Sooner or later, generally sooner but in this case later, the All Blacks will wreck their revenge on any team that dare to humiliate them on the rugby field.
Back in 1928 in the first Test of a historic first-ever series of All Black-Springboks matches in South Africa, the home side played the All Blacks off the park recording one of the biggest victories against the New Zealanders 17 -0.
Eighty years later that defeat was avenged in one of the great rugby Tests at Cape Town 19 – 0. This triumph represents the first time in Springboks – All Blacks Test in South Africa the home side has failed to get any points. It also represents on the biggest defeats the All Blacks have imposed on the Springboks in a series where the average difference between the sides is around four to five points.
Despite the blow-out of points by the end, the Test was a close-run thing for the first 70 minutes. In the seventh minute of the Test the All Blacks forced a well-taken try by Conrad Smith, who followed up a left-footed grubber kick from Richie McCaw.
Is there anything McCaw can’t do on a rugby field? He single-handedly out-played the previously impressive Springboks back row. So effective was his digging for the ball after making the tackle, his lineout catching, his mauling, his tackling and his running that Schalk Burger was replaced with 20 minutes left to play. Burger looked morose and defeated (as well he might have been) sitting with the substitutes.
Not once was McCaw penalised, a tribute to his foraging skills and an indication that at least one referee (Matt Goddard) has finally worked out that McCaw’s genius allows him to make plays at the break-down that are beyond other players, with the exception perhaps of George Smith on one of his great days.
The newish Springboks coach, the verbose and overly-emotional Peter de Villiers (an Eddie Jones clone in many ways), has tried to develop the expansive, running game of the Springboks. This is a good thing as with the pace the side has with its loose forwards (especially Pierre Spies, the best athlete playing rugby?) and on the wing with J.P.Pietersen and Bryan Habana, the Springboks have the potential to be the most lethal of all counter-attacking sides.
But. De Villiers has overlooked the necessity, when he plays his tall, fast backrow of Spiers, Burger and Juan Smith, of getting players to the breakdown to re-cycle the ball to the fast forwards and backs standing out wide.
It’s a bit like opening instructions in the ancient recipe for rabbit stew: ‘First catch your rabbit.’ If you want to play the expansive game you first have to control the ball on your phases. This means putting players into the rucks and mauls, if the opposition is contesting them and if one of the opposition is Richie McCaw. The All Blacks won 12 turnovers, and forced four long arm penalties for shots at goal when the out-numbered and over-whelmed Springbok tried to kill the ball that McCaw had grabbed in the tackle.
As it happened Daniel Carter missed all four penalties in the swirly, flukey Cape Town breeze. Percy Mongomery also missed two very kickable penalties, even though Newlands is his home ground.
Without going into another debate about the experimental laws variation, these events proved that there are long arm penalties under the ELVs: that the ball is in play for incredibly long periods of time making that play as exciting as it is possible to imagine: that the skills of all the players have to be of the highest quality with props tackling wingers and making breaks along with the loose forwards: that Test rugby as a physical contest is enhanced by the stresses of having to play more rugby in the 80 minutes: and that control of scrums and lineouts remains a paramount need for a team to be successful.
In the foreplay before the Test I got the sense that the South African authorities were revving up the emotions of the crowd and their players in an attempt to ensure that Percy Mongomery’s 100th Test (the ninth centenary of Tests by any player and the first by a Springbok) was a memorable and winning occasion.
As the television pictures came up (mercifully from NZ television) you could hear the ground announcer coaching the crowd to use their drums to disconcert the All Blacks and encourage the Springboks. Then there were shots of the Springboks in a long, prayerful huddle in their dressing room (Peter FitzSimons who dislikes sportsmen calling on God to help their cause has another arrow to fire against this practice now).
Then the Springboks kept the All Blacks waiting on the field. Then Percy Montgomery came out alone to roars that people said exceeded anything Newlands has ever heard. Then they turned off the mikes for the All Blacks haka so that it looked as if the NZers were lip-synching their ritual.
All this psychological pressure is fine – if it affects your opponents rather than the perpetrators. Unfortunately for the Springboks, it affected them more than the All Blacks, who seemed to revel in their ‘unsmiling giants’ role.
In the first few minutes of the Test then the Springboks made three unforced errors which, in the hindsight of the early try, probably sealed the outcome of the Test. First, Butch James kicked off out on the full. Second, Fourie du Preez, the world’s best halfback who was over-shadowed on the day by Jimmie Cowan and his Stan Laurel looks, kicked out on the full under pressure. Third Bryan Habana, South Africa’s best on the day, took a quick throw-in on his 5m mark and the Springboks were forced to clear from behind their tryline.
The next series of phases led to the crucial first phases.
Later in the Test Francois Steyn failed to find touch from a defensive full-arm penalty. Several phases later Carter, in a quick silver dash like a kingfisher diving for its prey, scored the important second try by the posts, and converted to record 800 points in Test rugby.
The All Blacks victory has opened up the Tri-Nations. They have now played 5 and won 3. The Springboks have played 4 and won 1. The Wallabies have played 3 and won 2.
There are three more Tests to play. Two of these Tests are Springboks – Wallabies in South Africa (at Durban on August 23 and Johannesburg on August 30.)
The 2008 Tri-Nations final Test, Wallabies – All Blacks at Brisbane on September 13 could well be the match that decides who wins the trophy.
Benjamin
Guest
Perfect illustration of the cycle of sport Jerry/stuff happens. Such is life. Jerry, I think the penalty was for popping up or perhaps a player offside, although that is more unlikely. You can't hear on the DVD because Stuart Barnes is talking over the ref. So'oialo takes the ball on and get's whistled for holding on. The highlights are quite interesting because although I remember the backs not being great it seems that Wilkinson actually blew/ignored a handful of overlaps and one-on-ones further out just for a drop kick or two. That seems to sum the man up perfectly as far as I'm concerned. Incidentally Vickery had an amazing day, it's a shame that he's such a shadow of his former glories. I also think that the NZ scrum at Twickenham Twickenham is quite appropriate for Gavin's 'prop' article. Sheridan is pure power, and that day he was held/undone by pure technique which just goes to prove the necessity of experience and skill.
Luke
Guest
boks are lacking direction and that ref did not help either side in the cause for a decent flowing match...he was a good advocate for why the elv's desperately need reviewing and extra consideration, planning and consolidation across all referees because as it stands, ridiculous refereeing performances like Matt Goddard's last saturday can ruin Test Rugby. Seemingly everything is up to the referee's interpretation or at least it's allowed to be. Goddard made some mind boggling rulings in that game against both sides for offences that just weren't plausible nor logical in the areas of the field in which he was blowing them up. The Boks showed immaturity under Matfield, who once again showed he isn't half the captain John Smit is, in failing to deal with it and get on with the job, the got frustrated and the All blacks kept their cool for long enough and just got the job done. But I must say I have been amazed to see as little attention on that appauling refereeing display as there has been.
Jerry
Guest
It was actually 2003. For me it wasn't the scrums that were shocking it was that England afterwards managed to hold on to the ball and rumble up the field so easily. For most of that game the AB forwards actually edged the battle for possession, but when their backs were against the wall the English pack (or what was left of it with two men off) really stepped up. It's also interesting to think that only a couple of years later at Twickenham the positions would be reversed with the All Black scrum holding England despite a numbers disadvantage.
stuff happens
Guest
Benjamin & Jerry I was not around for your original discussion about the Engalnd 6 man scrum in the WLG test in 2002. I remember being gobsmacked and thought I'd never see the day etc and thinking England really can win the next RWC. Then the foll week they took the Australian scrum for a walk around Mel.
Benjamin
Guest
IDon't worry, I had completely forgotten until it pinged onto the screen. I have literally paused the DVD on the final scrum. I believe England do get pinged. I'll check it out. Not a great DVD btw I wouldn't recommend.
Jerry
Guest
Ah well, faulty memory on my part. What happened directly afterwards? Did the ref ping England or was I imagining that also?
Benjamin
Guest
Really? Sorry, I must have forgotten. Anyhow, one better - I've just been perusing a Phil Vickery DVD (year long diary - that sort of thing), and it features the scrum. There were 3 re-sets and no collapses. Every scrum was balanced with no inch given on either side, and on every occasion Thompson and Hore/Mealamu popped up.
Jerry
Guest
That was me - I recall you were gonna try and find a youtube clip of it.
Benjamin
Guest
Jerry, OJ - do either of you recall having a conversation about the 6 man England scrum in the 02 Wellington test? You'll have to excuse me but I have forgotten with whom the debate occurred?!
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Certainly I'll be happy if the All Blacks win the Tri-Nations this year, but I'll be hoping for more dynamic back play on the end of year tour. If you're on the front foot, dominating possession and territory, I don't see why you can't use your backs. We don't have finishers out wide, but we're standing awfully flat. It bugs me when SA and Australia run more backline moves than we do, even if they're ineffective.
tarpo
Guest
O J, Style is nice, but this is Test match rugby where winning is what matters, 1st, 2nd & 3rd. Ask the NZ public.
Benjamin
Guest
OJ, I think that Henry is being conversative for various reasons; (i) he, and all other coaches, are getting used to the ELVs... thus if in doubt... stick it up your jumper. (ii) the ABs lost a lot of quality and players like Tuitivake, for example, are not ready for that step up in class. There is a clear divide in quality of the absent players and their replacements. This is after all a period of transition. (iii) throwing the ball around willy nilly only helped the ABs toward their loss against Australia. Winning is key. Good pack, good kicker. Play to your strengths. The return of McAlister will make a big difference and will give the back line a different dimension, as will the return of Rokocoko.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I'm not sure what to make of the All Blacks. Eden Park I thought was pragmatic. Newlands was any number of things, but it was a win. We seem to have gone conservative. Didn't Henry say he'd rather not win the World Cup if it meant playing this kind of rugby? Under the ELVs, the All Blacks are playing closer in style to the World Cup finalists than people would like to admit. Sure we're winning with tries instead of penalties, but the style of play is the same. Perhaps Henry sees this as the best way to win Tests in rebuilding mode. Winning certainly seems like the priority. Maybe he's conceded that we have a limited side? Surely he can't continue with this backline.
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Mark I agree and that is where the All Blacks tactics differed against the Wallabies in Auckland. They didn't wait for the Wallabies to make mistakes, they forced them into errors by kicking the ball out more often and kicking to the corners more instead of just down the middle of the field and attacking them at the lineout. To control the game and dictate the pace of the game, you need to win the majority of scrum feeds as the ball is in play for a lot longer and with the number of free kicks awarded and the ball being moved around the entire field more often, it's much harder to impose your tactics on a game. It's noticeable that after struggling to dominate the breakdown in the first 6 tests, the NZ forwards are displaying much better technique, committment and numbers in support of McCaw.
Mark
Guest
In Temba's defence, I think he feels similar to the Kiwi supporters after Sydney.....& the Boks made some seriously out of character mistakes. Sam I agree, it was nerve-wracking & there were two SA tries stopped by the officials, one for obstruction & one for the foot in touch. OJ - this kick back is fraught with danger, the theory is you wait for the oppositions mistake, what happens if they don't make one ?? Wallabies have beaten NZ b4 by making less mistakes when NZ focused on forcing the turnover/penalty. Still think the Boks will beat the Wallabies, currently NZ = 3/5, Aus = 2/3, SA = 1/4. Gotta say it looks like Brisbane might be the decider. Who would've thought it ?
Benjamin
Guest
There you go Temba, everyone's happy now. Onwards and upwards, there's always a game next week.
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Monty Conceding possession to the opposition is what the Crusaders have been doing successfully for the past few seasons but you have to be extremely accurate in your tactical kicking and work at the breakdown to apply pressure and the two constants for both sides is McCaw and Carter but it's not my favourite aspect of the game under the ELV's.
TembaVJ
Guest
No you are right its not Benjamin, Congratulations to the All Blacks, its no easy job holding the world Champs to nil at home, there is no other team who could of done that.
Benjamin
Guest
1. This was a case of SA handing it to NZ not NZ taking it away from SA. 2. OJ one All Black played a phenomenal game, the rest including Carter was average. The endless list of mistakes by the Saffers handed them an easy victory with a cherry on top. McCaw and the South African mistakes won the game for NZ. Nobody is trying to hang you, nor paint a picture. Offering objective congratulations isn't that difficult.
Monty String
Guest
Sam - Some perceptive points as usual, but what dismays me is your thought that the opposition having the ball could be the other team’s best option. I think back to the roaring days of rugby. When players like Zinzin, Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Campo and Horan had the ball, rugby was exciting because players like that had possession. Hoping to produce a mistake with an up-and-under from your own 30 or 40 is negative rugby, and I’m not a fan of the tactic. I’m sure you’re not, either. Incidentally, have you noticed that the ELVS have made the ref the star of the show? Last point: if you have any influence with the NZRU, get them to ask Dan Carter not to attempt droppies in traffic. You might also ask Brad Thorn why he didn’t play on Saturday. But don’t stand too close to him.