Even though the fundamental elements of competitive examinations in India over the last decade have remained similar to those of previous years, the technology associated with them continues to evolve. Imagine a JEE, NEET or IAS aspirant being able to identify and simplify the problems within
"Call me Ringo." That's what the former Beatles drummer says when asked if we should call him Sir. He joins us at the swanky Sunset Marquis hotel in West Hollywood where rock stars have gathered for decades in a luxury oasis behind the Sunset Strip."Call me Ringo
India is set to become a global sporting powerhouse. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya predicts India will rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036. By 2047, the nation is projected to break into the top five. This vision is fueled by government initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India
The Gauhati High Court on Friday (April 24, 2026) rejected Congress leader Pawan Khera’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with a case registered by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, in the Assam Police Crime Branch
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled in early trade on Friday (April 24, 2026) as surging oil prices and unabated foreign fund outflows unnerved investors. Weakness in IT stocks and a negative trend in global markets also weighed on investor sentiment
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor, a result that also confirmed the hosts’ relegation on Wednesday. A fifth-minute strike from Erling Haaland proved decisive as City climbed above Arsenal on goals scored
IIT Madras's SWAYAM plus launches 3 new AI courses for beginners, registration beginsIIT Madras's SWAYAM plus has launched three new AI courses for beginners. The registration process is underway and will close on May 10. Published on: Apr 24
Chhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in BalodabazarChhattisgarh: Forest dept rolls out action plan for conservation, livelihoods in Balodabazar Published on: Apr 24, 2026 2:11 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Raipur
Robertson sacking marks another slip from the summit for All Blacks
First, the disclaimer.
The All Blacks are not a bad rugby team. They are, in fact, a very good one.
During Scott Robertson's time in charge they won 20 out of 27 Tests - a winning rate that no northern hemisphere side, not an all-time Ireland or a resurgent England, can match over the same time period.
They are ranked second in the world. A man down for nearly an hour, they were within a point of winning the last Rugby World Cup final.
They are a very good team.
But not even the most one-eyed All Blacks fan would claim they are the best.
And, as even the most casual supporter knows, that is what they need to be - which is why Robertson has been sacked.
The All Black brand is based on over a century of dominating rugby union, which has seen them transcend the sport and become a global cultural phenomenon.
That a small country with a population of a little over five million is, by some distance, the most consistently successful in the history of the men's game is an astonishing achievement that has spawned a whole cottage industry in management gurus claiming to explain their over-performance.
But, with Robertson's dismissal on Thursday, there is a sense of a superpower in decline.
The All Blacks lost only three of 13 matches in 2025, but, when they came, each of those defeats were chastening.
In August, Argentina inflicted a first home defeat on the All Blacks.
In November, England coasted home against them at Twickenham.
And, most painfully of all, in September, South Africa walloped them 43-10 in Wellington.
The Springboks are the current undisputed kings of the men's game.
A decade ago, New Zealand had just won back-to-back world titles and held a decent claim to being the greatest Test side ever.
Now, South Africa have the same credentials.
And there is no clear reason why, should South Africa be toppled, that New Zealand will be the ones to reclaim the summit.
South Africa, like France and England, have a vastly bigger player pool.
In the past, the All Blacks have defied those raw numbers thanks to the prominence of rugby in their sporting culture, intense domestic competition and a coaching legacy that has built on previous success.
All have been eroded.
Super Rugby, which in its pomp was a prime proving ground for future Test stars, expanded too fast, incorporating teams from Japan and Argentina, and has, with South Africa's franchises departing for European competition in 2020, contracted dramatically.
New Zealand's sides are left competing against struggling Australian teams, plus Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.
Kiwi sides have locked out the last four finals, but the All Blacks are the real losers because of the lack of regular, testing competition.
With the New Zealand dollar losing value over the past five years, plenty of players have chased more money and a higher standard of competition elsewhere - and New Zealand's policy on picking only domestically-contracted players means the All Blacks have gone without those stars.
Richie Mo'unga, previously their first-choice fly-half, has spent the past two seasons exiled in Tokyo, playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus.
On the coaching side, the All Blacks have had a policy of promoting from within.
Steve Hansen and Ian Foster - Robertson's two immediate predecessors - both stepped into the All Blacks head coach role after serving as assistants.
Robertson, who previously worked as the 'Baby Blacks' under-20s coach before a hugely successful spell with the Canterbury-based Crusaders, was a relative outsider, despite having no significant coaching experience outside of New Zealand.
No foreign coach has ever held the role.
For a long time, that insularity protected winning intellectual property.
Now, next to South Africa's innovative and cosmopolitan set-up, it seems to be slowing them down.
There is a wider challenge as well.
New Zealand's rugby authorities, like other countries, are battling against a decline in boys playing the game., external
The mystique of the All Blacks has also been dented by the need to leverage it for revenue.
In 2022, US private equity firm Silver Lake bought a stake in the All Blacks in a controversial deal.
Last year, there was a very public dispute with Ineos, the petro-chemical firm owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, over defaults on a sponsorship agreement.
Lucrative matches in emerging markets have become a regular feature of the team's itinerary, raising funds, but not generating enthusiasm or passion back home.
Off-the-field incidents involving a number, external of , externalplayers, external who subsequently remained on the team, has also tested belief in the All Blacks' famed policy of not tolerating poor behaviour.
The pipeline of talent, once so certain, has spluttered.
New Zealand won the first under-20 World Cup in 2008, and the following three editions.
But they have reached the final only once in the past five stagings of the tournament, losing to South Africa in Italy last year.
The National Rugby League, Australia's powerhouse domestic rugby league competition, will reportedly stage one of the games in its showpiece State of Origin series in New Zealand for the first time in 2027, and hopes to launch a second franchise in the country by 2029.
As it is expands and scouts promising rugby prospects, the All Black talent pool shrinks further.
There is always the possibility of another golden generation.
The current one, with talents like Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi and Will Jordan, is pretty precious.
But whoever takes over from Robertson faces the difficult task of uniting a squad of players for the Rugby World Cup only 20 months away, and overcoming deeper structural issues.
A four-Test series away to world champions South Africa is at the heart of a testing 2026 schedule and will be brutal barometer of where the team, and a rugby nation, stand.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: All Blacks beat Australia to keep Rugby Championship hopes alive Rugby-All Blacks locked on Bledisloe Cup retention after Rugby-All Blacks locked on Bledisloe Cup retention after Rugby-McKellar seeing progress at Waratahs despite Super Rugby exit Rugby-Women's Rugby World Cup players to wear mouthguards that light up on heavy impact Erasmus keeps faith with Springbok squad after record All Blacks win Australia's Slipper to retire after All Blacks Test Erasmus keeps faith with Springbok squad after record All Blacks win Wallabies primed for "pressure cooker" All Blacks Test All Blacks beat Australia but miss out on title
MI host CSK at Wankhede in IPL 2026’s biggest rivalry clash, with both teams desperate at 2-4. The loss can be daunting for both team’s playoff chances. The Wankhede Stadium prepares for a monumental showdown on Thursday, April 23, as the Mumbai Indians (MI) host their historic rivals
1 days ago
West Bengal Elections BJP vs TMC: Political campaigns in West Bengal are creatively using fish and meat, staples of Bengali culture, to connect with voters. This strategy highlights the significant economic importance of the state's non-vegetarian food industry
1 days ago
A father and his toddler daughter have gone viral after sharing videos of their bike rides together, with heartwarming clips of their outings crossing millions of views online. Gareth Williams, 33, from Blaenau Gwent in Wales, began filming short clips of rides with his daughter Indie after
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Under ₹1000 but still cute: These 8 summer dresses prove budget can look chicLooking stylish doesn’t have to come with a heavy price tag. These dresses prove that under ₹1000
1 days ago
Singapore is transforming from East-West gateway to neutral ground for the AI sector, with Chinese startups hoping to operate beyond government reach while U.S. firms seek foreign talent without the headache of stricter visa regulations. The city-state
1 days ago
Odisha govt asks colleges, varsities to constitute internal committees under POSH ActThe Higher Edu Dept directed universities, colleges, and teacher education institutions to strictly adhere to the provisions of the POSH Act, or face action. Published on: Apr 24
1 days ago
Theegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich ClassicTheegala, Rai make modest start in Zurich Classic Published on: Apr 24, 2026 11:48 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Avondale , Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai, who are very close friends, made a modest start in the Zurich Classic
1 days ago
China's DeepSeek releases long-awaited new AI modelDeepSeek-V4, "features an ultra-long context", the company said in a statement on social media platform WeChat, hailing it as “world-leading.” Published on: Apr 24, 2026 1:31 PM IST AFP Share via Copy link Chinese startup DeepSeek released a
1 days ago
Near the Kremlin several dozen people are queuing outside the presidential administration office. They've come to submit petitions calling on President Vladimir Putin to end a crackdown on the internet. Russian authorities have been tightening control of the country's cyber space
1 days ago
AirPods Max 2 is Apple doubling down on a sharp formula of subtle refinementFive years after the original, the AirPods Max 2 keeps that divisive yet iconic design , but delivers important audio hardware upgrades that define renewed finesse Published on: Apr 24
1 days ago
![New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar](http://newsorbit360.com/files/news/en/imgs/the-man-who-became-cricket.webp?height=520)
New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Australian cricketing icons Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee extended birthday wishes to Indian master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on his birthday. Sachin, perhaps the most technically flawless batter to live, with nearly every cricket record to his name
1 days ago
Restaurant Week India (RWI) is back this April after a decade out of circulation, but it returns to a dining culture that no longer needs an introduction. Running from April 24 to May 3 across Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru, the 2026 edition brings together over 55 restaurants offering
1 days ago
A woman who was taking a toilet break while on a road trip in the Australian outback ended up getting stuck waist-deep in a pit latrine after it collapsed. She was "trapped in the sewage pit for approximately three hours, until [she was] rescued by a local tradesman who happened to be passing by
1 days ago
Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan have officially kicked off the next schedule of their upcoming film with director Anees Bazmee, as the team heads to Kerala for an extensive shoot. The development was confirmed by Akshay himself, who shared a video on social media, giving fans a glimpse of the journey
1 days ago
The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE), Dehradun, is set to announce the Class 10 and Class 12 results on April 25. The UBSE board exams for 2026 were held across the state from February 21 to March 20, while practical exams were conducted between January 16 and February 15 at schools and
1 days ago
A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation that captured Nicolas Maduro has been arrested after he allegedly bet on the removal of Venezuela's former leader before the information was publicly available. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Gannon Ken Van Dyke after he
1 days ago
An Iranian Ship Tried to Slip the Blockade. A U.S. Destroyer Chased It Down.Hundreds of ghost-fleet vessels are playing a game of cat-and-mouse as the U.S. tries to lock down Iran’s oil trade and pressure it to accept Trump’s terms Published on: Apr 24
1 days ago
Marco Rubio has said that the Iranian footballers will be allowed to take part in this year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 as he distanced the U.S. government from a reported idea suggesting that Italy could replace Iran in the tournament. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office
1 days ago
Who is Parminder Singh? Akash Ambani welcomes ex-Google MD as CEO of Reliance-Meta AI ventureParminder Singh was appointed as the CEO of REIL, a joint venture between Reliance Intelligence Limited and Facebook Overseas Inc. Published on: Apr 24
1 days ago
India is projected to have 313 billionaires and more than 25,200 ultra-high net worth individuals by 2031, according to a study by global property management firm Knight Frank. India currently has 207 billionaires and 19,877 ultra-high net worth individuals, the study showed
1 days ago
A strong El Nino is expected in the second half of 2026. This will bring hotter, drier weather to Asia. Crops and food supplies will be affected. Farmers face fertiliser shortages and high fuel costs. India anticipates below-average monsoon rains
1 days ago
Nita Ambani at TIME100 Gala ditches gowns, represents India in a saree and stunning pearl-diamond jewels | PICSAt the TIME100 gala, Nita Ambani wore an exquisite traditional saree showcasing Indian craftsmanship, paired with statement jewellery from her collection. Updated on: Apr 24
1 days ago
Delhi HC orders protection for Uttam Nagar clash victim's family amid threat concernsJustice Girish Kathpalia recorded the State's submissions that adequate security arrangements are already in place, including the installation of CCTV cameras Updated on: Apr 24
1 days ago
Norway said on Friday it would present a bill in parliament by year-end to ban children from using social media until they turn 16, making technology companies responsible for the task of age verification.Several European nations seeking to rein in children's use of social media after
1 days ago
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has chaired a high-level meeting with heads of scheduled commercial banks and key stakeholders to assess the potential impact of emerging threats linked to recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) models
1 days ago
China on Friday (April 24, 2026) announced it will send two giant pandas to Zoo Atlanta in the U.S., in Beijing's latest efforts of panda diplomacy despite tensions with Washington, and less than a month before a much-anticipated visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing
1 days ago
Delhi has criticised "inappropriate" remarks about Indians and India shared by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account. Trump shared a four-page transcript of remarks made by podcaster Michael Savage on America's birthright citizenship where he accused people from India and China of
1 days ago
