Although they delivered some indifferent performances during their 2024 campaign, the All Blacks are still a major drawcard for spectators in the international game.
That was the word from legendary New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall who said although the All Blacks were not the best team in the world anymore, they are the one international team that still play in front of capacity crowds regularly and are “the scalp everyone wants to get”.
Suffered four defeats in 2024
The All Blacks played 13 Tests in 2024, winning nine and losing four and they were beaten by the Springboks (twice), Argentina and France.
Marshall was in attendance at most of the All Blacks’ Tests over the past year and one thing which caught his attention is their ability to fill stadiums in all of their recent matches during the recent Autumn Nations Series – something which the current world champions the Springboks were unable to do in some of their Tests on their 2024 European tour.
Speaking on DSPN with Martin Devlin, the show’s host mentioned how different and special it is to see the All Blacks in action overseas to which Marshall replied: “Absolutely, it is. And they’re a huge drawcard.
“The Springboks played, obviously Wales are in a real hole at the moment. The Springboks played Wales in Cardiff and I went to that game. I saw the Springboks play at Murrayfield against Scotland and obviously Australia played Wales as well.
All Blacks bring ‘a different vibe’
“And there’s just a different vibe around the city when the All Blacks are there than what there is other teams, like the Springboks are the world champions at the moment, and they have a really loyal following.
“Their fans are scattered all over the world and they travel out of South Africa. I remember that game pre-Rugby World Cup (2023) when the All Blacks played the Springboks at Twickenham.
“I was actually at that game as well. Mate, I reckon that was 70% South Africans there.
“That was very well followed. But the All Blacks, when they roll into town, when they rolled into Dublin and London and Paris, there’s just this real intensity about the week because even though they’re not the number one team in the world at the moment, they’re just the scalp everyone wants to get.
“So they bring that level of expectation and excitement to a Test week.
“And then obviously the stadiums are always full. Going back to my first point, I went to those other games where the Springboks and Wallabies were playing. The stadiums were three-quarter full, but not full.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/justin-marshall-all-blacks-the-scalp-everyone-wants-to-get-despite-indifferent-form
