New Zealand still has world-class talent everywhere, but the automatic standards that once defined the black jersey are no longer guaranteed. The concern isn’t just results—it’s the underlying trends shaping them. And those trends suggest a team struggling to evolve while the global game accelerates around them.
This article breaks down why the All Blacks are under scrutiny, and what recent performances reveal about their tactical and structural weaknesses.
For a nation used to near-perfection, even small cracks can look like collapses. That’s the reality facing the All Blacks in 2025. Despite winning on the scoreboard, deeper tactical patterns reveal a team wrestling with clarity, cohesion and tactical identity.
New Zealand’s end-of-year results were positive, but the warning signs were unmistakable:
- Wales scored multiple tries despite having barely a third of the possession.
- The All Blacks leaked points with worrying ease inside their own 22.
- Their defensive shape fractured repeatedly against sides that rarely create sustained pressure.
These weren’t one-off lapses—they pointed to systemic issues.
A Defensive System Lacking Identity
The All Blacks once thrived in a system built on organised chaos—fast line speed, turnover threats, and counter-attack brilliance. But modern rugby has evolved. Opponents now:
- realign quicker
- play with layered width
- use smarter decoys
- sit deeper to stretch defensive spacing
New Zealand’s defensive system hasn’t adapted at the same rate.
Wales’ Minimal Possession, Maximum Damage
Wales, a team with only one win in two years, caused major damage with minimal ball. It exposed:
- slow fold speed around the corner
- gaps on inside-shoulder defence
- miscommunication on edges
- weak spacing under fatigue
They didn’t beat New Zealand with brilliance—
they beat them through structure.
Red-Zone Fragility
The All Blacks’ 22 used to be a fortress.
Today, every opposition entry feels dangerous.
Opponents know:
Get into New Zealand’s red zone, and you will likely score.
This is not a talent issue—it’s a structural one.
New Zealand dominated possession across multiple matches, yet failed to turn it into meaningful pressure.
The “Volume Without Value” Problem
Even with 70–75% possession, the All Blacks struggled to produce:
- sustained multi-phase pressure
- territorial control
- repeat entries
- evolving attacking shapes
The gameplan feels caught between identities:
part free-flowing, part rigid—without fully committing to either.
Traditionally, the All Blacks built from a simple model:
establish a clear system → pick the players who fit it.
But since 2020, selection has often been reactive:
- constant positional switches
- unsettled combinations
- players in unfamiliar roles
- systems shifting based on availability
Cohesion dies when identity changes every few tests.
Elite rugby can’t rely on improvisation alone.
The All Blacks once dominated the ruck through speed and accuracy.
Now that foundation looks unstable.
Where the Breakdown Is Failing
- inconsistent cleanout aggression
- isolated one-out carries
- slow organisation after the tackle
- fewer dual-threat carriers
- opposition jackals winning key battles
Slow ruck → slow attack → predictable shapes → pressure and turnovers.
Breakdown issues are hurting New Zealand across the field.
Historically, great All Blacks defences were built on:
- pace
- tight defensive connections
- strong inside support
- trust at the edge
- disciplined folding patterns
Right now, none of these qualities are consistently present.
Smarter Attacking Systems Exposing Gaps
Top nations—South Africa, Ireland, France, England—use modern structures like:
- 1-3-3-1 shapes
- wide forwards
- layered playmakers
- three-line attacking options
New Zealand struggles to track these patterns.
This isn’t a physical issue—it’s conceptual.
The All Blacks will travel to South Africa in 2026 for a defining tour. Today:
- South Africa’s identity is fully defined
- their scrum is dominant
- their defence is elite
- their bench roles are highly specialised
New Zealand’s identity remains uncertain.
To compete, they must sharpen:
- defensive clarity
- breakdown efficiency
- selection consistency
- attacking adaptability
- contestable kicking strategy
- physicality at key moments
If they don’t, the gap will widen.
Fans aren’t frustrated because New Zealand is playing badly.
They’re frustrated because the team looks uncertain.
Supporters see:
- Wales scoring too easily
- Ireland manipulating edges
- England winning territory
- New Zealand dominating stats but not dominance
Fans don’t demand perfection—they demand purpose.
The scrutiny is logical, not emotional.
The All Blacks aren’t in crisis.
They are in recalibration.
The talent remains elite.
But the structures need rebuilding.
If New Zealand can align selection, systems and defensive clarity, they will rise again.
If not, the scrutiny will only intensify.
