As the old adage goes, close but no cigar. I am sure Heyeneke Meyer and his charges will be feeling this way for second consecutive week after their heartbreaking loss the All Blacks.
Ranked the top two teams in the world, the ultimate difference between these two heavyweights was and continues to be simply putting the proverbial “icing on the cake”. Finishing is an art form, it is by far the hardest element to master. At the highest level of rugby, and any sport for that matter, a team or an individual will only get a few moments in a particular contest to take the game away from their opponent.
Momentum is the key word and not just in regards to the ebb and flow of a game. Momentum can be created by an exceptional play during the game, a referees decision, foul play etc. Thus it will always swing between two opponents through the course of a contest. However championship teams know how to take advantage of their momentum swing and create a winning play through belief in their team’s ability and their previous experiences of being in a similar position.
The Springboks had plenty of momentum throughout the game particularly in the first half, however they failed to capitalise during those moments and finish off point-scoring opportunities. While you can argue the Boks did come away with points through various penalty kicks, my point relates to the Boks having the opportunity to score tries at critical moments in the game and create scoreboard pressure by forcing the All Blacks to play catch up on the scoreboard.
A perfect example of capitalising on a momentum swing (albeit created by a poor kick and chase from the Boks) was Ben Smith’s try right on the stroke of halftime after a scintillating break from All Blacks flyhalf Lima Sopoaga. That was a one of a few key moments, as the All Blacks who had been outplayed throughout the half were level on points at the break.
Carlos Spencer in studio still said “The All Blacks would have been happy going in at half time 10-3 down after being outplayed during the first stanza, let alone 10 all”.
The All Blacks only need two or three moments during a game to win it, this is because those moments are capitalised upon more often than not. In fact I can’t remember the last time this All Blacks team failed to capitalise on a scoring opportunity.
With Boks we have seen them seemingly in full control of a game and lose it at the death, Australia twice in the last two years, the All Blacks over the weekend and even Wales on last year’s end of year tour. This highlights to a disturbing trend that when presented with an opportunity to close out a game they are unable to do so, this reflects directly to the real inner belief and composure the team has.
I am not saying for one second that the Boks are cursed like the famous American baseball team the Boston Red Sox where they are going to have wait for close to a century to gain a trophy. But the inability to finish off scoring opportunities and game changing scoring opportunities at that, should and will be a major concern for Heyneke and his brainstrust. That ability to take opportunities at critical moments can’t be coached; it is the player’s responsibility, players thinking clearly in their decision making during that critical moment.
The Boks have come a very long way in four years in regards to having a more open approach to their style and decision making with ball in hand. They have been enterprising and to some extent unpredictable at times in their approach.
Players such as Willie Le Roux, Handre Pollard and certainly Jesse Kriel of late are proponents of this exciting approach. But what they and the collective group need to harness is having a steady demeanor when presented with momentum shifts and taking full advantage of them.
There is no better exponent of this than the All Blacks. I can recall games against Australia in Brisbane last year and against Ireland in Dublin whereby seemingly dead and buried they found a way to hold their composure and score at the most critical times, that being at the end of the game. And there is no more critical moment than scoring points and claiming victory with the last throw of the dice.
Their ability to hold their nerve is what makes this current generation of players so special, at the critical moment when everything is on the line the All Blacks will and do find a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat – that is real belief in yourself and team mates. Be it through a never-before-seen lineout move over the weekend or a try created from inside your own half on the last movement of the game, that trust in one another, their systems and coaches is ingrained in the All Blacks psyche.
This is not to say the All Blacks winning Old Bill at the end of year is a foregone conclusion, far from it. What will keep opposing teams up at night is knowing that when those critical moments of pressure do arise (and believe me they will) the All Blacks embrace that pressure and become even more difficult to beat due to their mental resolve and you knowing they will create an opportunity towards the end to win.
The Boks will only learn this by being in those situations and making a habit of finding a way to win when all seems lost. And that is up to the players currently donning the green and gold.
Ralph
Guest
Okay, got it now.. :)
kiwi
Guest
OB, I have watched the last five-or-so minutes of those two matches numerous times on YouTube since they were played. Even knowing the result it's still hard at the end to believe that we won! The pressure/tension/atmosphere must have been unbelievable live at the ground. Imagine being on the field?!? I'm always left with this mixture of incredulity, disbelief, adrenaline, a little awe, and a whole lot of "YES!!!!!!" It's actually not a bad tonic for a day that hasn't gone so well, sometimes. Maa Nonu's bootless break down the middle of the park - and sublime pass to Israel Dagg - is another moment that'll do it, also. Richie's line-out try this weekend will also probably end up there, once I've fully processed the fact that we actually did win that game! Of course we don't always win. Historically - even as recently as Ellis Park last year (and seemingly an endless number of times to Australia over the years) - we've managed to find ourselves on the receiving end in those crucial moments. To me, that's why humility is so important in victory, and genuine respect vital all the rest of the time.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, it's sort of that we WANT to take responsibility instead of ducking from it, but that can backfire on a rugby pitch. trying to be a hero
Harry, I think as a nation we tend to draw a laager when under pressure, instrad of depending and trusting the player next to you we tend to go into "solo" mode
Harry Jones
Expert
BB, yes, I think we let other teams back in, too easily. This is going to sound odd, but I think what works in the last 10 isn't the same as what works in the first 70, and we need (against top teams) to use our superior first 50:00 (our first 50:00 can probably be a bit better than most) with rolling panzer attacks, speed on the edges, and "attacking" tackles, and then we need to use some old-fashioned "kick the ball into the stands" close out. To me, the comebacks have been allowed by weak kicks, running out of our own 22, and missing touch.
mactheblack
Guest
I agree mace.. ABs do not like to lose - and that ain't necessarily a bad thing. Boks, you must learn to run the ball more - and not keep it down to one or two brilliant runs - that has the Springbok world gushing momentarily until a Dan Coles (No. 2) comes up with even better. I.O.W an ultra defensive approach, rather than using an attacking one, will never pay off for this Bok team even - with the match-winners they have in the backline. Some fans make it seem as if the ABs expect to roll over the Boks. No it is not so. Bok commentators and fans keep using the term we came close, or the boys made us proud, put up a good fight; though as if second-best against the best team in the world is okay! It's called insecurity. For the ABs to win at Ellis Park - is big achievement for the team!
The Boks were even worse against Australia, so it isn't just against NZ, it is a chronic issue
DanFan
Guest
I think the idea that Ralph raises about the Boks playing such a physical game leaves them depleted. I think that is the same for all teams who play the ABs. They get so fired up and use all this emotional energy being physical and passionate. In this most recent game, you saw the ABs not committing to rucks early on and more or less seemingly going through the motions while all the physicality was coming from the Boks. The ABs know that teams will come out fired up so they absorb it and wait until there is a moment of energy deficit and then they strike, end of the half, beginning of the second half and close to the end. If teams want to beat the ABs they need to be more dispassionate and not waste so much energy on trying to rough them up because no team so far has been able to do that contuously for the 80+ minutes games go for now.
mace 22
Guest
I think the ' fear of losing ' is a great motivational factor in this all black team. Also what has defined this team is it's determination not to lose in the final ten minutes as with the defensive efforts against France, South Africa and England over the last four years.
Old Bugger
Guest
Brandon Great article because it goes some way to try to explain what this MIB side is all about, especially when they are able to snatch that victory from the jaws of defeat. I was in Brisbane last year. I got up for the Irish game on TV. On both occasions, I had gone from absolute despondency to a look of "what the hell just happened" such was each instance being so, unbelievable. Is it due to either being aerobically more aware; drawing on a stronger mental awareness; possessing better individual skills; playing a more technically efficient game-plan or just plain fitter than their opponents?? Heck, I don't know - it may be all of the above or some of the above but what is definite is that no-one can say, that is not any of the above for sure as hell, it is there for all to see and the results can confirm, there is something quite unique about this side. Whether or not all these parts come together again in 3months time is anybody's guess - some will wish it does while most, will wish it doesn't.
leftfield
Roar Pro
That's similar to what my father always said, he reckoned that when the boks felt doubt each man tried to win it all by himself - generally to the detriment of the overall game plan.
Ralph, when I say mentality I don't necessarily refer to mental toughness, South Africans are definitely not weak in that area, by mentality I talk in the wider sense, the way we approach things.
Ralph
Guest
Mental toughness in sport is the ability to focus on the tasks and actions at hand, the concentration to think about only that which needs to be done right now. This is at the cost and exclusion of everything else. The last bad call doesn't matter, what the crowd says doesn't matter, what the opposition just said doesn't matter, the consequences of a mistake don't matter. Nothing matters except what you do next. Right at this moment. You have to block all other voices. It is hard to do for long periods of time and gets harder as you get tired. Muscle tiredness and damage affects the brains decision making and concentration levels. Maybe because the Springboks play such a physically sapping game it does affect their ability to concentrate at the tail end of 80 minutes? As with anything this skill can be learned and it sure is a useful tool in any sports arsenal. Mind you, it is only a tool and no kind of magic if you don't do the hard yards to get close enough to win near the death of the game.
Ralph
Guest
"I can’t remember the last time this All Blacks team failed to capitalise on a scoring opportunity." Close but no cigar, Like any team the AB's leave points our there, drop balls in front of the line etc,
There is always something with the Springboks though, isn't there? 2010 Bloemfontein vs Australia. In the lead final minute seal the ball of and concede a 50 meter penalty to lose. 2012 Australia, we lead going into the final minutes, and a lapse of concentration concede a try, to lose 2014 Australia, same as 2010 Last two weekends Ireland 2004, Honiss gives Ireland a penalty tells Smit to talk to his players, quick tap and we concede a try. You can probably take a game or two every year and say this or that. The fact is test rugby is all about inches and sometimes even millimeters, if you are not switched on for 80 minutes you will end on the wrong side of the ledger. I have thought about this long and hard and have come up with my own conclusion why this happens. Mentality, under pressure we focus inward and forget it is a team game, cohesion and tram work falls away and the "I will do this myself" bullheaded on track minded attitude takes over.