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In rugby’s professional era, the hardest thing to do is win in New Zealand against the All Blacks. In fact, there are very few players still active in rugby who have done so.
George Smith remembers 11 August 2001 in Dunedin, when Australia prevailed 23-15. No other Wallaby from that game is still in the picture.
Smith’s skillset was sorely lacking the recent romp at Eden Park. Slower ball is a good thing when foreigners play in New Zealand.
Michael Hooper is faster than almost any other forward besides Pierre Spies, but he and Spies – if they are to beat New Zealand – need to focus more on slowing the ball.
France won in New Zealand 22-17 on 13 June 2009. Louis Picamoles was the starting eighthman for Les Bleus, Nicolas Mas was in the front row, and Mathieu Bastareaud was in the midfield; there are 12 French players who tasted victory over the Kiwis who are still potential French Test players. But the Gauls do not look much like sacking the dark empire any time soon.
There are as many as 17 Springboks in or around Heyneke Meyer’s setup of who remember winning in New Zealand. The miracle win on 12 July 2008 (30-28 on a late try by a sniping, chipping Ricky Januarie) featured Boks like current captain Jean de Villiers, ageless winger Bryan Habana, abrasive rake Bismarck du Plessis, speedy hooker Schalk Brits, blood brothers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, mercurial talent Frans Steyn, oft-maligned Ruan Pienaar, the soon-to-return Schalk Burger and J.P. Pietersen, and France-based Gurthro Steenkamp and Juan Smith.
On 12 September 2009, in Hamilton, the Boks were victorious again, the last time a visiting team has won in New Zealand. That night, Morne Steyn was on the field (but it was Frans Steyn who kicked the Boks to victory, with three penalties from inside his own half), as were Fourie du Preez, Beast Mtawarira, Jaque Fourie, and Jannie du Plessis.
When we wonder why Meyer persists with some of the players he does, a possible rationale is that he is obsessed with beating the All Blacks,
there are maybe only 30 active players in the world who know how it feels to beat New Zealand in New Zealand and he has access to 17 of them.
That’s the only reason I can understand Steenkamp and Jannie du Plessis taking the field in Wellington soon.
Am I on to something?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.