Struggle street a familiar road

The All Blacks are expected to dominate, but that’s not the case at present. They have lost six of their last eight tests – their poorest run since 1949, when they lost six in a row, albeit with two teams in action, one at home and one in South Africa.

The current bleak patch of form included a three-match losing streak – their first since they lost five in a row in 1998.

After Saturday’s defeat to Argentina in Christchurch, it also includes a three-match losing streak on home soil – the first in their history.

These are unprecedented times for the All Blacks, but world rugby’s other leading teams have been in similar positions plenty of times over the years.

To give a sense of where they stand in the global context, Stuff has analysed the 21st centuryform of the three other Rugby World Cup winners – Australia, England and South Africa.

How often have they lost six tests out of eight (or worse) in that time? How often have they lost three in a row? What about three in a row on home soil?

And are there any lessons to be learned when it comes to two big questions hovering over the All Blacks – whether they’ve got the right coach and whether they can rebound in time for next year’s World Cup?

Six losses out of eight (or worse)

The Wallabies know exactly what it feels like to be where their trans-tasman rivals are now – having been there seven times this century, including as recently as one test ago.

When Australia lost to Argentina in San Juan earlier this month, it was their sixth defeat in eight, but by beating South Africa in Adelaide last weekend, they avoided equalling their run of seven in nine in 2013.

The Wallabies’ worst run this century remains the time they lost eight in nine in 2005, with other bleak patches coming in 2009, 2014, across 2015 and 2016 and across 2017 and 2018.

England and South Africa have suffered far less, but have each lost at least six times out of eight three times.

The Springboks’ most recent

The All Blacks have a lot to ponder before their test against a confident Argentina side in Hamilton on Saturday.

But Ian Foster is safe. It is a fallacy to suggest an unwillingness to pay him out is keeping him in situ. NZ Rugby isn’t about to divulge the particulars of his contract but even if he would require some form of compensation it is understood it would not matter if NZ Rugby felt keeping him was the wrong choice for their Rugby World Cup hopes.

Instead, backing is in place for Foster and new assistants Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan to hammer their new ideas into a playing group that has been distracted a bit by the fool’s gold on offer in Super Rugby.

Here are five selection questions the coaches must address before the rematch against Los Pumas.

1. Richie Mo’unga may pay the price for a poor night in Christchurch.

It’s the great chicken and egg debate in New Zealand rugby. What came first: the All Blacks inability to settle on a No 10, or the inconsistency of performances that makes it hard for them to settle on a No 10? It was all set up for Mo’unga in Christchurch, but within the first five minutes he had missed a penalty and put up a stinker of an up-and-under inside Los Pumas territory. Therefore, a fit-again Beauden Barrett may regain the No 10 jersey and the debate could rumble on.

2. Scott Barrett’s return to the back row.

Brodie Retallick got through 55

bad run was in 2016, when they lost seven in eight.

England lost eight in 10 across 2004 and 2005, as they came back to earth after winning the 2003 World Cup in Australia, then followed that up by losing eight in nine in 2006 and six in eight in 2008.

Three losses in a row (or worse)

There were 24 years – and almost minutes of a willing Ranfurly Shield contest between Hawke’s Bay and North Harbour last weekend, signalling that he is ready to return to the All Blacks’ starting side. It finally gives Ian Foster the opportunity to return Scott Barrett to the No 6 jersey, something that injuries at lock position have prevented until now.

3. Is it time to shake up the back three?

This Argentine defence is a tough nut to crack. Even when they

300 tests – between three-match losing streaks for the All Blacks, but they have been a far more common sight for Australia, England and South Africa.

England’s annus horribilis in 2006 included a run of seven losses in a row, while they’ve also lost five in a row, four in a row and three in a row on two occasions each.

The Wallabies’ worst losing streak this century also ran to kicked poorly they still managed to organise themselves well enough to snuff out the All Blacks’ counterattack. Sevu Reece would pose different questions with his footwork, workrate and ability to operate in and around the ruck.

4. Sam Cane stays but the scrutiny is understandable

The All Blacks are winning fewer turnovers than any other side in the Rugby Championship, while Cane is delivering fewer of the dominant tackles that were once his trademark. The All Blacks

seven matches – in 2005. They’ve also had a six-match losing streak across 2015 and 2016; three fourmatch losing streaks; and four three-match losing streaks.

The Springboks’ worst runs of consecutive losses may not have grown as large, but what they’ve lacked in length they’ve made up for in frequency.

Since the start of the 21st century, they’ve lost four tests in a row on five separate occasions, captain has always been more defence-oriented as a No 7 than some of his rivals, so he needs to make his primary impact without the ball. His leadership qualities and toughness are well established, but when you have won two out of the past eight tests it is only right to ask whether the balance of the back row is right.

5. The 50-50 call on Codie Taylor.

The hooker’s misfires at lineout time last week were costly, although there is some logic to

most recently in 2016, and three tests in a row on seven separate occasions, most recently in 2021.

Three losses in a row at home (or worse)

While the Springboks have lost at three or more in a row on a dozen separate occasions in a period where the All Blacks have done so just once, they can find solace in the fact that they’ve never lost three in a row on home soil.