So, the New Zealand All Blacks had made a truckload of changes from the team that trounced the Wallabies in Auckland. So, they were eight or more players short of their first-choice run-on team. So, they had never – but never – won in Port Elizabeth. They still expected to win! And a lot of good judges expected them to win, also.
Well, they didn’t win. In fact this was their second biggest losing margin in South Africa – ever! They lost the first half – 15-5 – and they lost the second half – 3-0. They never once took the lead, from start to finish. Sounds like a comprehensive win for the Boks!
Not on your life!
There were plenty of positives for New Zealand. With just a little more in the finishing department, they could have scored, maybe, three more tries – as indeed could the Wallabies last weekend. Mind you, the one they did score was from a clear forward pass – as was the one denied them after the controversial advice from the TMO. Kevin Mealamu thought that with just 10% more, in terms of the accuracy of their performance, they could have won. I think that he’s right, but the Boks looked much more focussed and determined and I think that there’s more to come from them also.
We have been influenced to believe that there is huge depth available for the All Black selectors. “We could field two teams and play ourselves in the final.” This pretty much sums up the feeling that we’ve got from the many opinions – coming out of New Zealand – over the last weeks. It’s not going to be like that. I’d go so far as to say that “no team can win without their best players.” I think that, if any team lose even two of their very best players, they’ll struggle. Maybe it’s always been this way. Maybe, but it’s sure like it now. It looks to me that as many as eight teams could compete at the very highest level next month. What a prospect!
The All Blacks used this match to give some of their returning (from injury) players a high-level ‘trial’. Dagg, Kahui and Woodcock have not played for extended periods and, certainly, Dagg and Woodcock will be important in their plans. I would assume that all three will improve further in the coming weeks – although Dagg already looks a contender for ‘player of the tournament’. Nevertheless, the Springboks exposed some frailties – heaven knows, we’ve all been looking for some. The All Black scrum was seriously fragile and, although they were without their best scrummaging prop, Owen Franks, there will be serious concerns in their camp. Afoa was not up to it and concerns exist on the ability of both Woodcock and Crockett to scrummage within the laws.
Some have already pointed to the fact that the Boks scored all of their points from goals. However, rather than this fact offering any degree of comfort for New Zealand, I believe that they will be concerned that maybe the refs are starting to see what most of the rugby public in the world have been seeing for some time now. Perhaps their team management may now be nervously considering, “Will be have to quickly develop a completely new mind set – in double quick time?”
The Boks deserved their win. They bounced back, with courage and determination, after three successive losses, with two of those featuring performances well below what will be required in their defence of their World Champions title. The All Blacks began by exposing the Springbok defence – it appeared almost at will. But intense, scrambling defence from the home team – aided a little by less than accurate All Black support play – kept them at bay.
Bryan Habana was prominent and, as every good winger should, worked hard on the opposite side of the field. His tackling was powerful and immediate and snuffed out numerous opportunities. Jacque Fourie was also most effective and, on three occasions, he actually emerged from these desperate defensive situations with the ball in hand. He did exactly the same in last weekend’s Wallaby test in Durban, so these cannot have been flukes. In another quality defensive ‘read’ in the 24th minute, he anticipated a second-line play from the All Blacks and caught Toeava way behind the advantage line. This drew a penalty to the Boks – for non-release of the ball in the tackle – which Morne Steyn kicked to the 5 metre mark. From the lineout and subsequent phases, the All Blacks infringed again and Steyn kicked his fourth penalty. These were all ‘big plays’, either saving or gaining points for his team. His instinct in these pressure situations is amazing!
As is usual, the Bok lineout was good but their scrum was simply devastating. As early as the 8th minute, they demolished their opponents, with both the tight-head and hooker coming up under the pressure, and drew the penalty for Steyn to kick his second. In the 58th minute, they actually took the ball ‘against the head’ and when Thompson came off-side to retrieve the situation, Steyn added another three points. The Springboks had well and truly earned their points!
The Springboks have missed Heinrich Brussow hugely – they don’t have many ‘door mats’ amongst their numbers – and he was tremendously influential again. He will continue to get better in the weeks ahead. The changes to the frontrow, with Steenkamp and Bismark and Jannie du Plessis in the starting line-up, were also significant. What a difference a week makes – demolished by the Wallaby scrum one week, smashing the All Black scrum the next.
The All Blacks, as I have said already, looked very dangerous in the ‘launching phase’ of their attacks, but unusually inaccurate with their subsequent support and passing. During the first half especially, many passes were ‘bounced’ to the receiver, slowing many promising attacks. Perhaps the anticipation of bone-shuddering defences distracts them as much as others!
We’ve always know of the Springbok physical strength and brutality – that is ever present – but this performance speaks volumes for their attitude. And they are starting to look match-fit! I’m sure that the All Blacks will not be relishing the prospect of a semi-final against their old foe!
I’d better not forget the ref! I thought that he started excellently and was never going to tolerate bodies on the ground over the ball – a welcome and refreshing departure from the current norm – but by the second-half he had begun to fall away and the tackle contest turned into a free-for-all. Still, he has promise and will presumably get fitter. This may help his eyesight and restrict forward passes!
Article from greenandgoldrugby
A far more pesimistic view by Peter Bills
Not a quarter of this match had been played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and we knew exactly how the Springboks will play the World Cup in three weeks’ time.
The South Africans had been so torn apart defensively by the New Zealanders in the early minutes that they were hanging on. Twice the All Blacks were within a final, single pass of tries, only their errant finishing and a lack of composure plus some last gasp defensive work, especially by Jaque Fourie, denying the visitors a score. All the invention, all the creativity was coming from the New Zealanders.
It was so one-sided that the South Africans had to make 24 tackles in the first 15 minutes, against just nine by the All Blacks.
As New Zealand ruled in both territory and possession, the Springboks were struggling for a foothold into the game.
It came courtesy of a penalty close to halfway and Morné Steyn smashed it over. It could have been 0-14 to New Zealand; instead, South Africa led 3-0.
A surprisingly high number of technical errors by the All Blacks at the breakdown then gifted Steyn more kicking opportunities and he seized the chance to turn around the game.
Three further penalties by the flyhalf suddenly gave the Boks breathing space and a drop goal before half-time gave an extraordinarily lopsided view of the half.
Steyn added another on the hour but he did a whole lot more than just kick goals. He drilled the ball beautifully into the corners, making great yardage with some wonderfully judged kicks.
The Bok scrum was clearly superior and they came within a metre or two of a try after launching a driving maul from a line-out.
If ever we were seeing the template for a World Cup campaign, this was it, with Steyn back close to his best form and looking the obvious choice at No10.
But there were just two problems with this strategy. It might have been enough to see off the challenge of a makeshift New Zealand side on Saturday, but will it be sufficient to go to New Zealand and successfully defend their world crown?
Firstly, the All Blacks had out a hotch-potch side and their combinations were understandably rusty.
Secondly, it become brutally clear that South Africa do not possess one iota of the attacking mindset and ability to open up a defence compared to the New Zealanders. This was confirmed for all to see when they scored the only try of the first half just before the interval.
It came off first phase ball (the line-out) and it owed everything to the brilliant timing of Sonny Bill Williams, the run off the ball and slick off-load of Hose Gear and Richard Kahui’s finish.
It is undeniable South Africa did look to expand their game better on Saturday. At last, they seemed to have understood the need for rapidly recycled ball from the breakdown and their backs began to profit from it.
But Fourie du Preez looked disturbingly rusty with some wayward kicking and it was obvious Steyn’s kicking behind a power pack will be the only real tactic of this Bok side at the World Cup.
Whether this will be enough remains to be seen.
But even though they were far from full strength, certain New Zealand players still looked mightily impressive at times, particularly free-running, counter-attacking full-back Israel Dagg. How the Springboks would love to have him in their World Cup squad.
Hi Super, great read and I believe Dwyer to be spot-on.
There were IMO far too many aimless kicks that could have, and I believe may well be better exploited by other teams.
Other than that I really liked the intensity the Boks showed, but have to ask, why does it take a few million p1ssed off members of the public before the team raise thier game, and more impotantly REALISE AND SAY SO PUBLICLY that they are below par?
It seems that the SARU brains trust really view the supporters with contempt, and consider us as totally unqualified to pass any critisism for the most part.
My, didn’t Bismark look p1ssed off when he was taken off? HB was like a pickpocket in a Dickens novel. The touch of a midwife.
Well done all involved, the only player I didn’t really “see” on the night was Willem Alberts. Mind you, it was VERY noisy where I was, so it may just have been that I didn’t hear his name mentioned so just assumed he didn’t do much.
Hellll, far too long now until the WC kicks off.
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