Ex-Springboks star makes bold All Blacks prediction ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup
The All Blacks and former Springboks flyer Gio Aplon.
Although the Springboks are the dominant team in the international arena at the moment, the All Blacks are the side to keep an eye on at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
That was the word from former Springboks flyer Gio Aplon, who said although Scott Robertson’s charges have not reached their usual heights as the leading team on the Test stage in 2024, they cannot be underestimated and he expects them to return to their best soon and be a force at the global showpiece in three years’ time.
After winning the Rugby Championship for four consecutive years between 2020 and 2023, New Zealand recently had to settle for second position behind South Africa in that competition.
Speaking on the Behind The Ruck podcast, Aplon was asked to give an assessment of the All Blacks’ recent Rugby Championship campaign and said: “I’m always worried about the All Blacks. I’m always worried about what is next, what are they going to do?
“And I’ve looked at the second game (against the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship). The first game they played against Australia, they left eight opportunities out there to score.
“They’re breaking the line at ease, they’re playing, they’re finding their feet.
‘For the first time there’s a new coaching staff’
“And the thing with the All Blacks now is they’re in a phase where this is the first time since 2007 they’ve changed hands, meaning that for the first time there’s a new coaching staff. The very first time. If you look at the continuity, 2007, ’11, ’15, ’19, ’23.
“For five cycles, they had the same kind of voice, or a voice stayed. There was a voice that stayed, maybe 2011, Graham Henry stayed, Steve Hansen stayed, and then Ian Foster stayed.
“So it’s the first time also they have a new coaching staff, the chosen one, who’s Razor (Robertson), who comes from Super Rugby.”
Aplon, who represented the Springboks in 17 Tests between 2010 and 2012, said although losing some senior players has impacted the All Blacks’ performances and despite undergoing several changes, they’re still being competitive.
“So we also need to understand that they’re going through that phase,” he said.
“Then they’re finding players. So they’re also going in the building phase, but then they come to Ellis Park to lose by four points, and then by six points (in Cape Town) is hell of a good.
“Yes, they lost to Argentina in New Zealand, but to lose to the number one team in the world, the trendsetters, by opportunities, they’re going somewhere.”
Much has been said about the departure of South African teams from Super Rugby having a negative impact on New Zealand sides, especially the All Blacks at Test level.
2026 tour to South Africa will help the All Blacks
However, last month it was revealed that the All Blacks are set to tour South Africa again in 2026 for the first time in 30 years and Aplon feels that, along with being in action at Super Rugby level, that will work in New Zealand’s favour in the build up to the 2027 World Cup.
“I’m very wary, and I don’t want to make this a long conversation, but going into the World Cup, because I always like to think ahead. So they’re playing Super Rugby. So the World Cup is in Australia,” he said.
“They’re playing Super Rugby. So they’re going to play (that) for the next three seasons. They’re going to play in those conditions. They’re going to play in Brisbane. They’re going to play in Perth (or) wherever. So they’re going to get used to their conditions.
“Come 2026, they’re coming to South Africa. So we always say Super Rugby lacks the physicality (without the South Africans).
“They’re going to come and play eight games in South Africa to make up that physicality. I believe they’re going to be the best prepared side going to the World Cup.”
