Dave Rennie's reign as All Blacks coach is only three Tests old, but it has already convinced some hard markers that New Zealand's lost aura is returning. The Kiwis went unbeaten through the July Nations Championship window, beating France 34-32, Italy 47-17 and Ireland 40-21 to sit level with South Africa atop the southern hemisphere standings, behind only on points difference.
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Dan Biggar, assessing the side on his Biggar Thinking: Rugby Analysis series, framed the revival against the backdrop of a decade of Springbok dominance.
"There's been growing speculation that the All Blacks have lost their aura, two years without a Rugby Championship, and the failed Scott 'Razor' Robertson's tenure," Biggar said. "But in the short period of time Dave Rennie has been head coach, are we starting to see glimpses of the attacking prowess that defined the great All Blacks side?"
Biggar pointed to the Henry-Hansen era of back-to-back World Cup wins as the benchmark Rennie is chasing. "That golden era were as skillful as any team I've seen, were as composed as any team I've seen, and their forwards could do what their backs could do, and their backs could do what the forwards could do as equally well," he said.
The numbers back the eye test. New Zealand topped the Nations Championship for carries and passes per match while kicking from hand less than almost anyone. Planet Rugby's player ratings singled out scrum-half Cam Roigard, whose control they likened to Antoine Dupont, alongside Jordie Barrett, who created more chances than any non-scrum-half in the tournament, and wing Will Jordan, who scored six tries in three games and passed Doug Howlett as the All Blacks' record try-scorer.
Rennie's boldest call, shifting Damian McKenzie to fullback, drew criticism when it was made, but McKenzie was rated "utterly sublime" against Ireland at a sold-out Eden Park, where the All Blacks stretched their unbeaten run at the ground to 52 consecutive Tests since 1994.
The new coach has not been afraid to lean on younger voices. Of rookie fly-half Ruben Love, Rennie noted approvingly that he "doesn't mind bossing around some of the old fellows."
Attention now turns to a 44-man squad for the "Greatest Rivalry" tour of South Africa, New Zealand's first Test tour of the Republic in more than 30 years. Rennie and fellow selectors Neil Barnes and Sir Graham Henry are expected to retain most of the Nations Championship group while rewarding Super Rugby Pacific form. Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane are tipped to travel, and Planet Rugby reports uncapped Southland back-rower Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, signed by New Zealand Rugby after the collapse of Moana Pasifika, is set for a bolter's call-up.
Captain Ardie Savea and his side will get a far sterner examination on the highveld than anything the July window offered. As one ESPN assessment put it, the All Blacks' resurgence looks real, but the Greatest Rivalry tour will expose any lingering cracks.
