New Zealand Rugby Has 'New Life.' Why To Watch All Blacks Vs. England
New Zealand Rugby Has 'New Life.' Why To Watch All Blacks Vs. England
New Zealand All Blacks and England Rugby renew their rivalry in Dunedin, as new NZL coach Scott Robertson begins his tenure.
The New Zealand All Blacks are in a new era with coach Scott Robertson taking the helm in 2024, and the famed national team has a completely new vision.
In the 2000s, Graham Henry took over the New Zealand national team after a rough 1990s. By 2011, New Zealand had restored itself as a powerhouse, winning its first Rugby World Cup since 1987. Four years later, his former assistant and then head coach Steve Hansen won it. Hansen left in 2019 and gave the reigns to his assistant, Ian Foster.
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But now it’s a clean break.
And all New Zealand did was hire quite possibly the best rugby coach in the world.
“(New Zealand) basically had the same coaching tree, the same idea since 2005,” FloRugby reporter and analyst Philip Bendon said. “The new guy coming in, Scott Robertson… he’s fantastic.”
Robertson’s first major summer test of 2024 will come against a fellow 2023 Rugby World semifinalist England at 3:05 a.m. EDT on July 6 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Robertson, nicknamed “Razor,” was the coach of the Crusaders, who won seven consecutive Super Rugby championships in his tenure, including 2023.
“He won seven Super Rugby titles and created a complete dynasty, untouchable down there,” Bendon said. “He'll bring a new life to this New Zealand team. I think what you'll find is the New Zealand team, even though they bludgeoned their way to a World Cup final last year, were way off the heights of what they’ve been before.”
That said, New Zealand still enters the match ranked No. 3 in the World Rugby rankings.
England, ranked No. 5 in the world, is in its second year of rebuilding after the Eddie Jones era ended in 2022.
The team enters the summer after a strong run in the Rugby World Cup, which was followed by a 3-2 record in the 2024 Six Nations. England scored a 23-22 win over Ireland Rugby at the 2024 Six Nations.
Here’s why rugby fans can’t miss New Zealand All Blacks vs. England, streaming live in the United States on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
Scott Robertson May Breakdance Like Ted Lasso If The All Blacks Beat England
Yes, the coach of the All Blacks has a little Ted Lasso in him. In fact, he may be one of the inspirations for "Ted Lasso."
“So, a good little quirk about (Robertson), which is quite funny, is when the Crusaders won a Super Rugby championship, he's a great ex-New Zealand breakdancing champion,” Bendon said. “He used to breakdance on the pitch in the middle of the players circle.”
Bendon isn’t lying.
Scott Robertson May Be The Best Rugby Coach In The World
It's hard to compare coaches in rugby because professional teams in the Southern Hemisphere don't play European clubs, but Bendon said it's safe to call Robertson one of the top coaches in the world. In fact, he said national teams in Europe tried to hire Robertson away from the Crusaders before he took the New Zealand job.
"He was the most sought after coach in World Rugby for sure," Bendon said. "England tried to get him. Australia, tried to get him. And, I mean, like there was talk of him with Ireland when Andy Farrell wasn't going that well, that there might be an option."
England Rugby Is Miles Ahead Of Where It Was In 2023
Oh, what a year makes.
In 2023 the rugby power-- Bendon said England still is one of the three best nations when it comes to rugby - was at one of its lowest points.
The national team had fallen behind Ireland and France in the Six Nations and even lost a warm-up match to Fiji in England weeks before the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
With new coach Steve Borthwick in place after Eddie Jones, England bounced back and reached the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup, finishing third in the tournament. England even scored a win over Ireland, 23-22, in the Six Nations.
"For England, they have turned themselves around from the first two rounds of the Six Nations, where they were pretty dire to closing off with wins over Ireland (and) just losing to France away," Bendon said. "And then, they absolutely thumped Japan in their last outing. They're a much more settled side."
Bendon said now is the time for England to beat New Zealand.
"Like New Zealand, they are a completely new-look side," Bendon said. "They're athletic. They're powerful. They're quick, and they're full of confidence. If ever there was a chance for England to turn over New Zealand, this is the time. If they were to do it, it would be the first time they beat New Zealand in New Zealand since 2003."
Where To Watch All Blacks Vs. England Rugby?
The match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
New Zealand Vs. England Rugby Kickoff Time
The match will kick off at 3 a.m. EDT at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.
How To Watch All Blacks Vs. England Rugby Match Replay
Aren't staying up or getting up early for the match? Match replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms for this match.
All Blacks San Diego Trip This Month On FloRugby
The All Blacks will face England on July 6 and July 13, then they travel to the United States for a match against rival Fiji at 10:30 p.m. EST at SnapDragon Stadium in San Diego, Calif. That match is streaming live on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
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New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Schedule 2024
- July 6: New Zealand vs. England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- July 13: New Zealand vs. England, Eden Park, Auckland, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- July 19: New Zealand vs. Fiji, SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego, 10:30 p.m. EDT
- August 10: New Zealand vs. Argentina, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- August 17: New Zealand vs. Argentina, Eden Park, Auckland, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- August 31: South Africa vs. New Zealand, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, 11 a.m. EDT
- September 7: South Africa vs. New Zealand, DHL Stadium, Cape Town, 11 a.m. EDT
- October 25: Japan vs. New Zealand, Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, TBC
- September 21: Australia vs. New Zealand, Accor Stadium, Sydney, 1:45 a.m. EDT
- September 28: New Zealand vs. Australia, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- November 2: England vs. New Zealand, Twickenham, London, 11:10 a.m. EDT
- November 8: Ireland vs. New Zealand, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 3:10 p.m. EST
- November 16: France vs. New Zealand, Stade de France, Paris, 3:10 p.m. EST
- November 23: Italy vs. New Zealand, TBC, 3:10 p.m. EST
England Rugby Schedule 2024
- July 6: New Zealand vs. England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- July 13: New Zealand vs. England, Eden Park, Auckland, 3:05 a.m. EDT
- November 2: England vs. New Zealand, Twickenham, London, 4:10 a.m. EDT
- November 9: England vs. Australia, Twickenham, London, 4:10 a.m. EST
- November 16: England vs. South Africa, Twickenham, London, 6:40 a.m. EST
- November 24: England vs. Japan, Twickenham, London, 5:10 a.m. EST
World Rugby Rankings On July 1
Here are the latest rankings from World Rugby:
- South Africa, 94.54
- Ireland, 90.69
- New Zealand, 89.80
- France, 87.92
- England, 85.75
- Scotland, 82.82
- Argentina, 80.68
- Italy, 79.41
- Australia, 77.48
- Wales, 77.26
How To Watch Rugby Matches In the United States On FloRugby
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.