The build-up to this match was incredible, it was so hectic that it almost seemed like this was a World Cup final, or the last match before the end of the earth.
However, after just 15 minutes of play some fans wished for the end of the world to come.
The clash started with the All Blacks taking the early lead in the 4th minute with a try from Kieran Read. However in the 15th minute the whole game changed, with Bismarck du Plessis sent off with a Yellow Card. This was a Yellow Card which was the biggest mistake made by a referee, ever seen. The in the 42nd minute Bismarck du Plessis received his second Yellow Card, automatically turned into a Red Card. The 2nd Yellow Card was however a debatable 50 / 50 call, as it could have gone either way. This left the Springboks to play the match with 14 players for a total of 48 minutes. Then in the 71st minute Kieran Reid was also a victim to a poor referee call, stating that he had taken out the jumper at the lineout, this led to the Yellow Card of Kieran Reid. This call from the ref was also extremely far fetched, as this incident would have had no impact on the match and Reid scarcely touched the jumper.
This clash should have gone down as one for the history books, but instead because of poor incompetent refereeing the clash was poor and one-sided and will be remembered in history for all the wrong reasons.
The All Blacks took a commanding lead in the Rugby Championship with this win, with them now on 18 Log points, followed by the Springboks with 14 Log points.
Players who stood out in this match were Kieran Reid and Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks and Jean de Villiers and Duane Vermeulen for the Springboks.
Kieran Reid led the All Blacks from the front and scored two tries in his team’s victory. Beauden Barrett came on for injured Dan Carter and made a huge impact with his sniping runs and good goal kicking. Jean de Villiers had a good game, led well as captain and always trying to do something on attack and never giving up. Duane Vermeulen again made his presence felt on the field with a solid defensive effort.
Overall
6 Out of 10 / no rating
The All Blacks receive a 6/10, as they had moments of brilliance but should have had a larger score playing against only 14 men.
A fair rating could not be given here as the Springboks were playing against an incompetent referee, against the odds.
Romain Poite
0 out of 10
Arguably the only thing that was done right by this referee, was to blow the whistle to start the match. He was never in control of this match and made game changing decisions whilst blatantly ignoring video feeds on the big screen during the game. He gave out 4 Yellow Cards, with the first one for Bismarck du Plessis a total disgrace. In addition the Yellow Card on Kieran Reid (when the result was already beyond doubt) also had no merit for a Yellow Card and was probably done to somehow appease South african eyes. The referee spoilt what should have been a classic clash between world giants and turned it into a farcical disgrace of a game of rugby. His decision-making on the field was amaturish and of a very low guality level, specially considering all the available technology available and he should have been able to handle this game a lot better. Lets hope the IRB seriously looks into this matter and hands down the maximum penalty sanction available for this disgraceful refereeing performance.
Stats from ESPN for the match.
New Zealand – South Africa
4 – Tries – 2
3 from 4 – Conversion goals – 1 from 2
1 from 2 – Penalty goals – 1 from 2
67.0% – Kick at goal success – 50.0%
0 – Dropped goals – 0
Kick/pass/run
32 – Kicks from hand – 26
110 – Passes – 108
88 – Runs – 89
314 – Metres run with ball – 293
Attacking
52% (45%/58%) – Possession (1H/2H) – 48% (55%/42%)
56% (44%/64%) – Territory (1H/2H) – 44% (56%/36%)
3 – Clean breaks – 3
18 – Defenders beaten – 8
5 Offloads 3
63 from 71 (88.7%) – Rucks won – 65 from 70 (92.9%)
1 from 1 (100.0%) – Mauls won – 6 from 7 (85.7%)
15 – Turnovers conceded – 21
Defensive
105/8 – Tackles made/missed – 97/18
93.0% – Tackling success rate – 84.0%
Set pieces
7 won, 2 lost (77.8%) – Scrums on own feed – 6 won, 0 lost (100.0%)
15 won, 2 lost (88.2%) – Lineouts on own throw – 17 won, 2 lost (89.5%)
Discipline
14 (2) – Penalties conceded (Freekicks) – 8 (1)
2/0 – Yellow/red cards – 1/1
Whilst a lot has been said about the match (once the card/ref issue had settled down) about the actual match, and the debating as to how much better the AB’s Played than us, these stats make for some interesting reading. I don’t read too much into stats generally, but there are a few here worth mentioning, simply because for 50 minutes it WAS 14 men against 15.
In the ‘kick/pass/run’ stats, it was pretty even – this after the fact that on various occasions during the match, the NZ commentators stated that the difference between the two side was the fact that the AB’s were holding onto the ball, whilst the Boks were just kicking it away. I have to say here, though, that in my opinion, the Boks kicks did tend to be either pretty aimless, or poor, where as the AB’s kicking was a lot more precise. This is an area that the Boks really have to work on.
Possession and territory – one can clearly see where Bissy was on and off the field, and this stat is very revealing. Whilst I do agree, that all the All Blacks played well, there were players in the SA side that had a bit of an off night – no more so than in the 9/10 area, as well as perhaps Krusty and Habs, to a degree, had Bissy been on the field for the full 80 minutes, the indications are that both territory and possession would have gone our way, and perhaps opportunities to score would have as well.
Defenders beaten – Speaks for itself. Perhaps, on reflection, the AB’s will have a bit more to work on.
Rucks and mauls – even contest, even with a man down – kudos Boks.
Turnovers conceded – we really missed Bissy here, but in conceding so many here, this is an area we really have to tighten up on. Too many times we were isolated, but did anyone notice the clever little trick of the AB’s pulling the tackled player (by the shirt) back though onto their side just as the maul was forming – a bit like pulling a cork from a bottle. SA need to counteract that for next time.
Set pieces – Kudos to both team and management. Good work generally. Good to see scrum laws finally playing into our hands again.
Discipline – Boks have really worked hard here, and it is showing. The other area that they have really worked hard on, and should be praised is that they are not being drawn into fighting and ill discipline, even with the amount of obvious baiting being used as a tactic by the opposition. I felt the calmness shown by the Springboks after Nonu’s tackle attempt in DeVilliers exemplary, and worthy of a mention.
I do feel that, generally, man for man, the AB’s played better on the day, but I do wonder how different this would have been, had it been an even contest.
The maturing and gelling of the Boks is starting to show, just that kicking – it’s not the amount of kicking, it’s the waywardness.
Only change for next couple of matches for me would be FdP for Pienaar.