Ex-Springboks star disagrees with Jake White’s notion that All Blacks have ‘lost their aura’

Former Springboks centre Pieter Muller is wary of the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby Championship encounter between the teams at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.

There is plenty of hype in the build-up to that fixture as New Zealand are aiming to stretch their unbeaten record at the world-famous venue to 51 Tests, while South Africa are determined to end their losing run at the ground, which stretches back to 1937.

Apart from that, this eagerly anticipated fixture will be between the top two Test nations in the game as New Zealand are currently ranked as the leading team in World Rugby’s official rankings, while South Africa occupy second position.

All Blacks suffered stunning loss to Argentina

Despite being ranked as the world’s top team, the All Blacks come into this weekend’s encounter after suffering a stunning 29-23 defeat to Argentina in their previous Rugby Championship match in Buenos Aires a fortnight ago.

The Boks were also shocked in their tournament opener in Johannesburg against the Wallabies as the visitors clinched a 38-22 victory.

However, the world champions have held the upper hand in matches against the All Blacks in recent years as they have won the last four matches between the arch-rivals since 2023.

Over the years, the All Blacks have been the most dominant team at international level, but former Springboks head coach Jake White feels their aura of invincibility has disappeared due to their recent indifferent form.

However, Muller, who represented the Springboks in 33 Tests between 1992 and 1999, disagrees and expects Scott Robertson’s troops to be up for the challenge against the world champions at Eden Park on Saturday.

He feels the fact that New Zealand suffered a defeat in their last match against Los Pumas will make them determined to bounce back and return to winning ways.

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“I will never take it (their aura) away from them. I think it’s like South Africa, when you’re beaten down, when we lost, 50-0 to Australia and New Zealand (in previous years), at some point you have to have a turnaround,” he told the On The Whistle podcast.

“The All Blacks, with Scott (Robertson), he’s a very good coach. It’s the same as Rassie (Erasmus) in the beginning, trying to find his players, his squad.

‘The All Blacks haven’t changed their game-plan much’

“So I don’t think it’s gone away. I think people also understand where the weaknesses of the All Blacks (are) and they know if they play a certain way, the All Blacks haven’t changed their game-plan much.

“They’ve got a certain way (where) they like to move the ball.

“So I think countering that, there’s always small means and ways you can beat them, but the All Blacks have never had big scores against them.

“It’s always been here and there, it’s always tight games. Like this last weekend (against Argentina), I think 40 missed tackles for the All Blacks!

“It never happens. So again, for us to play this Test on Saturday is going to be a toughie, because they want to prove a point.

“Everyone at home took them out (criticised them). The aura is still there, I think it’s just (that) they’re finding themselves.

“Maybe in a year or two, when the World Cup is back, you never know.”

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