# All Blacks performance against Springboks > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/all-blacks-performance-against-springboks > Updated: 2026-10-05T08:31:15.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Following a series of defeats against South Africa, the New Zealand All Blacks coaching staff have addressed the team’s performance and technical gaps. Initially, assistant coach Neil Barnes expressed optimism that the team was closing the gap with the Springboks, despite losses in Baltimore. Barnes attributed recent setbacks to a lack of luck and specific refereeing decisions regarding scrum penalties, while noting improvements in set-piece play. Subsequent analysis from assistant coach Jason Ryan focused on vulnerabilities in the scrum, maul, and lineout. Ryan acknowledged the Springboks as the “best in the world at what they do” and noted that while the All Blacks are effective at generating ball on their own feed, they struggled to contain South Africa’s physical approach. Ryan dismissed earlier suggestions regarding the legality of opponents’ scrummaging, stating the team would instead focus on improving their own performance. Former head coach Sir Graham Henry also suggested that domestic competition structures might contribute to these performance gaps as the team prepares for the Bledisloe Cup. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-05: All Blacks coach addresses set-piece struggles after Springboks series All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan addressed set-piece failures following losses to the Springboks, focusing on scrum improvements ahead of the Bledisloe Cup. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/all-blacks-coach-addresses-set-piece-struggles-after-springboks-series ### 2026-09-20: All Blacks coaching staff claim proximity to Springboks level New Zealand rugby assistant Neil Barnes claims the All Blacks are nearing the level of the Springboks despite a recent defeat in Baltimore, citing improvements in set-piece play. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/all-blacks-coaching-staff-claim-proximity-to-springboks-level --- Cite as: All Blacks performance against Springboks. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/all-blacks-performance-against-springboks