Former New Zealand captain Kieran Read recently shared insights on the contrasting current forms of the Springboks and the All Blacks on "The Good, The Bad & The Rugby" podcast. With the Springboks firmly positioned at the pinnacle of World Rugby’s rankings under Rassie Erasmus, Read highlighted their superior ability to handle adversity and clarity in gameplay as their edges over the All Blacks.
Since Erasmus took the helm in 2018, South Africa has not only clinched back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023 but also secured a series win against the British & Irish Lions in 2021 and triumphed in the Rugby Championship in 2019, 2024, and 2025. These accomplishments speak volumes, with the Boks concluding the 2025 season with an impressive 85.71% win ratio.
Conversely, the All Blacks, who are currently ranked second, have seen some instability, having replaced their head coach Scott Robertson with Dave Rennie earlier this year after a series of uneven performances. Despite these challenges, the All Blacks have historically demonstrated resilience and an ability to overturn deficits, as exemplified in a memorable 2013 Test against Ireland in Dublin. Down 19-7 at halftime, they staged a remarkable comeback to win 24-22, thanks to a last-minute try by Ryan Crotty.
"In that moment where we were down and out, it was like, 'Okay, let’s go back to who we are', which was being All Blacks. And you got Skipper (McCaw) just telling you just to relax and calm down,"
Read recalled about the intense match.Read also praised the mental fortitude of Super Rugby Pacific teams like the Chiefs and Crusaders, who exhibit similar traits of resilience and belief. "There’s certain teams, I think the Chiefs and the Crusaders certainly will have that. If they have to go to Wellington and win, they’ll have that in them. Most definitely Crusaders will have that in them," he noted.
"They’ve been there and done it. They know. So yeah, definitely the Crusaders, if they go to Wellington and go to win a final, like they’ve got two thirds of that team that have been there, done that, and they know they can do it,"
he added, emphasizing the experience embedded within these teams.However, when asked about the current All Blacks' ability to navigate tough situations, Read’s response was candid. "No, they don’t. But because they don’t have the experiences or the evidence of it happening, right? They’ve been put there and coming out the other side. I don’t think so," he stated, contrasting this with the Springboks' proven track record.
Read's observations underline a crucial aspect of top-level rugby: the integration of experience, identity, and strategy. As the All Blacks work to rediscover their form under new leadership, the Springboks’ recent history of success provides them with a blueprint of resilience and strategic clarity that continues to serve them well on the international stage.