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All Blacks 2026

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  • ChrisC Online
    ChrisC Online
    Chris
    replied to mohikamo last edited by Duluth
    #489

    @mohikamo

    The Crusaders will Run Kellow at 7 he is a 7,Mathis will cover there so a couple of 7s they will use.
    Blackadder probably 3rd option who is really a 6 at SR level.

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  • SnowyS Offline
    SnowyS Offline
    Snowy
    replied to Victor Meldrew last edited by
    #490

    @Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Snowy said in All Blacks 2026:

    We all know how you feel about Ian so I'm not going to labour the point that he (deservedly IMO) got a tough time in the press.

    I thought NZR should have got rid of Foster after the Ireland series. I just didn't fall for the theory that all the AB's problems were down to one bloke, thought there were way deeper problems and the Coach Messiah theory was bollocks. They missed an opportunity to dig deep, find and fix things.

    Robertson will end up there as well if the results continue to be poor for a s long as Foster's were.

    It'll be worse, probably. Let's hope the rumours which came out post-EOYT are overblown and the review actually identifies and fixes things - otherwise it could get really ugly. Hell hath no fury like a conned press.

    .

    I certainly agree with all of that.

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  • W Offline
    W Offline
    WoodysRFC
    wrote last edited by
    #491

    Sean Withy featuring once at 7 is surprising.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmeal
    replied to Dan54 last edited by ShaquilleOatmeal
    #492

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2026:

    Robert Van Rooyen circle jerk for ya

    Crusaders circle jerk with Knowler there alongside him although Knowler was playing the (only) slightly more balanced role in the exchange.

    Takeaways:

    • Mo'unga was finally coming right after 50 tests when he took the Yen and ran.
    • Everything was BB's fault.
    • The assistant coaches are all good because they once made the Crusaders backline "hiss".
    • Barrett is fine despite the fact he needs to play better and tidy up his discipline which has been shit all career.
    • Razor doesn't have the cattle but also the team makes too many unforced errors and they'd threaten the Boks without those (so wait we do have the cattle?)
    • The most important thing it the ABs are peaking in 2027 (fuck off, we're not a RWC only team).

    They've done that with the ABs backline too in that they hiss while they're deflating.

    You'd think these 2 fanboy 'journos' would have gotten the message that Super Rugby and Test Rigby are worlds apart by now.

    Regular Show is wonderful, used to enjoy watching it with my boys.

    But to address your point, Ardie Savea made quite a number of World Teams of the year so that should tell you all you need to know.

    A great highlights reel player.

    Has someone put together a highlights reel for him for 2025?

    Has someone put together a lowlights reel of him walking on defence, refusing to hit rucks and being miles away from where he’s required? I’m only semi-joking here - it’d be interesting to see the reaction from fans who only watch highlights.

    They'd just call it fake news

    'He's allowed a break after carrying the team on his own for all these years'

    I just don't get the Ardie hate that goes on in here. He was absolutely worn out at end of this year, but bet he be one first named in team going forward. Well he would be in my team, Hiw man problem year just gone was coaches running him into ground, and that started with Tana in super.

    You also think James Parsons is a good analyst and claim to have seen much worse performing All Blacks teams.

    Yep ! And your point is? Are you upset because I see things differently than you?
    I also don't believe I have seen as much strength of test teams around world.

    Not upset at all. Just pointing out you seem to be well off the mark fairly often and are very accepting of mediocrity from the team. How exactly do you think it’s okay for an openside flanker to not bother hitting rucks? How is it okay for any player to walk on defence? How does that not place more burden on the other players? How is it okay for any player others look up to to and follow to phone it in the way Savea does?

    Am I off the mark, or are you? You seem very confident you know a lot more about game than those who don't agree with you. You seemed to point out I enjoy Parson.s analilysis too? Hell I take notice of Mauss on here, I find he does work on analysing games, where as I watch them at park or on tv, and take my opinions from that. Which is ok, but very very limited.
    Mate as I said it all opinions, I got mine, as I said I don't understand the hate. hey many paid pundits and coaches agree me with me obviously. Hey I not in the Will Jordan at 15 fanboi group either, but figure coaches work on having a plan for how he plays.
    We had a poster/s (can't remember who) saying they couldn't see what the big deal was with Fabian Holland too. I haven't seen all this walking on defence etc, and it's actually not unusual for loosies (especially 7s) to not hit rucks, as they tend to go for steal, but often if they can't get it set up in defence, I think some loosies hit rucks because they think that's there job, but sometimes (as with Props, locks etc etc) you better to stay out of them, as Boks looked to do in Wellington at times.
    Also by all means tell me where I said mediocrity is ok from All Blacks, or are you just making stuff up. I am one who argues against picking teams on what we need for WC, as I think we should try and win every game.

    I’ve decided to briefly respond to this by saying I’d like you to explain your options more and answer some of the questions being asked of you.

    When did you see worse All Blacks teams than the 2025 lot and in which ways were they worse? I’m genuinely interested in this because I’m not old enough to remember anything earlier than the mid-90s and there are a few reasons I think the terrible 1998 run wasn’t as bad as 2025.

    And what makes you say Savea performed well in 2025, other than being on the field a lot? I also find it strange you watched the Wellington loss and didn’t see the players walking around, basically not bothering.

    As far as Parsons is concerned, he comes across as someone trying to come up with excuses for the All Blacks’ poor performances, scraping at the bottom of the barrel for random statistics because he’s worried about getting offside with his mates. It’s not so much that I think I know more than him. It’s that I don’t think he’s being honest.

    boobooB M Dan54D 3 Replies Last reply
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  • boobooB Offline
    boobooB Offline
    booboo
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by
    #493

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    I also find it strange you watched the Wellington loss and didn’t see the players walking around, basically not bothering.

    Whilst I see your point I tried to watch this again recently to try and see the walking everyone is alluding to.

    I obviously watch rugby differently as I think I just watch the ball...so didn't really notice the walking around.

    If you, or anyone else, have some time stamps on the walking that'd be appreciated.

    My general impression was we remained in this and generally at par until three qaurters of the way through when we turned down a three pointer and fucked up the lineout.

    However I remain seriously fucked off at the RG Snyman try. That looked liked laziness to me.

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  • nonpartizanN Offline
    nonpartizanN Offline
    nonpartizan
    wrote last edited by nonpartizan
    #494

    One of the mysteries of the 2025 season has to be why Beauden came back out v England in the second half.

    It is very obvious that his leg was fucked at the end of the first half and he was running pretty gingerly on it at the start of the second when the game was still in the balance. It's not like whatever treatment he got at halftime made a major difference. He was not 100% for those 15 mins in that second half.

    Hence why Jordan was taking penalty kicks to touch. Razors insistence on playing BB at all costs was frankly bizarre.

    sparkyS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • sparkyS Offline
    sparkyS Offline
    sparky
    replied to nonpartizan last edited by
    #495

    @nonpartizan Beauden Barrett didn't have a good season at all in 2025. Robertson and co's instance on picking him when he was repeatedly off his game was very stubborn and strange. We'd have been better off giving DMac more game time or developing Ruben Love or Rivez Reihana as Test First Fives.

    You're right it reached utter absurdity when they threw away the England game by keeping Beauden Barrett on for 15 minutes after half time when he was clearly broken.

    It was almost as if he was the only one they trusted with the amazing game plan they thought they had, but which turned out to be exactly what England were expecting.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to sparky last edited by
    #496

    @sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

    We'd have been better off giving DMac more game time or developing Ruben Love or Rivez Reihana as Test First Fives.

    Doesn't fit with the Richie Mo'unga strategy.

    Honestly, RM had better be a bloody good 10 otherwise we're going to find ourselves screwed in a key position 1 year out from the RWC.

    sparkyS BonesB 2 Replies Last reply
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  • sparkyS Offline
    sparkyS Offline
    sparky
    replied to Victor Meldrew last edited by
    #497

    @Victor-Meldrew My advice to youngsters is to find yourself someone who loves you like Scott Robertson loves "his quarterback."

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  • BonesB Offline
    BonesB Offline
    Bones
    replied to Victor Meldrew last edited by
    #498

    @Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

    @sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

    We'd have been better off giving DMac more game time or developing Ruben Love or Rivez Reihana as Test First Fives.

    Doesn't fit with the Richie Mo'unga strategy.

    Honestly, RM had better be a bloody good 10 otherwise we're going to find ourselves screwed in a key position 1 year out from the RWC.

    Well I won't be expecting an improvement in kicking.

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    mohikamo
    replied to Dan54 last edited by
    #499

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    I recall in early 90s when game was leaning looking at going pro, many saying NZ would be struggling to stay competitive within 10-20 years.

    I was one of those people.
    Instead we pretty much blitzed it for 25 years (excepting RWCs, blew a few of those).
    So it's different now, we have a great pro rugby legacy, and are a bit of rugby heavy weight, which we should be able to maintain, if we (NZR) are careful.

    After the great run of success, It does look to me like complacency has crept into the NZR hierarchy.
    Being unable to adjust to a different competitive environment.

    The No. 1 priority is the national team, because all NZ rugby financials are predicated on the performance of that one team.
    And we have a HC of that team who (with the ok it seems from NZR) seems to have decided how he wants to have the game played; without paying much regard to what the opposition are doing; and the rules of the game, as officiated.
    Which is in stark contrast to the HC of our most serious opponents.

    And as for our great run; sure we had great players; but I always maintained it was our style of play that had them all fucked.
    But eventually they figured us out . . . so now we have to come up with something new . . . not the same old shite . . . not guna beat the good teams anymore doin it the old way.

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    mohikamo
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by
    #500

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    When did you see worse All Blacks teams than the 2025 lot and in which ways were they worse? I’m genuinely interested in this because I’m not old enough to remember anything earlier than the mid-90s and there are a few reasons I think the terrible 1998 run wasn’t as bad as 2025.

    2025 was worse than 1998 because I could see upside in 99 after a few easy adjustments.
    No confidence in the current lot making the correct changes for 26.

    One thing I have noticed since the game went pro is that performance from game to game (good or bad) is much more consistent than in the amateur days (before mid 90's).
    In the amateur days form was more up and down.
    Teams were much more likely to have a one-off shocker, especially if they had already clinched a series.
    Something to do with not having a pay check I guess.

    The 2025 AB team I thought was very consistent, and when they ran into a good team playing well, they didn't seem able to lift or change anything. That didn't matter against the lesser teams.

    As last season went on I stopped watching whole games.
    I just watched the first few minutes of each game to see if anything was different, and it never was.
    Even against England up 12 I switched off. Thought it would be fall over the line Scotland type win, or we would get pumped, neither of which was of interest.

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  • Dan54D Offline
    Dan54D Offline
    Dan54
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by Dan54
    #501

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2026:

    @MN5 said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2026:

    Robert Van Rooyen circle jerk for ya

    Crusaders circle jerk with Knowler there alongside him although Knowler was playing the (only) slightly more balanced role in the exchange.

    Takeaways:

    • Mo'unga was finally coming right after 50 tests when he took the Yen and ran.
    • Everything was BB's fault.
    • The assistant coaches are all good because they once made the Crusaders backline "hiss".
    • Barrett is fine despite the fact he needs to play better and tidy up his discipline which has been shit all career.
    • Razor doesn't have the cattle but also the team makes too many unforced errors and they'd threaten the Boks without those (so wait we do have the cattle?)
    • The most important thing it the ABs are peaking in 2027 (fuck off, we're not a RWC only team).

    They've done that with the ABs backline too in that they hiss while they're deflating.

    You'd think these 2 fanboy 'journos' would have gotten the message that Super Rugby and Test Rigby are worlds apart by now.

    Regular Show is wonderful, used to enjoy watching it with my boys.

    But to address your point, Ardie Savea made quite a number of World Teams of the year so that should tell you all you need to know.

    A great highlights reel player.

    Has someone put together a highlights reel for him for 2025?

    Has someone put together a lowlights reel of him walking on defence, refusing to hit rucks and being miles away from where he’s required? I’m only semi-joking here - it’d be interesting to see the reaction from fans who only watch highlights.

    They'd just call it fake news

    'He's allowed a break after carrying the team on his own for all these years'

    I just don't get the Ardie hate that goes on in here. He was absolutely worn out at end of this year, but bet he be one first named in team going forward. Well he would be in my team, Hiw man problem year just gone was coaches running him into ground, and that started with Tana in super.

    You also think James Parsons is a good analyst and claim to have seen much worse performing All Blacks teams.

    Yep ! And your point is? Are you upset because I see things differently than you?
    I also don't believe I have seen as much strength of test teams around world.

    Not upset at all. Just pointing out you seem to be well off the mark fairly often and are very accepting of mediocrity from the team. How exactly do you think it’s okay for an openside flanker to not bother hitting rucks? How is it okay for any player to walk on defence? How does that not place more burden on the other players? How is it okay for any player others look up to to and follow to phone it in the way Savea does?

    Am I off the mark, or are you? You seem very confident you know a lot more about game than those who don't agree with you. You seemed to point out I enjoy Parson.s analilysis too? Hell I take notice of Mauss on here, I find he does work on analysing games, where as I watch them at park or on tv, and take my opinions from that. Which is ok, but very very limited.
    Mate as I said it all opinions, I got mine, as I said I don't understand the hate. hey many paid pundits and coaches agree me with me obviously. Hey I not in the Will Jordan at 15 fanboi group either, but figure coaches work on having a plan for how he plays.
    We had a poster/s (can't remember who) saying they couldn't see what the big deal was with Fabian Holland too. I haven't seen all this walking on defence etc, and it's actually not unusual for loosies (especially 7s) to not hit rucks, as they tend to go for steal, but often if they can't get it set up in defence, I think some loosies hit rucks because they think that's there job, but sometimes (as with Props, locks etc etc) you better to stay out of them, as Boks looked to do in Wellington at times.
    Also by all means tell me where I said mediocrity is ok from All Blacks, or are you just making stuff up. I am one who argues against picking teams on what we need for WC, as I think we should try and win every game.

    I’ve decided to briefly respond to this by saying I’d like you to explain your options more and answer some of the questions being asked of you.

    When did you see worse All Blacks teams than the 2025 lot and in which ways were they worse? I’m genuinely interested in this because I’m not old enough to remember anything earlier than the mid-90s and there are a few reasons I think the terrible 1998 run wasn’t as bad as 2025.

    And what makes you say Savea performed well in 2025, other than being on the field a lot? I also find it strange you watched the Wellington loss and didn’t see the players walking around, basically not bothering.

    As far as Parsons is concerned, he comes across as someone trying to come up with excuses for the All Blacks’ poor performances, scraping at the bottom of the barrel for random statistics because he’s worried about getting offside with his mates. It’s not so much that I think I know more than him. It’s that I don’t think he’s being honest.

    I saw teams a number of times that I believe were pretty average, we had teams in (particurlarly late60s/early 70s, probably 90s also) that were at (like now) what I call swing points where we were perhaps struggling to produce a number pf good young players.Hell in about 94 we only won 2 out of 6 tests (and I was at one of those tests, and you could feel almost the struggle to operate, even with the likes of Jones, Zinzan etc)! Apart from perhaps 2006ish to 2017 where we were full of world class players, and among them all time greats we have at times struggled. I clearly remember early 2000s many pulling out hair and wondering how we could compete with supposedly no locks etc. Hell in 1998 we lost 5 tests, and was supposedly worst AB team ever etc.
    As I said I have watched rugby a long time and while I not happy how we are going, I still say it's not worst I have seen, though I do think we will have to get a bit more used to it.
    What makes me say Savea performed well this year, well hasn't been stella, and should of been rested late in year, and all I said I don't get the Ardie hate, he wasn't that bad ( I also believe he suffered from super carrying MP on his back)
    On Parsons. I was at Wellington test, and was as pissed as most especially those at game, there wasn't a whole lot of walking . but to me an inexcusable mental switch off in last 15-20 minutes where most of the team seemed to struggle.
    As for Parsons (like most proper pundits) he may come across to you as someone coming up for poor AB performances, and could be, could also be coming across as someone showing what they did wrong or just as importantly what other team did so well. One of reasons I enjoy his work he (and Hall) talk of what they work on in how detailed it is etc. It's a bloody complicated game at top level and the more I get it broken down the better for me. The fact teams even work on the best way to charge down box kicks from different 9s , haw big the play book that players have to learn with calls etc I get real interested when I hear any pundit who has actually played top level rugby. (to fsee this point, listen to some of those commentators that do NH club rugby, tsome are great)That a point I try to make, sometimes we will ( and have always been) get beaten by a team that is simply plays better. If we win is it only because other team plays poorly or we play well. It's all hos you chose to look at games.
    I make no apologies for enjoying pundits, I a rugby nerd, am no more knowledgeable than anyone else, but love to hear from people who actually have played game at top level, as much (or maybe more) as reading and discussing the games with plebs like us.

    Mate just remembered, almost wish I could find the forums I read them in, beginning of 2025 there were also a number of people who assured us all that Richie McCaw was past it and should be dropped, and their opinions were valid then to, I just didn't quite understand them.

    ShaquilleOatmealS D 2 Replies Last reply
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  • ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmeal
    replied to Dan54 last edited by ShaquilleOatmeal
    #502

    @Dan54

    Just looking at the results. And this may not be 100% accurate - I asked AI to do the maths for me.

    1967
    The All Blacks had 0 losses (5 matches played).
    Average points differential in losses: N/A (no losses)

    1968
    The All Blacks had 0 losses (5 matches played).
    Average points differential in losses: N/A (no losses)

    1969
    The All Blacks had 0 losses (2 matches played).
    Average points differential in losses: N/A (no losses)

    1970
    The All Blacks had 3 losses:

    • vs South Africa: -11
    • vs South Africa: -11
    • vs South Africa: -3
      Average points differential in losses: -6.33

    1971
    The All Blacks had 2 losses:

    • vs British Isles: -6
    • vs British Isles: -10
      Average points differential in losses: -8.00

    1972
    The All Blacks had 0 losses (3 matches played).
    Average points differential in losses: N/A (no losses)

    1973
    The All Blacks had 2 losses:

    • vs France: -7
    • vs England: -6
      Average points differential in losses: -6.50

    1994
    The All Blacks had 3 losses:

    • vs France: -14
    • vs France: -3
    • vs Australia: -4
      Average points differential in losses: -7.00

    1998
    The All Blacks had 5 losses:

    • vs Australia: -8
    • vs South Africa: -10
    • vs Australia: -4
    • vs South Africa: -1
    • vs Australia: -5
      Average points differential in losses: -5.60

    2025
    The All Blacks had 3 losses:

    • vs Argentina: -6
    • vs South Africa: -33
    • vs England: -14
      Average points differential in losses: -17.67

    I can’t speak to the quality of the performances or the teams they lost to from other years but the losses in 1998 were to a very good South African team and the best Australia has ever put on the park. The All Blacks also would have won one of those games via a Jeff Wilson try if they’d had TMO at the time.

    What we’ve seen in recent times is something else. Huge losses. The team appearing to give up entirely. Losses to teams the All Blacks never used to lose to. Losses from a position a win should have been all but guaranteed. The team appearing to go backwards. And scratchy performances in wins as well. It’s hard to believe things were worse than they are now and also hard to believe they’ll turn things around.

    M 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Dan54D Offline
    Dan54D Offline
    Dan54
    wrote last edited by
    #503

    Yep mate, and the loss against springboks this year were against a poor team? We also lost twice to Wallabies, who once again were a bloody good team those days, but we weren't real strong. Look I not saying everything rosey, have never said it, but all I saying things aren't as bad as some say, and I have seen other years where we looked average (that was one year). 1994 we lost 3 against (2 France, and 1 Wallabies) beat Boks twice and drew with them once. If winning 2, losing 3 and drawing 1 in season is as good as winning 10 losing 3, Hell in 2000 we lost 3 and won about 8 we fairly average then too . Thats under 30% winning record!! Much to my surprise this year is very close (or slightly above) the All Blacks historical success rate.

    And no I not happy with it, but I repeat I have seen some bang average AB teams before this is average probably for abS, no where near what I would hope, but have to face facts, it not the worst record and I suspect we will get a few more because we lack enough WC players compared to other teams, and we have to learn again, that we not guaranteed winning. like we got used to 2005-16
    I will say the 1995 WC final was probably the eye opener for me, I arrogantly thought we were unbeatable, we weren't and when I got up in morning the sun still came up, and from that day I realised that perhaps other nations were quite capable of beating ABs and didn't make it a poor AB team, sometimes other teams play bloody well (which I thought best ever Boks team did, Poms also (although I thought we well below where we could of been). It's not end of world mate, we doing ok (just ok) but we have done worse as I said.
    When we accept that I reckon we enjoy the game more. As I said the only time I was real gutted this year was the final 20 at Sky. If you had asked me if I thought a 10-3 win ratio for this year was a pass before season, I would of said yes.
    We all want 2014 every year, but by christ it would get boring!

    ShaquilleOatmealS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    mohikamo
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by
    #504

    @ShaquilleOatmeal

    Not sure exactly what you asked AI, but I was around for all of these teams.

    1967-70
    All of these teams were good. Supremely confident we would win every game..
    Some saffas consider the 1970 AB team as better than the 1974 BI Lions team that beat them 4 zip.
    I was confident we could beat SA in SA for the first time. A total contrast to how I feel 26.
    Surprised we lost, but probably should not have been. The boks were good and they had a bit of extra assistance, of course.

    1971
    We were definitely on the slide a bit this year.
    The third test in particular was a bit of a new experience as a youngster.
    That game reminds me a bit of some of the losses in 25. Was goin "what the fuck happened!" We had nuthin.

    1972
    Was ok, all wins, but the wins were like wins in 25, none were emphatic.

    1973
    This was a bad year. Not for just onfield stuff. SA were meant to tour, but the govt came over the top and canned it.
    Then we lost to an England team in their pre-season! (I think this was a hastily arranged subsitute game.)
    Just about the worst AB loss ever!
    The ABs also had a bit of an internal tour, which was complete BS, and no one was really interested.

    1994
    94 was actually more of a concern to me than 98. Really starting to have my doubts about Laurie Mains. A bit like my thoughts about Razor now. What happened in 95 was an unexpected turn around. And the turnaround seems to have been driven by the players (Laurie getting some player buy-in). Maybe something like that could happen this year.?

    1998
    The opposition was good; but we were ok. Could have won all the games. Thought we could turn this around easily.
    Not the feeling I had in 25.

    2025
    In 25 I thought when we ran into a good team playing well, we had no chance. Probably never had that feeling with an AB team before.

    ShaquilleOatmealS C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmealS Offline
    ShaquilleOatmeal
    replied to Dan54 last edited by
    #505

    @Dan54 So, what I’m interested from you, as someone who was paying attention at the time, is in other poor years, what were the performances like and what were the opposition like? Did the team give up during games? Could they not execute basic skills? Did they lose to teams they probably should have beaten? There’s a lot more to it than the number of wins and losses in a season.

    And the 1995 team was unbeatable. It took half the side vomiting on the sideline for South Africa to barely win.

    BovidaeB pukunuiP Dan54D 3 Replies Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by
    #506

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    And the 1995 team was unbeatable.

    France would say otherwise.

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  • pukunuiP Offline
    pukunuiP Offline
    pukunui
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by
    #507

    @ShaquilleOatmeal
    It seems people have forgotten just how bad 2022 was.

    • First home/series loss to Ireland
    • First loss to Argentina (at home)
    • Well beaten by Boks in the first game
    • Saved by the ref calling time wasting against the Wallabies with time almost up.
    • Close calls against Japan and Scotland
    • Escaping with a draw v England

    All of this coming off the back of the 2021 eoyt where we got smacked by ireland and france and had to sack multiple assistant coaches.

    Also worth remembering this was all with multiple AB greats still in the team and a 10 who was a much better player than 2025 BB.

    2025 was shit, but I would argue 2022 was rock bottom.

    M A R Victor MeldrewV 4 Replies Last reply
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  • Dan54D Offline
    Dan54D Offline
    Dan54
    replied to ShaquilleOatmeal last edited by Dan54
    #508

    @ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

    @Dan54 So, what I’m interested from you, as someone who was paying attention at the time, is in other poor years, what were the performances like and what were the opposition like? Did the team give up during games? Could they not execute basic skills? Did they lose to teams they probably should have beaten? There’s a lot more to it than the number of wins and losses in a season.

    And the 1995 team was unbeatable. It took half the side vomiting on the sideline for South Africa to barely win.

    Usually generally the performance was average, like this year. Not sure in those days we thought not so much as giving up as not getting going. I will admit I was youngers and it never crossed my mind that teams would give up. The opposition especially during the 80s I thought was poor, as I have said at other times, I watched Wales train in Levin during WC, and the skill level etc was ordinary, and Quinell actuall told the front row boys from Levin, a couple if first graders and a second grade hooker from club team in the Horowhenua to lay off in the scrumming, as they were getting done. And Wales were in the semi-finals of that WC. There were some pretty ordinary teams getting whipped by AB team toward end of 80s . AN AB team with a few bloody good players, but nothing exceptional really.
    Did they lose to teams they should of beaten ? Hell yeah France in 93-4 we looked like we thought tackiling was optional at times are a couple that come to mind, and same against Wallabies early 80s, where it was a case of like Wellington this year, team turning off mentally (I thought). Mind you as I say, I tend to be (or used to especially) to believe we should aways win tests.
    It's hard to compare between era etc, because much as I was a fan boi even back in those days and look back fondly, I seriously doubt whether many of them would compete with modern teams, just because game has changed etc so much. I do say the way teams behaved and treated each other in those days would never be tolerated in todays games. At times there was a pretty proud bully system in team, and players etc that didn't didn't toe line in anything should be careful at training etc. Justin Marshall was almost strangled on a bus trip for being a smart arse and sitting in back seat etc etc. Rumour has it some of the, one in particular the 90s coulld or should be real embarrassed how he used to act with younger team memebrs. I not only read that in a players book, but heard it from someone who was acting as a temporary member for the party while overseas. There were times when the team culture left a lot to be desired , and that included the boozing etc, which you just can't do these days.

    We got by with at times bloody good teams, at others we struggled through with teams that average with a couple of real good players in them. Now we struggle because a few other teams, like SA (the most a team we beat once this year), France and Ireland all of which would have more players in a World XV than us, possibly England too.
    I wish like every supporter (of every sort) that my team played with 100% mentally and physically everytime they stepped on field, unfortunately the human and it doesn't happen that way.

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