New Zealand's rugby legends are reeling after the All Blacks suffered a record thrashing by the Springboks, sparking a national identity crisis. The once-invincible All Blacks fell 43-10 in a shocking Wellington defeat, with the Springboks running in 36 unanswered points in the latter half.
Speaking on The Breakdown, ex-All Black Jeff Wilson couldn't hide his dismay.
"The All Blacks conceded 36 unanswered points at home. That’s as emphatic as it gets,"
he said, highlighting a worrying trend. "What stings is that teams now believe they can beat the All Blacks. Argentina, Ireland, and now South Africa have shown us up on our own turf. That aura? It's definitely got some cracks."
Wilson stressed the importance of rugby heritage. "Responsibility to the jersey and our history is huge. Record-breaking losses can’t just be shrugged off – they’re seismic."
Former scrum-half Justin Marshall oscillated between frustration and admiration. "The Springboks ambushed us. I didn’t think they’d play with such ambition. Once we had to chase the game, it was like trying to find a door in a dark room."
Mils Muliaina pointed to the All Blacks' crumbling composure. "Even with 15 minutes to go, we had chances. But the Boks just kicked it up a notch, and we were left scrambling. Trying to claw back 14 points in one go rather than building play was our undoing."
Aaron Cruden tipped his hat to the opposition while noting the All Blacks' disarray. "Credit where it’s due, the Boks were exceptional. They came at us with power and precision from the start. Once they had the momentum, we were just spectators."
The All Blacks' performance has indeed stirred the pot, not just about the team's current form, but its future trajectory. As the dust settles, the questions linger: where to from here for New Zealand rugby?
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New Zealand's rugby legends are reeling after the All Blacks suffered a record thrashing by the Springboks, sparking a national identity crisis. The once-invincible All Blacks fell 43-10 in a shocking Wellington defeat, with the Springboks running in 36 unanswered points in the latter half.
Speaking on The Breakdown, ex-All Black Jeff Wilson couldn't hide his dismay.
"The All Blacks conceded 36 unanswered points at home. That’s as emphatic as it gets,"
he said, highlighting a worrying trend. "What stings is that teams now believe they can beat the All Blacks. Argentina, Ireland, and now South Africa have shown us up on our own turf. That aura? It's definitely got some cracks."Wilson stressed the importance of rugby heritage. "Responsibility to the jersey and our history is huge. Record-breaking losses can’t just be shrugged off – they’re seismic."
Former scrum-half Justin Marshall oscillated between frustration and admiration. "The Springboks ambushed us. I didn’t think they’d play with such ambition. Once we had to chase the game, it was like trying to find a door in a dark room."
Mils Muliaina pointed to the All Blacks' crumbling composure. "Even with 15 minutes to go, we had chances. But the Boks just kicked it up a notch, and we were left scrambling. Trying to claw back 14 points in one go rather than building play was our undoing."
Aaron Cruden tipped his hat to the opposition while noting the All Blacks' disarray. "Credit where it’s due, the Boks were exceptional. They came at us with power and precision from the start. Once they had the momentum, we were just spectators."
The All Blacks' performance has indeed stirred the pot, not just about the team's current form, but its future trajectory. As the dust settles, the questions linger: where to from here for New Zealand rugby?