All Blacks have lost 'aura of invincibility'

British rugby writer Paul Ackford says Graham Henry needs some fresh ideas to get the All Blacks back to the top of world rugby. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks "aura of invincibility" has been wiped following their latest defeat to the Springboks, according to one international rugby reporter.

South Africa withstood a late New Zealand onslaught in Hamilton on Saturday to triumph 32-29 and take an unassailable 12-point lead in the Tri-Nations.

Despite the closeness of the scoreline, the All Blacks produced another error-ridden display as they slumped to their fourth loss of the season.

Writing in Britain's Telegraph newspaper, Paul Ackford said the All Blacks' demise is coinciding with a rise in Northern Hemisphere rugby, which threatens to ruin New Zealand's World Cup party in two years time.

"The All Blacks no longer have world-class individuals hanging off every tree," he wrote.

"The All Blacks seem to have lost their aura of invincibility. They now seem bereft of ideas.

"Graham Henry, in charge for a staggering 81 tests, needs something fresh if the All Blacks are to dominate the world stage."

The Sydney Morning Herald's Greg Growden said the All Blacks would suffer the "ultimate embarrassment" of losing three home tests in a season if they fell to the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday.

"On the epic occasion of the Wallabies' 500th test, Australia will be able to avenge much of the pain the All Blacks have inflicted on Australian rugby over the decades if they can turn this year into New Zealand's worst at home," Growden said.

"In the Wallabies' favour is that as well as being buoyed by their defeat of the Springboks in Brisbane last week, they meet an All Blacks line-up that is fragile and dishevelled and under threat of being vilified by its followers."

Meanwhile, the South African media were hailing the Springboks as the best in the world after clinching a third Tri-Nations title.

"Best Boks ever" was the bold headline in the sports section of the Sunday Times while "Courageous Springboks undoubted world No 1" declared the Sunday Independent on its front page.

"It doesn't get much sweeter than this", "I was happy to be collateral damage - Smit" and "Tri-Nations wrapped up with vintage victory over All Blacks to complete trophy cabinet" were other prominent headlines.

The Times claimed the current Boks are the greatest to wear the green and gold with the Tri-Nations title following victory in the 2007 World Cup and a three-test series triumph over the British and Irish Lions this year.

"If this Springbok team is not the best ever to wear the green and gold, they're doing a helluva job pretending to be. There were elements of greatness in the manner in which they snuffed the life out of the Tri-Nations."

"Peter de Villiers' men now hold pretty much all the bling there is to win internationally with the exception of the Six Nations (northern hemisphere championship)."

The Independent highlighted the courage of the Springboks in a match which ended with blood on the face of captain and tighthead prop John Smit, who also led his country to World Cup glory in Paris two years ago.

"Not only are they the best team around, they maybe also the most courageous, given the long queue of players requiring medical attention after they put their bodies on the line."

South Africa became Tri-Nations champions for only the third time in 14 attempts after defeating the All Blacks twice at home and once away and Australia once at home and once away.

Finishing their campaign with a victory in New Zealand was especially sweet for the Springboks who had not beaten the All Blacks three times in one year since 1949.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, AFP