New Zealand All Blacks’ Jerome Kaino, left, is tackled by South Africa’s Bryan Habana during their international rugby test at Westpac Stadium, in Wellington, New Zealand, Saturday, July 5, 2008. AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford
Not for the first time this season, the All Blacks enter a Test match under pressure. They face a World Champion Springbok team that has local media and fans gushing rapture over a Bokke that appears to be destined for greatness.
In fact, if the South Africans win, it will be the first time since 1998 that they have beaten their old foes twice in a calendar year.
It will also be the only time the All Blacks have lost more than two Test matches in a year under Graham Henry.
With Bulls first five Morné Steyn brought into the starting team, it is the strongest South African side that could be selected. With no disrespect to Schalk Burger, the team looks far more complete with the find of 2009 in the side, Heinrich Brussow.
But there are still caveats that the Springboks – World Champions and the IRB’s number one ranked side – must conquer before their metamorphosis into not only the best team on the planet, but to give credence to their fiercely proud supporters opinion.
First, they need to win the Tri Nations.
To do this, they will need to conquer a glaring weakness in the South Africans resume in the professional era – to win away from home.
Since 1996, the Springboks have won only four matches of 28 travelling to New Zealand or Australia. They are still to leave the comforts of home this year, and away wins in the Tri Nations can be championship sealers.
Secondly, they simply must, in the deep shadows of the stands of their fortress of Kings Park, beat this All Black team. For if the Springboks are as good as we are being led to believe, and equally if the All Blacks are as poor, then this should be a fait accompli.
New Zealand in many respects is a team that seems to not have switched the launch button so far this season, looking strangely out of sorts.
Some statistics would have us believe that this is a woeful All Black team, scoring the least amount of tries in their opening five matches of any opening run in the professional era.
Never mind the fact that they hosted probably the strongest Northern Hemisphere team (Les Bleus) seen in the South since Martin Johnson’s England toured.
Other descriptive terminology has been used.
Injury ridden doesn’t really apply now, as Dan Carter and Ali Williams are the only first choice players missing, and the former will likely be available for the All Blacks next match in Sydney.
Rebuilding is being used as well. Perhaps they are, but only Stephen Donald, Isaac Ross and Owen Franks are new faces to the starting XV, and there are still 544 test caps in the run on team (against 605 for the Springboks).
This is still almost the same team that 13 of 15 test matches last year and won everything on offer.
So what is wrong?
The good news for All Black supporters is that they couldn’t have played much worse at Bloemfontein.
Despite the fact that some sources believe that they were lucky not to get beaten by more (courtesy of some wayward goal kicking) they outscored the Springboks 13-3 in the third quarter of the match, and were but four point behinds and dominating before some poor decisions led to Jaque Fourie scoring a try and closing out the match.
Add to this the perplexing decision to not contest line outs; and really only Stephen Donald and Conrad Smith having strong games, and one could argue that the Springboks really didn’t so much win the game as much as the All Blacks lost it.
But this is not entirely fair.
The South African pack, led by new fetcher Brussow, was fantastic. They ruled the air, dominated the collision, and had at least parity in the scrums.
The only concern for South Africa could be that again, as it was against the Lions, their backline was not a key factor in their control of the game. However, successful Springbok teams do not rely on style or flashy play.
If the All Blacks do suddenly throw the switch and re-discover their running, up tempo game, then it could be a very different result.
Let us not forget that this is still an All Black team, and are defending a Tri Nations title they have won four years running.
Equally their pack, led by what is the most experienced loose forward trio in All Black history, is capable of gaining equivalence with the fabled South African forwards.
If this is done, and the Springbok power game can be nullified, then suddenly the inquisition may begin for the World Champions.
Durban has been a happy hunting ground for the All Blacks, winning three of their last four matches.
For the Springboks, they will look to draw inspiration from their first Kings Park clash in 1928, where they defeated New Zealand by their biggest ever margin, 17-0.
AndyS
Guest
Yeah, especially when Kiwi's always just smile and say nothing rather than bitching about how South Africans and Australians always complain about the ref.....
Sam Taulelei
Roar Guru
Agree Ben, but differ on one of your points. AB's did have a plan, we just didn't execute it anywhere near as well as the Boks. Don't ask me what the plan was as we're still searching for the blueprint together with the hidden meaning of Stonehenge, the location of Osama bin Laden and an unbiased All Blacks supporter.
Ben J
Guest
Oh the gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands...It's the ref, the cheating Boks but never the All Blacks's tactical naivity. Come on Kiwis, you'l have your turn in the sun again, maybe sooner than you think but please spare us the excuses. The Boks backline was magnificent in how they supported the forwards to play for territory. The Boks had a plan and the AB's did not, simple as that. Richie McCaw, the former best openside flanker in the world, were magnanimous in defeat and said they could not live with the pressure and that was that. Frans Steyn admitted that they fed off the mistakes of the All Blacks simply because it was so easy, you can't fault the Boks for exploiting that.
Hemjay
Guest
Amazing that South Africans and Australians are allowed to complain and slam the ref at will. As soon as the ABs and their fans have beef it's suddenly not alllowed and blasphemus. What a joke some people really need to take a look at themselves because it was only a few weeks ago that many of you were crying foul.
Hemjay
Guest
New Zealand even after two losses in a row remains the only country in the world to have a positive record against all commers. Also by a country mile the best performer in the history of the Tri-Nations. I'm not one to bag the refs but Owen had a absolute shocker in the first 40, Steyn taking the ball out of the scrum, Ross's sinbinning. How JP only got a yellow for his intentional clothesline was beyond me. Then Bakkes head wranger in the 2nd 40 also left many dumbfounded. However in the 2nd forty the ABs played appallingly probably the worst I have ever seen them play. But still the Boks only managed to win by 12 that is what surprised me most of all. One Tri-Nations title to the Boks isn't the end of the world considering that will only take them to 3 still a hell of a long way short of the ABs 9.
Knives Out
Guest
Fred, I wouldn't be so definite. It's a long tournament and SA has won twice at home. NZ haven't looked great but the same thing happened this time last year. There's a lot to moan about, but hey it's a marathon and not a sprint. Cheer up. I'm not a Kiwi, btw. Not sure if you think I am, but I'll clarify.
Colin N
Guest
"The more I see NH refs at this level the more I’m convinced they can only ref one team at a time" It's better than us watching the Southern Hemisphere refs, who just can't seem to ref at all.
Photon
Guest
It's the referee' fault, no it's the dirty play of the boks, no it's the stupid rule that penalises infringements with penalties. All this crying about how unfair life is. Winners are grinners... The truth is, ultimately spiro is right to beat the boks you need to be able to win half your own line out ball. Otherwise penalties are useless, kicking is useless and the only way to get to the opposition try line is by scoring end to end tries which is bloody hard. If anyone disagree I'd be pleased to be informed as to how you expect to get field position from a penalty if you aren't prepared to kick the ball out. To me it's all hansen's fault. The all black lineout is rubbish and it's been bad for ages but now it's truly shocking. If their lineout worked even semi efficiently they would have got field position scored some tries and lost by less maybe even won. The errors the blacks made where made to look worse caus a knock on in your own 22 is far more of a problem than a knock on on the half way line. But suck it up boys I'm loving the rugby bokke. 18th coming of jesus, you better believe in knives out two more wins and it's all over red rover
hammer
Guest
The more I see NH refs at this level the more I'm convinced they can only ref one team at a time - just don't seem capable of focusing on both teams - a poor ref who tried to even things up with sloppy yellow to Ross - which directly effected the halftime scoreline but still the AB's made far too many fundamental errors - and you've got to give credit to boks they took advantage of anther sloppy display
FRED
Guest
tarpo,well said.every game it seems at least one side is disenchanted with ref decisions. lets concentrate on the controllables the truth is the abs were outplayed,out thought and bok played to simple basics;their strengths ab pressured risk taking approach was capitalised on by the bok why pressured ?cos abs cant do basics right at set piece. wayne smith guru of the left field tactics ;exposed again .when will they learn
tarpo
Guest
Well done to the Boks, they were far better on the day. The ABs were terrible, yes even worse than the Ref (who was ordinary). Interesting to watch the binding of all the tightheads during the game, the vast majority of the time they bound on LHs arm. This was what Baxter was pinged repeatly for in Auckland, it would be nice for all concerned if we had some consistency here.
Peter K
Guest
OJ read Katzillas reply, he accepts the Abs do exactly the same so you cannot complain about it.
Peter K
Guest
No, my point was as I stated before was that the AB's reveled in being the best cheats in the world. You even supported their play. So do not complain if other sides cheat better for once. You were happy with Jouberts inept reffing and Owen had a better display but you now complain about him.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
So what, it's all right for you guys to complain about Joubert and every other ref, but we're supposed to lump it because we're tactically naive and poorly coached?
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
Look at the way Owens reffed the scrum in Durban. Who could make heads or tails of it? I actually thought that was the best the backs have played all year. They made a number of strong runs, but could only finish one of them. There was some great defence (stripping the ball in the tackle) and some cynical crap. How can you pass when you're clotheslined? They dropped a lot of ball, but the intent was there and they looked good shifting it wide. There was one moment when Nonu should have passed, but other than that I thought the back play was a hell of a lot braver than kick, chase, infringe. We're still spending way too much time in our own 22, but to be honest, I think our defence has been unsettled by the randomness of the refereeing. Ross, for example, clearly asked if the ball was out. Owens said nothing. Ross made a play at it. Yellow card. For what? Because Kaino had been penalised twice?
Peter K
Guest
OJ - Do not complain about how much the boks get away with, the AB's get away with that and much more, except for foul play.
True Tah
Guest
As frustrated as I was in the Eden Park test perhaps, when it seemed as if we couldnt pack a scrum without giving a penalty??? A lot of Kiwis I know used to refer to Tuqiri as the ball-dropping Fijian, well last night the All Blacks had two of them. The issues with the All Black backline is that they are playing brilliant individually, but abysmally as a team. Passes were being thrown without putting it in front of the man, a lot of individual runners were isolated. Prior to Brussow, this might not have been so bad against SA, but now the turnovers will be costly with him around.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Also all the crap the Saffas get away with we get away with too. Rodney is one the worst exponents in the game of 'Falling' onto the wrong side of the ruck. And we had our hands all over the ball on the ground as well. The difference being that DuPreez is good enough to make it not matter. Fast ball clearing and decisive option taking. Im pissed at the ABs more then any other factor. They embarassed themselves and every other NZ rugby player.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Your right Fred. I'm not too peeved about the ref. He made some calls against us that changed the flow of the game but thats what happens when your stagnant and error ridden. Things start to stack up against you. This ABs showing was one of the worst i've seen in my lifetime. I dont know what the end stat was but early in the second half the ABs had made 20 unforced errors. Truely school boy stuff. Im glad Hanson sorted out a counter to the mauling, but the players forgot how to catch and pass the ball. The Boks deserve to be where they are at the moment. Their forward pack is great, with Brussouw looking like it could be one of the best. But their backline leaves no impression. If Australia get a third of the ball they will make the SA backline look like a lump of swiss cheese. They just need to sort out that candy floss forward pack.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
Mate, you'll just have to wait until next weekend to understand how frustrating it is to play the Boks. They're offside the entire time and off their feet at every ruck. The only guy who legitimately stands up in the ruck is Brussow. The rest play the ball on the ground under the guise of this new tackle law. Why didn't Rokocoko ground the ball? Probably trying to counter attack or maybe avoid a South African diving on him with an elbow. That didn't really cost us the game, though. We were screwed by the Issac Ross send-off. We were in no way, shape of form good enough to win that Test match, but it was the same BS as the Super 14 final. The Boks got away with murder and we were hammered in the penalty count again.