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'Embarrassment': Former All Blacks prop baffled by All Blacks scrummaging woes
Patrick Marsters-Fonotoe • September 15th, 2025 2:03 pm
All Blacks | Photo: Photosport
Former All Blacks prop Richard Loe has described the All Blacks' 43-10 defeat to South Africa as an "embarrassment", slamming leadership clarity, forward frailties and poor intensity.
The 49-Test international says there are too many coaching voices, calling for Scott Robertson to take the reins.
“Only one person can be laying down the law," Loe told Sport Nation Mornings.
“Whether it’s half a dozen or eight different people all talking, I don’t know what happens in there now, it looks as if they’re not really sure who they’re going to take notice of first.
“Gone are the days when Grizz (Alex Wyllie) used to walk out in the middle of the field and say two words and walk off again.”
The All Black scrum is still cause for concern as Loe warns “something’s going structurally wrong right from up front”.
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“The South Africans played with aggression, they had purpose,” Loe told hosts Ian Smith and Riccardo Ball.
He noted front-rowers Tyrel Lomax, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Tamaiti Williams hadn't played a lot of rugby recently, looking to the other significant pieces of the All Black forward pack to deliver more.
“Ardie Savea wasn’t there, (Wallace) Sititi went missing and played really softly, Tupou Vaa’i wasn’t as good as he has been. Scott Barrett the same.”
While Loe praised Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell and Codie Taylor for being ‘up to their game’ but points out the inconsistent selection within the forward pack as an issue, suggesting selectors had been ignoring the form guide.
“(Fabian) Holland, for example, played outstandingly for his first three games, then they drop him onto the bench," he explained.
“If he’s that hard of a worker, why don’t they give him a taste?"
Loe believes the big test will come in a fortnight's time, when the Wallabies arrive at Eden Park with their chance of ending the hosts' historic streak.
The Wallabies scrummaging ability which was "somewhat poor” is now “fairly damn well now”, according to Loe, noting the impact of former All Blacks assistant and ‘scrum doctor’, Mike Cron.
The All Blacks will face the Wallabies at Eden Park on September 27.
Listen to the full interview below:
