New Zealand-based journalist Gregor Paul believes role reversals leave the Springboks, not All Blacks, as world rugby’s true leaders.
Writing for the Herald, Paul argues that New Zealand’s decline in world rugby was confirmed in Cape Town on Saturday, where the All Blacks lost the Freedom Cup to South Africa for the first time since 2009.
He asserts that the Boks have surpassed New Zealand in tactical leadership and game management, with Rassie Erasmus’ charges excelling in execution during crucial moments.
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Paul notes that the Kiwis’ traditional strengths, such as discipline and final-quarter comebacks, have disappeared, as seen in their failure to score in the last 20 minutes of four Rugby Championship matches in 2024.
“If there was any doubt about whether the tectonic plates had shifted in world rugby, it was removed in Cape Town,” he writes.
“South Africa demonstrated, with another power and precision performance, that New Zealand is trailing the world champions in almost every facet of the game.
“Where once the All Blacks were the world’s great innovators, technical leaders, and strategic thinkers, that title is now bestowed upon Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks.”
He attributes this decline to New Zealand Rugby’s acceptance of South Africa’s Super Rugby exit in 2020, leading to the All Blacks’ lack of exposure to diverse playing styles, while ignoring deeper structural issues.
According to Paul, SA’s superior system of integrating players into European club rugby has positioned them as the new global force, while New Zealand risks stagnating in a weakened competition.
“The South Africans expose their own teams to the heavyweight clubs of Europe, while letting others play for those same heavyweights,” he writes, “and right now, who would say their system of melding all those different experiences, skills and body types together in the Springboks, is not the superior way of doing things?”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post ‘Super All Blacks losing to globo-Boks’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
