Super Rugby Pacific is hurting the All Blacks

The All Blacks are preparing for their first Rugby World Cup since the demise of Super Rugby as a Rugby Championship-based event.

The question is does the new tournament set up, help or hurt the All Blacks on the international stage.

Does the absence of South African from Super Rugby hurt the All Blacks?

The lack of South African teams from Super Rugby has at the very least obscured the picture when it comes to the relative progress of the Springboks and All Blacks talent pool.

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The United Rugby Championship meanwhile has give South African players plenty of opportunities to face Irish and Scottish opposition ahead of a Rugby World Cup where they are grouped together.

In France, the Springboks could meet the All Blacks as early as the quarter-finals but if they avoid one another in the last eight they could only clash again in the final.

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The two Tests the Springboks play against the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup might clear up the picture.

Alongside their joint participation in Super Rugby from the mid-199srcs until 2src2src, the Springboks have also played multiple Tests against the All Blacks every year since 1996.

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Are the All Blacks losing familiarity with the South African game

The All Blacks will still compete with the knowledge that the Springboks will play rugby in a certain way with a heavy emphasis on physicality.

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With no matches being played between South African and New Zealand teams at franchise level there might be some fears that a lack of actual experience of their style of play might make it more difficult for the All Blacks to cope.

Super Rugby Pacific increasingly resembles Rugby League with Kiwi teams particularly looking to avoid the