Analysis: The All Blacks, outclassed in Buenos Aires, are short of personnel and under scrutiny ahead of a monumental Test against the Boks, writes Patrick McKendry.
Halfback Cortez Ratima’s chest injury will add to Scott Robertson’s worries ahead of South Africa’s visit as he contemplates a backline that appears to have regressed and a Test at Eden Park that was always going to be significant and now is looming as critical.
A defeat to the world champions at a place where the All Blacks haven’t lost since 1994, an unbeaten run of 50 Tests, could plunge a nation desperate for good news in a cost-of-living crisis into a dark mood indeed and may put the spotlight on some of Robertson’s coaching personnel.
Robertson created history by becoming the first All Blacks coach to lose in Argentina as the Pumas romped to a comfortable 29-23 victory in Buenos Aires and will obviously be desperate to avoid another defeat to the Boks in Auckland a week on Saturday.
It was his fifth defeat as the man in charge and this one will probably rank alongside the loss to Argentina in Wellington last year as the worst performance under his watch because it lacked energy and accuracy and was notable for his team's rank ill-discipline.
In his second year in the top job, Robertson will be given more leeway by his New Zealand Rugby employers than his predecessor Ian Foster in 2022 after the All Blacks lost a Test series at home to Ireland.
After that third Test defeat to the Irish in Wellington, NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson signed off on an extraordinary press release that described the performance as “unacceptable”.
The upshot was forwards coach John Plumtree and backs coach Brad Mooar were let go, with current forwards coach Jason Ryan promoted from the Crusaders.
There is no suggestion that Robertson, signed until after the 2027 World Cup, is under any extra scrutiny by his employers, but, at the bare minimum, they will want to see an improvement in backline cohesion that was patchy in Cordoba and non existent in Buenos Aires.
It should be remembered, too, that Robertson has already overseen a change in personnel, with former attack coach Leon MacDonald leaving by mutual consent this time last year in what was an unprecedented resignation.
Indeed, the MacDonald affair formed a backdrop to the All Blacks' victory over the Pumas at Eden Park 12 months ago which extended the streak to 50 matches unbeaten and the relief among the coaching staff was palpable. That record may weigh heavy in the build-up to the first Boks Test at the "fortress" since 2013.
In Buenos Aires, the All Blacks made no line breaks in the second half – the Pumas beating them 6-1 overall in this statistic – and they missed a total of 40 tackles, an extraordinarily high number.
Neither Cam Roigard (foot stress fracture), nor Noah Hotham (ankle sprain), made the trip to Argentina and the pair are unlikely to be available to play the Boks at Eden Park or a week later in Wellington, which means Finlay Christie, on after the first quarter at the weekend, may be the All Blacks’ only halfback with any international credentials heading into one of most highly anticipated Tests of the year.
The uncapped Kyle Preston, who travelled to Argentina as cover, will likely be next in line.
The All Blacks’ attacking shape was far better in the first two Tests against France last month.
In Dunedin, the All Blacks used “back-door” plays to manipulate the French defence and it almost appeared too easy at times.
A week later in Wellington, the All Blacks were more direct in the victory which sealed the series.
It gave the impression that the All Blacks were building options, and while their attack, coached by Scott Hansen and Jason Holland, was patchier in Hamilton, the many changes made by the selectors were mitigating factors.
That apparent progression went backwards in Argentina, with the attacking threat of fullback Will Jordan, one of the best in the world, nullified by the Pumas’ kicking strategy that he and his teammates literally couldn’t get a grip of.
Some pieces of that backline do not appear to be fitting properly. Rieko Ioane is still struggling to make the transition back to left wing from centre, with he and right wing Sevu Reece, along with Jordan, making too many mistakes under the high ball.
Wing Caleb Clarke also failed to make the trip to Argentina due to an ankle problem but could come back into the frame due to his ability under the high ball because the Boks, not averse to a box kick, will have taken notice of the All Blacks’ frailties in this area.
It wouldn’t surprise to see Ioane moved back to the midfield in place of Billy Proctor for the first Boks’ Test.
The All Blacks are clearly missing Roigard and Hotham and at the weekend they could have done with the experience of lock Patrick Tuipulotu and centre Anton Lienert-Brown, both of whom headed home after the Cordoba win due to injury.
The days of the All Blacks having perfect years results-wise appear to be over now that the margins have closed in the international game.
Are we right to expect the highest standards of Robertson’s men? Yes, because they demand it of themselves and in fact leverage off it, as does New Zealand Rugby through their sponsorship deals.
Few other questions about this team are as easily answered – and neither Robertson nor skipper Scott Barrett could say for sure what went wrong at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The whole group will be looking forward to coming home after nearly three weeks away.
In New Zealand, spring is coming, but so are the Boks – and the Wallabies (at Eden Park) on September 27.
Improvements are required. If not forthcoming, a winter of discontent is.
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