Kiwi journalist Gregor Paul argues that South Africa’s Super Rugby exit has weakened the All Blacks, making them less competitive against powerful teams like the Springboks.
Writing for Rugby Pass, Paul attributes this decline to New Zealand’s isolation in the Pacific bubble, where they no longer face South African teams in regular competition. Paul highlights a noticeable drop in the All Blacks’ success rate – falling from 87% between 2016 and 2019 to 69% post-2021.
Despite a strong showing for 62 minutes, the All Blacks crumbled in the final quarter in their defeat at Ellis Park last week against the Boks, especially after the introduction of the Bomb Squad.
Paul suggests that Super Rugby’s evolution into a fast-paced, aerobic competition has left New Zealand’s players ill-prepared to handle the set-piece pressure or physicality they face internationally.
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He points to the lack of physically imposing athletes like Bok powerhouse Pieter-Steph du Toit, and sees this as a fundamental issue that the All Blacks need to address if they are to remain competitive at the top level.
“The All Blacks remain supremely well-equipped to beat the likes of Australia, Scotland, Wales and [usually] Argentina, but when they encounter teams such as South Africa, Ireland, France and England, who have ample power athletes and play an anaerobic style of rugby, they have been found wanting,” Paul writes.
“Super Rugby was once a rich tapestry of styles and athletes, but now it is a mostly aerobic, ball-in-hand, speed game where all 12 teams, with the exception maybe of the Blues, play a similar style.
“The All Blacks don’t have an athlete the size and shape of Pieter-Steph du Toit, with the athleticism and mobility to flit so easily between the second row and back row.”
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
