To say New Zealand Rugby and the All Blacks are at a crisis point, as some around the country have alluded to, is a stretch. However, this loss to England was certainly a sobering reminder that this is no longer a golden age for the country’s biggest sport. It has been a constant case of one step forward and one step back, keeping the premier side led by a new coaching regime stuck in limbo.
The nature of being an All Blacks fan means we all have our opinions on what’s going on with the country’s crown-jewel team, and just like the rest of you, I certainly have my two cents on the matter. What I’m looking to do here is simply illuminate some of the issues I see as a pure outsider to the team and its setup, and why we are clearly no longer a side able to strike fear into the opposition, no matter where or when we play them.
There are three key issues I have identified that are by no means quick fixes, but they are certainly elements of the team that I feel are holding them back from reaching the level once displayed on a weekly basis in the black jersey.
No Answer In The 10 Jersey
There are certain positions in every sport that are just so important to a team’s success. Think the quarterback in American football or the point guard in basketball. In rugby, that position is undoubtedly the first five-eighth, who generally has everything in the game flow through them. The level of your first five sets the ceiling for your rugby team, as when they are firing on all cylinders and playing with freedom, they can often be the player to get a side over the line.
The All Blacks have been blessed for a long time in that position, with the best player in the history of the sport, Dan Carter leading the side, followed by Beauden Barrett, who became a multi-time World Player of the Year during the end of last decade.
However, since the turn of the decade the All Blacks have had a three-horse race for the jersey between Barrett, McKenzie, and Mo’unga, who all shared time as the No. 1 option for the side. Recently, that responsibility has fallen on a 34 year-old Barrett, who I can’t argue isn’t the best pivot in the country, but that doesn’t really set the team up for dominant success. If we look at the following depth chart, there isn’t really a player to be overly excited about based on what we have either seen, or lack of opportunities for others.
- Beauden Barrett
- Damian McKenzie
- Richie Mo’unga
- Ruben Love
- Josh Jacomb
To me, McKenzie is a fullback or No. 23 at test level, while Richie Mo’unga has been overseas since the World Cup final loss. The two young options are Ruben Love, who while a mercurial talent, seems to be viewed more as a winger/fullback by this regime, and Josh Jacomb, who has only ever dominated at NPC level.
While it is a basic assessment, I truly don’t believe they will be able to reach the heights set historically by the great All Black sides of the past without a true force multiplier at the position and right now we don’t have one.
No Longer Shape Shifters
What used to make the Graham Henry and Steve Hansen eras so successful was that the All Blacks had plenty of different options in the playbook and were able to apply multiple distinct systems and styles of play. They very much had a horses for courses approach that made them seem like shape-shifters and gave them answers to every test.
A perfect modern day example of this was South Africa this year in New Zealand, where even after they had a disappointing, close loss at the All Blacks fortress. After that game they deployed a completely different team and style the next week, resulting in the biggest All Blacks loss ever.
It feels like the ability for the All Blacks to shift the way they play has deteriorated, and they are stuck with the same system with only minor adjustments per opposition. I will say I understand the idea of territory through kicking and trusting the set piece. It makes sense as Scott Robertson relied upon this during his historic run as Crusaders head coach, but the All Blacks lack a curveball or two, which produces results like the one against England.
What is most disheartening about all this is that while I respect the identity change, because it does match the way the Northern Hemisphere tends to play. It has unfortunately meant they have lost that high-flying ability to break a game open when fatigue sets in during the second half.
You can’t just snap your fingers and add this to a team, however this ability is something the All Blacks will need to find if they are to battle it out with South Africa over the next half-decade.
Lack Of A Ruthless Edge
One thing I didn’t think I would be saying about a Scott Robertson led side is the lack of a winning mentality or the ability to close out tight games down the stretch. Back in the 2010s, I would always feel extreme confidence, whether they were down double digits or up double digits with 20 minutes to go. I would have the expectation that the All Blacks would win.
Now, with this All Blacks team, they don’t have that cold-blooded nature about them, meaning when the going gets tough and the pressure mounts, they have crumbled under the bright lights more than once or twice. In the past, that would be something that happened once in a blue moon rather than multiple times in a year.
There seems to be a lack of mettle in situations where other All Blacks teams would fight tooth and nail to stop every point, no matter what, and instead we have seen this side roll over on home soil against their biggest rival.
As we are outsiders, we can’t be sure if that is a player-led issue or one that starts from the top down with the coaching staff. However, this gene that used to be key to the team’s success has gone missing, and it’s something they desperately need to get back in a hurry.
