Stephen Hoiles and Nick Phipps have shared concerns that the All Blacks’ recent defeats to the Springboks could spell trouble for the Wallabies ahead of the upcoming Bledisloe Cup opener in Sydney next weekend.
New Zealand recently faced South Africa in two Rugby Championship clashes, which also determined the Freedom Cup, held in Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park and Cape Town’s DHL Stadium.
In the first match, the All Blacks seemed poised for victory with 20 minutes left, having built a 27-17 lead thanks to tries from Codie Taylor, Jordie Barrett, and a double from Caleb Clarke. However, South Africa’s renowned ‘bomb squad’ turned the tide, securing a thrilling 31-27 win in the final stages. Despite their disappointment, New Zealand had a chance for redemption the following week.
During the second match at DHL Stadium, Damian McKenzie had a crucial opportunity to put the All Blacks ahead with a late penalty but missed, and South Africa held on for an 18-12 victory. The All Blacks, having won only one of their four Rugby Championship matches, now face the Wallabies in Sydney.
Stephen Hoiles, speaking on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts, commented on the All Blacks’ performances, stating, “It’s more a reflection of how strong South Africa are. New Zealand came close in both matches—they’re still a very good Test side. But I’m a bit worried about how fired up New Zealand will be when they play us in a couple of weeks. Kudos to the Springboks for pushing them to the limit, but now they’re likely to take their frustration out on us.”
For the first time in 15 years, New Zealand lost possession of the Freedom Cup, with South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi lifting the trophy. As the Rugby Championship takes a short break, the focus shifts to the highly anticipated clash between the All Blacks and the Wallabies on September 21. Australia, also searching for form, hopes to bounce back after a recent blowout loss to Argentina, where they conceded 67 points in a record-breaking match.
Nick Phipps, a former Test halfback, added his thoughts on New Zealand’s potential response under head coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson. “Razor is one of the best coaches in the world, and he’s facing criticism. Unfortunately for us, we might see the best version of the All Blacks coming out in Sydney.”
The Wallabies are preparing for a tough encounter, and fans are eager to see how both teams will perform in this crucial Bledisloe Cup showdown.
