All Blacks’ 72-Year Streak Ends with Loss to England

The All Blacks’ celebrated 72-year unbeaten streak in Grand Slam tests came to an abrupt end on March 17, 2024, with a 33-19 defeat to England at Twickenham. This latest loss marks a significant turn in Scott Robertson’s coaching tenure, which has struggled to find consistency and direction.

The defeat is particularly notable as it halted a remarkable run that began with their last loss in this format against Wales during the 1953-54 tour. Since that time, New Zealand had notched up 27 consecutive victories in Grand Slam matches, including four successful campaigns in their last attempts in 2010, 2008, 2005, and 1978.

Numbers Highlight All Blacks’ Struggles

This match served as a stark reminder of the challenges the All Blacks now face. England’s victory not only ended their lengthy streak but also marked the first time in over 50 years that the All Blacks had lost a Grand Slam test. The last such defeat was a 10-10 draw against Ireland on the 1972-73 tour.

The statistics from the match illustrate the All Blacks’ struggles. England scored four tries against New Zealand, a feat they had not accomplished in any of their previous nine victories over the All Blacks. The only other instance of England scoring four tries against New Zealand occurred in the infamous 1995 Rugby World Cup semifinal when Jonah Lomu famously dominated the match.

In total, this was the sixth time England outscored the All Blacks in terms of tries in their 47 meetings. It was only the second time in the last 27 matchups that England managed to outscore New Zealand in tries, the last being a narrow 16-15 victory in 2018.

Implications for Scott Robertson and the Team

Scott Robertson’s coaching record has taken a hit, with his win percentage dropping below 75% for the first time, landing at 73% following this seventh loss in his tenure. While a potential win against Wales later this year could improve his standing, it would still see him finish his second year behind coaches like John Hart (76%) and Bryce Rope (75%).

The All Blacks’ performance in different quarters of the matches has raised concerns as well. In 2024, the team was outscored in the third quarter, a trend that has worsened this year. The points differential across the quarters paints a troubling picture: they have a +44 differential in the first 20 minutes, +49 in the second, and a stark -64 in the third quarter, including a dismal 34-0 scoreline during the current tour.

As the All Blacks look to regroup after this latest setback, the pressure is mounting for Robertson to steer the team back to form ahead of future competitions. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this storied rugby team responds to the challenges ahead, particularly with the next major tournament on the horizon.