A former All Blacks star has highlighted last year’s record loss to the Springboks as an indication that major team improvements are needed.
The All Blacks, having narrowly lost to the Springboks in the 2023 World Cup final, will now begin a new era under coach Scott Robertson and his new management team.
Although just one point separated the two teams in the RWC title decider, the Springboks inflicted the heaviest defeat on the All Blacks in New Zealand’s storied history, running away 35-7 victors, at Twickenham on the eve of the World Cup.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE RESULTS FOR THE SPRINGBOKS OVER THE ALL BLACKS
The Springboks scored five tries to one – flyhalf Manie Libbok converting all of them – to head for France with plenty of momentum maintained and the milestone of having eclipsed the previous heaviest defeat (21 points) suffered by New Zealand – a 28-7 reverse in Sydney in 1999.
Marshall has said there were too many inconsistent results such as this during the past four years under Ian Foster.
“I feel very strongly about it. All the way through to the next World Cup, where we want to win it, is vitally important for us to make sure we continue to create history, we continue to protect our history,” Marshall told The Platform.
The unsatisfactory swings over the past four years since Ian Foster became leadership need to be examined.” Yes, there have been amazing times and successes throughout our history, but there have also been some really bad setbacks, he continued.
For the first time in our history, we have lost to Argentina in a Test match played on our home field. It was our first-ever home defeat to Ireland and our first-ever loss in a Test series.
Things of such nature are not appropriate. losing to South Africa by an unprecedented margin. It’s not how the All Blacks play.
