All Blacks 2026

Getting in here as it probably needs a new thread.

Fixtures for next year largely confirmed early.

Prediction time! Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe. Next year could top that. 4 tests vs SA, a fired up France at home, away vs England (again). Could be a tough year to be a supporter unless we can reshape a whole lot of things in the team and the coaching.

SA Tour
Friday, August 7: Stormers vs. All Blacks at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, August 11: Sharks vs. All Blacks at Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, August 15: Bulls vs. All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, August 22: South Africa vs. All Blacks (1st Test) at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday, August 25: Lions vs. All Blacks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, August 29: South Africa vs. All Blacks (2nd Test) at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, September 5: South Africa vs. All Blacks (3rd Test) at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday, September 12: South Africa vs. All Blacks (4th Test) at a venue to be announced

All Blacks 2026 Nations Championship matches
Southern Series
July 4 v France
July 11 v Italy
July 18 v Ireland

Northern Series
November 8 v Scotland
November 15 v Wales
November 22 v England

Finals Weekend
November 28-30 – Allianz Stadium, London

One of the toughest seasons ever. This could be ugly

Wow must be one of the first years in a while without a scheduled match with the Wallabies?

@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2026:

Wow must be one of the first years in a while without a scheduled match with the Wallabies?

surely they will add some for the Bledisloe? Just not public yet

Yeah at least two games to be added to the schedule but could still be three.

Two v Wallabies and Argentina (potentially in the US).

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

It would be great to enter 2026 with a quality, performing squad ready to take on a challenge like this. That kind of team would make it the most exciting year of rugby in a long time. But the current situation points in the opposite direction - more dread than anticipation.

Definitely two games against Australia in October and the rumours are a game against Argentina in or around Washington DC too.

So yeah, 2026 is going to be massive.

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

Definitely two games against Australia in October and the rumours are a game against Argentina in or around Washington DC too.

So yeah, 2026 is going to be massive.

Aussie will be keen to steal the Bled from a depleted AB squad

@canefan What makes you think it will be depleted?

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan What makes you think it will be depleted?

That's a lot of games. If injuries hit us as they did this year, by the time the Bled comes around who knows what the team will look like

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

Injury has been Robertson's best selector so far. Perhaps after a tough July and August we might have the right squad in place to take us forward......

@Victor-Meldrew think injury helped Fozzie too.

Sadly, coaches lack of experience and vision has hindered things for far too long and will keep hurting us.

Based on the progress of ylast two years I can see South Africa struggling to win all four tests.

We'll probably beat Ireland and Scotland, so come away with about four wins.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@Victor-Meldrew think injury helped Fozzie too.

Sadly, coaches lack of experience and vision has hindered things for far too long and will keep hurting us.

I can kind of understand Fozzie. He had been in the setup for years and was probably too close to the players. In addition, he was under pressure immediately to win, because the public in general were sceptical of his appointment. Razor came in on a wave of goodwill. I don't think anyone would have minded if he'd experimented with some new players. But he went to his crusaders favourites and some of Fozzie's old stagers, only made changes when forced on him. That's what I find harder to take

if we roll in to the year with the same personnel on and off the field then it will go horribly.

However if we make just a couple of changes, i can see us winning a lot of those. Yes, a couple of those changes are fundamental, but i don't reckon we are that far off if those glaring deficiencies are rectified.

If we play the same with the same guys it will get real ugly real fast.

The 2026 French Top 14 final is scheduled for Saturday, 27 June 2026 in the Stade De France in Paris. Will any players involved fly to New Zealand to be part of the France game against the All Blacks on July 4th?

I suspect it will be a depleted team again.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:

if we roll in to the year with the same personnel on and off the field then it will go horribly.

However if we make just a couple of changes, i can see us winning a lot of those. Yes, a couple of those changes are fundamental, but i don't reckon we are that far off if those glaring deficiencies are rectified.

If we play the same with the same guys it will get real ugly real fast.

I agree, it could get better quick - but on the other hand, a couple of changes for the worse e.g. Roigard injured...

@mariner4life

Agree with all of that.

But does Robertson have the headroom in the 2026 schedule to make and bed-in the personnel changes needed? Maybe if DMac and Love had some starts this year, he might have done but you worry it's all a bit too late

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2026:

if we roll in to the year with the same personnel on and off the field then it will go horribly.

However if we make just a couple of changes, i can see us winning a lot of those. Yes, a couple of those changes are fundamental, but i don't reckon we are that far off if those glaring deficiencies are rectified.

If we play the same with the same guys it will get real ugly real fast.

I agree, it could get better quick - but on the other hand, a couple of changes for the worse e.g. Roigard injured...

look, don't get me wrong, if we roll in with a couple of very key guys out, the same tired selections in others, and the same sort of plan on both sides of the ball that we saw this year, we're probably fucked. But i don't think all that much has to change for us to be as good as anyone.

We all have our own ideas of what those changes should be, but ultimately that's for NZ rugby to decide.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life

Agree with all of that.

But does Robertson have the headroom in the 2026 schedule to make and bed-in the personnel changes needed? Maybe if DMac and Love had some starts this year, he might have done but you worry it's all a bit too late

DMac will be okay, he's been in the squad for ages, and is a very versatile player. Love is young enough to not be set in his ways.

There will be a bedding in period of a couple of new systems (i fucking hope) and mindsets, and with a bit of luck a couple of new combinations, but that will be covered by playing at home.

@mariner4life

France, Italy & Ireland in the Southern series will be tough ask though, with only Italy being an easy game. Wasted 2025.

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2026:

@mariner4life

France, Italy & Ireland in the Southern series will be tough ask though, with only Italy being an easy game. Wasted 2025.

The more I look into the past in particular the recent past, and see how things played out with performance and results, I am more and more coming to the view that what happens from one year to the next when it relates to test rugby is having less and less relevance.

I would’ve liked to have seen a couple of more players get game time but come next year I think the team will look different any way especially in a couple of key positions. Sort out some of the off field and back room stuff.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

You may be referring the the phenomenon of replying to a post without reading subsequent posts where the point I'm you are making has already been made by others further down. As opposed to missing an explicit point in the post you quote.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2026:

I would’ve liked to have seen a couple of more players get game time but come next year I think the team will look different any way especially in a couple of key positions. Sort out some of the off field and back room stuff.

I feel I heard this exact claim 12 months ago......

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo Two of those losses in 1949 were on the same day if I remember correctly.

Glad that your reading and comprehension is up to scratch.

I'll qualify further and say the above refers to Tests. Wiki advises 3 additional losses in tour matches, plus 3 draws.

Shit year.

you know we have a word for that........

You may be referring the the phenomenon of replying to a post without reading subsequent posts where the point I'm you are making has already been made by others further down. As opposed to missing an explicit point in the post you quote.

thats catchy

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

@DurryMexted said in All Blacks 2026:

Wow must be one of the first years in a while without a scheduled match with the Wallabies?

surely they will add some for the Bledisloe? Just not public yet

From the RA website:

vs New Zealand @ away venue TBC – 10 October
vs New Zealand @ Accor Stadium, Sydney – 17 October

@Bovidae One would assume, it'll be France in Christchurch, and Ireland/Australia in Auckland. Wellington is likely to get the other one of those, unless Auckland takes both and they play Italy there.

If they opt for a fourth venue, would likely be Italy in Dunedin, but given there is only four home tests, I suspect they will want two in Auckland.

The other consideration, is that Italy might be a tougher sell, so Christchurch could be the ideal location for it.

Fuck you lot are pessimistic. You only have to look at his track record to see this is part of the RWC plan. His Super Rugby dominating Crusaders built into their seasons and we're only halfway into this RWC cycle.

Sure as shit he's going to be breakdancing come 13 Nov 27. We'll just have to put up with some blips as we lose to the equivalent of the Western Force between now and then.

for a improvement we will need to see a change in tactics for our attack and defence. at international level you just carnt go around a defence with out forward movement. similarly if you give meters away by not advancing in defence you are giving away options to attack

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

For me, nope, losing in the manner we have is never acceptable.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

God no. Now we've won a few I want to go back to spanking everyone again and care less about this festival they hold every few years.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

For me, nope, losing in the manner we have is never acceptable.

Had the All Blacks won the 2023 World Cup (and to me that’s one of two World Cup titles for South Africa with an asterisk beside it) everyone still would have though Foster was a terrible coach, with some awful records and firsts. He just would have also happened to have a World Cup win in amongst all the rubbish. Same goes for Robertson, if he manages it.

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

6 losses in 1976, as well, I think.

It's a bit misleading to be going "worst ever" losing five tests, when in the old days four tests in a season was probably all you got (max). So you've got to count those provincial losses in the olden days to have anything like a comparable framework.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

Fuck you lot are pessimistic. You only have to look at his track record to see this is part of the RWC plan. His Super Rugby dominating Crusaders built into their seasons and we're only halfway into this RWC cycle.

Sure as shit he's going to be breakdancing come 13 Nov 27. We'll just have to put up with some blips as we lose to the equivalent of the Western Force between now and then.

You are @kiwi_expat and I claim my free bag of chips.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2026:

@booboo said in All Blacks 2026:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2026:

Most AB losses in a year was 4 I believe.

5 in 1998. SA x 2, Aus x 3

Actually 6! In 1949. SA x 4, Aus x 2. Including 2 in one day! Caveat that best Pakehas were in SA, Best Maoris and second best Pakehas at home to Aus.

6 losses in 1976, as well, I think.

It's a bit misleading to be going "worst ever" losing five tests, when in the old days four tests in a season was probably all you got (max). So you've got to count those provincial losses in the olden days to have anything like a comparable framework.

Our Test win ratio was 60% in the 1970's. We won 1 test in 4, two years running. Unprecedented at the time.
.
I can see that figure being emulated next year unless there's a big, big improvement.