The New Zealand side lost 8-7 to Wales at the Junior World Championships in Argentina yesterday and with it has sunk to the playoff for seventh and eighth - the lowest place the side will have finished in a tournament which started more than a decade ago.
The side won its first two games but lost to South Africa in its final pool game and with that missed out on making the top four.
The New Zealand side was coached by Craig Philpott, who moved into an expanded role two years ago and has come up short in the past two tournaments.
Inevitably, when New Zealand junior teams lose, people start blaming all and sundry - the academy system, the poaching of players, the poor development of players, the over-reliance on size and an elite school system.
The development of players is never easy as is picking the best players at a young age. Many of the top players come through in top school sides which do not play many games under pressure.
So, when the players play in the tournament and are faced with real pressure, they do not know how to cope. Others suggest many of the New Zealand players are great when going forward and with ball in hand but lack the basic skills and are not good at core roles such as the set piece and creating space.
Philpott said before he left that the tournament was more about developing players than winning which was a surefire way to say he did not fancy his side going the whole way. The side lost 24-0 to Australia on the Gold Coast last month, which showed it would struggle.
Other countries have undoubtedly caught up and are pouring more money into the game at a junior level. But New Zealand has also done that with a full under-19 tournament, a thorough selection process and coaching camps leading into selection. No players from the South were selected in the team.
Whether this poor performance affects the senior national side is hard to say and time will tell. But it is not a great performance and Philpott is on borrowed time.
The side was ahead through a second half try and had a chance to win the game with a last minute penalty but missed it.
New Zealand will take on Ireland for seventh and eighth place at the weekend. Australia will play defending champion France in the final.
