Losing has become an distinctly unfamiliar feeling for the All Blacks.In fact, this weekend’s loss to Australia was only their sixth in the last five years, with the All Blacks having lost one game or fewer in four of their five last international seasons.
As such, the national psyche can hit peak hysteria when the All Blacks do suffer a defeat, with worry and wonder prevalent, and personnel changes called for.
After the loss, 30% of people believe that the All Blacks are in a poor place in the build-up to the World Cup.
On the other hand, sometimes calmer heads take control (40% of people are still confident the All Blacks will defend their title), usually through use of fantastic cliches such as “Good to get a loss in before the World Cup” or the bleedingly obvious “Better now than in the World Cup semifinal!”
This debate can be softened by a look at what history can tell us – and whether unexpected All Black losses can lead to poor runs of form.
Taking a look at the last five years, here is how the All Blacks have responded to defeat.
2010
The Loss: 26-24 to Australia due to a late James O’Connor try and conversion. Also known as “The Hong Kong game”, “The Stephen Donald game before we all loved him” and “What the hell happened to the DHL Cup game”
The Response: Unbothered, the All Blacks went to Europe and reeled off four straight wins by double-digit points.
2011
The Loss: 18-5 to South Africa in Port Elizabeth. The cyborg that is Morne Steyn kicks five penalties and a drop goal as South Africa efficiently bore their way to victory.
The Response: In their last hit-out before the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks…. lost again! In what was their last instance of losing two straight games, Australia trumped the AB’s 25-20 to take out the Tri Nations.
That lack of momentum going into the World Cup must have really hurt the All Blacks. Can anyone recall what happened in that tournament? Can’t have been memorable.
2012
The Loss: 38-21 against an impressive England outfit on their last game of the end-of-year tour.
The Response: An unbeaten season in 2013 with 14 straight wins, including going from June to October winning every game by double digits.
2014
The Loss: 27-25 to South Africa in an absolute thriller in Johannesburg
The Response: The All Blacks snuck out a 29-28 win over the Wallabies in their next clash as the start of an eight game winning streak that lasted until last night.
So, for the select few who are proclaiming ensuing trouble for the All Blacks, history shows it doesn’t often work that way.
The All Blacks have only happened to lose twice in a row once in the past quinquennial, and even that proved to be no more than a red herring in the build-up to the 2011 World Cup.
Although there are definitely things to work on, the proven record and class of Steve Hansen’s men is more than enough to right the ship through this moderate swell, starting next Saturday.
