All Blacks reign over...for now, but it has been a long rule

James Mortimer - allblacks.com - 04/08/2009

Oh the woe of being an All Blacks supporter! For the first time in nine years we are burdened with the fact that New Zealand has suffered three test defeats in a calendar year, but an admittedly shaky start to the test year and the Investec Tri Nations defence does not erase what has been achieved in recent times.

And for just the third time, the All Blacks have lost their perch as the number one ranked team in the world according to the International Rugby Board’s rankings.

The cacophonies of voices are growing in volume proclaiming the greatness of this Springbok team.

Graham Henry and Richie McCaw both have acknowledged that this is the best South African side that they have come across, and it is an almost eerie feeling to think that the All Blacks may have been surpassed as the dominant power in world rugby.

We cannot write off this All Blacks team yet, when reflecting on what they have achieved of late. But in some respects it was only a matter of time before the chasing pack indeed caught up.

The IRB has, amongst others, a primary charter to grow the game around the world. With the World Cup being their principal financial engine, huge amounts of capital are spent year after year to grow the game.

As the IRB continues to fulfil their mission statement, the reality is that in the mid to long term future, the balance of rugby power will not only be shared amongst Tri Nations or Six Nations powers.

While this may not apply to the established nations of world rugby (tier one teams), with the IRB not really directly assisting say the All Blacks or Springboks as they would tier two or three teams, the reality is that come 2019 in Japan, we may see seven or eight teams genuinely capable of winning a World Cup.

Even now, teams like South Africa, England, France or Australia have the resources to be the strongest test rugby nation along with New Zealand.

In essence, we could and cannot not expect the All Blacks to reign supreme at all times.

There is no doubt that we have been spoilt in recent years, in terms of titles won and the ranking of the best team in the world.

The IRB began ranking test nations officially on the 13th October 2003.

At the time, the All Blacks had just defeated Italy 70-7 in their first match of that year’s World Cup. They would debut as the second ranked team in the world.

England would debut as the top ranked nation, courtesy of back to back away wins against the All Blacks and Wallabies earlier that year. The All Blacks would briefly taste number one heaven with a quarter final win over the Springboks, but England would retake and cement the position with their maiden World Cup win, beating the Wallabies 20-17 on the 22nd November.

They would retain this ranking throughout the 2004, but a 0-2 series loss would see the All Blacks claim the number one spot in June that year.

A position they would hold officially until the 20th October 2007, when the Springboks won the World Cup. It would break a 174 week reign for the All Blacks as “the world’s best team.”

They would regain it against the Springboks on the 5th July 2008 beating the World Cup holders 19-8 at Wellington, but then South Africa would wrest it back with a 30-28 win in Carisbrook a week later.

Just over a month later, the All Blacks would defeat South Africa 19-0 in Newlands, embarking on another long period ranked as the number one side, holding the position for 45 weeks before losing it to the Springboks just over two weeks ago in Bloemfontein.

In the six years since the rankings began, the All Blacks have been number one for 52 months. Only once have they been ranked lower than second, falling to third for one week after losing to the Wallabies in the 2003 semi final.

Now their Investec Tri Nations title is also under threat; a trophy that is considered by many as being the hardest in the world to win, according to both Springbok pillars John Smit and Victor Matfield.

Whether it is or not is a matter of opinion, but it would at the least be the second most important title in world rugby (with the Six Nations) after the William Webb Ellis Cup.

Only twice in the tournaments 13 year history has a nation won the title after losing two consecutive matches, the Springboks won it in 2004 after losing their first two matches, and the All Blacks won in last year, after losing their second and third matches.

Exactly as it currently stands for Richie McCaw’s team so far this edition of the championship.

So while it may not be an ideal position for the All Blacks to be in, they are aware of what needs to be achieved, and can lay claim to being the pre-eminent Investec Tri Nations specialists.

After all, they have won the title nine times.

No doubt it will be a formidable challenge to record an astonishing tenth trophy and fifth consecutive series victory, with the Wallabies still to play a home match, and the Springboks making a perfect start.

But the All Blacks will play the last two matches of the Investec Tri Nations with two straight home games, against the Springboks and Wallabies respectively.

It could be the closest tournament since 2004, when only bonus points separated the three sides.

IRB Rankings over history
Number one position time held

All Blacks 221 weeks
South Africa 35 weeks
England 31 weeks

Current IRB Rankings
With thanks to the IRB

1(1) SOUTH AFRICA 90.98
2(2) NEW ZEALAND 89.42
3(3) AUSTRALIA 86.06
4(4) IRELAND 83.27
5(5) FRANCE 81.48
6(6) ARGENTINA 81.29
7(7) ENGLAND 81.23
8(8) WALES 80.74
9(9) FIJI 76.52
10(10) SCOTLAND 75.23

All time table Tri Nations table
Pl W D L P/F P/L Diff Titles won

New Zealand
59 40 0 19 1512 1089 +423 9
Australia
57 23 1 33 1174 1303 -129 2
South Africa
58 23 1 34 1121 1401 -333 2