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Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’ under Razor
By Finn Morton
Former Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell has looked back on the All Blacks’ first season under coach Scott Robertson, insisting that it’s not “panic stations by any means” even though the New Zealanders fell to four defeats across the course of the campaign.
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With coach Robertson stepping into the hot seat following the departure of Ian Foster, the All Blacks’ new era got underway with two Tests against England in July. New Zealand emerged victorious in both matches, but only just, and backed that up with a big win over Fiji.
But the All Blacks’ quest for Rugby Championship glory got off to a disappointing start as they were upset by Los Pumas 38-30 in Wellington. The All Blacks also lost two matches away to the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The New Zealanders were able to round off the year with wins over Australia, Japan, England, Ireland and Italy, with a loss to Antoin Dupont’s France the only blip from their otherwise memorably positive end-of-year tour against the heavyweights up north.
With four losses across the season and no Rugby Championship title to show for their efforts, the All Blacks aren’t currently the best team in the world. But with the likes of Will Jordan and All Blacks Player of the Year Wallace Sititi standing out, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Under coach Robertson, the All Blacks seem to be improving.
“I don’t know if they’d be happy,” Mitchell said on Kick Offs and Kick Ons. “I don’t think it’s panic stations by any means but the only reason I say they wouldn’t be happy is because of the standards they’ve been upheld to for so long.
“Obviously, Scott Robertson coming in. There’s been a bit of change in terms of the guard of leadership. There’s been plenty of different outliers that Scott Robertson’s had to deal with.
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“I think they’re doing well and I think they’ve unearthed a few great players – Wallace Sititi, Will Jordan coming back, not that he was unearthed but him coming back, he’s going to be a key figure.
“Look, they’re always going to be good… it’s just about finding the blend of which players work with which players.
“If there’s anyone out that can get the best out of a player it’s probably going to be Scott Robertson in the All Blacks setup, and I think they’ve got the cattle to be really competitive. I also think they’re on an upward trajectory.”
On the Kick Offs and Kick Ons’ ‘Christmas Bonanza’ Mitchell also weighed in on how the other southern hemisphere teams performed in 2024. Alongside Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, the trio of former Wallabies had their say on Australia, Argentina and South Africa.
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The Wallabies claimed a valiant win over England and a big win over Wales during their Spring Tour, which generated some serious rugby buzz and chatter in Australia. They couldn’t complete the grand slam, but the stage is set for an intriguing British and Irish Lions Series next year.
Ashley-Cooper labelled Argentina the “Win Pumas” – usually nicknamed Los Pumas – and complimented them for some solid performances, which included wins over their three Rugby Championship rivals in a single campaign for the first time.
But then there’s the world no. 1 Springboks, who Mitchell described as “the best positioned in world rugby.” Before the first Test against the All Blacks in Johannesburg, Jesse Kriel insisted that the Boks have gotten better since last year’s Rugby World Cup triumph.
With a Rugby Championship title, drought-breaking Freedom Cup victory, and other positive talking points under coach Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks backed up their status as two-time defending world champions with a series of statement results.
“The depth that Rassie Erasmus has created is phenomenal. He used I think 51 players this year and not because he had to put because they were in a position or privilege where they were so strong that they could afford to make wholesale changes against teams that are still tier one nations,” Mitchell added.
“By doing that [he] was blooding young guys to that arena so that in the instance that some of these guys don’t make it to the ’27 World Cup, they’ve got ready and made replacements.
“I think he’s always innovating, Rassie, he’s got genuine superstars, he’s got players that can play different types of footy. They can play that 10-man rugby if they need to – if the opposition or conditions call on that – but they can also play expansive.
“Of yesteryear, the Springboks were probably criticised for not being able to play that type of footy but you look at the Cheslin Kolbe’s, the [Kurt-Lee] Arendse’s, the [Aphelele] Fassie’s at fullback, [Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu]… they just have the capacity to really open teams up and play the transition type footy as well.”
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For me, it should be noted that certain players were injured at various stages of the year - Jordan, Roigard, S. Barrett, Tuipolutu, the loose forwards….and Takei'aho (all year). Injuries will still be happening next year of course, but the dip in form mid-year was partially caused by having a locking crisis (Barrett and Tuipoluto both injured vs Argentina), for example.
I think the team clearly needs to build more strength in depth but there has been progress in this area this last year. We need at least one more world class lock in the mix and I hope they settle on their best loose forward combination earlier in 2025 also (preferably with Savea playing No.7). Both South Africa and France have built up about 45-50 players that could play competently at top level international level - the ABs have about 35-40 and it needs to get better.
Also, it needs to be said that both the Crusaders and Highlanders underperformed in the Super Pacific completion and both teams need to step up. There are too many players of potential international quality in those teams that were badly out of form because the team pattern wasn’t working or they spent most of it injured. They need to step up - if these teams provide more in form players, the ABs strength in depth will increase.
No one really killed it more than they did so I'd actually saying they are the best team in the world. You have to think someone improves hugely next year though and I'd expect a lot more stagnation from the All Blacks great leap away from Foster's era.
A transition stage still for the ABs even though I believe progress has been made in replacing players who have either retired or are now plying their abilities elsewhere. Challenge now is to develop greater depth across the board and fully correct remaining deficiencys in some positions
Yeah it was good to get Brodie and Sam out of the road, even Aaron was becoming a stagnant factor for the side. Just need a few more to go now.
Disagree.
The challenge for the All Blacks now that they have 7 of 8 starting forwards locked in and all but one bench forward (only one loose forward and bench loosie to settle on) is to sort out the starting backline as only 9 Roigard, 12 J. Barrett, 11 Clarke and 15 Jordan had good to outstanding seasons in 2024. All the other backs were inconsistent or poor and question marks going into 2025.
I am looking forward to next year with some of the dead wood gone. Will Jordan getting a full season at fullback will help. From a Crusaders perspective his return and that of Braydon Ennor is going to be huge. They are class acts. A lot of people are going to be eating there words re the Crusaders are going to bounce back.
It will be exciting but It'd be lucky to find replacements for Cane and Beauden who are better. Lol@the great Sader comment!
Absolutely. Expect Crusaders to be a much tougher proposition this year as like the ABs last season was a transition one