Long season looms for struggling All Blacks

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was reluctant to blame his side's expansive tactics for the loss to South Africa. Photo / Getty Images

DURBAN - The rugby world is watching on in fascination as the All Blacks teeter on the brink of slipping into the peloton of test-playing nations.

Two resounding losses to South Africa, particularly yesterday's 31-19 defeat here, suggest the world champion Springboks are now sitting snuggly on the throne of the world's unofficial No 1 team - a perch where Graham Henry's team have mostly resided since he took over as coach in 2004.

Even when they blew the 2007 World Cup, sentiment at the time was that New Zealand were still the most consistent team around.

However, the ravaging of New Zealand's top playing stocks by overseas clubs and a dive in form of some players who have served Henry so well are having a debilitating impact.

In the leadup to yesterday's hammering, one Welsh newspaper ran a report outlining why Wales can at last end their drought dating back to 1953 when they host the All Blacks in November. And it had nothing to do with any Welsh revival.

The age-old question of whether New Zealand rugby should allow overseas-based players to be eligible for the All Blacks was put to Henry in the aftermath of yesterday's loss and he remained staunch that they shouldn't.

But he must be starting to wonder where this season is headed, less than a month after his reappointment through to the 2011 World Cup.

Yesterday's was their third loss in a season that is just six tests old.

The All Blacks haven't lost three tests in a year since 2000 and it would be a major surprise if more aren't on the way.

A fifth successive Tri-Nations crown can't yet be ruled out as all three tests have gone with the home side so far and only one team - Australia - have snared a bonus point.

"We'll be relying on other sides to produce the right results, I'd imagine, but we've got three games to go and we've just got to be positive," a sombre Henry said.

"This side's won a few of these Tri-Nations championships over the years. They're usually pretty competitive ... the only thing we can do is look to improve."

A major problem is their horrendous mistake rate that prevents the All Blacks from carrying out an attacking game so reliant on sure handling and sharp decision-making.

Whether their back-to-back setbacks prompts a tactical rethink in what should be fine conditions against Australia at Sydney in three weeks, remains to be seen.

"If we had taken some of the opportunities we'd created (yesterday), it may have been a bit closer and may have been a better contest," Henry said.

"We didn't execute as well as we hoped. It's a sign of pressure."

Springboks first five-eighth Morne Steyn scored all his team's points in accumulating a test record against the All Blacks of 31. He also kept the visitors pinned in their half with high, testing bombs that were frequently spilled and threw captain Richie McCaw into two minds about tactics.

"Perhaps in hindsight, there were times when we could have put it in the corner, but the guys were wanting to get themselves into the game because we had so little ball," McCaw said.

"If we just kicked it away, again we were without it for a while... we were losing the kicking battle as well."

Winger Joe Rokocoko's high-risk attempt to run the ball out from his tryline in the 16th minute - when he could have simply forced a drop out - summed up New Zealand's attitude.

The Springboks forced a 5m scrum and from that came one of Steyn's eight penalty goals.

"You are going to try something when you are frustrated if things are not going your way and try to make things happen," said Rokocoko, whose form has been well below that of his prime.

"Our game plan tonight wasn't based on their kicking game, it was mainly based on us having a go.

"With myself, especially, I was over-eager to try something."

Springboks captain John Smit was reluctant to criticise the tourists, although it was clear he was surprised by their flamboyant approach, particularly as rain settled in at ABSA Stadium for the last 50 minutes.

"I suppose they play a game that their skills are suited to," Smit said.

"We tried to force them into that situation as well.

"Their mindset was to put us under pressure and not allow opportunity. Some weeks you get it right and some weeks you don't.

"There's still a lot of games left for them to get it right."

- NZPA