Two Greg Growden articles to start the next two weeks battle for the Tri Nations wooden spoon. Aussies feel they got all the answers to beat us, but lets see how the next two weeks unfold.
Maybe, just maybe, the bad times are about to end for the Wallabies. The Wallabies watched the Springboks-All Blacks match live from Soweto in their Waterfront hotel.
A viewing of the All Blacks’ dramatic victory even brought brief smiles to the Wallabies’ bedraggled, jetlagged faces. Here was confirmation they had the ingredients to inflict further pain on the Springboks over the next fortnight when they meet them in Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
The All Blacks proved that if your conditioning is at the required level, success can be achieved at altitude. The most notable factor of the Test which confirmed the All Blacks another Tri Nations trophy was that the visitors were considerably fitter than the home team.
While the Springboks appeared to be watching the clock for the final quarter of the Test, and several of their forwards started to fall behind in general play, the All Blacks picked up the tempo. The lungs may have been bursting, but the All Blacks found their second wind, scoring two tries in the final three minutes.
The Wallabies showed in their last Test against the All Blacks in Christchurch that while they lack the finishing skills of the New Zealanders, they are not in their shadow as far as fitness is concerned. In the 80th minute of that match the Wallabies were still hovering, and their focus on conditioning this season should work in their favour when they head to the Highveld later in the week.
As importantly, the Soweto Test showed that if the Wallabies persevere with their wide and fast expansive game, which worked so well in Brisbane last month, it could so easily lead to further rewards and possibly their first win at altitude since 1963.
While the Springboks defence yesterday was far more pugnacious, and their breakdown work had dramatically improved since travelling through New Zealand and Australia, South Africa were often exposed whenever the All Blacks went wide.
In the middle of the field, the Springboks were on the mark. But they often lacked numbers near either sideline, which enabled Richie McCaw and Israel Dagg in the final minutes to turn around a 22-17 deficit and then defeat the home team in the most demoralising of circumstances.
The clue is there.
The Wallabies have to keep doing what they did in Brisbane. They have to show they have the composure, skills and belief to back up, run like the wind and win two, possibly even three, in a row against the Springboks.
As shown by the sheer physicality of the Springboks, in particular from back-rowers Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, the Wallabies, who are not renowned for keeping their heads under pressure, have to play mistake-free football. If they want to win the big prizes, this must become a team trademark – and Loftus Versfeld Stadium next Saturday night would be a nice time for that to start.
This requires every player to pick up their act. Most importantly, it will be up to Quade Cooper to show he is worthy of all the crazy figures being thrown around in the kerfuffle over whether he stays with the Wallabies or heads to the NRL.
Daniel Carter didn’t have his best game as an All Black but, when required, his poise at five-eighth steadied proceedings.
Now Cooper, as the Wallabies’ prime playmaker, can do something similar and prove he is worthy of all this attention. It is certainly payback time.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has warned his players of the dangers of confronting the wounded South African beast after the Springboks lost in the final minutes to the All Blacks in Soweto on Saturday.
While the All Blacks were revelling in their Tri Nations triumph, the Springboks, on the occasion of skipper John Smit’s 100th Test, were in despair after the All Blacks scored twice in the final minutes, one try involving a forward pass.
The Wallabies watched the Springboks suffer their fourth straight Tri Nations loss at their Cape Town hotel, and shortly after full-time, Deans told the Herald: ”That certainly won’t make it any easier for us.”
The Wallabies will spend most of the week in Cape Town before travelling to Pretoria on Thursday for Saturday’s Test against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld, after which they will head to Durban at sea level in preparation for the following weekend’s Test in Bloemfontein.
Deans said that while the win made the All Blacks deserved Tri Nations victors, it did not mean the Springboks, yet to win in the tournament, were down and out. Despite the Test loss, the Springboks showed they were a far more passionate animal on home turf, with their defence, in particular, lifting a level. While they often persisted with a bash-and-barge format, the Springboks were at times more eager to be expansive.
”The Test did give us an insight into the current South African combinations, who played pretty well and were involved in some good rugby,” Deans said. ”They approached their game in a constructive way, by using the ball a lot more. Their new selections helped them there, and they were probably good enough to win the game.”
When asked if the All Blacks had showed the best way to attack the Springboks was out wide, Deans emphasised the importance of the Wallabies first getting their own game right and limiting mistakes.
”You’ve got to earn that right, and that was evident tonight. South Africa really defended with a lot more conviction, and both sides had opportunities. For us, it is more of the same at that end, and there will be no short-cuts. One of South Africa’s traits is that any opportunity they got, they were able to up the tempo of the game, and make the most of it.”
After the Test, the Wallabies players remarked on the physicality of the Springboks, and the importance of their ”matching up”. They also expect the Springboks will quickly overcome their despair at losing in Soweto, as they will have the spur of their key second-rower Victor Matfield playing his 100th Test on home territory next weekend.
The Wallabies will not name their Test line-up until late in the week, with Queensland second-rower Rob Simmons and back-rower Scott Higginbotham threatening for positions in the starting XV. Quade Cooper is expected to regain his Test No.10 jersey, forcing Matt Giteau to move to inside centre, where he is likely to accompany Adam Ashley-Cooper in the midfield.
Lachie Turner is an outside chance for a wing spot, as the Wallabies selectors are expected to retain the back three of Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Drew Mitchell.
They wont beat us at Loftus. Well that is if Juan is playing if Flo plays then maybe.
They should have been up at altitude staying not in Cape Town at sea level. ABs got here early and stayed up at altitude.
Sjoe, ek sien al wat ‘n blou bul speler is kry die skuld vir die bokke se nederlae. Ek stem saam: drop hulle almal dat hul CB rugby kan gaan speel !
Die skrif was al aan die muur vir die bokke, ‘n paar jaar gelede toe die verkeerde afrigting span gekies is. Laasjaar se goeie jaar was agv die skitterende spelers wat ons het, onder die leierskap van Smit en Matfield, nie oor goeie afrigting nie.
En nou met die nuwe reëls, is ons uitgevang, ons was voor, nou is ons agter, selfs agter die Aussies.
En die ironie, van die 3N spanne, moes ons dit eerste raak gesien het: watter span het die S14 gewen: die beste verdedigende span (minste driee afgestaan het) of die beste aanvallende span (wat die meeste drieë gedruk het) ?
Die Aussies en AB’s het aangepas, vinnig met die internasionale seisoen (behou balbesit, bou fases, druk drieë). Maar, bok se afrigters besluit, ons hou aan skop-en-verdedig-en-hoop-die-ander-span-maak-foute.
En saterdag, nou dat al die emosie bedaar het, sien ons dat alhoewel ons met baie meer toewyding gespeel het, ons nie goed genoeg is nie. 3 AB drieë teen 1 vertel die volle verhaal.
Die laaste beweging van die wedstryd het die verskil tussen wenrugby en ‘verdedigings’ (verloor) rugby mooi opgesom. As ons in die AB’s se posisie was (turnover) gewen het, sou ons so gou as moontlik die bal in die AB’s se kwartlyn geskop het en ‘gehoop’ het hul maak ‘n fout, seker deur nog ‘n doellose up and under.
Maar, wat doen die AB’s, hulle hou bal in hand, val aan, val aan, en gaan druk ‘n skitterende wendrie.
Ons was so moeg verdedig, dat ons nie later meer kon aanval nie.
Nee wat, jammer, ons het die spelers, maar met die huidige afrigtingspan en wedstrydplan, is daar nie veel om oor opgewonde te raak nie.
So, ek sit met ‘n dilemma: natuurlik wil ek graag hê die bokke moet elke toets wat daar is, wen. Maar as ons nou teen die Aussies en die res van die jaar wen, dan dink almal dinge is weer reg, afrigters word op die skouer geklop … maar, ons het 3 keer in ‘n ry teen die span verloor wat ons in die semi’s moontlik gaan speel volgende jaar. Dit is eintlik wat saak maak.
Verloor ons nog so paar, sal die mense hopelik wakker skrik en besef: Die koning (afrigtingspan) het nie klere aan nie (nie die vermoeë om hierdie skitterende spelers die beste te maak nie) en hopelik klere aantrek (beste afrigtingspan kies).
Nou ja, daar is my mening. Ik hebt gezegt.
bdb @ 4
1. dis eintlik: die keiser, nie die koning nie
2. ek dog dan dis jake white wat die spelers van agter die bossies afgerig het?
3. ja ons het 3 keer in ñ ry teen die ab verloor MAAR met hoeveel kan hierdie ab span nog verbeter? imho, nie veel nie … aan die ander kant het ons gewys wat kan gebeur as ons defense beter is, die terugkeer v bv juan smit ens ens ens.
in ag genome dat fdupreez, bakkies (ja, bakkies), jfourie, fsteyn ens ens ens nie die naweek gespeel het nie, is ek ondanks die verloor, tevrede met waar ons is!! feit is, ons kan nog baie verbeter, wat beide taktiek en spelers aanbetref!!
kan die ab dieselfde sê? beslis nie!!
Hellooooooooooo
After Saturday night’s game I have been meaning to watch the game again, but have not been able to force myself to watch a losing game again…. for various reasons, yesterday we were out most of the day in Pretoria, but probably the biggest reason being the fact that we lost.
I agree with the fact that Habana needs to be replaced (with Mvovo). Have you also noticed how most of the All Blacks attack was focussed on Habana’s side of the field?
Spies is a disapointment this season, so too CJ van der Linde, John Smit…..
Juan Smith was awesome, so too Flip van der Merwe.. and Schalla’s workrate was very bloody good.
For once I was more satisfied with our Bokke breakdown competence, specially so in the 1st half.
Jean de Villiers was much better at inside centre than any of his other Tests this year out of position, Juan de Jongh did well.
The general feeling amongst the journalists (I sat next to Louis de Villiers of rapport at the after match pressers) was that John Smit should now retire… he’s reached sell-by date and his defence is not what it should be… he was the one to miss the tackle on Nonu which led to the last try.
Having spoken to Francois Hougaard personally after the game, in addition to hearing Snorrie’s explanations on the subbing, I am satisfied he had to be subbed due to serious cramping, just a pity it had to be Ricky Januarie who had to come on.
Flip was apparently also suffering with cramp and fatigue, and one would have expected Danie Rossouw to be a good sub in the situation, no blame on Snorrie there.
Juan Smith was apparently slightly injured late in the 1st half, so one understands the motivation to sub him, which leads me to be very disapointed in Francois Louw.
The All Blacks played for 80 min PLUS, so a huge amount of credit MUST go to their grit and determination and a lot of critisism must go out to a Bokke side who were unable to close out a 5-point lead with 3 minutes to go.
You all know what or how little I think about Dick Muir and Gary Gold as well as the fact that the Bokke do not even have a full-time defensive coach on board…. guess we’re stuck with them, as a result of which we might not reach the World Cup semi’s…
@ grootblousmile:
Thanks for the up date GBS.
The simple reality is that we cannot make progress until we change the coaching team.
Anybody who does not understand that is just in denial.
If we had the NZ coaching team coaching the Boks for this tri nations, and our coaches coaching the All Blacks, then we would be the winning team.
It is a simple as that.
7@ tight head:
Yip…
At the After match pressers, who rocks up for the Bokke…. Snorrie, John and Andy Marinos….. no Muir or Gold
Who rocks up for the All Blacks…. Greame Henry, McCaw, Hansen and Smith…. all the coaches.
At the All Black presser Greame Henry started the presser with a speech, before questions started, where he lauds his captain, team, staff… and where he gave credit to the Bokke and describes the event at FNB as amazing. He is gracious in victory and clearly knows how to handle the media, a consumate professional.
The questions to ALL NZ participants are answered forthright and honestly and openly.
@ grootblousmile:
Yes, and what bites my arse is that I would like to be represented by a coach such as the way that you describe Henry above, but I have to be represented by somebody who is an embarrassment and makes all South African rugby fans look dom!!
Then it gets worse when Hoskins makes us look even more stupid by threatening to pull out of the arrangement with NZ and Aussie!!
9@ tight head:
Yes…. I agree
What for me was the most dissapointing was the manner of the loss.
It looked almost as if the Boks thought they had done enough and started cruising.
We can argue for a hundred years that McCaw looked to be out, (the English will call it revenge) but at the end of the day he should not have had that amount of room or time.
As for the last try, well the ball was lost in a contact situation for the umpteenth time, not the first.
Again it could be argued that McCaw played the ball off his feet, (I haven’t had the balls to waych the recording) but the result will stand in the record books.
I was so dissapointed I didn’t even have a post match discussion with Captain Henry James Morgan.
Without something changing significantly the Bokke could be facing the un-thinkable, a whitewash of 3N games. Now that’s a record nobody would like to have.
11@ Scrumdown:
Looking at the “Heart” the Bokke showed this past Saturday, I do not recon motivation will be lacking for this coming weekend.
Somehow I recon we can expect a Bokke win this Saturday… but some players would have to step up considerably in the Process… Habana, John Smit, Spies….
Hello chaps!!
I think the wallabies will fancy their chances against us, but I think they might be in for a bit of n surprise. Hope I’m not wrong.
13@ bos_otter:
The Wallas will be threat for sure but I recon the Bokke are due a better one… and I could see the pain and determination Saturday evening, even in John Smit’s face at the press conference.
As far as events after the Tri-Nations are concerned, the Bokke setup needs a fresh re-think….. problem is, with the losses out of sight and out of mind, Snorrie will just continue on his merry way with Tricky Dicky, Gary Glitter and John Barney Smit….
The problem is that at this level you cannot win the game on sheer guts alone.
The All Blacks themselves would love to have a Juan Smith and a Schalk Burger in their squad, but at the very top the game is won as a collective by the best coached team.
Sending Juan and Schalk out to give their everything is like sending out the best formula one car out into a race but without petrol.
We are sending the best players out at a disadvantage because of our inability to match the vision and planning of opposition coaches.
Saturday we play in the Bull Ring, the home of Victor, watch how the small crowd beat the 94 700 in support of their own hero. I think Loftus will explode on Saturday. Just so sad the Bulls dont have another scrumhalf to save the Bok dilema. 😆
7: baie waar. Kyk net na die twee afrigting hokkies (boxes). Selfs toe AB’s agter was, was Henry en vennote rustig en professioneel. On die Bokke se afrigtingshokkie lyk dit soos ‘n senuwee hospitaal en ‘n gekerm wat die heeltyd aangaan: ‘n teken van onprofessionaliteit en kan nie druk hanteer nie. Bokke afrigters kan maar leer van die AB’s en ook Ludeke en Slaptjips hoe om koel en kalm te bly, en professioneel te wees.
5: ook waar wat jy sê, Ash. Ons kan baie verbeter met spelers wat gedrop word en ander wat nog kan terugkom. Maar, dink net hoe goed kan ons wees as al die beseerdes reg kom, die beste spelers in hul posisie gekies word, en, die belangrikste van alles: ons die beste afrigtingspan kan saamstel. Ek wil graag sien dat ons ‘n era ingaan waar ons nie net die WB kan wen nie, maar waar ons gereeld die AB’s kan wen. Daar is nou die NUWE uitdaging vir ‘n nuwe geslag afrigters en spelers.
Miskien moet ou Snorre maar eers klaarmaak einde 2011, sodat die nuwe afrigter alles oor kan begin van 2012 ?
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