A dark night for the All Blacks as Tony Brown’s attack and Springboks scrum form an unstoppable force
Sunday, 14 September 2025
ANALYSIS: The All Blacks now have a clearer picture of where they sit in world rugby, and it isn’t the summit.
The record 43-10 loss to the Springboks in Wellington on Saturday was a chastening experience, especially as a former All Black had a major hand in it.
Despite the All Blacks’ proud defence of the Eden Park record last week, an angry Springboks was always coming in Wellington.
What wasn’t anticipated, perhaps, was that anger would also be combined with the ambitious and varied attack that is the trademark of Springboks attack coach Tony Brown, the former Highlanders coach.
The clues were there on Monday when the Springboks went early with their team announcement, replacing a number of veterans and ripping up the backline for younger players.
Brown’s new boys promptly produced a stunning performance in Wellington, pulling the All Blacks’ defence all over Sky Stadium as Damian Willemse, who started at No 12 but played a lot of the test at fullback, had a night for the ages.
He was ably assisted by Manie Libbok and new winger Ethan Hooker as the Springboks delivered the perfect mix of their traditional power and Brown’s demand that they use their skills and find space.
This wasn’t the Springboks of old. They ran for more than 620 metres - more than double the All Blacks - and beat a staggering 46 All Blacks defenders.
Their three biggest threats with ball in hand were all outside backs.
But there was also a foundation of old-fashioned Springboks power that has left the All Blacks scrum in a state of near crisis.
Tyrel Lomax was restored to the starting lineup in the hope he would steady the set-piece, but the Hurricanes tighthead prop found himself under constant pressure from Ox Nche.
Lomax was lucky not to be penalised early in the first half and spent the rest of first spell desperately trying to contain Nche - with mixed results.
At best, he did just enough for the All Blacks to quickly get the ball in and out, but make no mistake the All Blacks’ scrum was simply in survival mode.
The All Blacks spent only 25% of the first half in Springboks territory, although they did superbly create a team try finished by livewire debutant Leroy Carter in the 17th minute.
However, they needed multiple South Africa errors and a bit of fortune to take a 10-7 lead into halftime.
The Springboks were beating more defenders and throwing more offloads in a sure sign of Brown’s influence, but the visitors were also guilty of a huge number of turnovers - 16 in the first half alone.
Several of those came at crucial times, with a score looking likely, but the All Blacks’ scramble defence was also superb - typified by a brilliant tackle by Jordie Barrett on Cheslin Kolbe when it looked impossible for the winger not to score.
But when the Springboks tidied up some of their mistakes in the second half, ruled the air and continued to own the scrum, the All Blacks looked on course for a hiding.
There was no avoiding it when a superb Libbok crossfield kick found flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit out wide before he popped an offload to Kwagga Smith - yet another sign that the Springboks were playing on a different level.
Created in South Africa but now finessed by a New Zealander, the Springboks now look on track for a third Rugby World Cup in a row.