Wow! What a spectacle that Ellis Park test match was. The atmosphere was out of this world. The chants and deafening noise during the Haka and throughout the game was testament to the occasion.
The Boks finally brought their ‘total’ game we all knew they were capable of playing. I’ve been very cynical and critical of them lately and still maintain that, if they had produced the goods on tour, they may very well have lifted the rugby championship trophy on Saturday night.
A few questions have been answered this weekend in my opinion. Firstly, Pollard and Lambie are the Bok’s best options at flyhalf. They were both magnificent on Saturday. Morne Steyn should still be part of the mix, but I’m not sure how yet? Pollard has done enough to keep his starting place in my opinion. He seems to be really enjoying his rugby, a wry smile from him in the fifty third minute said as much.
Francois Hougaard’s game best suits the Springbok’s style and he should be our number one option going forward. Fourie Du Preez, when available, our number two, Reinach our number three and Ruan Pienaar, as talented as he is, our number four.
A few questions remain unanswered. Who can they trust to take the tighthead reign from a desperately overplayed Jannie Du Plessis? This, I currently have no answer for. There are too many contenders out injured to stake a claim for the jersey. Van Der Merwe has done well with the opportunities he’s been given so far.
The number thirteen jersey has a few contenders in my opinion. JJ Engelbrecht would fit perfectly into the setup and should be brought in as soon as possible now that he has returned from injury. If any of you caught the Sharks versus Lions Currie Cup game on Friday night, you may have seen the big Andre Esterhuizen making a huge impact. Surely it’s time to take this talented youngster on tour?
If I believed the Boks were lucky to pip it in the end last week, then surely they were fortunate this time round? A fifty five meter herculean effort from Patrick Lambie, to take the lead in the closing stages, was the difference in the end.
Both sides played brilliantly but weren’t without their flaws. There were two lazy side entries, one by Jannie Du Plesis in the nineteenth minute and another by JP Pietersen in the sixty eighth minute, both had dire consequences for the Springboks. They are the type of errors that can change the course of a game.
The All Blacks lacked accuracy on attack at times, a lot of it had to do with the sheer pressure being applied in defence by both sides. In saying that, their backs were immense for the most part. Julian Savea was a very close candidate for man-of-match with his devastating runs. His chip kick in the thirty third minute and break in the fourty fourth minute were all class.
The All Blacks’ impact players shaded the Boks’ this time round. Steve Luatua was ever present and made some decent lineout gains as well.
The All Blacks showed why they have been so difficult to beat over the years. They are certainly an ‘eighty-minute team’. They never give up, never stop believing, never fade. The answer is there if you want to beat them (it’s not an easy one): Never lose focus, don’t make mistakes in your own half, never let them have a sniff.
Ultimately, the Springboks can be content with their showing in the Championship this year, not delighted, just content. It was very nearly one win from four games for them.
I won’t go into too much detail on the Argentina, Wallabies game later in the evening, other than to congratulate Argentina on breaking the duck and offer my commiserations to the Wallabies for a close loss after a terrible week in the media.
I believe Bernard Foley’s complaints regarding his eyes being lasered during place kicks. What I can’t believe is someone would actually be that selfish and deem it acceptable to laser a player in the eyes during a place kick. It’s disgraceful. I’m not sure what can be done to stop it other than strip searching everyone on entry to the ground.
All in all, it was a magical finish to the Rugby Championship. We can now look forward to the outgoing tours, a topic to be discussed in more detail I’m sure.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Nicely said OB Thanks again for your response. You know, i never knew you were an AB fan as you offer much pathos to the losing fans. You are a very humble rugby fan. I do hope they maintain this style of play going forward and persist with the new halfback incumbents. We'll have to wait and see. As you say, I wish all nations would perform at this level as it would surely be good for the game. For you, it must be lonely at the top. Hopefully the SBs gave you a glimmer of hope that they may challenge you ever so often. Just please don't lose to England as we'll never hear the end of it!!!
Old Bugger
Guest
Hi Brendan Firstly, let me congratulate the SBs and their supporters for the win - while the result may not be ideal for me and my side, I'd like to believe that overall, the sport was the winner also for allowing us all, to be witnesses once again, to a clash of the titans. I doff my hat to the SBs for the manner with how they approached and implemented a strategy that a month ago seemed so foreign to not only the coach but, also the players. As you know, we ( and many others also) were so critical of the SBs game plan, strategies and game execution that the criticism seemed justified. Well no more and the confidence expressed by supporters such as yourself, BB, HJ, AvZ and many others can only grow as the team provides more success particularly in the upcoming EOYT. I shouldn't be disappointed with the result even if my team was the vanquished - the game higlighted the old adage that it is an 80min battle and for 79 minutes, it looked like my side would pinch the victory... but, not to be. There will be many more battles between our sides and consequential results of joy or despair, as one side will prevail over the other. I shall not use this opportunity to offer any diagnosis because quite frankly, it would do no good to anyone trying to dissect such a monumental match played with great respect and the highest degree of player performance from all 46 players. OK, there was the odd argie-bargie, but that just invigorated the players, the spectators and the TV audience to wish for more passion...and we as supporters, got that by the bucket-full. My only concern, which I guess is the concern of many SB supporters - is this a one-off display to be flashed once per year....gees, I hope not and to that end, I hope this is the step to another level for the SB side because as an AB supporter, this is the game I'd like to see played by every side because then, this game can truly look forward to becoming the global sport it so richly deserves.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Hi Fredstone. I was never a non-believer. That's exactly why I've been so hard on the Boks over the last few weeks. It will take a long time before I forget that Perth disaster. Fair enough, the Boks may have killed the AB counter attack, at times, in the first half, but certainly didn't in the second. Retallick would have made no difference. I agree with you on Mohoje. Hasn't he played well? I'm glad you mentioned Luataua because I've always rated him. You obviously know your stuff because I believe you're right in saying the ABs biggest weakness is attacking from slow phase possession. If you loosen up, you risk being torn to pieces. The trick is to not panic and have a world class back three to deal with the well placed kicks. Huge improvement all round. I just hope they persist with this game plan going forward. A good mix of crash ball runners & backs play is so important. Hopefully our super rugby teams adopt this style!
fredstone
Guest
Well Brendan are you a beleiver now? The signs, as I tied to point out to you, have been there for a while. The Boks killed the AB counter attack, which most NZ teams see as a legitimate game plan, which you can negate as soon as you understand that fact, after which they had to work extremely hard and looked very one dimensional. Maybe Retallick would've made a difference, but the ABs were dominated at break down in the previous test as well, so maybe not. The chipcick try was also a fairly lucky event off a retreating scrum, can't remeber, but think he kicked with his inside foot, which made it even more of a lotery that tight up against the touchline. Best constructive tries were scored by the Boks. Kaino reminded me of an Aus loosie, he was missing for large parts, but then his tight five were getting hammered. Mohoje may be labeled a quota player in SA, but I'm sure Aus would take him every day of the week and NZ may also, given the failings of their blindsides over the weekend. Luataua actually surprised me, thought it was going to be game over when he came on and then he stole a line out and played generally well and got up after getting smashed to get smashed again. But that was what pointed to the AB's biggest weakness, they've got maybe one or two options when the hard yards had to be done from slow phase posession and it's going to get tougher from here I think for them to make those yards since everybody has now seen the little first receiver pop pass. Which eventually is what made them a bit one dimentional on attack I think. Not to say the Boks were not one dimensional with their one up runners, but at least they make the ad line for the most part, and that's without Alberts. So given all that, Boks unlucky not to win by more than seven and ABs unlcuky to lose, but that's rugby I guess.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
AvZ. Who do you play for?
Harry Jones
Expert
Great to see guys like Eben and Handré and Jan win ag NZ bc they don't have the mental baggage
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
That is what I also wanted to say. Andre is a great guy but he's very arrogant about his size. He has the tendency to try impose himself and when someone stops him he tends to get angry and he'll keep running straight at them until he makes his point. And people talking up his size goes to his head. Don't get me wrong when he gets angry he gets aggressive but naturally sometimes that turns into obsession and he makes mistakes. But he'll learn and mature.
Harry Jones
Expert
Be careful w that injury. Build up all surrounding ligaments & muscle. Shoulder is tricky odd joint
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
He is a beast. I'd love to see a centre of that size in the Bok setup. he is very young though. A lot of learning ahead of him. Jaque Fourie for sure Armand. I really miss seeing him there. Has a lot more to give I'm sure. Maybe in next years RWC?
I was watching Andre the past weekend, he is too reliant on his physicality which doesn't allow him to naturally develop his weaknesses. He scored a try by running over his defender and then later in the match got binned for using the elbow. He has great potential, but there is much improvement necessary.
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
We won Harry, barely but a win is a win. I did ok but I dislocated my shoulder so I'm out for a while but not long. It hurts like hell.
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
We should just be patient with Andre he will become insanely good. Can you imagine a 110kg centre like that for us? I would love to see him and Savea clash. Good thing is he can play winger as well. Jaque Fourie is also there. If he's on form I would love him at 13.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Don’t be sorry Bilt. It wasn’t you holding the laser pointer. It’s the responsibility of the UAR to provide an acceptable and safe venue and environment for rugby. That was compromised in Mendoza and the UAR were the only party who failed their responsibilities on the weekend. Although, (as moaman points out) this is nothing new in that it’s occurred throughout other RC fixtures, it is a reasonably new issue rugby is faced with in the scheme of things. Hopefully this will help to enforce some sort of protocol when/if players are faced with it in the future. I certainly don’t expect a player to come up with something on the fly while in the heat of battle. As I said, Foley did bring it to Owens attention during the game. One can only assume he was told to get on with it (or words to that affect).
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Stick with JDV for now. We need decent backup at 13 before we allow him to retire. Serf is not a 13 and is hopefully temporarily fulling that void.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Fair enough Colin. The youngsters are probably more up for it than him, and more available.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Good stuff Wii. Exactly the point I made in this article and my previous article about last week's game. We were fortunate to win on both occasions. That being said, the improvement at home has been immense. Hopefully this is it now, no old school tactics.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Very kind of you Nick. I'm so pleased you have also managed to keep perspective over these last few weeks. I hope there's huge regret in the camp for failing to win the Championship. They need to realise how close they were and keep that in mind for next season. Agreed, the top 12 in world rugby are much closer now than before. The Boks have a mountain to climb against Joe Schmidt's Ireland!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Yep I meant Hendricks (cant you all saffas be called De Villiers, Fourie, Le Roux etc!!! ;) I feel for De Jongh, he has been around for quite a while but has never been given carte blanche to show over 3-4 tests what he is worth. I like Jdv's attitude but I feel he is fast becoming another John Smit (i.e. a captain whop isn't outstandingly better than other options), or at least he will be next year perhaps. Its a tough one for Meyer as in a way we know you have to be the best in tighter, more forwards oriented games to win a rwc (see AB in 2011) so you definitely need to master both styles. But when you see what your guys can do when they use everyone, it just feels like he is rarely using all his cards. I also think they were really on mentally this w-e, something that hasn't always been the case in the past.
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
It was. I would definitely go as far as saying that we deserved that win and were better on the day. The continuity was a huge step up from last week. Loved Hougaard's try. Amazing!
Brendan Hope
Roar Guru
Interesting to hear Armand. Perhaps JJ is the only other player we can bring in to fill that void. His defence is also suspect at times.