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'The aura is gone': Has Argentina's victory shattered the All Blacks mystique?
By Online Editors
Historically, the All Blacks haven't just been the strongest rugby team in the world - they've stood head and shoulder above the rest.
England, Australia and South Africa have flirted with greatness - most recently, the Springboks side of 2009 that bested the All Blacks 3-0 over the year - but it's New Zealand that have inevitably risen back to the top. Even factoring in the periods where there's been the odd drop in form, a game against the All Blacks has never been anything but a massive challenge.
Scotland and Italy are still yet to taste victory against New Zealand and, until Saturday evening, Argentina's Pumas were in the same boat. Following the 25-15 loss in Sydney, however, fans have started to question whether the All Blacks still possess the aura of invincibility that has made them such tough opponents over the decades.
From 2010 until the middle of 2018, the All Blacks maintained a superb 91 percent win-rate. Since then, results haven't been quite so impressive.
First, the Springboks surprised the All Blacks in Wellington. Then, on the end of year tour to Europe, New Zealand suffered a second loss for the year against an inspired Ireland side.
That loss in Dublin marked just NZ's second-ever to the Irish (their first came in 2016) - and their first in Dublin. The All Blacks also managed lucky escapes against South Africa and England, which made for somewhat of a disappointing year for the men in black.
2019 wasn't much better. Tier-one wins came against Argentina, South Africa, Ireland and Wales, while the Wallabies inflicted a mammoth 47-26 win over their trans-Tasman rivals in Perth and England triumphed in the World Cup semi-final.
Now, with Ian Foster in charge, the All Blacks are sitting on a 40 percent record for the year.
That 91 percent rate between 2010 and 2018 has subsequently plummeted to just 63 percent and Argentina's historic win on Saturday could be the last nail in the coffin, as far as some are concerned.
Rugby fans from across the world have taken to Twitter to ask the question, has the fear-factor left the All Blacks?
Argentina really showed that the All black aura is gone. Can see this being the start of a new Rugby dysnaty and the end of the All Blacks dominance
— Sports Chat (@SportsChat11) November 14, 2020
England, Australia and now Los Pumas. The AB aura is disappearing fast... And let's not forget their Super Rugby arrogance wet the new format. Maybe not the players, but the ego of AB Rugby as a whole might just need this reality check.
— Abram Nortje (@AbramNortje) November 14, 2020
England, Australia and now Los Pumas. The AB aura is disappearing fast... And let's not forget their Super Rugby arrogance wet the new format. Maybe not the players, but the ego of AB Rugby as a whole might just need this reality check.
— Abram Nortje (@AbramNortje) November 14, 2020
All Blacks have won 2 of their last 6 games. No team should fear them. The aura is gone.
— Habib CHUCK (@JuddHuff) November 14, 2020
Get rid of Foster ASAP before the Blacks aura of invincibility is totally shattered. #fosterout #allblacks
— kaykew (@randommidageman) November 14, 2020
We were terrible, even worse than last week. Argentina deserved to win by more. Just as well we weren’t playing a really good team like Wales. I fear the glory days are well and truly over. Lots of rebuilding needed before All Blacks can compete at top table again I reckon.
— Andrew Clark (@AndrewClarkArch) November 14, 2020
It's not the first time in recent months that some have claimed the All Blacks have lost their aura.
Following New Zealand's draw with Australia in Wellington, former Wallaby David Campese suggested that the tides were turning.
Two weeks later, the All Blacks crushed the Wallabies 43-5.
All Blacks fans will be hoping to see a similar response from their team in their rematch with Argentina on 28 November.
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Latest Comments
Recent complaints that SA players have a 12-month workload isn't of itself a credible enough excuse to lay at the door of EPCR administrators. If SA clubs want to participate in NH league and club competitions and also participate in SH internationals, then clearly something has to give.
From the EPCR perspective, I do think that the format/schedule issues can be fixed if there's a strong enough desire to remove some of the logistical challenges clubs are facing with these long and frequent trips across the hemispheres.
From the SA player workload perspective however, I'm not sure how players can participate safely and competitively at both the club and international levels. Perhaps - and as Rassie appears to be developing, SA develop a super squad with sufficient player numbers and rotation to allow players to compete across the full 12-month calendar.
Bottom line though, is the geographical isolation is always going to restrict SA's ability to having the best of both worlds.
Go to commentsMoriaty refused to play for wales also he’s injured, France’s is being coy about wales, North in the dark but Sam David and jerad are you joking their not good enough
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