The All Blacks' humiliating 33-19 defeat to England has ripped the lid off some glaring tactical weaknesses and leadership shortcomings that could define their future – are we witnessing the end of an era, or just a wake-up call?
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Ant Strachan
NZ Herald
18 Nov, 2025 02:01 AM | 6 mins to read
KEY INSIGHTS
- England's victory over the All Blacks by a score of 33-19 laid bare struggles with controlling set pieces – think scrums and lineouts where they usually reign supreme – and defending during extended phases of play, where opponents build momentum through multiple passes and runs.
- A barrage of unusual mistakes, coupled with erratic decision-making throughout the match, played a huge role in this upset, showing how even elite teams can unravel under pressure.
- Looking ahead, Scott Robertson's squad will take on Wales in Cardiff for their last outing of the season, a chance to regroup and show if they've learned from this setback.
Newstalk ZB's go-to rugby expert and ex-All Blacks scrum-half Ant Strachan is flipping open his analysis playbook to break down the meltdown against England this past Sunday. For beginners dipping their toes into rugby lingo, set-piece dominance is all about owning those critical restarts like scrums or lineouts to launch attacks, while phase defence means holding your ground as the opposition strings together phases – it's like a chess match on the field, and the All Blacks looked several moves behind.
Ever since the early hours of Sunday morning around 6am, rugby fans across the board – from die-hards to casual viewers – have been replaying that gut-wrenching 33-19 loss to England in their minds, whispering the same burning question: what on earth derailed New Zealand's powerhouse team this time? But here's where it gets controversial: was this just a bad day at the office, or do the exposed leadership gaps under Scott Robertson point to deeper cultural shifts in the squad that some insiders are calling a 'soft underbelly'? And this is the part most people miss – those uncharacteristic errors weren't random; they stemmed from a lack of cohesion in game management, like hesitating on key calls that let England dictate the tempo.
Think about it: the All Blacks, synonymous with precision and intimidation, fumbled basics that you'd expect from a mid-table side. For instance, in phase defence, they allowed England to recycle possession too easily, turning potential turnovers into sustained pressure that piled on the points. Tactical flaws like this don't just happen; they reveal preparation gaps or maybe even motivational dips. Boldly put, if Robertson doesn't address these leadership voids – where senior players step up to steady the ship during chaos – the upcoming Wales clash could either be a redemption story or further proof of vulnerability.
What do you think? Is Scott Robertson's approach too experimental for the All Blacks' storied legacy, or should we give the new era more time to gel? Drop your takes in the comments below – agree that the leadership gaps are the real culprit, or see it as isolated tactical hiccups? Let's spark some debate!
