The All Blacks will arrive in South Africa under more pressure than at any time in the professional era, for two matches against the Springboks.
You have to go back to 1998 for the last time the All Blacks lost four Tests in a row. On that occasion the losing streak ended at five, which included two defeats against the Springboks.
Less than a month ago the All Blacks beat Ireland 42-19 in the first Test of that series. While the score flattered the home team slightly, they showed their traditional ruthlessness from turnovers. Ireland dominated the gain line, won the breakdown battle and earned lineout supremacy as the All Blacks’ set piece inexplicably broke down. In short, the mighty All Blacks were bullied physically.It’s not a popular opinion, but it seems that South Africa’s exit from Super Rugby has done more harm to New Zealand rugby than the opposite.
There were several reasons for that, not least of which was the murderous travel schedule. It often meant South African teams approached games in New Zealand as damage-limitation exercises, rather than matches they believed they could win. The stats show this. In terms of dominance, New Zealand’s collective Super Rugby record against South African and Australian teams was almost identical. But the styles they confronted, and therefore adapted to, were different.
Players who are less flashy but have a harder edge are perhaps not as valued anymore. Would a young Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Todd Blackadder or Keven Mealamu be as treasured in Super Rugby today? Coach Ian Foster has presided over seven defeats and a draw in 24 matches in charge, which is still a decent 67% win rate for any other team. But not New Zealand.
The Crusaders’ forward coach, Jason Ryan, has been brought in, almost certainly with a view to stopping the Boks’ rolling maul. Ryan’s Crusaders are the best team in Super Rugby when it comes to stopping mauls, although the caveat is that South African teams have not been part of that tournament for three years.
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