The All Blacks losing could become a more regular occurrence

New Zealand born former Ireland international Jared Payne says that the All Blacks domination of world rugby is set to gradually recede in the coming years.

Payne earned twenty Test caps for Ireland in an international career that spanned three short years after he started his career in New Zealand.

Ireland and the Springboks were the only teams to beat the All Blacks in 2018 but those two defeats have sparked a bit of panic in New Zealand, though Payne believes it is an overreaction.

The 33-year-old who recently took up a post as defensive coach for Irish province Ulster feels that the increased level of professionalism in rugby structures all over the world is set to give the All Blacks a more challenging time of it on the global stage.

In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Payne said: “The All Blacks have done unbelievably well to be at the top for so long but it’s the nature of all rugby – it’s happening up here in club rugby with the so-called weaker teams getting better and the teams at the top finding it harder to stay there.

“Eventually that flows into world rugby and it’s going to be tough on the All Blacks. They’re still an unbelievable team to do what they’ve done. A few losses brings an overreaction in New Zealand but it’s going to happen more and more in the future.”

“The All Blacks are going to keep leading the world and if they do lose a few each year it’s not a big thing because the standard is getting better.

“There used to be a big gulf between the New Zealand, Australian and South African club teams and those up here but I think it’s slowly evening out. There’s a lot of good club teams up here that would challenge the best in the Southern Hemisphere any day of the week.”

Payne feels that his adopted country Ireland, who have risen to second rank on the IRB’s World Rugby Rankings, stand a very good chance of upsetting the applecart at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Ireland are likely to meet either the All Blacks or the Springboks in the last eight should they progress from a group where they are drawn alongside Scotland, hosts Japan, Samoa and minnows Russia. Payne feels that player management will be the key for all the top sides.

Payne says that any team that progresses to the quarterfinals of rugby’s biggest showpiece stands a pretty good chance of going all the way but he expects it to be a hard-fought and intense competition.

2018 sporting year in review

“Ireland are getting results and the players are feeling fresh and enjoying it,” Payne said.

“They’re very lucky the way they’re set up here because you do speak to a lot of other guys and they play a lot of rugby and it does take a toll on your body with injury. Sometimes it’s impossible to get up mentally and physically every week for 35 weeks in a year.

“Ireland have a pretty good balance and other places are trying to get that. Hopefully in the next few years that balance may get tweaked and you’ll see the standard go up again.

“If they get that player management side right it will get closer and closer. It’s shown, too, with the results of the November test series.

“It’s going to be tough for the All Blacks but they’ll find ways to try stay ahead and other teams will try and chase them so it’s going to be interesting over the next few years to see where things settle.

“I can’t remember a World Cup being this open. If you make the top eight, she is anybody’s game from there.”