How New Zealand’s media reacted to All Blacks’ loss to Springboks as world champions’ ‘limitless potential’ sees off arch-rivals who need some ‘tough love’
The All Blacks perform the haka ahead of their clash with the Springboks and the men in black's head coach Dave Rennie (inset).
Planet Rugby takes a look at how the New Zealand media reacted to the All Blacks’ defeat to the Springboks in the fourth Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday.
After South Africa took a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series courtesy of a triumph in the third encounter in Soweto, New Zealand were desperate to return to winning ways as they aimed to secure a drawn series.
It wasn’t to be, however, as the Springboks came to the fore with another outstanding all-round performance in which they held the upper hand for long periods and they eventually cruised to a deserved 43-28 victory at the M&T Bank Stadium with a USA rugby record crowd of more than 68,000 spectators in attendance.
That result meant the world champions clinched a 3-1 series triumph which underlined their status as the world’s leading international team and New Zealand’s rugby writers believe the match indicated that the All Blacks still have plenty to do before they reach the Boks’ level.
‘The All Blacks have slipped a length behind the Boks’
“The series has gone, the All Blacks have suffered three defeats in a row and a sense has developed that having been tracking close to the Springboks at Ellis Park, the All Blacks have slipped a length behind the Boks,” wrote The New Zealand Herald‘s Gregor Paul.
“Baltimore was not a happy place. It was sobering and perhaps psychologically triggering given how dominant the Boks looked by the end of a match which they won by 43-28.
“For the second week in a row, the All Blacks were beaten by a better team – one that had too much power, too much rugby intelligence and too much creativity. But this time they were well beaten – made to look tired, lacking in physicality and energy against a team that seems to have limitless potential.
“In a series that was painted as power versus pace, the Boks ended up winning both titles and playing like they were just as comfortable to pass and catch as they were to kick and maul.
“The winning margin may have slightly flattered the Boks, but only just. When it came down to it, there was daylight between the two teams.
“There wasn’t any facet of the game in which the All Blacks looked better and this whole idea that the Boks could be run off their feet, turned out to be a fallacy.
“They looked fit, strong, quick and full of running – something that couldn’t be said about the All Blacks, who were dead on their feet in the final 10 minutes.”
Stuff’s Richard Knowler believes it’s time for All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie show some “tough love” towards his players but feels the timing of delivering such a message will be important.
“All Blacks coach Dave Rennie may have to pick the right moment to deliver the tough love messages to his shattered players and assistants, but when he does, he has to hit them squarely between the eyes,” he wrote.
While Knowler disagrees with some of the decisions made by referee Karl Dickson in Baltimore, he advised the All Blacks not to complain about the match official’s performance – a message which did not reach the side’s senior assistant coach Neil Barnes.
“All Blacks coach Dave Rennie may have to pick the right moment to deliver the tough love messages to his shattered players and assistants, but when he does, he has to hit them squarely between the eyes,” he wrote.
“While there were several reasons to blame the officials for controversial decisions after the 43-28 loss to the Springboks in Baltimore, the All Blacks have to chew their sleeves and resist the temptation to point a finger at referee Karl Dickson and his assistants.
“The All Blacks should be brave enough to keep their mouths clamped shut, look in the mirror and acknowledge their flaws were exposed during the 3-1 defeat in the Great Rivalry series.
‘All Blacks were outplayed by a slick Springboks operation’
“Because, when all was said and done on Sunday (NZT), the All Blacks were outplayed by a slick Springboks operation that outgunned them with their attack, exposed them with contestable kicks, and muscled-up in the set pieces.”
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He also highlighted New Zealand’s penchant for conceding unnecessary penalties which has been costly throughout the Greatest Rivalry series.
Then there was the discipline,” added Knowler. “This has been an issue for the All Blacks throughout the tests in South Africa and the United States.
“Although each team conceded nine penalties each in the fourth test, it was the mindless ones that hurt the All Blacks.”