Ex-All Black pinpoints two factors which have led to New Zealand’s decline including ‘major issue’
All Blacks stars doing the haka against England and New Zealand legend Ma'a Nonu.
Former All Blacks scrum-half Steve Devine has pinpointed two areas which have contributed to their decline over the past few years.
New Zealand have historically been the dominant force in the game and the 2011-15 side, which claimed back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles, is considered one of the best ever.
However, since then they have been knocked off their perch with the All Blacks creating plenty of unwanted history over the past few years.
It started with their first-ever defeat to Ireland in 2016 under Sir Steve Hansen before they succumbed to Argentina when Ian Foster was at the helm.
Scott Robertson took charge after the 2023 World Cup final defeat to the Springboks, but he has overseen a first loss to Los Pumas in South America and a record reversal at the hands of South Africa.
Inquest after England loss
Another inquest has now started after they succumbed to England on Saturday, with some blaming Robertson and his coaches, and others stating that they don’t have the calibre of players they used to.
Devine believes there are a couple of factors which have contributed to this decline, starting with the individual players’ skill sets.
“Where I think we’re struggling a little bit at the moment is there was a really big difference in performance around 2005,” he told Sport Nation’s The Rugby Run.
“We used to always be big and strong but then we introduced a couple of specialist coaches from overseas, who pretty much taught the country how to punt kick.
“We had some really good specialist coaches around tackling, really good specialist kicking, catching, passing coaches.
“I watched some of the passes on Saturday where we had made space but it was a high, bad pass. I really think our skill level ain’t what it used to be.
“The coaches went around all the provinces and introduced these skills – the drop punt kick etc – and they had time with everyone, and our skill level went up. I don’t think our skill level is where it once was.”
Losing talented youngsters
Devine also reckons that New Zealand are not keeping hold of enough of their talented youngsters, who are being tempted abroad.
“We do see a lot of kids being removed from schoolboy rugby, poached to go international, poached to go to Australia and play NRL, it’s a major issue,” he said.
“A lot of the Ma’a Nonus and a lot of the Conrad Smiths, a lot of those types of players are simply leaving our game, sometimes as young as 14, to go to Australia with an NRL club.
“Unfortunately, we’re not winning that battle, we’re not winning the battle of keeping kids into rugby.”
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