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New Zealand V South Africa Sky Stadium Wellington 13th September 2025 Rugby Championship.
By Paul Rolton
All Bok’s
In a game that raised more questions about an All Black playing, coaching and management team than any other in the outstanding history of New Zealand rugby, will September 13th 2025 go down as New Zealand rugby’s darkest day.
The tone for the match was set very early with the Bok’s starting at a frenetic pace. They won the very early aerial exchanges and show they wanted to move the ball wide and quickly.
A poor lineout throw from Malcolm Marks stopped the Bok’s, from a potential lineout drive try in the 2nd minute whilst an outstanding Jordie Barrett tackle in the 10th minute on Cheslin Kolbe when in the motion of scoring kept the All Blacks in the game. In the 12th minute the Bok did score however the eagle eye of the TMO. after the try had been awarded and converted was ruled out because of the faintest of knock on from Bok half back Cobus Reinach.
It took the All Blacks 17 minutes to mount any series challenge, but when they did they looked menacing, wave after wave of attacked, width on the pass and from side to side saw debutant Leroy Carter score a well taken try on the left hand wing.
A strong Samisoni Taukei’aho run from the base of a maul and quick ball from the ensuing ruck saw the All Black go left again where with a 2-man overlap Kolbe took the risk of going for the intercept and he streaked 60 metres to score, with the conversion from Manie Libbok who replaced Sacha
Feinberg-Mngomezulu early in the game bringing it to 7-7.
A 28th minute penalty from Damian McKenzie saw the lead restored for the All Blacks, going to 10-7. It was the Bok who again attacked with freedom gaining post contact metres at will, and starting to dominate at scrum time.
A frenetic last 8 minutes saw both teams look out on their feet as the two heavy weights of world rugby went toe to toe and at stages both side were stretched not broken.
At halftime it looked like any one’s game, however what was about to happen was unprecedented in All Black history as the Boks, in a 5 try romp in what put a huge question mark on this All Blacks team.
The Bok’s were outstanding, some of the tries magical, none better that the big man RG Snyman who waltzed through a huge hole in the All Blacks defense to put the final stamp on a rampant Boks display in the 73rd minute that had every All Black asking questions that need urgent answering.
The fans don’t like the All Blacks losing let alone by 43-10, the biggest All Black defeat of all time, with the second 40 being as one sided as anyone will remember in the history of the biggest brand in World rugby.
It would be noted that the All Blacks had a few key players missing, hooker Cody Taylor will add steel when back from concussion protocols and after Brodie McAllister was very poor when he came on as a replacement missing 4 of 5 lineout throws this area needs strengthening. Cam Roigard is a world class 9 and will add to the kicking game required at test level these days., whilst his speed of pass with hopefully allow the All Black backs more space.
However, the All Blacks scrum was under pressure from the start, with our top players on the park, and as mentioned the Bok post contact metre’s gave them the go forward that the All Blacks never achieved.
Then there were some of the decisions made both on and off the park, Leroy Carter added excitement and energy in his All Blacks debut, yet he was replaced in the second half, whilst an obviously out of sorts Will Jordan stayed on the park. Captain Scott Barrett looked like he received an injury after a heavy knock and possibly needed to be replaced. The All Blacks kick receipt was again poor, with players not committing to the catch, players not calling for the ball and the Bok consistently winning this contest with a commitment not shown by their opponents.
The fans with also be asking questions of the coaching group. There is no international experience in the very large coaching group, and it seems to be showing. The Bok back attack, led by ex All Black and Japan assist coach Tony Brown had imagination, deception and flair whilst the All Blacks, who looked dangerous when playing with width, seemed to only have this in their tool box.
The Bok showed attacking prowess early, changed their game plan for a while with Libbok going to the air and bringing the All Black defenders forward to try and defuse the bombs, which on the day they struggled with, and then when obviously on top they ran the All Blacks off their feet when scoring 26 points in the last 19 minutes.
To some the All Blacks seem to have only one game plan, and an inability to change it if in fact they do have another option. Yes, some things didn’t go their way, the bounce of the ball just didn’t go to hand, however they were not good enough.
Other All Black coaches would have been sacked after a performance like this, certainly in the Foster era co-coaches were removed after poor results. Yes, this was a rampant Bok performance, their best for a long time, however the inconsistency of this All Black side, good one-week poor the next needs to be addressed.
Head Coach Scott Robertson and his huge support team need to own this loss, Robertson struggled to take responsibility in the after match interview, unlike his counter-part Rassie Erasmus the week before who took full responsibility and was bold in his changes to the second test team. Will Robertson have the courage to do the same, time will tell, however they will have to be a lot better to beat the Australian’s at Eden Park in two weeks’ time.