Hard to see what the All Blacks are building unlike South Africa

The parlous state of Australasian rugby was plain for all to see on Saturday.

Sure, there were individuals on both sides who performed admirably or tried hard. Just as there were moments of excitement.

But, really and truly, much of the match would’ve been a sobering experience for fans on both sides of the Tasman.

Australia was utterly inept to start. Passive, error-prone and plainly intimidated by the opposition.

The Wallabies truly were pathetic at times, as the All Blacks raced to a 21-0 lead.

It was men against boys and a poor advertisement for Bledisloe Cup rugby.

To Australia’s great credit, they rallied. Although how could you not, when the other team’s as rudderless as the All Blacks became.

It’s increasingly tiresome to see the same mistakes and failings from the same people week after week after week.

The haka is always flawless, though, and there’s never a player with a hair out of place. The tattoos and messages scrawled on wristbands are all immaculately done..

But where’s the progress on the paddock? Where’s the decision making and execution you would expect from an All Blacks side? Where are the consequences for failing to live up to the expectations of a loyal fanbase and the legacy of the jersey?

Is there as much emphasis placed upon getting better at rugby as there is looking good for the cameras?

Yes, the All Blacks won 31-28 but this was undoubtedly their worst performance of the season. Certainly the most injurious to the reputation of New Zealand rugby.

Saturday laid bare the fact that whatever this team is trying to do isn’t working. It’s just not.

Clunky performances, even defeats, can be justifiable if they’re a consequence of following a carefully constructed plan.

Take South Africa, who were tipped over by Argentina in the weekend.

When Shannon Frizell inspired the All Blacks to a 35-20 over the Springboks last year, I thought they were done. It looked like too many of the 2019 Rugby World Cup winners were showing their age and, like many champion teams, their run had come to an end.

A year on, most of those blokes have now won two World Cups. Good on them for that.

Better still, though, is the succession planning South Africa is undertaking now.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has a squad that can still win today, when it’s feeling inclined to, while building one capable of defending the world cup in three years’ time.

Here in New Zealand, we talk about new combinations in the All Blacks as if there are any.

In Saturday’s starting XV we had Cortez Ratima, who plays with Damian McKenzie at the Chiefs, at halfback and Wallace Sititi (playing out of position) at blindside flanker.

The rest of the team have been test regulars for years.

What are we building towards? Another World Cup campaign comprising players who’ve already failed at least one previously?

Where’s our plan? Where’s our development?

Erasmus knows he can’t carry all of his World Cup winners through to 2027, just as Joe Schmidt and Mike Cron know they actually have to teach many of the Wallabies how to play rugby before the team can become competitive.

Just on Cron quickly, the Wallabies gave the All Blacks a bath at scrum time on Saturday, which shows they must have a handful of very quick learners.

The point is, Australia and South Africa are in the midst of obvious projects. Whether they work remains to be seen, but at least there’s a plan that fans can clearly see.

All Blacks fans, meanwhile, are increasingly restless. They see a host of players who’ve lost 15 tests in the last four years and a team that can barely score a point after half-time.

The fans’ eyes tell them certain players aren’t up to it, but the team’s apologists keep insisting it’ll take time for this “new’’ team to gel.

You can only insult people’s intelligence for so long.

Saturday in Sydney was bad and a 60-point win this week - which is what you should get against this Wallabies side - won’t suddenly cure the All Blacks’ ills.

This is a situation that requires change, not time.