All Blacks’ Busy Schedule with International Fixtures
The All Blacks will play England in a return match at Eden Park in Auckland a week after playing in Dunedin, before rounding out a unique third leg of the Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series in a one-off rugby showcase in San Diego against fast-rising World Cup quarterfinalists Fiji. The All Blacks have played in San Diego once previously, against the USA in 1980.
Rugby Championship Defence and Springboks Challenge
Back to back Tests against Argentina at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday 10 August and Eden Park on Saturday 17 August, respectively will kick off an All Blacks Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship defence before back to back Tests against the Springboks in South Africa. The Rugby Championship campaign concludes with Bledisloe Cup Tests in Sydney on 21 September, and Sky Stadium in Wellington on 28 September.
Northern Tour to Conclude the 2024 Campaign
The 2024 campaign concludes with a Northern Tour that starts against Japan in Yokohama on 26 October, and takes in four November Tests against England, Ireland, France, and Italy.
HOME GAMES IN BOLD.
7:05pm: Saturday, 6 July, England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series
7:05pm: Saturday, 13 July, England, Eden Park, Auckland , Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series 2:30pm: Saturday, 20 July (NZ Time)AB v Fiji
7:30pm: Friday, 19 July (USA Pacific Time)Fiji, SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego, Steinlager Ultra Low Carb Series
7:05pm: Saturday, 10 August, Argentina, SKY Stadium, Wellington, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
7:05pm: Saturday, 17 August, Argentina, Eden Park, Auckland, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
31 August, South Africa, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
7 September, South Africa, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
21 September, Australia, Accor Stadium, Sydney, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship /Bledisloe Cup
7:05pm: Saturday 28 September, Australia, SKY Stadium, Wellington, Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship /Bledisloe Cup
26 October, Japan, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Lipovitan D Challenge Cup
2 November, England, Twickenham, London, Northern Tour
9 November, Ireland, TBC, Northern Tour,
16 November, France, TBC, Northern Tour
23 November, Italy, TBC, Northern Tour
Robertson’s Challenging Start as All Blacks Coach
It’s sure been a tense introduction to coaching at the test level for new All Black’s coach, Robertson, who played 23 tests for the All Blacks between 1998 and 2002.
He’ll take the two wins by a combined eight points, but the man known as Razor clearly hasn’t got this team humming just yet. Not even close.
That’s unsurprising two tests into his four year contract.
The good news is they’ve still only had a tad more than two weeks together as a full squad, the newly installed systems should only bear more fruit as they are bedded in, and x-factor fullback Will Jordan will soon be available.
Performance Review and Areas for Improvement
While Robertson cut a relieved figure after opening his tenure with a narrow victory in Dunedin. there was a little more frustration at Eden Park this week, after his team’s shaky lineout and inability to exit their own half hindered their ability to get a flow on.
Are there improvements?
Improvements and Squad Updates
Breaking the assessment down, the All Blacks’ scrum was impressive, their lineout less so. They sure miss Brody Retallick and Sam Whitelock. When they were able to stretch their legs and attack, they looked as dangerous as ever, but those moments were few and far between.
That said, there will be changes – almost certainly more than the lone injury-enforced tweak to the starting XV this week – in Southern California.
Looking Ahead: Testing Depth Against Fiji
With the English swept and the Rugby Championship looming large, the time is right to see what some of his other players can offer, including the uncapped Wallace Sititi and Pasilio Tosi.
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