Jake White believes All Blacks have ‘lost the ability’ in crucial area after ‘naive’ Springboks defeat
All Blacks players in 2024 and former Springboks head coach Jake White.
Former Springboks boss Jake White “couldn’t believe” what he was watching on Saturday after the All Blacks saw their Rugby Championship hopes fade.
Scott Robertson’s men are out of the title reckoning following their 18-12 reversal at the hands of South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
It was their third defeat in four matches under their new head coach, following losses to Argentina in Wellington and the Boks in Johannesburg.
While they have not been by large margins, with the two Springboks games in particular incredibly tight, White believes that the current New Zealand set-up is making some uncharacteristic mistakes.
Failure to adapt in matches
“For as long as I’ve been coaching, the one thing the All Blacks have always possessed is an innate understanding of the game. An almost sixth sense to do the right thing at the right time,” he wrote in his RugbyPass column.
“For what seemed like an eternity, at any given point, they could speed the game up, slow it down, keep the ball, or kick it downfield for territory. And it wasn’t just the All Blacks.
“It was something you saw with their age-grade groups, their Maori teams – it’s was almost like they were coached that way from the first moment they picked up a rugby ball.
“Anyone and everyone associated with rugby is throwing up reasons for the All Blacks’ loss of invincibility; from a new coach, to losing key players and the vulnerability of Super Rugby.
“Yes, they are all factors to the All Blacks still finding their feet, but what really hit me in the second Test was that they seemed to have lost the ability to control what was happening in-game.”
White delved into a couple of moments which gave credence to his theory as the All Blacks failed to win the big moments during the Springboks Tests.
“Jasper Wiese got yellow-carded for obstructing Cortez Ratima and two minutes later Sevu Reece was carded for taking Willie le Roux out in the air – Scott Robertson must have had his head in his hands,” the 2007 Rugby Word Cup winner wrote.
“When it was business as usual, they’d say, ‘right, we have 10 minutes to unpick the opposition and win the game’.
“They had another chance to pull ahead when Willie was carded in the 62nd minute, and what do they do, fail to register any points and get Tyrel Lomax sent to the bin for impeding Cheslin Kolbe.
“I couldn’t believe it. That is one area, I thought, ‘jeez, that is so unlike the All Blacks’.”
Squad issue
New Zealand have lost some key players since the 2023 World Cup final but it is still an incredibly experienced squad. However, White insists that it is a problem with the whole group and not just a select few players.
“Let me stress, I’m not just talking about the senior players, I’m talking about every squad member. Historically, they’d have worked out what they needed to do. Their inaccuracy cost them,” he added.
“They looked as shocked as the supporters about what was happening. I was amazed how naïve they’d become.”
Although the ex-Boks head coach has been surprised by the All Blacks’ performances, he expects them to rectify their issues going forward.
“Saying that, I’m not worried because the All Blacks have shown they are the masters of reinvention for over a century,” he wrote.
“They will find a way. Rugby is too important in their country not to. It’s probably their biggest export commodity.”
READ MORE: All Blacks legend blasts ‘show pony referee’ for ‘disgraceful’ officiating in Springboks win
