Former New Zealand hooker James Parsons praised the All Blacks’ improvement in their tactical kicking during their Bledisloe Cup win against the Wallabies in Auckland on Saturday.
The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 24th successive year courtesy of a deserved 50-19 triumph and, in doing so, they also extended their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 54 Tests.
Saturday’s clash was the first time the All Blacks were in action since they faced the Springboks in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series which the world champions won 3-1.
One facet of play which the Boks dominated during that series was the aerial battle, but the All Blacks got the better of the Wallabies in that department on Saturday much to the delight of Parsons.
‘Cam Roigard kicked with absolute precision’
“I really reckon the most pleasing thing was the high balls for me,” he said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “We took great control there and then also I suppose understanding their threat, Cam Roigard kicked with absolute precision and allowed us to get into that contest.”
Parsons admitted to being surprised by the Wallabies’ performance in the aerial battle and how they deteriorated in that department as it was one of their strengths in their victory over the Springboks in Perth at the end of last month.
“What Bryn (Hall) always talks about with Cam Roigard is his ability to get height (on his box kicks),” he said.
“He absolutely sends it to the moon and that gave guys like Jordie (Barrett) and Leroy (Carter) and Will (Jordan) time to get up and contest it and they just won (in) the air.
“Did the Aussies review themselves after the Springboks? I think it was after Codie Taylor’s knock on at the start of the second half and they (Australia), they just shoveled it and booted it.
“I think Marshy (Justin Marshall) made comment in the commentary about it. We weren’t seeing that in Perth against the Springboks, they were having a crack.
“And they went into their shell a little bit (at Eden Park) after getting into that 17-14 range.
“They then got the maul penalty and then the knock on happened and they just, I don’t know, they didn’t have that zing about their attack and that energy and excitement after such a good first half.”
Wallabies scrum-half Ryan Lonergan has been one of his team’s best players in 2026 but he battled to build momentum against the All Blacks, who put plenty of pressure on him at the breakdowns, while his box kicks were not as effective as Roigard’s.
‘There definitely was disruption’
“It was just too long, like Lonergan just didn’t (get going). There definitely was disruption,” said Parsons.
“He didn’t have it all his way at that breakdown but I always think when you’ve got those weapons you better underdo it than overdo it because you’re just not bringing them into the game.
“If it’s 10 metres, even if it’s up in the air and it just puts that doubt in the All Blacks mind but they (the Wallabies) just didn’t get them in the context.”
New Zealand’s kicking out of hand came on in leaps and bounds against Australia. The Aotearoa Rugby Pod‘s host Ross Karl pointed out that the All Blacks’ open play kicks against the Springboks was 34 percent compared to 56% against the Wallabies to which Parsons replied: “I do think their weakness was defending the box kicks but we didn’t utilise it enough against the Springboks.
“I think like with Roigard’s kick, when he gets it right, anyone can be in the contest, you don’t need to be that sort of athlete of a (Joseph) Suaalii and I suppose the most pleasing thing is we’re getting in the air.
“So often against South Africa, the kicks weren’t at the right place where we could get in and contest. So, Cameron Roigard had a night, he was exceptional. Off the back of a really, really strong forward performance, he was great.”
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