All Black rugby is beautiful. The lads from New Zealand have the sweetest passes, the most swerving runs by big men, and an unshakeable belief in their style come rain or shine.
As reigning world champions, ranked number one by the IRB, and undefeated at Eden Park since 1994, nothing should detract from their excellence.
All praise goes to storming Kieran Read, who was the very definition of a captain and an eighth-man on Saturday night.
Even his yellow card was smart: He sucked up all the pressure and defused South Africa’s drive to win what might be a vital bonus point.
His pack played well; Brodie Retallick was particularly strong, Liam Messam ensured he was all over the place, Sam Cane gave his all.
Added to their great play, New Zealand were also fortunate to be matched up to (a) a hooker-less Springbok pack; then (b) a Bok team without primary ball carrier Willem Alberts; then (c) a scrum that went from outweighing the All Blacks by 25 kg to being about 100 kg lighter, meaning that the full-bore Bok demolition of the New Zealand pack at the first scrum would never be repeated.
Despite these advantages, the All Blacks won fair and square, as a direct result of their own actions.
When Carter walked off, Beauden Barrett waltzed on, and sliced through the Bok defence.
You have to admire the calm sportsmanship and clever football skills of the Kiwis.
An exception is Ma’a Nonu, who started the first half brawl (and lost his one-on-one), and delivered a late shoulder charge to Jean de Villiers’ head.
But South African rugby is savagely beautiful, too.
What makes it beautiful is ironically encapsulated in Bismarck du Plessis’ play on the park.
His tackle of Dan Carter was lovely: brutal, accurate, well-timed; the product of perfect body position and years of power-production.
Up to that point, he had been Gulliver, wading among Lilliputians. His pace and raw presence made him stand out.
The ability to get to Carter, with ball and all, and avoid illegality was South African strength personified. He did hurt him. Legally.
Everyone wants to put a real hit on Carter; few get there.
That’s the beauty of Bok rugby. When Bismarck returned, he guided the driving maul, another South Africa art form, to a crescendo.
The elbow through Liam Messam’s tackle was a snap instinct. I’ve never seen that result in a card; the referees should be taken aside by the IRB and shown their carding mistakes, so that they can avoid compounding their errors in the future.
But South Africa’s brand of rugby requires a slow, relentless building of pressure. Take away the bone-crushing tackles and there’s no way to apply the vice.
Ultimately, New Zealand won at Eden Park. Of course.
South Africa lost their hooker and played with 14 men for most of the match, but only lost by 14 points, with a few chances left begging.
Could the Boks have played better? Sure. But very few visiting teams could have suffered an early try and a red card at Eden Park and avoided a massacre.
High altitude Ellis Park, in Fortress Johannesburg, awaits.
Stevo TP
Guest
I think the appropriate referee would have been Mr Joubert. Everybody would have to agree with his decision in this most delicate of matters.
eugchamb
Guest
So the same can be said about Bakkies and Butch? It's not about Nonu being mean, its about the IRB and the system being biased (imo) when it comes to certain players. If the Nonu tackle on JdV was executed by either Butch or Bakkies both of them would've been cited after the game and both would've been suspended for a period of time. It is nearly a week after the game and still no mention of any citing............
paul from melbourne
Guest
Harry, Nonu is not mean, he just has a lot of dumb moments
jk
Guest
some of my fellow kiwi fans are very dissapointing in the comments section. the payers and cosaches were right there in the heat of the battle and yet immediately afterwards HM and JDV were supremely dignified. and DC and others oozed class in their responses. why can't some of us class it up a bit? Can't we least try to be as dignified and gracious as the main leaders of the team we profess to love and support? frequently being the best team in recent years should allow us the perfect vantage point from which to be dignified and take the higher ground especially when winning , instead of grubby and shot taking. some of the SA posters for example have been articulate and excellent. thanks for the reasoned and thought provoking article Harry
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Sylvester if you give one team a warning after 2 offenses you should apply it to the other team as well. That is called a fair contest. Where it happened on the park or intentional or not is irrelevant. Stopping momentum is stopping momentum.
Sylvester
Guest
Harry, It's too exhausting trying to discuss this with you... Most laws have a degree of interpretation and discretion. Foul play, less so. This incident is not comparable to copping a stray elbow or knee in a ruck.
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Sylvestor if the referee feels its wrong he can do what he want and he would be right. That is how wide the laws have been written. And the same referee took the game between SA and Scotland. Did you watch the game? If not go have a look
Sylvester
Guest
I wouldn't say either team is more or less likely to get carded for repeat infringements. There's too many variables that are factored in - how cynical it is, where on the field, whether the ref has issued a prior warning, etc.
Harry Jones
Expert
If someone drops in from Mars and watches their first rugby match, with a rule book in their (alien) hands, I can see that point. See the action, read the book, throw the book at forearm-user. But forearms, elbows, and shoulders are part of every pick and drive; and 9 times out of 10, no-one clutches their throat, and it's not after a false yellow card...so this incident is just not a normal one.
Sylvester
Guest
He's certainly no Bismarck...
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Professional fouls are against the spirit of the game. Reason why SA supporters feel unhappy cause the SA players do not get benefit of the doubt. Refs are eager to sound them off for repeated infringements in the first half. When you like a bit closer SA do not have most of the possession but their penalty count is lower than NZ year after year and yet the YC total for breakdown offenses is more for SA yet they conceded less in that area. NZ are allowed to transgress the same laws 6 or 7 times without getting binned where SA would be binned after 2 or 3 times. Not NZ fault but its a good example of the perception of referees and their view on the SA rugby team
Sylvester
Guest
Possibly it could have been penalised, but at full speed it would have looked like a standard bump off. For me, there is still clear difference to raising your arm up into the neck area when the tackler is fully upright.
Fox08
Guest
Hahahahahaha, legend. Must be that incredible physique of his. Good post Sly
Rassie
Roar Rookie
Sylvester irrelevant of the actions. Using is a stiff arm is illegal if the referee feels so. That is laws. Its written in a clever way to make sure officials can't be much proven wrong.
Sylvester
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMy3dOTqSGI
Sylvester
Guest
I think you have to judge each incident on its merits. Foul play is foul play, regardless of earlier mistakes. If it was for something more like a professional foul, the ref may have had a bit more discretion.
Fox08
Guest
Wax on,wax off
Sylvester
Guest
If you're the Karate Kid maybe, not for most rugby players...
IvanN
Guest
ok so then lets agree that was wreckless and deserved a card - could hte ref not have been told at HT that he made a mistake and have been more reluctant to hand that second yellow out ? 3 very harsh refereeing calls come to mind against the boks - im sure each team has had a fair share,but these 3 stuck in my mind.... 1. SA vs. Ireland in Ireland - Ref tells John Smit to talk to his team, he gathers the team in a huddle, Irish 9 takes a quick tap and scores a try - referee allows the try. 2. Bryce Lawrence - SA vs, Aus 2011 WC - no comment. 3. Romain Poite - SA vs. NZ - potential thriller ruined for both sides. Its ok though, because if SA win in JHB, all the we could have won at eden park calls will be vindicated, and if NZ smashes SA at ellis park - and we have 15 on 15 for the entire match - well then nobody should argue that SA should have / could have won - all this has done, is change the venue of the big match. Im done whining about this, it was 1 bad call, WC2011 was a series of bad calls, Cant wait for Ellis Park.... Pity we have to have a warmup against Aus first...
Fox08
Guest
What's wrong with a good Kiwi/SA mix? Jackson,Joubert,Kaplan + Kiwi , throw in a good TMO (no Ayoub pls) doesn't bother me who the actual ref is Hope everyone can get it through their heads that these okes don't cheat