The All Blacks’ historic 29–23 defeat to Argentina in Buenos Aires has triggered a wave of scathing criticism back home, with pundits accusing Scott Robertson’s side of losing not only their discipline but their aura of invincibility.
In a blistering column for the New Zealand Herald, senior rugby writer Gregor Paul branded the All Blacks “rugby’s equivalent of an organised crime syndicate,” tearing into their repeated infringements and reckless play.
New Zealand conceded three yellow cards in the contest — with Will Jordan, Tupou Vaa’i and Sevu Reece all sent to the sin-bin — in what Paul described as a catastrophic stretch of “self-sabotage.”
“New Zealand have created significant doubt as to whether they are deserving occupants of the world No.1 ranking,” Paul wrote. “But they have established unequivocally that they are the game’s least disciplined team.”
The loss, Argentina’s first-ever on home soil against the All Blacks in 16 meetings, was made even more damning by the fact that New Zealand’s ill-discipline overshadowed their moments of brilliance. Paul argued that the issue is systemic:
“From junior club to 1st XV to Super Rugby, they are coached to push the boundaries and get away with what they can.”
The numbers back his claim. The All Blacks picked up two yellow cards the previous week and seven during last year’s Rugby Championship, painting a worrying picture of a team unable — or unwilling — to play within the laws.
Adding fuel to the fire, outspoken radio host Mark Watson released a viral two-minute tirade in which he labeled the defeat “unforgivable.” In a particularly cutting remark, he questioned whether the current squad even deserves the privilege of singing the national anthem before Test matches.
@sportnationnz “One of the worst All Blacks performances I have seen in my lifetime!” Watto comes off the back fence with a tirade for the ages after the All Blacks’ capitulation in Argentina, thanks to Bunnings. #allblacks #rugbychampionship #rugby #rugbytiktok #newzealand
The backlash has raised broader questions about the culture underpinning New Zealand rugby. Once seen as the sport’s model of excellence, the All Blacks now find themselves portrayed as cynical, careless, and increasingly beatable.
For Robertson, who is still early in his tenure, the message from critics is clear: clean up the discipline or risk watching the team’s legacy unravel.
As Paul concluded:
“Finding a way to play 80 minutes with 15 men is the first and most pressing problem Robertson needs to solve.”
English