At chance to fix lineout woes

has been scheduled outside the World Rugby window and as a consequence Six Nations champions Wales are missing a number of key players contracted to English clubs.

None of the All Blacks’ travelling party, including the coaches, were alive when the team last lost to Wales in 1953 but Retallick said that wasn’t being used as motivation.

Being forced to take their medicine by the Springboks, whose kick-orientated game plan was largely more simplistic than what the Wallabies and the Pumas presented during the Rugby Championship, forced the All Blacks to recognise their own shortcomings.

‘‘There were elements of where we battled to get our game [going] on the field, and even get involved, with the ball in the air so much,’’ Retallick said.

Under previous captain Ardie Savea, the All Blacks spurned kickable penalties and opted for lineout drives, without success.

Retallick explained that the Boks’ jumpers at the back of the set-piece created pressure, and when the All Blacks threw to the front their opponents had an easier task of defending the maul and shunting it into touch.

‘‘There’s some things we have looked at there, in how to get better ball and attack further away from the sidelines,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s something that was working pretty well against Australia and Argentina, and we seemed to lose a little bit of edge against South Africa. It’s something we . . . are looking to get right over the next couple of weeks.’’