The ecstasy that comes with a dramatic comeback victory makes it difficult to soberly analyse what had transpired.
The elation that comes from such a win is intoxicating, and much like a potent drug, a comeback victory has both positive and negative effects.
Your door hinges may remain intact, however, your perspective may be drastically altered.
Prior to the dramatic victory over Ireland, I watched in terror as the entire Bok structure disintegrated into chaos. I was coming up with progressively more creative curse words to describe the imposters wearing Bok jerseys, and at half-time the crowd echoed my sentiments and booed the Boks off the field.
I considered going back to bed and getting a proper night’s rest rather than see Ireland dismantle South Africa. Instead, fanaticism took hold and I waited for the second half to begin, lamenting the pathetic first half display and dreading the heights Ireland’s score might reach.
Recalling key moments in the first half proves difficult. The entire 40 minutes was a festering bog of ineptitude, indecision and laziness. South Africa started off in a promising manner by tackling aggressively, and they looked intent on making a physical statement. However, all semblance of a cohesive performance quickly descended into a disastrous blooper reel.
Ireland took apart our defence with astute tactical kicking and demonstrated the value of a clear gameplan by repeatedly targeting our backs with high kicks. Our aerial incompetence was coupled with indiscipline, poor handling and shocking defence, making it apparent that South Africa’s gameplan was built on quicksand instead of bedrock.
The fundamental skills so sorely lacking in last week’s shocking defeat were again glaringly absent and, inexplicably, to a worse degree. On attack dropped balls and aimless passes stifled any hope of offensive pressure. The same breakdown infringements from last week continued, with serial offender Frans Malherbe once again the chief culprit.
Indeed, this was the worst half of rugby I’ve ever seen South Africa play.
The fact that our deficiencies from the previous encounter were so inadequately addressed is a further indictment of poor coaching. Either these issues weren’t appropriately rectified or the communication was ineffective – whatever the cause it translated to a woeful first half display by the Springboks.
Ireland will be wondering how they let this one get away after South Africa looked so utterly down and out at half-time.
I have to credit the coaching staff in one particular area – they noted Lwazi Mvovo’s deficiencies under the high ball and replaced him with Ruan Combrinck. In the build-up to Saturday’s clash he told the media he would catch a cannonball for South Africa, and when he took the field he looked like he was ready to do just that.
Combrinck’s hunger, passion and intensity were evident with every touch of the ball. His 40-minute performance earned him a man of the match award and deservedly so. He elevated the players around him and started to spark some belief in the wilting Bok troops.
When Willie le Roux made a scathing break he timed a brilliant pass to Combrinck who did exactly what JP Pietersen should have attempted last week. There was no vertical running or laziness in contact – this man showed everyone what he meant by catching a cannonball for his team.
He bulldozed a would-be defender and touched down in the corner, and this would prove to be the turning point for the Boks. Under Pieter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer team selections were frustratingly conservative. Super Rugby form was often overlooked, and players vying for international game time found themselves heading overseas to greener pastures and a taste of Test rugby.
A player like Combrinck might have found himself in a similar situation, but Allister Coetzee wisely decided to include him in the Springboks squad.
For ages, players seemingly owned their jerseys, with dips in form and poor play never punished and instead reinforced with repeated selection. Who could forget Bryan Habana’s awful run of form a few years ago? No matter how badly he played we kept seeing him in a Bok jersey every match.
This is in stark contrast to New Zealand’s policy on team selection where no player position is safe. When stalwarts and superstars like Corey Jane and Israel Dagg get left out of a Rugby World Cup squad it’s no wonder why the All Blacks are number one.
The other Lions, Warren Whiteley and Franco Mostert, also galvanised the team. Whiteley scored a brilliant athletic try, cutting inside two defenders and beating a third. Mostert got behind Pieter Stephanus du Toit and used him as a battering ram through the defence cross the try line.
This work rate and intensity quickly spread to the rest of the team who began to play with more belief and confidence. The coup de grace came when Damian de Allende, struggling to reach the heights of his form last year, lowered his shoulders and plowed through the defence to touch down for the game-winning try. I almost ended up in the next apartment.
The post-mortem from this match shows that the Boks miraculously escaped from a hole they never should have found themselves in. Against fiercer opposition like New Zealand this would have been a dark day indeed for Bok rugby.
The fact that merit-based selections have been vindicated must now be weighed against the priorities of transformation, which is a sad fact indeed.
The dust has settled after a joyous victory, but the ugly truth is that for 50 minutes we were not up to standard. It remains to be seen if we can deliver a full match performance.
Optimus, do you know how many traditionally black schools now have rugby facilities? Can you tell me what the numbers of participation for blacks are?
Optimus Prime
Guest
Great article, was well worth the read. The issue of transformation is that eventually it must happen and there is no easy way to transform a team. South Africa as a nation appeared to be heading towards a mixed society this is also inclusive in the rugby fraternity but the truth is that rugby is still a white mans game that is run by white people. If you look at any "back office" staff of any rugby union within the the country, black participation is limited to the receptionist or if we are daring we may make a black guy the logistics manager of the team, which backs my point of rugby being a white sport run by white people. The initial plan with the quota system was to introduce it and eventually get rid of it but it stays in place until present day because a white coach will always pick the bare minimum number of non-white players that are dictated to him, hence this has stunted transformation. The fact that we are 22 years into democracy and still having this debate should somewhat be a concern. The selection and recognition of form players should be the number one criteria when it comes to selecting a Springbok team but the funny thing is that this line of thinking has only come to the fore now that black players are getting selected ahead of white players. Black inform players have been overl looked for many years in this country and no one was in an uproar about that for example Jorrie Muller was pulled straight from the Lions setup into the Boks over an in form Gcobani Bobo, John Smit was guaranteed a bok jersey at the expensive of more talented props when Bismark became the number 1 hooker. There is also mention of the protests in Pretoria this week and blacks being portrayed as savages, yet we no longerr mention The Sharpville Massacre nor do we talk about The Soweto Uprising where it wasnt busses being burnt rather it was black people being killed.
Harry Jones
Expert
Colm, Malherbe was in form in SR, and also, he did tackle well, but scrummed terribly and his clean outs were clumsy. He will come right in PE.
Harry Jones
Expert
it's a disgrace and a tragedy but the world won't care unless it's the right/wrong colour thing.
Charl
Guest
Yep, yep and on the way back looted a few shops and took some potshots at the cop car passing by. Problem is, I have family living in that area, using the roads daily. Haven't slept for a week.
Charl
Guest
So Tman, in your view, previous Boks illegitimately represented the Sprinbokke? But the quotas are "legitimate"? Interesting view. You continue to speak blythely of something which has no impact on you. Wonder if it will be such a carefree discussion if somehing similar were happening in your country? If you think our ANC dislikes are irritating, check out what the constituents of Pretoria are doing this week. Or not.
I can never understand that. "hey guys what did you do yesterday?" "ag not much burnt a few busses down" "Why?" "Don't like the new Mayor" "Ah, ok, cool, thought it was something serious"
Charl
Guest
Becoming mermaids, perhaps?
Charl
Guest
Most lack- lustre "performance" seen in a long time. And frankly, not even sure it merits being called performance. Burning the buses seems to be taking most of the energy this week.
Harry Jones
Expert
Good point about service at "big" places (hotel, hospital, bank). Still find good services at small family owned places. Also, all this transformation destroys the chance to become a destination for talented Euro/S American youth looking for a new opportunity.
Hi harry, yes unbelieveably poor. No passion no commitment no team cohesion. I think this enforced transformation is damaging our athletes motivation. Years ago I reported poor service at one of the leading banks and it was just explained to me in a way that made a lot of sense. The whites have no motivation to perform because their career paths are blunted and the non whites simply just strike when they are reprimanded. Our work force have no pride left.
Colm
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article Paul Kruger, You might be frustrated with the Springboks not picking lions players on form, but at least you're not a Connacht fan. Despite being by some distance, the best team in Ireland, they have only had one or two starters each week. I'm still not sure what exactly Malherbe does on the pitch to warrant selection. I hadn't seen much Warren Whiteley before the series but he looks like a future Bok's captain. The battle to look out for this weekend is Ruan Combrink vs Matt Healy, if he plays.
Colm
Roar Guru
Cheers Mike, Do you have any source? That's a good team, but it is known that Mike Ross struggles against the beast.
Mike
Guest
Big news from Ireland as Jared Payne is expected to be ruled out. Possible Irish team?, McGrath, best, Ross, dillane, toner, stander, Murphy, heaslip, Murrey, Jackson, Healy, Olding, Marshall, Trimble, o'halloran
superba
Guest
thabokruger Starting from the top is the correct strategy. The correct strategy to destroy Springbok rugby , the Springbok and all that it means to the supporters . The agenda is clear . Keenly await the transformed SA swimming team for Rio .
taylorman
Guest
Starting at the top makes perfect sense at a certain logical level. Yes they need to start at the grass roots, but while doing that those battling at the bottom get to see consistent performances of their own at the top as a constant reminder of what is possible. Like I said, at a pure logical level, it makes sense, especially if the number one vision is to increase the numbers that represent the Boks legitimately. 'Practically' it makes little sense at all, but if participation and perceived participation is considered more important than success, or revenue, or maintaining a proud record or history then thats what you get. My last on it too, as it usually kicks off into the usually ANC 'dislikes'. But good on you for diversifying your rugby interests while the debacle continues.
thabokruger
Roar Rookie
The concept to transformation (which I think is a dumb word) is noble and certainly worthwhile. There are some seriously athletic black people, not to mention adding an extra 40 million people to the pool of potential players. What doesn't make sense is starting at the top, for the simple reason that if the springbok brand is brought down to mediocrity then there would be no impetuous for young black south africans to play rugby anyways because the national team is a joke. Defeats the purpose. Start with funding primary and high school rugby programs and competitions with scholarships etc and see the talent rise to the top within a decade. I won't comment about the transformation issue again as I have now said my peace.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes. Trans-form into a less white form.
Machooka
Roar Guru
thabokruger... it's good to be rounded :) I'm a Wallaby supporter and this transition happen to me about a decade ago... my Kiwi bros will know exactly what I'm referencing here :))
Machooka
Roar Guru
Sorry Harry... in my haste to post I forgot I had a question for you. Does this U20 team have the same quota system as the senior team?