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FWC on Sport Nation guide'It's unrelenting': Umaga’s defensive warning to All Blacks
Savannah Lendich Jonkers • July 10th, 2026 3:48 pm
Tana Umaga | Photo: John Davidson/Photosport
The speed of the modern game has created a new challenge for the All Blacks, with Defence Coach Tana Umaga admitting there is no time to switch off.
Following a high-scoring opening Test against France last week, Umaga told Sport Nation the pace of international rugby means defenders must be constantly alert and connected.
“Everyone talks about the spectacle of attack, but there's a lot of points scored, which makes you a bit nervous as a defence coach and I'm sure that's on both sides,” he said.
“You talked about the speed of the game now. It's unrelenting. You can't have a rest on D (defence), you can't rest on attack because the expectation is that you're up and moving.
“I think for our guys, it's just that realisation that it's a constantly moving beast and the only time you’re gonna have a rest is when the whistle blows, and until then you can’t stop moving.”
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He said last week's nail-biter against France finishing 34-32 to the All Blacks is the type of game that coaching staff are looking for, however they still want to minimise the oppositions opportunity to score.
“They (France) scored on the play early. A couple of minutes later, they played the same play and we were able to stop it. And it's just again, guys getting connected and trusting the systems that we're trying to put in place.
“The issue you have is when you've got players coming from all different clubs and doing different things. It's just trying to get on the same page as soon as we can and another week together, hopefully we've ironed some of that out but we've still got to make sure that we work hard within that.”
France’s ability to generate quick balls and apply pressure through their forward runners tested the All Blacks, with Umaga highlighting the importance of slowing teams down at the breakdown.
“We've got to try and slow the ball down, you've got to slow that ruck speed down so we can get around corners and we can come up square otherwise, when you're not set, you just end up chasing and then you're just constantly on the back foot.”
Theo Attissogbe of France scores against the All Blacks | Photo: Craig Butland/Photosport
But while the All Blacks continue to adapt, Umaga believes the foundations of defence remain the same.
“I’m a big believer that some of the key principles of defence don't change, winning collisions, taking away time and space and slow ball.”
With the second Test against Italy kicking off in Wellington on Saturday, Umaga knows the All Blacks’ defensive standards must continue to rise against a side capable of causing problems when they find their rhythm.
Listen to the full interview below:
