War of words heats up between All Blacks, Boks

Erm... Tembavj, actually your press completely agreed with me prior to the test are you going to write to them and call them knobs? You're calling me a know over the internet? That's clever, I can see your well educated. If your such a bright bloke why don't you offer something intelligent to my French thread? I imagine you wont because all SH fans, or people pretending to be fans, actually don't know anything about world rugby beyond their own little horizons. Who is the bad loser given that I have no allegiance to any SH nations and have stated that many times. Frankly I don't like SA because they offer absolutely nothing positive to world rugby.

I was wrong and South Africa won a very well earned victory. Thoroughly enjoyed the contest although the result didn't go my way, enthralled with the committment from both teams and while the All Blacks will be disappointed they will bounce back and look forward to the return trip to the republic like the rest of us. Congratulations South Africa.

Just wanted to say thanks to Pieter de Villiers and his Bok side for making a nation proud, there are people in tears this side,to Graeme Henry and the All Blacks thanks for a match that lived up to its billing in every way, a special word for Dan Carter, thought he was something else (HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A DROP KICK). Bokkke

Well done 'Boks, great stuff and with 14 men for the last 10. I was wong about van Niekerk .He played really well for most of the first half and could probably have scored the try himself.But like many others I don't understand why you wouldn't have Spies or Kankowski on the the bench. Ironically Watson may be more effective against Australia.Let's hope the Australian team are better than the Aussie refs.Spare me! I thought Burger & de Villiers were outstanding again and then there was Januarie's try! No where's that glass of red

Sam, in all fairness De Villiers seems a very pleasant man, I imagine he was stung quite badly by Dowd's comments, and obviously hs retort was reactive, rather than pro-active. Having said that, as much as he has been around the scene with the age groups and as an assistant etc he lacks a pedigree. It is unfortunate that Hoskins was so blunt upon revealing De Villiers as the new coach. He placed a lot of pressure on De Villiers unnecessarily. I feel for the man, who wouldn't want to coach their country? Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton made the same mistake. We'll have to see how the Boks go at home, but to be honest I don't think they have been any worse than they have in the past 4 years. Jake White was in charge of some horrible results which many Bok fans have conveniently forgotten. The Lions 97 eh, super. I remember it now, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Incidentally I can see next years Lions taking the same route, moving the ball about etc, except they should have a much bigger pack this time. Can't wait for that. Can't wait for tomorrow either. I think it'll be tighter with ol' Perce at the back. I think Pieterson coming back is an error and also not having a game breaker like Kankowski or Spies on the bench. I fancy Du Plessis to cock up his throws too. Can't wait.

I agree Benjamin that both de Villiers and Dowd have been tactless in some of their comments this week and to be perfectly honest there were many South Africans who questioned de Villiers appointment ahead of Heyneke Meyer and claimed that it was purely a political appointment to fast track the agenda of SARFU. de Villiers is going to find his introduction to test rugby a very turbulent time indeed and if the Boks don't quickly regain form when they're playing at home, the knives will be sharpened and out for blood. I pick the All Blacks to win by more than 15. Good comment about the '97 Lions, brought back memories of a very good test series.

It is rather flummoxing. Interesting when I submitted that article about how I perceived De Villiers to have made a lot of errors prior to the 1st test that I had a lump of Boks throwing accusations about anti-Bok agendas, and racism as my motivation, and then asap after the last test the maority of the SA media was up in arms about the guy, but then choose to ignore his Dowd diatribe. He's clearly not ready for international rugby and that comment about Dowd being racist was a poor, poor effort which he followed up with some vague theory about Australian and New Zealand racism. You have all these people moaning about how the Boks didn't play like world champs but they played no worse than they normally do. I'm not even from New Zealand but I can't wait to see Woodcock put Van der Linde on his fat, wobbly arse. In 1997 the Lions showed the Boks that accuracy in the scrum was key and they still haven't learnt 11 years on.

I don't think Dowd was actually advising in any official capacity, just providing some info for a bloke who used to coach him who he's on good terms with. From listening to Dowd's comments, I took him as saying that De Villiers was merely parrotting the opinions of his forwards coach in respect of the scrum criticism - basically the old line of "if you've not been a front rower you don't really know what you're on about". I can see how De Villiers took offence, but I think he's barking up the wrong tree. Incidentally, De Villiers' claim of 21 scrum penalties is simply bollocks. The AB's have conceded 1 full penalty from scrums in the preceding 3 tests. I haven't been able to find accurate info on the reasons for free kicks awarded, but they've only conceded 10 in total from those 3 tests, and I doubt all of those were from scrum infringements. Being generous to PDV let's say 8 of those 10 were, in total scrum infringements that's still less than half the 21 he claimed. And Woodcock only played 40 minutes of those 3 tests.

I thought Dowd was only advising Henry during the England tests? Anyhow, it's clear after what Hoskens said that the appointment wasn't based on coaching ability. However Dowd should not have said this publicly, perhaps it was purposeful from the All Black camp to unsettle the buildup? Reagrdless, the accusation of racism is awful and if any other coach had said that, apart from a Springbok coach, the rest of the world would be up in arms. Frankly the press rants over the past two weeks have been boring and facile and I can't wait for this test to be over and business can resume as normal. I take the All Blacks to win by 9+.

Dowd has been an adviser for Henry this season, so it wouldn't surprise me if his comments are what Henry's been saying privately, but can't say publicly.

Has anybody an opinion on De Villier's response to Dowd? I think Dowd articulated a valid point, but perhaps should not have done so publicly. A dignifed silence may have benefited the build-up to the game and also the public's opinion of De Villier's. To accuse racism publicly is a bad, bad move and rather unnecessary. If I were Dowd I would accept legal advice.

After all the trash talk that has been going on from both sides this week, I'm hoping that the players don't lose focus and play the game rather than the man. Matt Goddard is going to have his hands full today controlling the emotions of both teams and we can expect an even more physical and brutal contest than what we saw last week. With the prospects of a drier pitch and conditions, once the dust settles and the teams settle into their rhythms I expect the All Blacks to win with a comfortable margin this week. Great player that Matfield is, I don't know whether he has the composure and leadership skills as skipper to keep his team together in the same vein that John Smit would have done were he fit to play. With regards to the draw I don't know how you can schedule an extended Tri Nations that doesn't unfairly disadvantage one team and Jerry's point is valid regarding NZ's stronger record at home and on the road compared to Australia and SA and we did play consecutive tests in SA in 2006 with the loss at Rustenberg taking the attention away from the thrashing we inflicted on them at Loftus. Regardless of how the draw is set up, you still have to be good enough to win those games and SA clearly believed that they would beat us last week in Wellington and didn't, now all the pressure is on them - what a difference a week makes.

Ohtani - I wouldn't say NZ always have the most favourable draw, but Aus and NZ generally have a slight advantage over SA due to their relative proximity. Also, the fact that NZ play all their home games first is only perceived as an advantage cause they very rarely lose matches at home (from memory they've only lost 3 home TN matches in the tournament's history) and, unlike SA & Aus have a good away record also. If SA or Aus had better away form, a good road trip could set a team up to only need a win or two at home to wrap things up.

The All Blacks always have the most favourable draw & the Boks always get screwed. Realistically, this is shaping up to be 2006 all over again, where New Zealand won the title before they ever set foot in the Republic. For it to go down to the wire, South Africa have to win in Australia and hope that the Aussies knock the All Blacks off in Sydney. Otherwise, NZ can seal it at Eden Park on Aug 2nd, having played a whopping one away Test.

Chris Ash you say that Australia has a favourable draw for this year's TN, but two tests on consecutive weekends in South Africa won't feel too 'favourable' for the players I would suggest! The All Blacks have by far the most favourable draw.The 'Boks play three tests on consecutive weekends - twice. By the way I see that they're known officially as 'The Qantas Wallabies' now.Pathetic if you ask me, but I'm probably just an old fart.

I've just seen the Boks selection for Dunedin and agree with Stuff Happens that it looks a more defensive lineup than an attacking one to win a test match. Gee what test match between SA and NZ hasn't featured accusations of foul play and illegalities in the buildup. Every country in the world has accused the All Blacks of illegal scrummaging ahead of their test matches and of Richie McCaw's cheating at the breakdown. I don't know what goes on in the front row when they engage but I have an enormous amount of respect for Mike Cron who has transformed not only the All Blacks scrum but also the scrums of all the NZ franchises in the Super 14 since he became fully employed by the NZRU. If Robbie Deans is acknowledged as the best rugby coach in the world - then I would nominate Mike Cron as being the best scrum coach in the world bar none. If he is willing to submit a full report on his coaching and scrummaging techniques to the IRB for further scrutiny then he must be absolutely sure and confident in what he teaches and the performances of the All Blacks in their four tests so far this year are proof of his work as many publicly predicted the demise of our scrum with Carl Hayman's departure to the UK. Andrew Blades publicly accused Tony Woodcock of being a myth and wasn't that proven to be an enormous egg in his face. I don't place a lot of stock in much of the coaches comments to the press ahead of any test match as a lot of it is designed to pressure the referee to negate the oppositions strengths as well as deflect from any of their shortcomings, witness the Boks contacting Paddy O'Brien to focus on the All Blacks scrum as they're prevented from speaking with the match referee directly. At least it gives us a lot of ammunition to blog about when there's no rugby being played.

you will also notice Photon that sivi had just made a great hit on the play piror to that, and instead of falling to ground with the tackler he rushed back to his defensive line, but unfortunatly didnt get close ennough to the touch line and de-villers exploited the gap text book. Not many other big line breaks from that where there? Wallabies do have a favorable draw this year - lets hope they don't waste it. The home games must be won boys!

Ben C If watch the tape of saturdays test match, you'll notice that Jacobs was the player who put de Villiers into the hole from which he was able to set Brian up for the Boks only try. You'll also notice that being dropped has done Frans good because now when he receives possession he considers his options before taking another crach ball. The only way in which Steyn is better than Jacobs ias his kicking game and defensively, with ball in hand Adrian Jacobs is a far better at reading the situation, and he fulfilled his defensive responsibilities with aplomp on saturday. The selection that Boggles the mind is Watson ahead of Kankowski and Spies, but maybe the coach knows something we don't so I'll wait. I'd also have started with Janjies ahead of Pietersen but other than that I think it's a good side and if Smit was there I'd back them to win, in light of his absence I suspect the Boks will be in front come the final 10 minutes but the All Blacks will up to win, hope they prove me wrong though Bokbefok

Nick I'm sorry but the torn testicle comment has left me with my eyes watering. Some injuries might be expected but anything to do with the family jewels should involve a free kick - to the offender's only family jewels. Mart I thought that was self-evident. The RFU is also responsible for the current epidemic of petrol gouging at service stations across Australia. The b*stards!!

Nick That's what I was thinking about Mexted, I was just far too polite to mention that he is a complete and utter twerp in mixed company. As to selections for SA, what on earth does Jacobs add to the team? He is useless. Why not Steyn at 12 and De Villiers at 13. Every time I watch de Villiers play I want to swap Mortlock for him and slot him into our backline. Powerful and actually knows how to pass.