New Zealand stand supreme atop the fiery volcano of world rugby and don’t look likely to slip into the fire.
When the World Cup comes next year, the All Blacks’ fans expect their team to engulf the opposition like lava running down the hill.
And why not? They have a firm grip on the 2014 Rugby Championship trophy. However, I will poke my stick into the fire and stir the coals by saying that adding the Webb Ellis Cup to their cabinet will be another matter.
The All Blacks have a superb combination. Their big men give as good as they get in big-five hot box, Richie McCaw is a canny-fingered thief at the breakdown, his loose forwards are adept at stealing ball at the turnover, and they have an inventive backline that can poke holes in a defence.
When a game goes their way and they dominate possession and territory, there’s no stopping them. Steve Hansen can sit comfortably in the stands when the All Blacks are on song; no anxious hopping about the box for him.
But when McCaw and his men were under pressure in their own half, their defence looks no better than the Springboks. The ease with which the South African backline cut through their defence to score a try, courtesy of a clever pass from Handre Pollard, underlines the fact.
It’s uncharitable to suggest that the All Blacks have an overall defensive weakness. We also allowed a try through a defensive lapse when a pinpoint kick found Kieran Read, who slipped a slick pass to McCaw for a try near the touchline.
The All Blacks got home 14-10 in the ‘Cake Tin’ at Wellington and cut themselves another tasty slice of Championship dessert.
The All Blacks won because they dominated possession and territory, with a skilful barrage of backline attacks and up-and-unders. The Springboks’ defence held magnificently for the most part, but it’s difficult to defend against such a varied attack.
If South Africa had managed to play more often in the New Zealand half, there could have been a different outcome. Our continual kick-and-chase tactics didn’t pay off. The All Blacks backs brought the game back into our half and posed a threat for most of the game. You can’t give away over 60 per cent of possession and territory and expect to win.
If Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer opts for a more varied game plan, we have the men to beat the All Blacks. Turn up the heat by getting and staying in their half. South Africa showed what they could do at Ellis Park last year. It was a match they gave themselves a chance of winning.
There wasn’t much of an age difference between the two sides in Wellington: the All Blacks average 27 years, the Springboks 28. But Meyer would be wise to stop hanging on to the old guard from the 2007 World Cup. We need big forwards, but they have to be mobile, too. Some of the older stars just don’t have the pace about the field anymore. Better tactics and a more mobile pack of forwards, who can play 80 minutes, can turn up the heat.
We won’t need ‘Suzie the Indian waitress’, whose meal the All Blacks said upset their stomachs and blamed for defeat in the 1995 World Cup. We’ll have a right recipe and the men for success come next year.
StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
That's a rather presumptuous insinuation. Exactly how is one supposed to be aware just which
nationscolonies would occupy the various seeding berths? Unless you desire this situation to escalate one must insist you retract your comment.StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
You can always hope, but I'm with RT on this one.
StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
RT, the RWC might start on firmish ground (well as firm as the muddy island can be), but by the second half of October it's going to be wet and muddy... unless the weather is very very unusual. Twickers though like most world class stadia has very good drainage and may not be as soft underfoot as it usually is on the EOYT which typically occur 2 to 3 weeks later than when the RWC final will be played. Even so, it's RWC time and anything can and normally does happen - my expectations though are rather conventional, despite the odd upset earlier on, it's going to be between Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa... I don't see the current Wallabies side as being able beat any two of those teams in successive games so even if they make the final winning the cup will probably be a step too far, the other three sides? Depth of squad can be crucial and in this respect the Boks are left wanting, they have more positions where the drop between 1st and 2nd or 3rd choice is bigger than for England and New Zealand, so they may enter the finals with a bit of a limp, it wouldn't be the first time a team has done that and won the cup! Just because they have a record that you simply cannot argue against the All Blacks have to be favourites (and hopefully that jinxes them!!) and since I'm more South African than English, it's the Boks that get 2nd place with the hometown boys right up there.
Ajax
Guest
Im tipping a Bokke upset. Barret I dont think is as creative as Cruden, who they will miss... South Africans all think they should have won that last game except they panicked at the end.... Should be game of the season I think.
Beef
Guest
This post talks more about All Blacks than Boks.How the ABs are dominant in world rugby, and how Boks, at their best, can't beat a terrible AB side.
Old Bugger
Guest
moaman My understanding is points allocation holds more credence if you succeed against a side ranked above you. Unfortunately for the ABs, they are the last side on the ladder so any loss will have a greater impact on them seemingly because, it is to a side lower in ranking. Just like their pedantic efforts to administer the game, IMO they couldn't arrange a piss-up in a brewery let alone sort out how the ranking system should work.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep but its relative... and with more sophisticated training methods and diets, of course they will be bigger today but those mentioned were considered to be small men who all excelled. The old saying a 'good big man will always beat a good little man' probably rings true but there are exceptions.
Ball'n'all
Guest
That was then. They weren't playing against the size, strength and fitness of the players today. Skill transcends eras, but those players at 70kg or so would suffer in today's competition due to lack of size. If they played today, they would all be bigger anyway because of the training they would do along with everyone else.
Jerry
Guest
Hence the 'not a good indicator'. NZ outplayed SA for most of the match but weren't able to put them away. That's due to good SA defence more than poor NZ attack (though it was poor at times) but NZ created way more chances than SA.
fredstone
Guest
The question to ask is which of the NZ side would make the SB side if all is fit, well, not many I would guess. Not 1, not 2 or replacement 2 maybe 3, not 4 maybe replacement 4, maybe 5,6 probably, not 7 maybe replacement 7, maybe 8, not 9, replacement 9, 10 and maybe replacement 10, not 11, maybe 12 maybe 13, 14, maybe 15, maybe replacemnt outside back depending on who you pick at 13.
moaman
Guest
Old Bugger; { "through 35 tests or thereabouts the ABs have played since the 2011 RWC final, that these matches have served up 1 loss, 2 draws " } And yet--and yet had RSA prevailed at Wellington by 15+ points I was told they would takeover the #1 Ranking! How is that an equitable arrangeent?
moaman
Guest
JeffRo---unfortunately it is more likely that were they to meet--it would be a semi-final again (for the 2nd time running;destined ie not actually meeting).There has to be a fault with a seeding system that fast-tracks #4 to a Final's berth on one side of the draw and pits 1 v 2 v 3 on the other side. Cunning really.So cunning you could pin a tail on it.....
Old Bugger
Guest
RT Well said in both posts.....and I do agree, it will require an opponent to play a low risk game plan without the open attacking style the ABs are used to, to overcome and succeed against the ABs. And, if I think back the past 2.5 seasons, there have certainly been some games where the ABs have been drawn out of their own comfortable rugby style and forced by virtue of the opponent on the day, to play rugby that is quite rightly, against all manner of the AB rugby style. I am elated that the ABs have been forced to play these games and I hope that more similar games are offered on this year's EOYT - practice can only provide improvement - to learn more about survival in the trenches. It isn't biased, arrogant or insulting...it is simply my observation and I hope everyone else's observation through 35 tests or thereabouts the ABs have played since the 2011 RWC final, that these matches have served up 1 loss, 2 draws and the rest on the plus side of the record which included matches that were played, deep in the trenches. To think the ABs would not learn from these battles would be naive....but, more of these types of matches can only give them lessons learned opportunities, leading into September/October 2015.
The Twins
Roar Rookie
oops - spell-cherk - regurgitating....was what I meant to say...
The Twins
Roar Rookie
maybe not....very skittery they were...very skittery
Harry Jones
Expert
Willie was a 9 on defence; a 5 on attack! Weird! Opposite Day...
Harry Jones
Expert
SA will be hard to knock out in England. Louw might be the ace in the hole.... Always enjoy your posts RT. Even when I'm sloshed.
RobC
Roar Guru
Yup, and a tackle which felled The Bus into the touch, havent seen m/any do that
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Thanks moaman ...... definitely no offence taken! You actually should watch it but cannot guarantee the tension level would be the same. Was not the greatest game you will see but there was so much drama attached to that game. I had the absolute best seats... front row above the players tunnel. I caught myself holding my breath several times in the second half when the French were serving it to us ...
moaman
Guest
Harry; I thought LeRoux made a couple of vital saves on the goal line to, at least partially, redeem himself.