All Blacks coach Scott Robertson expects uncomfortable questions after losses to Springboks

CAPE TOWN – New Zealand coach Scott Robertson admitted there would be tough questions back home, after the All Blacks lost 18-12 to South Africa in Cape Town on Sept 7 to see their Rugby Championship hopes disappear.

It was a fourth loss in a row for the world champions and a third defeat in four Tests in this competition, following a shock 38-30 opening home defeat by Argentina and falling 31-27 to the Springboks in Johannesburg.

“It was a hell of a Test match... We created enough opportunities but did not finish them. The best of us is finishing what we create, but there are small margins in Test rugby,” Robertson said.

New Zealand led by 10 points with 12 minutes to go in their loss to the Springboks on Aug 31, and again this time they held the advantage into the second half but allowed their opponents to score two tries, while fly-half Damian McKenzie missed two crucial kicks.

All New Zealand’s points came from McKenzie’s boot, while the Springboks crossed the line via Siya Kolisi and Malcolm Marx. Fly-halves Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a penalty each.

“I am pleased where we are. The last weeks have been exceptional with some great performances,” Robertson added.

“Our breakdown tonight was phenomenal. A lot of big games are won on those small margins off the boot.

“There was so much good, but Test matches are about finishing on top and finding a way to do it. We need to learn from that.”

Despite his positivity, he expects there will be questions around the team when they arrive back in New Zealand, given the exceptionally high standards they have set for decades.

“Our duty demands that we win those games. We care very deeply about the jersey and we have to win,” he said. “We will be frank and honest around it (the team’s results), that is the way to approach it.”

The All Blacks have two Rugby Championship fixtures remaining against Australia but cannot catch South Africa at the top of the table, having fallen 11 points behind their great rivals (18).

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, meanwhile, praised the competition within his squad after they took a giant step towards claiming the title.

The team have several players well into their 30s who will be touch-and-go for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but also an exciting group of youngsters, who have been given opportunities in recent matches.

“There are young guys knocking hard on the door,” Erasmus said. “You can handle it two ways, see it as competition, or rather prolonging the senior players’ careers because they only play every second or third match.

“The older guys will try to make it (to the 2027 World Cup) if their bodies will allow it. And the younger guys must get enough Test experience.

“It is a good mix of trying to build together for the next few years.”

In the other clash, Argentina hit back with nine tries to beat Australia 67-27 in Santa Fe.

A week after the Wallabies fought back from 10-0 down to win in La Plata, Los Pumas took revenge by overturning a 17-point deficit to hand Australia their second-worst loss ever. The 67 points are the most the Wallabies have ever conceded.

The result lifted Argentina to second in the table on 10 points, meaning they are the only team left who can catch South Africa. Australia are bottom with just four. REUTERS, AFP