Harry Houdini was a canny fellow. He could pick any lock, especially when handcuffed, and is still seen as the finest escape artist of all time.
The slightly-built American-Hungarian magician stood only 5 feet 4 inches high and would have been nowhere near big enough to make any of today’s World Cup rugby teams – let alone join the Springboks.
As a scrumhalf? You have got to be kidding. The Springboks’ current incumbent is Fourie du Preez, a six-footer who, despite his height, still stands in the shade of their giants.
However, skill in today’s battle for the Webb Ellis Trophy has as much to do with victory as size. Big guys don’t always win matches but those who use their brains do.
Heyneke Meyer can’t call on Houdini, who died 90 years ago, but his experience – an asset the Springboks’ coach insists rules all else – could have been helpful.
Meyer has to rely on assistant coaches, who don’t appear to have any ideas about how to unlock the defences of opposing teams.
For the Boks, it’s all about beating up the opposition. Our forwards grab the ball and charge and the backs follow suit. We are the tough guys on the rugby block, our fans say. The problem is that the Boks are no stronger or larger than the New Zealanders. Maybe a kilo or two here and there in weight, but we’re no formidable force that can’t be repelled.
When it comes to skill, the All Blacks have too often outsmarted and outplayed us. Our backs don’t run into space and try to offload the ball. The Boks rather charge at the opposition, drop to the turf and hope to recycle the ball.
It’s hardly magical stuff and our game plan is easily read and countered. If we don’t keep the ball at the breakdown, the All Blacks have the skill and sublime moves to carve up our defence as quickly as Houdini used to pick a lock.
Much is made of the brute strength of Ma’a Nonu, but it’s more the guile of centre partner Conrad Smith that we should fear. As New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said of him recently: “He would skin you as fast as look at you.”
Our game against Wales turned out as expected in a no-holds-barred battle among the forwards. At the final whistle, it was a canny try by du Preez, which he has to thank a Duane Vermeulen off-load for, that gave the Boks the win.
The 23-19 victory had Meyer jumping for joy and why not? Without that try, he and the Boks would been boarding a flight back home and not the bus to their new plush digs that England vacated.
The boot proved crucial in the two-try game, the other was scored by Gareth Davies when he out-jumped Bok fullback Willie le Roux for the ball.
Thirty-two points came from kicks at the post. South African flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked five penalties and a drop goal for 18 points while Wales pivot Dan Biggar banged over three penalties, a conversion and a drop-kick for 14.
The All Blacks won’t bury the Boks in Boot Hill, but they can out-gun them in open play.
France usually aren’t pushovers. They have one of the heaviest packs and yet when the New Zealanders had ball in hand, they ran riot with nine tries in the 62-13 quarter-final hiding.
With eight players remaining in South Africa’s squad from 2007, there is experience of winning the trophy, but winger Bryan Habana feels that counts for little. “2007 was great and it is always nice to reminisce about the past, but the past isn’t going to get us anywhere,” he said.
Being a back, Habana would obviously like his share of the ball, but he hardly touched it in the game against Wales.
Meyer, who obstinately stuck with experienced players in captain Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield, has stumbled on to his best starting team because of injuries to some of his old crocks. De Villiers dropped out with a broken jaw and the 38-year-old Victor Matfield still suffers from a hamstring problem.
In the game against Wales, the Boks looked bereft of ideas on how to penetrate their defence while backs Jesse Kriel showed a lack of tactical skills and centre partner Damian de Allende seldom passed the ball. They just kept banging away at the opposition.
If the All Blacks run with the ball and change their lines of attack, we could be in a lot of trouble.
The Boks have the power up-front, but du Preez didn’t pose much of a threat generally against Wales, We lacked variation in attack apart from continual charges by Schalk Burger, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Vermeulen and Francois Louw.
When their opponents have the ball, the Boks have looked vulnerable and this is when discipline lets them down. Before the Wales game, we had the highest number of penalties awarded against us in this World Cup. The Boks are great on the front foot, but it’s when they are on the back one that it’s a worry.
How South Africa deal with the pressure will be vital, too. And it is about taking chances when they come your way.
Dominating territory and possession is all very well. But what matters is the ability to finish off the chances that come your way. The last quarter of the match as always will be crucial. The All Blacks have shown they are great finishers, and the Boks will need to respond to any situation and change their tactics if need be.
Those decisions should be made by the captain on the field and not by Meyer shouting orders on a walkie-talkie from his box in the stand.
Will the All Blacks run away with it in the semi-final crunch? I doubt it. It could come down to points if we can counter the New Zealanders’ attack.
Harry Houdini once amazed the audience by surviving a Chinese water torture cell on stage. He was lowered upside down with his feet manacled into a glass tank overflowing with water before the tank is covered with canvas.
Somehow the irrepressible Harry eventually escaped and bounced back on to the stage with a smile on his face. It’s said Houdini had to hold his breath for three minutes while he performed the feat.
However, Bok fans will have to hold their breath for all of 80 minutes against the All Blacks. And that’s a feat that would have even given Houdini cause for concern.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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