Why All Blacks leadership is under the blowtorch after loss to Argentina

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

ANALYSIS: Observing All Blacks captain Scott Barrett prior to test matches can be like witnessing an archetypal dairy farmer waiting at the cow shed for bad news from the local veterinarian.

He doesn't give much away. Perhaps that's the way Barrett likes it. He may not be alone.

Many New Zealanders won't mind if the leader of the All Blacks is the strong, silent type. As long as the team gets results, that is.

When the All Blacks lose, that narrative is subject to change.

The All Blacks' historic loss to Argentina last Sunday means Barrett, along with vice-captains Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett, have to be held to account for the flawed performance in Buenos Aires.

Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa'i and Sevu Reece put more than themselves under the microscope when they were punished with yellow cards.

They also placed Scott Barrett and his deputies in the firing line. Because they are the ones who, along with the coaches, should be demanding higher standards.

None of the three sin-binned players could be accused of being grubs. Their actions weren't malicious, spiteful or nasty.

Even the great players make mistakes.

During the All Blacks' opening pool game against Argentina at the 2015 World Cup at Wembley Stadium in London, captain Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith found themselves sitting alongside each other in the naughty chairs on the sideline.

McCaw's deed, especially, was daft. Lying prone on the ground, McCaw stuck out a foot to impede Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe when he took a quick penalty tap.

McCaw later called it a 'dumb mistake''. The All Blacks won and the incident was quickly forgotten.

When the All Blacks lose, though, everything changes.

There's no hiding. Fingers are going to be pointed.

Jordan, Vaa'i and Reece have to accept responsibility.

Jordan was guilty of changing his running line to impede Mateo Carreras, Vaa'i knocked down a pass by Pablo Matera - which reduced the All Blacks to 13 players - and Reece, in perhaps the most blatant act of the lot, slapped down a transfer in the 73rd minute.

If coach Scott Robertson or Barrett haven't already read the riot act to their team, you would imagine their best work is still to come on that issue.

The players must pack their ear trumpets when they gather in Auckland to play the Springboks at Eden Park on September 6.

Barrett and Robertson should have a strong message to deliver.

Why is discipline an ongoing issue for the All Blacks?

Pressure often causes pain. The All Blacks need to hold their nerve. They have been guilty of creeping offside or, in the case of the Jordan, Vaa'i and Reece, blatantly using illegal tactics.

What we do know is that they are proving to be slow learners. It was painful to see the All Blacks concede a string of early penalties in Buenos Aires. It set the tone.

The yellow cards to Billy Proctor and Anton Lienert-Brown when they beat the Pumas in Cordoba a week earlier was proof the All Blacks had been pushing their luck. They were penalised 12 times. But they won.

The All Blacks conceded two fewer penalties in Buenos Aires. That meant nothing when reading the scoreboard.

Barrett, as the skipper, has to demand better standards.

Why has the All Blacks backline lost its fear factor?

The All Blacks made just one line-break in Buenos Aires.

There's a lot of talent accumulating dust in the backline. Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor and Jordan have the athleticism and vision to stress, and snap, defensive lines. It's not happening.

It's not as if the All Blacks lack depth in the majority of positions (apart from halfback, and more on that below).

To look at this issue from a different perspective, the men who wear the double digits on their backs for the Wallabies are performing to their potential - and then some.

There's clarity with how they want to attack. Their confidence has soared. Passes are sticking. They kick for space. They are decent under the high balls.

The All Blacks backs, by comparison, are a hot mess.

The analysis of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt and his assistants has been spot-on. The Wallabies may have lost to the Springboks in Cape Town, but their backs still put on a better show than the All Blacks.

Will Robertson take the axe to the team for the test against the Springboks in Auckland?

Yes.

Wallace Sititi is likely to replace Simon Parker at No 8, Tamaiti Williams may be promoted to start at loosehead prop and Finlay Christie could be required to start at halfback.

Re-jigging the midfield, where Billy Proctor has yet to open-up all cylinders at centre, is possible but if Robertson is committed to his blueprint for change he could be reluctant to pluck out that piece of the puzzle.

More energy is needed on the wings. Emoni Narawa may replace Reece at No 14. Left wing Rieko Ioane should also be on the thin ice after a series of underwhelming performances, but asking the inexperienced Leroy Carter or Timoci Tavatavanawai may be deemed to high-risk.

Some supporters have taken aim at All Blacks goal kicker Beauden Barrett for missing three shots at goal, two conversions near the sideline and a penalty, but it should also be taken into account the Pumas could have scored a couple more tries.

Barrett was also instrumental in producing a try-saving tackle.

Starved of possession and forced to defend for extended periods, Barrett also had limited opportunities to extract the best from his backline.

Instructing Damian McKenzie to replace Barrett in the 57th minute didn't have the desired impact.

The All Blacks had to make 185 tackles. They missed 40.

The All Blacks could only beat 17 defenders, compared to Argentina's total of 40.

How many All Blacks pundits predicted Finlay Christie could play the most important test of the year?

Christie could be wearing the No 9 jersey as the All Blacks attempt to extend their 50-match unbeaten streak when they meet the Springboks at Eden Park in Auckland.

The All Blacks have confirmed Cortez Ratima would have the chest injury that forced him to leave the field in Buenos Aires assessed upon his return to New Zealand.

Given he looked to be in significant discomfort, Ratima may be in serious doubt.

The status of top-ranked halfback Cam Roigard, who withdrew from the trip to Argentina because of a stress fracture in his foot, remains unclear.

Noah Hotham, who also didn't tour because he's recovering from ankle surgery, remains unavailable. The uncapped Kyle Preston could be the reserve halfback in Auckland if Roigard and Ratima are scratched.

Why are the All Blacks struggling to profit under the high balls?

The Pumas accuracy with their punts laid bare the All Blacks' frailties.

Jordan was forced to sprint forward to gobble-up the bombs, while his wings Ioane and Reece were spectators.

Although the days of escort runners being allowed to block the running lanes are over, a consequence of the officials cracking down on this tactic late last year, the All Blacks should investigate ways to legally provide Jordan with more protection.

Accuracy in the air continues to be a potent weapon.

The Springboks are certain to instruct Handre Pollard to ask questions of Jordan and his wings.

Springboks wing Cheslin Kolbe is only 1.72m tall, but his timing, bravery and peripheral vision when contesting kicks are without peer.