No more All Black Boots for the All Blacks

The new boot revolution has now reached the All Blacks. adidas have been releasing coloured boots to the Super 15 and other competitions for the players. Now for Internationals the All Blacks are not fully black as various players are sporting differing colours of boot.

Multi-coloured boots could be seen in Friday night’s test against Fiji in Dunedin with Ma’a Nonu, in an orange and blue-soled pair. Others, including Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade and Adam Thomson, wore white boots. However 13 of the 22 wore black boots, many of these had green and or yellow details though.

Ma’a Nonu RS7

Zack Guildford Adizero RS7

Major sponsor adidas has been actively involved in the change and said it had been signed off by the New Zealand Rugby Union and backed by players. Their spokesman Paul Stephens said (quote) the development was a collaborative process and the company was expecting the change to create discussion among fans. But he added it was here to stay and warned there are more multi-coloured boots to come several new “bold” colours are set to be unveiled during the Tri-Nations tournament. Everyone won’t agree with it, when you make change, you open yourself up for criticism.”

All Blacks manager Darren Shand said (quote) We believe the most important thing is getting the performance right along with durability of the boot. Then it’s about having colours people like to wear.” Shand further said there was “a commercial imperative” involved. (end quote)

Although one or two All Blacks occasionally wore silver boots last year, Friday night represented a new level with eight players wearing white boots and Nonu his eye-catching fluorescent pair.

Jerome- Kaino R15 White

The new footwear is not expected to be the last change adidas will make to the All Blacks this season.

The team is set to debut a new playing jersey in Saturday night’s Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Wellington. The company and NZRU have said the jersey will remain all black but there are other new developments.

One group of players stuck rigidly to tradition on Friday, the New Zealand tight forwards all wore predominantly black boots.

“The guys in the engine room never wear white,” said Shand, “but that’s their preference.”

Conrad Smith Predator RX