Barnes reveals coaching box split as All Blacks' late-game calls cost them in Cardiff

All Blacks assistant coach Neil Barnes has revealed a split between the coaching box and on-field leaders in the dying stages of New Zealand’s 35-28 defeat to Wales in Cardiff, a result that ended a 73-year wait for the Welsh.

With the All Blacks earning several penalties inside Wales’ 22 during the final 20 minutes, on-field leaders Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, and Richie Mo’unga repeatedly opted for a quick tap rather than a scrum or lineout drive. Barnes confirmed that scrum coach Jason Ryan was vocally pushing for a different approach.

“I know Jason Ryan was yelling out that we should be going to our driving maul,” Barnes told reporters in Cardiff. “But sometimes when you have a penalty five metres out from the goal line, you’re running a risk of not even winning that ball when you go to a lineout.”

Barnes added that a message had been sent at half-time encouraging the All Blacks to use the lineout drive more, but that when the decisive penalty crept back to nine or ten metres from the line, the leaders on the field made their own call.

“The leaders on the field decided to do what they’re doing, and we will run with that,” he said. “But personally, yeah, I would have gone to the lineout maul.”

Wales’ defence was central to the historic victory, with Steve Tandy’s side making 348 tackles compared to New Zealand’s 134. The Welsh started both halves aggressively, punishing the All Blacks for poor discipline and handling errors inside their own 22.

Despite the internal disagreement over tactics, Barnes was measured in his assessment of the on-field decision-making, stopping short of placing blame on the players who made the calls under pressure.

He was, however, unambiguous about the mood in the New Zealand camp and what he expects to follow.

“Our dressing room is not happy; it’s not a place where an All Blacks team wants to be,” Barnes said. “Come next weekend it will be a damn sight better for this. We have to be better.”