Ian Foster and Sam Cane on the actual rollercoaster that was the All Blacks' 2022 season. Photos / Herald graphic with Getty Images
Cameron McMillan reviews the rollercoaster ride that was the All Blacks season 2022.
Saturday July 2, Eden Park
A pretty decent statement to start the year in the first part of a thrilling Ireland trilogy. After questions over Ian Foster’s team following defeats to Ireland and France to end 2021, the All Blacks come out firing at Eden Park scoring six tries against the best defensive team from the Six Nations. They also did it despite a week disrupted by Covid which saw them robbed of three players and four coaches. The highlight of the test came in the second half with Ardie Savea’s second try in which he beat three defenders on the way to the line. A thing of beauty.
How the Herald saw it:
All Blacks dominate Ireland to start season in style
Gregor Paul: All Blacks almost answer all the key questions in first test win
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v Ireland
Match rating:
Saturday July 9, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Ok, ok. Just a bump in Ian Foster Road (though we know how long it takes local councils to fix that issue these days), There was four cards in the first half including the sending off of Angus Ta’avao for an accidental head clash. That inexplicably led to the All Blacks deciding to take Savea, aka their best player, off the field which due to an error by the match officials meant he was gone for the rest of the match. Shambles. Ireland took the opportunity, eventually. Prop Andrew Porter crossed over twice and Jonathan Sexton kicked them to victory handing the All Blacks their first home defeat since September 2018. At the time, it was a rare event.
How the Herald saw it:
117 years in the making: Ireland earn historic triumph over ABs
Gregor Paul: It’s time for change - the All Blacks have lost their way
How the players rated in the All Blacks loss to Ireland
Match rating:
Saturday July 16, Westpac Stadium
A woeful first half saw the All Blacks down 22-3 to leave 38,000 fans, and everyone watching from home and pubs around the country shellshocked. With an inspirational performance on his home patch, Savea did his best to strap the All Blacks on his back and carry them to some semblance of a comeback. From a seemingly unwinnable position suddenly the All Blacks closed to within five points. Sexton increased Ireland’s buffer only for Will Jordan to burst onto an inside ball from Savea and sprint 80 metres to score a magic try. Then all hope was crushed. Rob Herring’s lineout drive try after 64 minutes ultimately broke the fightback. It was the first time in 24 years the All Blacks had lost successive home tests – John Hart’s 1998 side was the last team to endure such a run, and the first time since 1994 they’d lost a home series.
How the Herald saw it:
Ireland claim historic series win over All Blacks
Gregor Paul: Ireland are the legendary team All Blacks used to be
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v Ireland
Match rating:
Sunday August 7, Mbombela Stadium
The pressure was mounting even more on Foster as the All Blacks headed to South Africa for the first time since 2018. And he had two new coaches alongside him after forwards coach John Plumtree and attack coach Brad Mooar got the chop. Enter Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt. But still the same old problems. The Springboks dominated the game from start to finish, despite losing Faf de Klerk in the opening minute to concussion. The All Blacks struggled to mount any serious scoring threats until a late break by Caleb Clarke set up Shannon Frizell for their only try, allowing them to reach double digits on the scoreboard. There was some controversy over South Africa’s contesting of the high ball, which resulted in Springboks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse being sent off late in the game for taking out Beauden Barrett in the air. Afterward, Foster told Sky it was their best performance of the year (Narrator voice: It wasn’t).
How the Herald saw it:
Crushed again! All Blacks fail to fire a shot in big Boks defeat
Gregor Paul: All hope is lost - Broken ABs need Scott Robertson
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v South Africa
Match rating:
Sunday August 14, Ellis Park
‘Just when I thought I was out. They pull me back in’. - Noted All Blacks fan Michael Corleone, probably.
The bounceback of all bouncebacks. The All Blacks led 15-0 after up until then, their best first-half performance of the year but they were inevitably forced to withstand South Africa’s revival at Ellis Park. And came what could have been the moment that ended Foster’s run as coach. Beauden Barrett was given a yellow card for taking Springboks halfback Jaden Hendrikse out as he chased a Fletcher Newell knock-on. It handed South Africa their first lead in the 67th minute and seemed inevitable that the home side would close out the win. But the All Blacks refused to fold. David Havili’s try, after Rieko Ioane’s break, in the 74th minute launched the comeback before a Scott Barrett try finished the job to showcase the true character of this team. A real back-against-the-wall victory in the hardest environment in test rugby. This win hasn’t been given enough credit.
How the Herald saw it:
Gutsy All Blacks nail famous victory over Boks
Gregor Paul: If Foster’s gone that was some way to go out
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v South Africa
Match rating:
Saturday August 27, Orangetheory Stadium
The All Blacks led 15-6 in the first half and 15-12 at halftime, but a series of penalties, mistakes, and a lack of composure cost them in the second half. A try from Pumas blindside Juan Martin Gonzalez, who disrupted Scott Barrett’s attempted catch from a restart, changed the course of the match. Emiliano Boffelli’s conversion gave the Pumas the lead in the 47th minute, and his accurate kicking extended their advantage and put the pressure on the home team. The All Blacks had several opportunities to launch a comeback, but they failed to convert four strong opportunities, three of which came from lineouts in the Pumas’ 22. The game was heavily influenced by the Georgian referee, Nika Amashukeli, who blew 26 penalties, including 14 against the All Blacks. That being said, Argentina deserved to win and the All Blacks deserved to lose. Three straight defeats tests at home. Inconceivable for the All Blacks. And going back to the end of last year that made it six losses from the last eight games.
How the Herald saw it:
All Blacks stunned! Pressure back on Foster as Pumas claim historic win
Gregor Paul: More change is needed - something is seriously wrong with the ABs
Player ratings: How the All Blacks rated in shock defeat
Match rating:
Saturday September 3, Waikato Stadium
Nothing like a night out in Hamilton to lift your spirits. Shades of 2020 when Argentina shocked the All Blacks for the first time ever at Bankwest Stadium and then went nowhere near backing it up the following week, losing 38-0. This time the All Blacks responded with seven tries to complete the bonus-point victory that revived their Rugby Championship hopes. Two of those tries came while the All Blacks were reduced to 14 men following Fletcher Newell’s yellow card to emphasise their total dominance.
How the Herald saw it:
Ruthless All Blacks earn revenge over Argentina
Gregor Paul: The key change that transformed the All Blacks
Player ratings: How the All Blacks performed in big win
Match rating:
Thursday September 15, Marvel Stadium
Thursday night rugby and French referee Mathieu Raynal seemed to be thinking of the people who to work the next day. He awarded a match-turning infringement for Bernard Foley taking too long to kick the ball from a penalty which would have all but ended the test. Instead the All Blacks got the ball back and Jordie Barrett scored the match-winner in the corner. The Wallabies came back from 31-13 down, a comeback to be repeated by England at Twickenham later in the year, only to be denied what would have been a famous win as the Bledisloe was locked up for a 20th straight year.
Was the decision fair? Well, I would never argue with our brilliant Herald readers.
How the Herald saw it:
What a thriller! All Blacks win Bledisloe Cup in controversial finish
Gregor Paul: How All Blacks’ hubris almost cost them in miracle win
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks’ win over Wallabies
Match rating:
Saturday September 24, Eden Park
Silverware! The All Blacks showed off a dominant defence and continued to reveal the work of new forwards coach Jason Ryan with an impressive performance from the pack. Jordie Barrett was the standout at second five-eighth showing that’s where he should be playing for years to come. After coughing up a lead in the previous test in Melbourne, they made sure they didn’t do the same. Leading 17-0 after a first half largely blighted by Irish referee Andrew Brace, including two yellow cards for the visitors, the All Blacks scored three more tries in the second half. The win left South Africa too big an ask in the final test of the Rugby Championship against Argentina, as the All Blacks were crowned champions the following morning.
How the Herald saw it:
Relentless All Blacks crush Wallabies with familiar flex - win Rugby Championship
Gregor Paul: These new All Blacks now have what it takes
Player ratings: How the All Blacks rated in impressive win over Wallabies
Saturday October 29, Tokyo
Not sure if anyone watched the second half as it clashed with the Black Ferns’ quarter-final win over Wales, a mistake NZR admitted they didn’t consider when agreeing to the kickoff time in Tokyo. It wasn’t pretty from an All Blacks team mixed with starters and up-and-comers including rookie Roger Tuivasa-Shek. It was a spirited effort from the Brave Blossoms who got to within four points on three different occasions but couldn’t take the lead. The opportunity looked to open up for a historic win when Brodie Retallick was sent off with 14 minutes to play but the All Blacks held up for a non-historic win. Just their smallest victory over Japan. Unfortunately, it saw the end of captain Cane’s season following a fractured cheekbone while RTS also played his last test of 2022, being moved to the All Blacks XV squad.
How the Herald saw it:
Scare survived: All Blacks narrowly avoid ultimate shock
Gregor Paul: Desperate and dire - All Blacks’ tactics made no sense
Player ratings: How Sam Cane’s men performed in Tokyo
Match rating:
Sunday November 6, Principality Stadium
Strong start and a dominant final quarter. Savea and Papali’i were immense and the All Blacks piled on the points in the second half to make it five wins in a row. Putting 55 on Wales in front of that atmosphere is not easy but Foster’s side made it look like it is with five tries in the second half. They had an early 17-0 lead and let Wales cut it to six points before taking over once again after the half. Codie Taylor, Jordie Barrett and Aaron Smith - who surpassed Dan Carter as the All Blacks most capped back of all time - all scored doubles.
How the Herald saw it:
All Blacks blitz Wales to send statement to northern rivals
Gregor Paul: ‘Vulnerable’ All Blacks produce best performance of year
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v Wales
Match rating:
Monday November 14, Murrayfield Stadium
Yeah, the game was played on a Sunday in Scotland but don’t let that stop me using an Office Space reference, a film that came out when All Blacks debutant Mark Telea was three. Scotland led by nine points with 19 minutes remaining until flanker Jack Dempsey was yellow-carded and the All Blacks took over. Mark Telea was superb on debut, as was Dalton Papali’i. And the All Blacks didn’t lose to Scotland for the first time ever. That was probably the main positive from the penultimate test of the year, one that could only give the Scots confidence if they do manage to set up a quarter-final match-up with New Zealand next October (don’t rule it out despite them being in the same pool as South Africa and Ireland).
How the Herald saw it:
Ill-disciplined All Blacks escape to avoid first Scotland loss
Gregor Paul: Rattled All Blacks got the win which is all that matters
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v Scotland
Match rating:
Monday November 20, Twickenham
Maybe 1040 minutes of test rugby in a season is nine minutes too many. The All Blacks dominated the first 71 minutes led by some brilliant goalline defence. They were leading 17-3 at halftime and 25-6 when the match clock heading into the close stages. Then somehow finished the season with a draw. It all turned when Beauden Barrett kicked a drop goal - or to be more exact when he got a yellow card a minute later but maybe that wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t take the pot shot.
Such a fine comeback by the hosts that Eddie Jones lost his job. Interesting to think that Foster, whose job was under threat in the middle of the season, played in part in Jones and Wales boss Wayne Pivac losing their roles.
How the Herald saw it:
England mount stunning comeback to tie All Blacks at Twickenham
Gregor Paul: How All Blacks threw away victory at Twickenham
Player ratings: The best and worst from All Blacks v England
Match rating:
Played 13, Won 8, Lost 4, Drew 1, Points for 420, Points against 304
Most points: Richie Mo’unga 95, Jordie Barrett 69
Most tries: Samisoni Taukei’aho 7, Ardie Savea 5, Jordie Barrett 5, Codie Taylor 4, Will Jordan 4
Most red cards: Angus Ta’avao 1, Brodie Retallick 1
Most tests: Aaron Smith 12, Jordie Barrett 12, Rieko Ioane 12
Debutants: Leicester Fainga’anuku, Pita Gus Sowakula, Aidan Ross, Folau Fakatava, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Fletcher Newell, Stephen Perofeta and Mark Telea.
Trophies won: Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship, Freedom Cup, Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup, Hillary Shield
Trophies lost: Steinlager Series trophy
Uncontested: 1874 Cup, DHL Cup
Despite a decent number of defeats, the trophy cabinet didn’t really take a hit. And that’s all that matters isn’t it? If you said at the start of the year that All Blacks would lose a series at home, along with their first-ever home defeat to Argentina, just a seven-point win over Japan and cough up a 19-point lead with nine minutes to play at Twickenham. I don’t think many All Blacks fans would have taken that.
I gave the side three and a half stars last year and it feels like they went backwards in 2022, especially during the first half of the year. And they can’t be trusted with a 19 or 18-point lead. So why am I optimistic about 2023? Because they have certainly shown big improvements following the coaching changes. Because Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane look like a dangerous midfield combination. Because Will Jordan will be back from injury. Because Ethan de Groot can’t be moved backwards in a scrum. Because the first 71 minutes at Twickenham could be the blueprint for 2023. Because Mark Telea is an exciting prospect on the wing. Because Sam Whitelock will always have one more World Cup in him. And because, ‘a lesson’ from 2009, they haven’t peaked before a World Cup.