All Blacks coach addresses set-piece struggles after Springboks series

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan has addressed the New Zealand forward pack’s recent struggles following successive defeats to the South African Springboks. The losses highlighted vulnerabilities in the scrum, maul, and lineout, where the Springboks utilized a dominant set-piece strategy to secure momentum through critical penalties.

Ryan noted that he has learned significantly from the experience of playing the Springboks, whom he described as the “best in the world at what they do.” While the All Blacks rank third globally for generating top-quality ball on their own feed, they struggled to contain South Africa’s physical approach during the series.

In response to previous criticisms from head coach Dave Rennie and senior assistant Neil Barnes regarding the Springboks’ legality in the scrum, Ryan dismissed suggestions of opponents “walking around” with a laugh, stating the team will focus on improving their own scrummaging. The team is now preparing for the Bledisloe Cup Tests against Australia.

Former New Zealand head coach Sir Graham Henry also commented on the team's difficulties, suggesting that structural limitations within domestic competition may contribute to these performance gaps.