The New Zealand team showcased some impressive attacking plays, yet struggled to convert these into sufficient points. Blair, speaking with Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport, highlighted the team's ability to create opportunities but lamented their failure to capitalize on them.
"Yeah, we’re obviously really disappointed with the result. We felt in the first half we put a lot of our game on the pitch,"
Blair noted that despite moving the South African team around and scoring some notable tries, the All Blacks could not maintain their momentum into the second half, which stymied their efforts to dominate the game.
According to Blair, the issue isn't new; the team faced similar challenges the previous week in Cape Town. He pointed out that while the team had a dozen linebreaks, a commendable feat against the staunch South African defense, finishing these plays remains a stumbling block.
"But it was the same story last week; we just need to finish those opportunities."
Despite the setbacks, Blair remains optimistic about their strategy and the pressure they can exert on top-tier defenses, assuming they can maintain their gameplay consistency throughout the entirety of the match. He stressed the need for the All Blacks to extend their periods of effective play.
"We’re also really confident in what we’re trying to do; we’ve got to just put our game together for longer," Blair added, indicating a mix of confidence and acknowledgment of the challenges that lie ahead as they prepare for the next and final match of the series in Baltimore.
As the All Blacks regroup and focus on the series finale, the question remains whether they can adjust their game plan to overcome the hurdles that have plagued them in recent matches. With the series on the line, the upcoming game promises to be a decisive and thrilling encounter.
