All Blacks Suffer Historic Loss, Ending 72-Year Grand Slam Streak

The New Zealand All Blacks faced a significant setback on Sunday, suffering a disappointing 33-19 defeat to England at Twickenham. This loss marks the end of a remarkable 72-year unbeaten streak in Grand Slam tests, a period that dates back to their last defeat against Wales during the 1953-54 tour.

The All Blacks have struggled throughout the year, with a historic loss in Argentina and their heaviest defeat ever to South Africa in Wellington. Coach Scott Robertson has faced mounting pressure as his team continues to underperform, leaving fans questioning their prospects moving forward.

Historic Streaks and Records

Until this recent defeat, the All Blacks had not experienced failure in a Grand Slam mission for 52 years. Their last unsuccessful Grand Slam attempt occurred in 1972-73 when they drew 10-10 with Ireland, failing to secure victory at the final hurdle. This latest loss adds a new chapter to their long history of excellence, which had previously seen them go unbeaten in 27 Grand Slam tests.

The significance of the match was highlighted when England managed to score four tries, a feat they had not accomplished in any of their previous nine victories over New Zealand. The last time England reached that number was during a loss to the All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup semifinal, where Jonah Lomu famously scored four tries.

This defeat marks the sixth time in 47 encounters that England has outscored the All Blacks in tries, with this being only the second time in their last 27 matchups. The last occasion was in 2018 when England scored two tries to one in a narrow 16-15 loss at Twickenham.

All Blacks’ Recent Performance

The All Blacks have struggled to maintain momentum, with England now on a winning streak of ten matches, dating back to their second-round victory in this year’s Six Nations. This run ties for the fourth-longest winning streak in the team’s history, falling short of their record of 18 consecutive wins from 2015 to 2017.

For the All Blacks, the statistics reveal a concerning trend. Robertson’s win percentage as head coach has fallen below 75%, now sitting at 73% after this seventh loss under his leadership. Even with an anticipated win against Wales in the upcoming match, his record will place him behind coaches John Hart (76%) and Bryce Rope (75%) on the list of All Blacks coaches.

The team’s performance in the third quarter remains particularly troubling. In 2024, this was the only quarter where they were outscored across the season. Currently, their points differential in the third quarter is an alarming -64, a stark contrast to their positive differentials in the first and last quarters.

The All Blacks will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge. With their reputation on the line, the road ahead will be crucial for restoring confidence and reestablishing their dominance in international rugby.