Five takeaways from the All Blacks’ unbeaten July

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Ross Karl is a co-host of Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

ANALYSIS: With each Nations Championship victory, Dave Rennie’s All Blacks have earned something more valuable than an unbeaten record. They’ve gained clarity.

After spending the last few years struggling to reconcile modern rugby tactics with New Zealand’s attacking DNA, they have started to establish a recognisable identity. They’re ambitious and expressive, with a platform of physicality and accuracy in contact.

France revealed the intent, Italy’s enthusiastic defence exposed pressure points and Ireland showed how quickly they could adjust against a quality opponent.

Let’s not get carried away just yet. This is a blueprint rather than a finished product. South Africa awaits with the world’s most powerful set piece and a propensity to suffocate ambitious, enterprising game plans.

But these five takeaways from the All Blacks’ unbeaten July give reason for optimism.

Continuity plus brutality has become the blueprint

The most significant development isn’t that the All Blacks attacked more with ball in hand. It’s how they sustained that ambition.

Compared with their 2025 averages, New Zealand carried 19% more often, scored 35% more tries and made 38% more line breaks during July. It also kicked 26% less.

Yet, the All Blacks’ offloads per 100 carries fell by 28%, suggesting the change was based on repetition rather than speculation.

The All Blacks of recent years have made plenty of opportunities, only to drop them. They carried the ball 200 times against Ireland and conceded only eight turnovers.

As July progressed, the All Blacks found the balance required to make that approach less predictable. New Zealand kicked 24 times at Eden Park, capitalising with 50/22s when Ireland left space behind the defensive line and utilising contestable kicks.

That development didn’t occur through constant experimentation. It relied on a consistent brains trust, which slowly added to its options.

Rennie built the attack around a settled spine

Dave Rennie used a core of 12 players in every match-day squad.

Most significantly, Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie remained at halfback, first five, second five and fullback throughout the series.

Together, they formed the spine of the new attack.

Roigard generated speed from the breakdown, Love organised the sweeping attacking shape, Barrett supplied a triple-threat playmaking option, while McKenzie identified and attacked space from the back.

Their roles were not rigid. Love, Barrett and McKenzie appeared at different receiver positions, making it difficult for defenders to shut down every decision-maker.

However, the continuity allowed Rennie to experiment around the edges with little disruption, using 32 players overall. It meant the wing and midfield options were investigated, along with loose forward, lock and bench combinations.

It also meant Ruben Love could be blooded at first five, confident that each test could build on the last.

Love has changed the Mo’unga conversation

Love hit the ground running, hushing the outcry about Richie Mo’unga’s slow integration back into Test rugby via the NPC.

After only three starts at 10, the 25-year-old looks comfortable directing Rennie's and Mike Blair’s attack.

Against Ireland, his superb 50/22, strong aerial work and defensive commitment further illustrated his range and composure.

The first five debates aren't settled. South Africa’s greater line speed and pressure game is the true test, while Mo’unga’s experience and attacking influence are hard to dismiss.

But the question is no longer when he will return. It is whether he’s needed as desperately as some suggested.

Apart from a quality playmaker, another critical requirement in South Africa is size.

Vaa’i is more than a lock, covering six

Tupou Vaa’i’s combination of size, athleticism and competitiveness has made him a key part of New Zealand’s tight five in recent years.

Scott Robertson dabbled with him at blindside flanker. Dave Rennie followed suit against Ireland and it turned into one of his most memorable performances in black.

He produced 12 carries for 33 metres, breaking two tackles as he revelled in the wider channels. And Vaa’i wasn’t sea-gulling out there. He was heavily involved in almost every area, hitting 43 rucks and making 13 tackles.

One criticism of the All Blacks' loose forward trio in recent years has been a lack of a genuine lineout forward. Vaa’i soared for three takes and easily solved that problem.

The side’s enviable locking depth, despite Scott Barrett and Fabian Holland’s injuries, allowed powerful veteran Patrick Tuipulotu the chance to step in. And boy did he! The Blues skipper had a stellar evening at his home ground.

Across four tests against South Africa, a deep roster up front could be vital.

South Africa will decide whether the evolution is real

The All Blacks and Springboks were the only unbeaten teams in July, although they used radically different methods.

New Zealand averaged almost 178 carries per game in the Nations Championship and produced quick ball from 69% of its rucks. South Africa averaged about 110 carries and 47% quick ball. Yet, South Africa scored more tries.

Yes, they faced weaker opposition, but they also heavily rotated their squad, using 43 players.

No matter your viewpoint, South Africa’s attack is about efficiently identifying and taking opportunities, while New Zealand uses volume and speed to create tries. When the Springboks kept the ball in hand, they averaged 71% gain-line success and 4 metres per carry. New Zealand averaged 61% and 3 metres, respectively.

Between their clinical attacks, the Boks impose an accurate pressure game, with pinpoint contestables and a dedicated chase. Every kick creates the possibility of a knock-on and another imposing scrum. Penalties follow, then kicks to touch, lineout drives and five-pointers.

It will be the true test of this All Blacks side. Can they maintain their accuracy, muscle up physically, defuse the threats and then run the Springboks off their feet?

July gave the All Blacks a blueprint and belief. August in South Africa will be the litmus test.