All Blacks: Ellis Park defeat and following drinking session that led to team’s rebirth

PremiumAnalysisAnalysis byGregor PaulRugby analyst·NZ Herald·19 Aug, 2026 05:01 PM14 mins to readRugby analyst and feature writer‌The All Blacks had a turbulent time in 2004. Photo / Getty Images; Artwork / Paul SlaterSpringboks v All Blacks, 3am SundayBy Gregor Paul in JohannesburgThese days it’s common practice for elite rugby teams to have collaborative leadership models. But this wasn’t the norm in the first decade of professionalism. Back then teams had authoritarian coaches who worked with the captain to drive every