All Blacks great: Scott Robertson’s side ‘trying to be like the Springboks’ and are struggling with their ‘identity’
All Blacks maul against the Springboks and New Zealand centurion Mils Muliaina.
All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina has claimed that Scott Robertson’s side have become “overfocused” on the Springboks ahead of this weekend’s game.
South Africa are the back-to-back world champions having lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2019 and 2023, while New Zealand have stuttered over the past few years.
Although they reached the summit of the World Rugby rankings for the first time in four years after the opening round of the Rugby Championship, they followed that up with a poor defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
There has been criticism that the current outfit are not expansive enough and have duly gone away from the All Blacks ‘DNA’.
More conservative All Blacks
Robertson has certainly placed an emphasis on set-piece and kicking during his time in charge, which are areas the Boks have been renowned for over the years.
It has played a key role in South Africa’s World Cup successes and Muliaina is worried that the All Blacks are attempting to almost copy them.
“I think the game has evolved, certainly globally, but also when you’re chasing the number one team, you’re actually trying to counter their strengths,” he told Supersport.
“The strengths is of the Springboks is the maul, the kicking game, the set-piece and that’s probably why we’ve had to go to that.
“I still think there’s an element where we’ve probably gone a little bit too far. We love the expansive game, playing on top of the ground.
“That’s perhaps an area we’ve probably overfocused on, possibly trying to be like the Springboks. You’ve got to put a little bit of your own DNA into it.
“I think what we’re struggling with at the moment is that identity, we’ve gone a little bit too far and not actually come back to what we’re good at and what suits our game.”
While New Zealand have had a more conservative game plan under Robertson, South Africa have ironically looked to be more expansive since the 2023 World Cup.
It led Jean de Villiers to quip that “the All Blacks are playing like the Springboks and the Springboks are playing like the All Blacks”, with the roles potentially being reversed.
Ardie Savea’s 100th at Eden Park
It will therefore be interesting to see how both teams approach the massive encounter at Eden Park, with the hosts unbeaten at the ground since 1994.
The occasion will also mark Ardie Savea’s 100th cap for his country and Muliaina paid tribute to great back-rower, who will no doubt have license to roam around the field.
“A special player, a special human being and a real leader. He won’t make it about himself and that’s the beauty of what Ardie is,” he added.
“He will understand where the team’s at and the pressure the public have on them at the moment. He will go out there and play his absolute best. I’m gearing up for him to have an absolute blinder.
“To get to 100 games, especially in the black jersey, is a special feat in itself. He’s going to get a lot more.
“It is going to be a special night, he won’t make it about himself but he’s inspired not just Kiwis but Pacific Islanders to want to be like him.
“It’s great to see kids from Islands wanting to be like him and that’s the special part of what he’s done.”