The All Blacks lost their edge years ago
Recent All Blacks results have sparked an insecurity throughout New Zealand, the gravity of which hasn’t been felt in over a decade.
The Irish gave the Kiwi’s a taste of their own medicine, not only securing their first ever series win on New Zealand soil but pushing their hosts to their lowest ever world ranking: fourth. Now, the All Blacks’ greatest foe, the Springboks, have added to the misery by pushing that ranking down another rung to fifth.
It’s not the most offensive ranking to receive, every other tier one nation has experienced worse. However, For New Zealand, you may as well have had Malcolm Marx run straight at every All Blacks supporter one by one and have Tadhg Beirne come through afterwards stealing the dazed masses’ shoes, all while maintaining his feet of course.
The reaction from the fanbase has been brutal, New Zealand’s top coach, captain, and now CEO have all been targeted in a slew of online comments which, in typical comment section fashion, are more about expressing anger than writing a coherent sentence. The receding red mist then exposes a question that has the world’s most devoted rugby community wondering… Are the All Blacks getting worse, or is the rest of the world evolving at a greater pace than us?
Irish players and pundits alike were quick to mention that the polished and powerful team we see today is a side years in the making. Starting way back under Joe Schmitt’s leadership, a culture was built, from there, a brand of winning rugby has blossomed. Amplified of course by Andy Farrell’s talents, the Irish have strengths in all the right areas and their few weaknesses seemed to dissolve following the game one review session.
New Zealand’s descent to the repulsive position of fifth best team should be viewed as an inverse of Ireland’s rise to the top, with the key turning point being 2017’s British and Irish Lions series.
In the six years prior to the Lions tour, New Zealand lost only four matches. In the next two years leading into the 2019 World Cup, there were another four losses capped by a semi-final demolition at the hands of Eddie Jones’ England.
Since then, throughout a Covid-laden schedule, the All Blacks have lost eight games. The gradual unraveling of the All Blacks has absolutely been a result of the rest of the world evolving at a greater rate, thanks in large part to the rush defense Warren Gatland’s all-star side debuted in 2017.
Only in temporary spurts have the All Blacks looked to be comfortable winners since 2017. The attacking cross kick had its moment, the dual playmaker model didn’t achieve much and most recently, hitting the third man off the pod.
All tactics provided more of a momentary relief rather than any sustainable recipe for success. While the All Blacks have been trialing subtle changes, the rest of the world has had five years to evolve and perfect their versions of the rush defense, and judging by recent results, they’ve done a very good job.
This isn’t just a physical shift, there’s been five years of dominance slowly slipping through the All Blacks’ fingers. Five years of cracks appearing in what was once an impenetrable wall. Five years of the free flowing, broken play heroics that lies so intrenched in the All Blacks identity being increasingly nullified.
Within the camp, it’s taken a toll. Outside New Zealand, it’s breathed life into what is now a founded belief that the black mountain is not just surmountable, but some sturdy boots have worn a jogging track into the side which is now considered a great spot for a Saturday stroll.
It’s all well and good theorizing how a dominant forward pack could provide front foot ball, execute at the breakdown and disrupt the rush defense, giving the backs an actual chance to pass the ball to each other.
But the All Blacks don’t have a dominant forward pack, and even their dominant ball runners are either waiting in the wide channels (Akira Ioane) or receiving the ball completely flatfooted with three of the oppositions hardest hitters charging straight at them (Ardie Savea).
A loyal few remain optimistic, hoping these “little changes” both Ian Foster and Sam Cane keep mentioning are the foundational pieces that allow this team to employ a gameplan we haven’t had a chance to see yet.
That optimism is founded on there being a solution to the rush defense hiding just behind the curtain, ready to make its grand entrance once the time is right. However, if the comment section crew are right about Foster, then you’d hope NZR commit to the rebuild.
However, problems that are this long in the making rarely offer quick fixes, if the All Blacks are to get back to their winning ways, it’ll take some real Kiwi ingenuity.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to comments