Birds Eye View: Watching the All Blacks’ Aura Fade

By Kevin Rademeyer, Prescience Media : Sitting in the stadium today, I couldn’t help but notice the crowd. Not everyone was in awe of the All Blacks anymore. The chants aren't as thunderous, the crowd not so certain, and most fans would not know who to bet on.

This is New Zealand rugby, the most successful team in world sport. This is Eden Park. The All Blacks last lost a game here in 1994. The Springboks have been unsuccessful at the New Zealand's most famous ground since 1937.  For decades, they’ve defined what it means to dominate rugby, a benchmark of excellence, innovation, and sheer intimidation. And yet, as I observed today, their aura isn’t untouchable anymore.

I’ve covered countless matches, but there’s something different about being here in 2025. The All Blacks, once untouchable, are coming off four consecutive defeats to the Springboks, including a heartbreaking Rugby World Cup clash. The memory of that loss still lingers in the stadium’s air like a stubborn fog. People who once assumed a New Zealand victory as a given now whisper, debate, and even question: are they really the best team in the world anymore?

Walking past fans streaming into Eden Park for the upcoming clash, you can sense the anticipation. Everyone knows what’s at stake. This isn’t just any normal match, it’s the biggest Test of 2025, the most significant since the Rugby World Cup  Final. The atmosphere is electric, a strange mix of respect, anxiety, and skepticism. Everyone here, myself included, is asking the same question: can the All Blacks reclaim the dominance they once seemed born to hold?

I find myself watching the players as they warm up, noting their intensity, their focus. Yet there’s a subtle tension, a shadow of doubt that wasn’t there a decade ago. The crowd may still cheer, but there’s no unquestioning awe. A group of journalists behind me mutters about last year’s losses, recalling the Springboks’ clinical execution. “If they couldn't beat Argentina, what hope is there of beating Rassie's men?” one pundit murmurs. It’s not disrespect, it’s observation, but it’s unsettling.

From my vantage point, I think back to their history. The All Blacks have always been more than a team. They are a cultural touchstone, a global symbol of rugby excellence. Players like Michael Jones, Tana Umaga, and Richie McCaw didn’t just play—they inspired generations. Their tactical innovation and ruthlessness in the breakdown set them apart. And yet, here we are in 2025, watching a team trying to reconcile its legendary past with a shaky present.

As the sun dips over Eden Park, I make notes for the coverage: the crowd’s mood, the atmosphere in the stands, the quiet tension around the pitch. Everyone here knows the narrative. After four straight losses to South Africa, including two in the Rugby Championship, the All Blacks’ claim as the world’s best is under scrutiny. Analysts are dissecting lineouts, back-three decisions, and midfield combinations. Fans debate leadership choices, the pace of the game, and even coaching strategies. Outside the stadium, social media amplifies every misstep. Inside, the questions hang in the air, almost audible.

Yet there’s still magic here. There’s a reason Eden Park is hallowed ground. You feel it in the hush before the haka, in the collective breath of the crowd as the players assemble. It’s a reminder that, regardless of form, the All Blacks carry history, expectation, and fearlessness onto every pitch. They may be human, but the legend remains.

I can already sense tomorrow’s story. This isn’t about a routine Test. It’s a narrative that will define the All Blacks’ 2025: will they bounce back and reassert their supremacy, or will cracks continue to show in their armor? Walking through the corridors of Eden Park, I see journalists, media colleagues, and fans alike, all recording, tweeting, and debating. Everyone knows the stakes. The world is watching, not just the score, but the statement the All Blacks will make.

The match is 30  minutes away and one thought persists: this is what makes rugby extraordinary. Arguably the two greatest teams facing off with everything to prove.   Facing questions of identity, form, and relevance and all in front of a stadium that once believed the All Blacks could do no wrong. And as Eden Park prepares for kickoff tomorrow, I feel it, the tension, the expectation, the uncertainty.

Because for the first time in a long time, even the All Blacks can lose five in a row. And the world is waiting to see if they will rise, or if a new era has truly begun.

This truly is rugby's greatest rivalry!