Former All Blacks loose forward Murray Mexted believes that the All Blacks will face several challenges during their upcoming tour to South Africa, viewing it as a crucial test series before the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Mexted sees the South Africa tour as the ultimate test for Scott Robertson and his coaching staff, providing an opportunity to develop the squad. He hopes the team can find some consistency after what he described as two years of "experimentation" and "buggering around".
“I’ll just qualify it, winning that series will give us a hell of a lot more chance of winning the Rugby World Cup.”
“This is a great way of developing a team mantra because every game is going to be very difficult, and it will expose the strengths and the weaknesses within this group of players and also possibly within the group of selectors and coaches, because I mean, their jobs are on the line too, because this would be the hardest challenge.”
All Blacks’ head coach Scott Robertson is currently under pressure after the All Blacks suffered their heaviest-ever Test defeat, a 43-10 loss to South Africa in Wellington in late 2025.
“I sense Razor is a good learner, a quick learner, but hopefully, he and his band of men, which is much smaller now, have learned a hell of a lot in the last two years, and now is the time to bar up. If you don’t bar up, you come second. Particularly, the way the game has moved, where any team can beat any team, the result is influenced by the referee as well.”
“This will be fantastic for Razor to be able to develop and start polishing the team for the Rugby World Cup because of the difference between playing at altitude and at sea level. Two at altitude is in itself a challenge for everybody.”
The tour, which includes matches at high altitude venues like Ellis Park in Johannesburg, is seen as a significant challenge for the team. Robertson himself has called it a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" and his team's toughest test.
“So, it’s going to be a great experience, and it’s going to be a great way of developing our best All Backs side.”
The All Blacks will face the Springboks in three Tests in South Africa, with a potential fourth Test at a neutral international venue. They will also play warm-up matches against South African franchises the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour 2026 Fixtures
08 Aug 2026 DHL Stormers v New Zealand, Cape Town
11 August 2026 Hollywoodbets Sharks v New Zealand, Durban
15 August 2026 Vodacom Blue Bulls v New Zealand, Pretoria
22 Aug 2026 First Test: South Africa v New Zealand, Ellis Park
25 August 2026 Lions v New Zealand, Johannesburg
29 August 2026 Second Test: South Africa v New Zealand, Cape Town
05 September 2026 Third Test: South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg FNB Stadium
12 September 2026 Fourth Test: South Africa v New Zealand, venue TBA