Fee-fi-fo-fum! I smell the blood of a South African,
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.
That was the threat of a sheep-shearing giant called Steve living at the top of a beanstalk when a young Afrikaans boy, Heynie, tried to make off with his gleaming gold trophy.
When the barefooted kid, who at home minded a herd of fleet-footed Springboks on a farm with his mother, got his hands on it and climbed down a beanstalk, the giant followed him, cursing angrily.
“Turn over my trophy,” shouted the infuriated giant. “You stole it while I was asleep.”
“Ruck you,” chirped cheeky Heynie, who cut down the beanstalk with an axe.
The stunned giant fell from grace and Heynie lived happily ever after with the golden prize in his trophy cabinet.
They say fairytales sometimes come true. Will the Springboks bring down the giants of the modern game? South African fans certainly hope so. Or will the All Blacks, easily the best team on the planet, grind the Springboks into the turf and make a meal of them?
Statistics, as Mark Twain once said, don’t mean a damn thing. But here they are anyway. The New Zealanders have beaten South Africa six times in the past seven Test matches.
September 15, 2012: New Zealand won 21-11 in Dunedin
October 6, 2012: New Zealand won 32-16 in Johannesburg
September 14, 2013: New Zealand won 29-15 in Auckland
October 5, 2013: New Zealand won 38-27 in Johannesburg
September 13, 2014: New Zealand won 14-10 in Wellington
October 4, 2014: New Zealand lost 27-25 in Johannesburg
July 25, 2015: New Zealand won 27-20 in Johannesburg
Why so? Well, the New Zealanders have developed an all-round game that is the envy of many fans and critics. They are good up-front, their forwards are big and quick and their backs can carve up a defence as skilfully as New Zealanders shear sheep.
The South Africans, however, have stuck to a gameplan that served them well when winning the 1995 and 2007 Webb Ellis trophies. The Springboks in full cry are a formidable force but they lack the inventive and instinctive skills of the New Zealanders.
Too often, we have been caught napping by the All Blacks and most times in the closing stages of a Test. It’s been a wake-up call for Heyneke Meyer and the Boks and I am sure it’s been heeded.
However, I don’t think we will see an expansive game from his charges in the semi-final at Twickenham. I expect the first half to be a tight affair in which the battle at the breakdown will be vital.
The Boks, particularly scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and pivot Handre Pollard, will have to be pin-point with their boots. Kicking the ball into the hands of the All Blacks backs, who can swing the ball any which way, could cost us dear.
Jack, or Heynie, caught the giant sleeping in the fairytale but I doubt the All Blacks will be caught napping by a Bok assault in the first few minutes of the game.
We know how they play and the All Blacks know what we do. There’s no mystery here. I expect both teams to feel each other out in the first half and adapt in the second stanza.
Meyer and Kiwi coach Steve Hansen have different psychological make-ups. Hansen appears disingenuously matter-of-fact while the Boks coach wears his emotions on his sleeve. How they both react when the going gets tough will be crucial. This is not a time to lose your cool.
The outcome could come down to a few mistakes: in tactics or even the boot. Twickenham on Saturday will be a cockpit of tension and an uncomfortable place for the nervous.
Much will hang on how Pollard fares against opposing flyhalf Dan Carter. They can both thread the eye of a needle when kicking penalties and who holds his nerve better in the pressure cooker will be vital.
The weather, too, will be an important factor. The New Zealanders are more accustomed to playing in rain than the Boks, but heavy underfoot conditions may suit the South African gameplan better and put a damper on the fleet-footed All Blacks.
I am not counting out a Boks victory. We have a better side than most people think. South Africa have an effective mixture of experience and form and on their day can upset what Meyer calls the world’s best-ever rugby team. The Boks coach appears to be playing a canny mind-game, but it’s one that won’t fool Hansen.
The pressure will be enormous. Kiwi fans expect the All Blacks to become the first-ever team to hold on to the golden trophy and the cry of anguish from New Zealand fans should even reach Twickenham if they don’t. Meyer’s career probably hangs on the result. I doubt that he will be kept on as coach if the Boks lose.
The pair talk casually about sharing a beer after the game and who will have to pay for it. Don’t be fooled by this: the game will be a war of attrition. One man will be grinning afterwards, the other trying to mask his disappointment.
As American football coach Vince Lombardi once said: “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.” And both coaches and their fans know it.
Vic
Guest
You'll start a war here, Andrew, the Kiwis are very protective of their sheep........
Andrew Jardine
Roar Guru
They taste better when they come from the best of a flock of sheep.
Andrew Jardine
Roar Guru
I like lamb chops ...
He is probably not a true All Black supporter.
hopalong
Guest
With today,exception.
hopalong
Guest
Still awake?
Harry Jones
Expert
I like a pickled fish sandwich w chutney
taylorman
Roar Guru
13 points OB, quite a margin... It's getting out there nearer to mine so we must be confident. I think mine comes from the grounding this side is maintaining since the 2007 loss and the learnings from that, and even the closeness of the 2011 final, the impending retirements and the desperation to do this the AB way. Looks like this is going to be another huge chapter in AB Boks history!
hopalong
Guest
Hi pal.Some familiar phrases. Did you ever contribute to the "Bulls-centric site "Rugby talk." They banned me because I could not tolerate the bullying,bombast,boastfulness and the other hyphenated B word coming from the site owner. And the Bulls mutual masturbation society. The Roar is a good site with intelligent posters. And GO BOKKE GO SHARKS
taylorman
Roar Guru
Don't worry about that one Biltong, not that you are, but I know the type. Not worth the effort. It's quite an interesting relationship between the Boks and The ABs at many levels...players, fans, coaches etc. the huge history they have is really like no other in terms of its complexity, it's raw edge through the tough years. In 76 we had the entire continent if Africa boycott the 76 Olympics because we toured SA that year. Yet we still went, and asked for more in 81 even! Something about the Boks and the ABs that makes them just want to play each other!
Thanks, I actually enjoy bokkoms.
hopalong
Guest
Keep your posts and articles coming BB.I and all other posters here,enjoy your input. Besides,We need a champion.Cannot all be left to Harry. Incidentally,may I suggest the following compromise in your fish/biltong wager. BOKKOMS.A decent combination of both.
Yeah, good example.
gumboot
Guest
[Mods. Ok, you're a goner]
hopalong
Guest
Did anybody see Jack Nicholson in "THE SHINING".Apropos of nothing.Only a random thought of a mans mental disintegration.. .Until now,I have not read a Kiwi with whom I would not have a drink. And yes Kiwi Dave,especially you,despite our different opinions. .A drink?Ah,there's the rub. Good night all.Off to the shed to write my dairy.
Cheers VIc, lekker slaap.
Ok, let me try this again, read what I have written, if not, I can't hep you.
gumboot
Guest
Focus as in what? Give us the breaking news BB? dON'T BE SHY
But, just to help you out so you can also be in the loop. ........... The friendship between the two sides off the field is well documented, and it is clear there is a mutual respect between the two management teams, with the All Black coaching staff forming a strong bond with their Bok counterparts away from the cameras and training fields. It is already an open secret that the two management teams always have a pre-game dinner before a match, and this extends to the two coaches who often chat about rugby issues. On the field, the friendship between Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and others with All Black players is well known, with the presentation last year to both De Villiers and Habana by the New Zealand team a perfect example of this. But now while the Webb Ellis Cup is on everyone’s minds, there is another bragging right to contend for – who gets the rights to bring the beer on Saturday. Meyer spoke on how the friendship with Hansen began and how after every game they love to share a beer together and reflect on the war of attrition they have just been through. “We've started a tradition where the first time I'd lost I was very down, Steve (Hansen) came over and I think that's great about rugby - he came over and brought me a beer,” Meyer explained. "He said 'listen, I know how you feel, I know the pressure on you, just have a beer with me'. And I really respect that. "We'd lost that game, the second game we played away was very close and we lost that game as well, and he came looking for me with another beer afterwards. "He gave it to me and we started talking about his family and his wife. We know we're under the same pressure.” Meyer explained the friendship had gone beyond the normal post-game chat, and beer had been the centrepiece of it all. "We're proud countries. He's got to know my family, I've got to know his family,” Meyer added. "The winning coach always brings the beer now. I said the first time we beat you I'll bring you a case of beer. "So what I really respect about Steve is that after our win he took it like a man, and said 'I'm waiting for that beer'. "Hopefully I can give Steve a case of beers on Saturday!" ............. But on Thursday Hansen gave an indication that he’d had enough of the love. “I think Heyneke is a very cunning man, and I know what he is up to,” said Hansen. “He has been really complimentary of our team this week and there has been a lot of respect shown from him towards our guys. The Boks have been praising us all week, but we know full well that what they are really doing is getting ready to rip our heads off. We need to be ready for that. Yes, there is a friendship between Heyneke and myself, but we know what Saturday is about. The Boks will be coming at us.”
gumboot
Guest
[Mods. Removed]