well, where to begin? The rapier-like counter attacking skills of the starting back three – Israel Dagg, Julien Savea and Ben Smith – and the deceptively fast scuttling running style of Beauden Barrett; the constant off-loading of the forwards even in heavy collisions… it goes on and on.

Strengths
Their deep self-belief and expectation of prevailing is seldom discussed but it is critically important. The power they generate going forward at terrific pace is alarming for any defence and their clinical execution, accuracy and patience inside the opposition 22 is legendary. Then there are their ball skills…

Weaknesses
Seriously? They have just established a new 18-test winning run record, they’ve cleaned up another Rugby Championship and they whitewashed Wales back in June. They have back-up players who would walk into any other national team in the likes of Waisake Naholo, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, or Aaron Cruden. Beauden Barrett’s goal kicking is erratic, but who needs to worry when they routinely score five, six or seven tries a match?

Coaching situation
This is where so much of it comes from. They have coaches with their feet firmly on the ground, people steeped in the game who remain humble and calm despite all their success. Above all, Steve Hansen and his colleagues absolutely understand the game and how to maintain impeccable standards.

Player to watch
For pure aesthetic delight, it has to be Beauden Barrett, although new second five-eighth Anton Lienert-Brown is a fast-rising talent. But Barrett has seized the mantle, stepping effortlessly into the role vacated by Dan Carter. Barrett offers more than Carter on attack which perfectly enables the All Blacks to play their high-tempo attacking game.

Best chance of an upset
With most teams you might think overconfidence could bring them down. But this lot don’t deal in unfounded optimism. They regard every game as another hurdle to scale. Their strong mental approach never wavers.

Prediction
They’ll make patsies (or should that be pasta?) of the Italians, fry the frogs in Paris and crush Irish exuberance, certainly at least in Chicago. It might be closer for the return game in Dublin – maybe only 12 to 15 points the difference.