Look away now if you’re squeamish, but I’d like to remind you about what sacrifices have been made in order to the wear the All Blacks jersey. Remember Richard ‘Red’ Conway who famously ordered doctors to amputate his finger in order to allow him to travel on the tour to South Africa in 1960.
The gist was that they got a lot of leeway at home in those two areas but in Nelspruit, it will be far, far more difficult. It stopped me in my tracks. Honestly, I never thought I’d hear a Springbok saying the Argentinian scrum and lineout would be their Achilles heel.
Anyone and everyone associated with rugby is throwing up reasons for the All Blacks’ loss of invincibility; from a new coach, to losing key players and the vulnerability of Super Rugby. Yes, they are all factors to the All Blacks still finding their feet, but what really hit me in the second Test was that they seemed to have lost the ability to control what was happening in-game.
I know over in New Zealand there is a lot of hand-wringing over the South Africans leaving Super Rugby but it’s not as big an issue as it’s made out. Put it this way, they didn’t struggle to impose their physicality on our shores back then. I’m not sold on that argument but it’s difficult to deny their crown has slipped somewhat in recent years.
Former All Black and Wellington Lions captain Norm Hewitt was a dynamic and often inspirational hooker whose off-field fame was later hugely magnified by his charity work.
It’s a tough old business being captain in New Zealand where the public expect the skipper to be almost superhuman.
When the All Blacks play South Africa at Twickenham this weekend it will be New Zealand's 50th Test match at a neutral venue, most of which have come during Rugby World Cup tournaments (38).
The last time an Australia-New Zealand composite side took the field, there were few All Blacks to speak of.
Every World Cup winning team deserves its place in rugby’s pantheon. These nine squads, captained by eight men, representing just four nations, are totems of excellence. They are the grand masters of their sport.