Murray Mexted, the legendary New Zealand number eight, has voiced a stark observation that the All Blacks' dip in form on the international stage is intricately linked to the exodus of South African teams from Super Rugby. As the All Blacks trudge through their 2025 Grand Slam tour, their early victories were overshadowed by a recent stumble against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, which shattered their Grand Slam ambitions.
The All Blacks, historically the titans of Test rugby, now find themselves shadowed by the Springboks, who have clinched the top spot in the World Rugby rankings. With the All Blacks reeling from their third defeat this year, following losses to Argentina and South Africa in the Rugby Championship, questions are swirling about their current form.
Super Rugby, which kicked off in 1996 shortly after rugby turned professional, saw a golden era with teams from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa battling it out. The inclusion of teams from Argentina and Japan further enriched the competition. However, post-2020, the landscape shifted dramatically due to the pandemic, leading to the creation of Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Pacific, sans the South African franchises.
Scott Robertson, who took over the All Blacks coaching reins in 2024, has struggled to translate his domestic success with the Crusaders onto the international stage. Mexted pinpointed the absence of South African teams as a significant blow to the competitive standard of Super Rugby, which he believes is directly impacting the All Blacks' performance.
"The level of Super Rugby at the moment is not as high as it was,"
Mexted remarked during his appearance on the DSPN podcast. He praised England's tactical prowess in their recent matchup: "They closed the game down well and I think they played strategically clever rugby."
The concerns about the All Blacks extend beyond tactics to the composition and efficacy of the coaching staff. "When Razor announced his team, his crew, there were so many, I thought, well, that's impossible. But it was just a matter of time and I've been giving him plenty of leash because it looks to me like they're moving in the right direction," Mexted observed.
"I've got no problems with that, as a selector."
He continued to express confidence in the capabilities of Robertson's assistants, particularly noting their proficiency at the Super Rugby level, though highlighting the step-up required at international level. As the All Blacks prepare for their next encounter against Wales at the Principality Stadium, the pressure mounts not only to secure a win but to reclaim their standing as the preeminent force in world rugby.
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Murray Mexted, the legendary New Zealand number eight, has voiced a stark observation that the All Blacks' dip in form on the international stage is intricately linked to the exodus of South African teams from Super Rugby. As the All Blacks trudge through their 2025 Grand Slam tour, their early victories were overshadowed by a recent stumble against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, which shattered their Grand Slam ambitions.
The All Blacks, historically the titans of Test rugby, now find themselves shadowed by the Springboks, who have clinched the top spot in the World Rugby rankings. With the All Blacks reeling from their third defeat this year, following losses to Argentina and South Africa in the Rugby Championship, questions are swirling about their current form.
Super Rugby, which kicked off in 1996 shortly after rugby turned professional, saw a golden era with teams from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa battling it out. The inclusion of teams from Argentina and Japan further enriched the competition. However, post-2020, the landscape shifted dramatically due to the pandemic, leading to the creation of Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Pacific, sans the South African franchises.
Scott Robertson, who took over the All Blacks coaching reins in 2024, has struggled to translate his domestic success with the Crusaders onto the international stage. Mexted pinpointed the absence of South African teams as a significant blow to the competitive standard of Super Rugby, which he believes is directly impacting the All Blacks' performance.
"The level of Super Rugby at the moment is not as high as it was,"
Mexted remarked during his appearance on the DSPN podcast. He praised England's tactical prowess in their recent matchup: "They closed the game down well and I think they played strategically clever rugby."
The concerns about the All Blacks extend beyond tactics to the composition and efficacy of the coaching staff. "When Razor announced his team, his crew, there were so many, I thought, well, that's impossible. But it was just a matter of time and I've been giving him plenty of leash because it looks to me like they're moving in the right direction," Mexted observed.
"I've got no problems with that, as a selector."
He continued to express confidence in the capabilities of Robertson's assistants, particularly noting their proficiency at the Super Rugby level, though highlighting the step-up required at international level. As the All Blacks prepare for their next encounter against Wales at the Principality Stadium, the pressure mounts not only to secure a win but to reclaim their standing as the preeminent force in world rugby.