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World Rankings: The worst-rated All Blacks of all time?
By Jon Newcombe
While there is a feeling that the best of Scott Robertson’s All Blacks is still to come, three defeats in a Rugby Championship campaign for the first time in history has led to the critics sharpening their knives.
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Cutting to the chase, things could get a lot worse this weekend if they lose to Australia in the Bledisloe Cup.
The All Blacks have had a firm grip on the trophy since 2003 and have a proud record of only one defeat in their last 10 visits to Sydney.
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However, if the wounded Wallabies can galvanise themselves and make it a record-breaking day for James Slipper to remember, the current All Blacks team could be rated the worst of all time since the World Rugby Men’s Rankings were introduced in October 2003.
It will take something extraordinary for the fallen Rugby Championship champions to plummet to new depths, but if Australia were to win by more than 15 points at the Accor Stadium, the All Blacks’ rating would drop below 86 points for the first time.
When they sunk to their lowest-ever position of fifth under former boss Ian Foster on 8 August, 2022, the All Blacks had a rating of 86.13 points.
But an Australian win by more than 15 points for only the fifth time in the 121-year history of trans-Tasman fixtures would lead to the All Blacks’ rating being cut by 2.32 points to 85.93.
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The last time Australia achieved a win of that magnitude against the All Blacks was at the Optus Stadium in Perth in 2019, when they won 47-26.
The other occasions were in 1999 when they won 28-7 at the Telstra Dome in Sydney, a 26-10 win at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1980 and way back in the mists of time, a 17-0 win at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in 1921.
Any form of defeat regardless of the margin will see the All Blacks drop down to fourth in the rankings, while Australia will climb up to eighth if they avoid defeat.
If New Zealand justify their heavy favourites’ tag and reel off an eighth consecutive win over their arch-rivals they will remain in third.
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Defeat for Australia opens the door for Fiji to improve on 10th place if they are able to claim a record sixth Pacific Nations Cup title with victory over Final Series hosts Japan in Osaka on Saturday, a match that can be watched live and for free on RugbyPass TV. For this to happen, either Fiji or New Zealand must win by more than 15 points.
Meanwhile, Runaway Rugby Championship leaders South Africa could extend their advantage over Ireland at the top of the rankings to 1.74 rating points if they beat Argentina by more than 15 points in Santiago del Estero.
On the flip side, a first defeat of The Rugby Championship 2024 would see Ireland replace the Springboks at number one as well as potentially leaving the title race open going into the final round.
Argentina will return to sixth place if they win or draw against South Africa, climbing back above Scotland.
Elsewhere, Japan will move above Georgia and into 12th place if they win the Pacific Nations Cup on home soil and USA stand to gain two to three places if they beat Samoa in the third place play-off.
not the worst yet. But give them time. By the end of the year they’ll be playing with 12 men on the field and they’ll blame everyone else for that fact.
Will South Africa still be playing with 16 on the field and 1 up in the TMO box?
no they are not remember both allblacks teams in 1949 losing series against both australia and south africa
The 1924 ABs side that lost to Auckland was pretty sh#thouse.
An AB team in 2024 losing to Auckland would be much worse!
But an Australian win by more than 15 points for only the fifth time in the 121-year history of trans-Tasman fixtures would lead to the All Blacks’ rating being cut by 2.32 points to 85.93.
So basically not going to happen.
I’m surprised that RP wasted its time with this article instead of the one about Ireland overtaking SA…
World rankings 🫢🤭never thought much of them, even when the All Blacks were on top- Even less now they ain't AND haven't been for a while 😆 But for real, Springboks and Ireland definitely deserve their spots at the top with their dominance over us in the last couple of years.👍 👏 Kia kaha Aotearoa💯Razors in charge, its early days with his coaching at test level only 6 games deep. Lets just let him lead 😝💪... For now anyways 🫠
Bit of a silly article.
The entire premise is if NZ lose by more than 15 pts to a poor Australia side, which lets face it seems extremely unlikely
Aah seems extremely unlikely?? But still definitely possible. Was unlikely losing 1st test against the Pumas and both boks tests. Definitely a rebuilding/settling in phase so anything can happen 👀😫
NZ did not overlook Joe Schmidt as he had another job with R.A. by the time Scott Robertson's new coaching group was finalized. As a Kiwi we respect his record so R.A. better not turf him like so many other Kiwi Coaches have been sacked before they had the chance to fulfill their contracts though EDDIE JONES deserved all he got by playing cruel games with players and R.A. in his second appointment.
Eddie Jones did better against Argentina than Joe Schmidt.
In their obscene rush to get their fellow Crusaderite into the job, they broke protocol, overlooked overseas experienced coaches and named him before the current coach had finished. There should be no favours for this guy as he was supposed to be the "messiah".
Tony Brown to Africa, Schmidt to Australia - it's looking the pale, stale, males are still getting all the breaks.