Black is the new orange

Beauden Barrett will say goodbye to his orange boots. Photo / Getty Images

Traditionalists can rejoice - coloured boots will, excuse the pun, be given the boot by the All Blacks next year.

The neon orange boots worn by the players in London last weekend and Edinburgh this morning have caused some angst, jarring so badly as they have with the marketing hype of the new jersey being the blackest ever.

The team's apparel sponsor, adidas, had a corporate launch in London last week for the new jersey -- going to great lengths to tell the story behind the changes.

The new design was apparently inspired by the players' desire to have a jersey that would help enhance the intimidation factor and the relentless excellence for which they strive. Blackening the jersey would help strike fear in opponents and represent the commitment, durability and intensity of the team, the marketers said.

But all that thinking was rendered redundant by the All Blacks wearing such garish boots that pulled the eye to their feet.

The intention, when plans for the jersey were first hatched two years ago, was to release the new look in July 2015, at which time adidas would have a mostly black boot in mass circulation.

By the World Cup, the All Blacks are going to be wearing different boots again that are exclusively black -- with some of the players believed to have been trialling the prototype at training this week.

But a late decision was made to pull the launch of the new jersey forward to this month. The earlier launch meant the blacker boots -- the pre-World Cup version will have a yellow trim -- aren't ready.

Adidas New Zealand country manager Quentin Bleakley said the "colour-up" boots the players were wearing would stay the same for the rest of the season.

He said he couldn't comment on whether the boots would change for the World Cup.

Footwear has become a hot topic for the All Blacks as the Herald revealed last week. Following constant public criticism, the national team have agreed to keep their socks pulled up during the national anthems.

It was only in 2011 that the team softened their stance on wearing coloured boots and the move was heavily criticised at the time and is now back in the spotlight.