15-year All Blacks record unearthed in Opta statbunker

No case could be made for the All Blacks‘ defence as the Sky Stadium roof fell in last weekend.

As everyone knows by now, the 43-10 shellacking inflicted on them by the rampant Springboks was the All Blacks’ heaviest-ever defeat, beating the previous record of 28 points, at the hands of the same opposition, in London on the eve of RWC 2023.

Tackling appeared optional in Wellington as the Boks cut the All Blacks apart time and time again in a devastating display of attacking rugby in the final quarter.

And, according to Opta, the tally of 46 defenders beaten was the highest number against New Zealand since they started collecting data on the team in 2010.

Interestingly, the previous record of 40 was only set a few weeks ago by Argentina, suggesting there is something inherently wrong with the All Blacks’ defensive system.

The Springboks’ 633 metres gained was also the fourth highest in those 15 years of data. Ireland managed an identical amount against the All Blacks in the RWC 2023 quarter-final, a match that had a very different outcome to the one in Wellington.

South Africa hold the overall record for most metres gained against the All Blacks, when they made 722 metres of Ellis Park ground in a 38-27 defeat in October 2013.

All Blacks supporters could never have envisaged what was coming at half-time, having seen their team play some brilliant rugby to lead 10-7 at the break.

However, as well as dropping off tackles and leaving gaping holes for the Springboks to exploit, the All Blacks failed to replicate that first 40 minutes in an attacking sense and went scoreless in the second stanza.

It was only the fifth time in the last 13 years that the All Blacks have failed to score a single point in a half of rugby, and only the second time in that period it has happened in the second 40.