It was an electric, captivating and entertaining Test match.
For the first eighteen minutes of the Rugby World Cup match between South Africa and New Zealand, the Springboks looked on top of things. They played hard and physical with much of the possession while the All Blacks looked out of sync and at times flustered, nerves perhaps playing a role as well. A few more points to the Springboks in the first twenty minutes might have changed the course of the game.
But by the end of the first half the All Blacks had capitalised on opportunities – as they so ruthlessly do – and their defence was immense. In fact, it’s an often overlooked aspect of their play that deserves more credit as the Boks were trying everything to get through.
Two quick tries – to George Bridge in the 23rd min and to Scott Barrett in the 26th – in the last twenty minutes of the half gave the near 70,000 fans in the stadium a look at an increasingly unsettled Springboks team, who were now making mistakes and somewhat struggling uncomfortably as they faced an array of kicking and running tactics from the Kiwis.
As South African flanker Francois Louw noted after the game, “High balls are challenging, so we can’t blame it on any one player, it’s a collective effort. Unfortunately, they [New Zealand] capitalised on those errors.”
(Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)
The 17-3 score at the break would require the Boks to search deep if they were to pull such a lead back from the All Blacks.
And they did.
They came very close to taking the game away from the All Blacks in the second half. Richie Mo’unga made a game-saving tackle on Cheslin Kolbe late in the second half, on which Chester later commented after that game that he “showed good wheels… I just need to make sure that I finish things off when I get another chance like that.”
The South Africans had pulled the difference back to 17-13, thanks to a converted try by Pieter-Steph du Toit in the 47th minute and a drop goal by Handrè Pollard in the 58th. They were clearly within reach of another sea-change in the score in what was a truly entertaining match.
But then more errors were punished with penalties by Richie M’ounga in the 66th minute and Beauden Barrett in the 71st, who put the All Blacks out of reach as the game closed down.
“They handled our kicking game very well,” said South African captain Siya Kolisi, “everything we threw at them… we didn’t execute when we had the opportunities. Like coach said, every time we were attacking, we would make a mistake.”
South African coach Rassie Erasmus was full of praise for the All Blacks after the match. “New Zealand deserved to win,” he said, “they’re definitely the favourite for winning the World Cup.”
“They scored from our mistakes. It wasn’t a lack of effort [for South Africa], it was a lack of execution… discipline was our biggest downfall, and then them scoring two tries and we only one – I don’t think we can moan about anything but say well done to them.”
New Zealand on the other hand gave away just half the amount of penalties at only 4 compared to South Africa’s 9. Captain Keiran Read said after the match “It was a conscious decision by us not to give away penalties.”
Afterwards New Zealand halfback Aaron Smith – who played an excellent match – said “the game’s all about moments”, and this opening match of Pool B was no exception – two opportunistic tries, Mo’unga’s tackle on Kolbe and two unforced errors by the Boks gave the All Blacks the six points that sealed the match.
(Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images)
But the game is also about the players. Every All Black played with attitude, heart and commitment an the mid-field was rock solid. Beauden Barrett played a brilliant game, and the crucial captain’s performance by Read – both physically and as a leader – settled the players down by encouraging them to “take a breath”.
Ardie Savea was everywhere running at an incredible work-rate, Aaron Smith’s passes were like the bullet trains and Mo’unga’s deft touches and ability to read the game provided the All Blacks with a range of tactical kicking and plays that will make the other teams in the competition rethink how best to play against them.
And let’s not forget the bench that came on at the business end of the game – the massive experience of TJ Penenara, Sonny Bill Williams and Ben Smith. The energy, speed and skills of Codie Taylor and Shannon Frizell in the forwards. This was a world-class performance by the All Blacks.
Importantly however, coach Steve Hansen said afterwards, “there’s still plenty of stuff to work on.” Sonny Bill observed that “we played well tonight, in patches, but a performance like that isn’t going to win us the tournament. We’ve just got to keep working, keep grinding.”
This All Blacks team is focused and has a plan. It has sent a message. Yes there is still stuff to work on, but there are games now against Canada, Namibia and Italy in which to address this stuff before New Zealand’s most probable quarter-final match on October 20th.
The rugby world will take notice.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And providing evidence to the point, Jibba Jabba goes straight into an off the ball play.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Campese, DHP & Beale come to mind...
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Now you have got that off your back gloria give the rest of us some peace..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
What a richard
Airleg101
Guest
Geez Gloria, That could be reversed if you looked across the ditch at the "Bro's" and took on board some of their systems, better youth and coach development. The elitist attitudes when a kid crosses over from league to union, but is the outer because of background, certainly not ability in a few cases I have seen. This is off the thread but I'd love to see the Wallabies strong again, it's the grassroots where it starts, to much self serving drift wood... That includes your imports from across the Ditch... poor Old Robbie was a bit hard done by.... There was others stuff not seen.
Old Bugger
Guest
Absolutely spot on jc......IMO, the ABs defence for that first quarter was the best scrambling defence I've seen in a while. I had my doubts after 2015 when Smithy left and our new D coach ( crap, his name escapes me atm) was having a tough time at the helm. Well, somethings happened and we saw the evidence in this match. The other thing for me is the ABs consistently denying the SBs points after the initial penalty, must've been working on the SB team to try something more to secure some points. HP's next penalty kick that hit the posts, would've been a downer for them and a complete opposite, for the ABs. We saw that in the next few minutes.....
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
The good old Kiwi Conspiracy Theory. So Kiwi's control everything Rugby. I can see know there is only one way to get you, OJ and Connor and forget this ludicrous crusade. Look into the Screen Look into the Screen You are getting Sleepy Very Very Sleepy. In a micro second you will awake Bro and realize Kiwis are always right. AB's can do know wrong. Before make any decision or have an opinion, consult other Kiwi's first. And last of all when the phone rings you will cluck like a chicken. Come one Darkness....... P.S. Just joking about the clucking..........or was I....
Tobokani
Guest
At what point can we start comparing the all blacks to the Australian cricket team leading up to sandpaper-gate? The Aussies also pushed the boundaries of the laws of the game and always talked about some imaginary line(gamesmanship) that only they could get close to but never cross but all the other teams were not allowed to do the same against them. Eventually they felt entitled to outright cheat in the Cape Town test because they felt they were the only arbiters of this proverbial line or gamesmanship or whatever you want to call it. The all blacks seem to be operating in the same vein because Kieran Read's actions do not belong anywhere near a rugby field, let alone the world cup with impressionable kids watching. His actions and Joe Moody's actions are very different from a dangerous high tackle in the process of attempting a legitimate tackle on a ball carrier as that is unfortunately a consequence of the game. Off the ball cheap shots however are not and can never be justified, gamesmanship or not
Gloria
Roar Rookie
It was referred by the Fiji team coaching staff. So what do you think? What Read did was all ok?
Faith
Roar Rookie
I'm worried about Namibia and Canada in terms of who plays 10 other than BB and Mounga ... they should try an option in case of injuries later on ...
Faith
Roar Rookie
Great comment Tiger
taylorman
Roar Guru
Is that the league player?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes which is why I thought Mo’unga did so well. Kolbe was just about undefendable this match, slippery as an eel. :laughing:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
You reckon? .... I reckon they will need to improve 15-20% .... and dare I say it but unless the Boks play much better, they will not be there on 2nd November either. It was a good test match ... but ...
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Don't know TM.. to me Kolbe is to the Boks what DMacKenzie is to the AB's .... very quick and elusive. I felt that had Kolbe not jinked in and out, and just backed himself, he would had beaten Mo'unga on the outside and maybe it would have been BBBBB who was coming over in cover would have gotten closer to him. Regardless a great little player, plenty of courage and took more than his share of high balls against much bigger men.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
What would that have to do with the citing committee.
Gloria
Roar Rookie
:stoked: The Boks do not have a Kiwi coach.
aussikiwi
Guest
The Reece sideline pass to Barrett behind the goal line was also brilliant, if heart stopping, stuff. Barrett's clearing kick was exceptional. On another day that move could have been a disaster.
ShaghaiDoc
Guest
They still have to get past the NH (Neanderthal Hemisphere) pretenders and their handpicked referees. This is the last tournament for Whiney Barnes and he is desperate to add at least one more All Black scalp to his belt. He has more All Black scalps than all other practicing referees combined and Garces has issued 50% of All Black red cards in 150 years..... both for lesser wrongs than the Wobbly winger on the weekend.
Jacko
Guest
SBW went fine....The kick he did which was charged down was bad luck...He is the player who put the cross kick in for Reece to chase then he got back to the opposite side of the field to take the return kick from SA.....Effort was there....