Praise for the Springboks: a truly great team
Roar Guru By LeftArmSpinner, 30 Aug 2009 LeftArmSpinner is a Roar Guru
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This is a very, very good Springboks team. They played a complete form of Rugby in the first half against the Wallabies last night, 22-6. The Wallabies are no slouches, but they had no answer to the Springboks.
The Springboks put enormous pressure on the Wallabies in the set pieces, flowing, ball in hand Rugby, dominance at the breakdown, a huge, athletic and fast backrow.
The Springboks can play both the field position game and the possession game.
This is a truly great team. Rather than criticise the Wallabies, celebrate the Springboks. Despite the lack of recognition from Rugby fans, the Springboks have the record to justify our recognition: RWC 2007 champions, vanquishers of the British and Irish Lions, likely 2009 Tri-Nations winners and current 2009 Super 14 Champions.
That the Wallabies, despite being shell shocked for most of the game, continued to play through their dominance at scrum time is a good sign for the future.
But after 5 minutes camped in the Springboks quarter, and 13 phases by the Wallabies, the Springboks held their discipline until the opportunity for a turnover came and within a quick back line movement across the front of their own goal posts, they burst into an ad lib attack which resulted in them gaining a lineout 10 metres out from the Wallabies line.
This is Rugby that is engaging, skillful and admirable by all fans. The debate about penalties marring the game was sidelined because they became a mere expression of the pressure that the penalised team was under.
This is a great Springboks team and it was the Wallabies best performance, if only because the opposition is the real deal in any era.
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August 30th 2009 @ 5:09am
Eagle said | August 30th 2009 @ 5:09am | Report comment
This is a very good team indeed. I believe for a great part of the match the Wallabies played well, but they never got the Springboks flustered. The last try to the Wallabies was down to Andries Bekker being on the field with only one useful arm.
There is a great unity about the Sprinbok team. They believe in each other and in what they can achieve together. It is almost unfair to expect an up and coming Wallaby team to compete at this stage.
There is not an international team playing at the moment with the ability to score from the set piece like this team. I think they have yet greater heights to scale.
But first they need to win in Brisbane.
August 30th 2009 @ 5:37am
Mitch O said | August 30th 2009 @ 5:37am | Report comment
Let’s wait untli they play in NZ. Where I expect the Boks will be beaten comfortably.
It’s almost as if the draw was purposely designed to throw up the Boks as winners of the 09 3N’s.
August 30th 2009 @ 6:34am
Daniel said | August 30th 2009 @ 6:34am | Report comment
ag c’mon Mitch man that wasnt necessary hey…let us enjoy the victory
isnt it tradition that the country that dominates the Super14 wins the Tri-Nations..?
August 30th 2009 @ 7:10am
Ray said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:10am | Report comment
Mitch there are a few choice expletives that immediately spring to mind in response to your comment but I fear that they would omit my comment if I were to express myself fully. Suffice to say that you are a plumber, a tonsil and a muppet of the highest order. Quake in your boots my friend, the Bokke will be in Hamilton soon to teach your boys how to play the game.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:18am
Mitch O said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
Daniel, of course congrats to the Boks for their win. It’s this talk of great that riles.
As for you Ray,
So the Boks are managing for one season to do what the AB’s have done for the previous four and suddenly the AB’s are quivering in their boots? I think not.
There’s simply no denying the draw has done the boks a great favour this year.
Can’t wait for Hamilton where the normal order will be conclusively restored.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:26am
LeftArmSpinner said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:26am | Report comment
mitch, as said above, the team is able to play several different strategies very well, and were never, never flustered. Dont worry about the draw, what about the RWC, the Lions and the S14, was it all down to the draw too?
August 30th 2009 @ 9:00am
QC said | August 30th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
LAS,
Whoopdie bloody doo so the boks are having a great year this year well what the hell happened last year they were absolutely pathetic finishing dead last in the Tri-Nations and nilled at home. This in all likeliness will be only their third Tri-Nations and as it currently stands they have only this year equalled Australias Super 14 record this from a country who is totally obsessed with rugby.
This year they are looking the part indeed, however I ask the question are they being made to look good because of the oppositions ineptness. Seriously both the ABs and Wallabies are playing terrible rugby at present. Sure a wins a win but doesn’t it mean a little more when the team your playing is actually playing prime rugby not this error prone schoolboy rubbish that we seen last night?
The draw has favoured the Boks this year there is no doubt about it and unfortunately once the new system comes into play the Springboks will always have that advantage so it’s about time we all get used to it.
September 5th 2009 @ 2:41am
Gareth said | September 5th 2009 @ 2:41am | Report comment
“are they being made to look good because of the oppositions ineptness”. You could ask the same question when the AB’s and the Wallabies were on top a few years ago and the Boks were poor. Let’s just appreciate how could this Bok side are, despite the opposition.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:51am
Ray said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
I didn’t say that the AB’s were quivering in their boots Mitch, calm down friend. The draw has absolutely nothing to do with the results this year, ineptitude from the AB’s & Wallabies and disciplined rugby from the Bokke have been the mitigating factors. Grow up and lose with humility Mitch, these Bokke ARE great, deal with it.
August 30th 2009 @ 9:04am
QC said | August 30th 2009 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Ray,
Great teams don’t win a world cup then come dead last in the following Tri-Nations and get nilled at home in the process.
If anything this team may have laid the foundations of greatness
Lets wait and see if they can win it 4 years in a row like the ABs before we start claiming greatness not to mention maybe they should beat the Lions 3-0.
August 30th 2009 @ 9:58am
ohtani's jacket said | August 30th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Mate, the same thing happened in 2006 when the All Blacks won the Tri-Nations before they ever stepped foot in South Africa. We didn’t get any points in South Africa this year and can’t blame the schedule for relinquishing the title.
August 30th 2009 @ 6:06am
Ace said | August 30th 2009 @ 6:06am | Report comment
Who’s the idiot that very confidently predicted that the Springboks’ win in Cape Town would be their last of this 3N? C’mon, own up.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:18am
ozxile said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:18am | Report comment
I did. Enjoy.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:21am
ozxile said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:21am | Report comment
Uh,,,also, you’ll get your turn so be careful how you throw around the term ‘idiot’.
August 30th 2009 @ 6:06am
Roy Kneebone said | August 30th 2009 @ 6:06am | Report comment
The Wallabies bench made such an impact.
Youngsters Pocock, Genia and Quade Cooper. Maybe we see one of them in the starting XV next week ???
August 30th 2009 @ 6:51am
Matt said | August 30th 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
Boks were way better, but I thought there some real positives for the Wallabies.
Scrum was good, breakdown work was better (especially in second half), and most importantly, Deans will now have to bench Burgess and Moore, and move Gits to 12.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:29am
LeftArmSpinner said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:29am | Report comment
Matt, I’m with you. Giteau has to go to 12. end of story. Burgess should have one more game with the new 10 to see who was responsible for the disconnect between 9 and 10. I thought moore went okay, but Fitzpatrick needs to be in the frame somewhere as does Kepu. He is playing the house down in grade.
August 30th 2009 @ 1:22pm
Dexter William said | August 30th 2009 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
LAS
No Burgess please. He is the weakest link in our team. I would rather have Bret Sheehan who I do not rate at all, but least he is smarter. No I do not want to BS, but this is how I feel now about Burgess. I was one of his supporters when he came on.
There are so many times that he was seagulling when the ruck was in trouble. He just looked at it rather than jumping in to help. This guy has a mental problem.
Will Genia even though he made one or two bad pass, he is much much better at protecting the ball and getting the ball out behind the ruck. there were a few times that he jumped into the ruck to help unlike Burgess.
You are right in saying that the Bokkies are playing comfortably within themselves all over the field, but except for the scrum they are the best in the world at the moment.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:02am
brad said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:02am | Report comment
I think they will beat the All Blacks as well. IF anything they only need to lose with a bonus point to claim the 3nations. THey are alot more composed than the other 2 and thats as much because of their own confidence and the fact that they are playing the weakest Australasian sides in the proffesional era. THe all blacks will need Hayman, Evans, Jack, Howlett and Mauger back by early next year if they are to change their fortunes. The wallabies need Barnes at 10 Giteau at 12 and should consider finding a proffesional scrumhalf as opposed to the club players they have at the moment.
I have said it in many posts before but I think the All blacks are suffering from a diluted NPC
August 30th 2009 @ 7:08am
Gerrard said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Hayman, Evans, Jack, Howlett and Mauger had there days. Jurassic park is where they belong.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:09am
Knives Out said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:09am | Report comment
Hayman is still by far the best tighthead in the world.
August 30th 2009 @ 8:38am
Ziggy said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
No doubting that. And the Bokshave a weak scrum. o you thing the ABs have the nous to keep the game focused on the scrum?
August 30th 2009 @ 8:18am
Jerry G said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Hayman’s only 29 and Mauger’s only 28 – I think they’re both well capable of coming back and contributing. Coming from a guy that supports the Boks who had Os and Percy at the last World Cup, I’d say you need to get a bit of perspective.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:11am
sheek said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Yes, a truly outstanding team the Boks are. It occurred to me they are like an iceberg – what we have seen is only as much as they want to show us.
They have the equipment to play any type of game they want. That’s real skill. Last night they shoved any thoughts we Aussies had of their dullness, right up our backsides.
100 years ago, rugby union almost died out in Australia. It’s obvious, aprt from occasional glitches, we Aussies can’t play rugby union. We’re kidding ourselves!!!
August 30th 2009 @ 7:35am
LeftArmSpinner said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:35am | Report comment
Sheek, oh dear. If you are rigth about the iceberg, (lovely metaphor by the way) we are in rreal trouble. I guess the next facet will be sweeping backline moves with Brian H scooting in for try after try, but only after they have softened up the opposition up front!!
Lets celebrate the team while we have them to watch.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:40am
GPR-SA said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:40am | Report comment
Hey Sheek. Don’t kid yourself. Yes, Ozzie losses have been disappointing, but I really believe there is great potential there, things will turn around. SA have been there too, so hang in there and keep supporting your team and coach too. As Deans correctly said after the match, the pain will stand them in good stead down the line. I think 2011 is what you need to be looking towards. By then they will be a team of great character and with the likes of Pocock, Cooper and O’conner having had all this experience behind them…watch out.!
Don’t loose the Ozzie never say die attitude!
August 30th 2009 @ 8:17am
LeftArmSpinner said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
GPR, yes, the aussie loses have been disappointing but not last night. after being completely overwhelmed, out thought and blown away in the first 30 mintues, they came back fighting. A bit like a boxer who was staggered in early rounds, covered up, cleared his head, got his legs back and then started boxing again. And there was less kicking and more ball in hand.
Just look at what a guy like Turner can do against tired forwards. The boks, at best might have felt the wind and the heard the noise as he raced threw their breakdown and over the line for that last try.
No yellow cards, more patience. cooper went well, (Beale can probably do better, but all in good time), Hynes was good, AAC did his best, albeit lacking the necessary experience at 12. cross was strong and reliable. O’Connor was goodish, but is a freak. Alexander was good, Robinson just gets better. Horwill and chisholm did okay against the very best, Elsom improved on last week but needs more straight running. Burgess was Okay, and genia is a very good prospect…………..Giteau is a 12. simple……………
August 30th 2009 @ 8:34am
sheek said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:34am | Report comment
Leftie,
Come off it! The Aussies were like the shy teenage boy who never asked a girl to dance throughout the night. Only when all the girls had packed up & gone home did he have the courage to walk up to an empty chair & ask an imaginary girl for a dance.
Metaphorically speaking, the Boks had “gone home” when the Wallas strolled in for two late tries. There’s nothing to be proud of about that.
August 30th 2009 @ 10:24am
Hammer said | August 30th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
LAS do you work for the ARU, FOX or a contracted marketing group? You sound like those knuckleheads on Fox commentary!
August 30th 2009 @ 8:31am
sheek said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
GPR,
On an accompanying thread I suggested the British Empire began to become mediocre when they found consolation in any loss.
My frustration is that we keep offering excuses for our domestic structures, which impact on the effectiveness of the national team.
Yes, the Boks have been in the dumps themselves, but they rebound very quickly. No Boks team has ever been in the dumps for about 5-6 continuous years!
August 31st 2009 @ 10:38am
Jerry G said | August 31st 2009 @ 10:38am | Report comment
They were pretty crappy from the end of 99 to 03 though, that’s basically 5 years.
August 31st 2009 @ 10:41am
Jerry G said | August 31st 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
And they hardly won any matches between 1982 and 1992 come to think of it.
August 30th 2009 @ 10:02am
ohtani's jacket said | August 30th 2009 @ 10:02am | Report comment
How does six straight Tri-Nations loses hold you in good stead for the future?
August 30th 2009 @ 8:25pm
craigb said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
The same way that the Ab’s went 5 test losses in a row a few years back. They went on to win the world cuuu… Oh hang on….
August 30th 2009 @ 9:56pm
sheek said | August 30th 2009 @ 9:56pm | Report comment
Did I say that???
August 30th 2009 @ 10:21pm
ohtani's jacket said | August 30th 2009 @ 10:21pm | Report comment
It was a reply to GPR-SA.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:48am
Temba said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Run ruck mall kick defend tri scoring boks…
The ref was good, I can’t wait for spiro’s article.
Walla bench was good, barns to 10 gits to 12 burges to the bench.
August 30th 2009 @ 7:48am
Knives Out said | August 30th 2009 @ 7:48am | Report comment
Calm, down Spinner… Goodness.
August 30th 2009 @ 8:08am
LeftArmSpinner said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:08am | Report comment
knives, it just shows how desperate I am to see some good rugby, by anyone. Frankly, nothin beats Sydney grade for skill and excitement………….
you never did answer how you got the other roarer/s to confirm your Tony Woodcock ID!!! come clean NOW…………or I’ll, or I’ll, um……………..anyway, come clean……………..
August 30th 2009 @ 8:25am
Knives Out said | August 30th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Must be an anti-Australian, pro-Kiwi agenda, LAS.
SA played well. No qualms from me, but I’m a bit puzzled as to why you’re going on about good rugby when they hardly had the ball. Australia made some good runs and occasionally looked powerful on the charge but overall they were atrocious. They were as rudderless as England in the Autumn tests. Methinks you are conveniently ignoring this.