You make your own luck, said Ernest Hemingway. South Africa certainly did not make their own luck on Saturday night.
They were outplayed at crucial moments in a match that was largely equally contested, and in a tale as old as time, the All Blacks’ ability to make something out of seemingly nothing proved to be the difference.
South Africa looked to have the Kiwis on the backfoot for most of the opening twenty minutes. They started confidently, and looked to have a clear intent with an early penalty slotted by Pollard.
It seemed as though the Boks would play in NZ territory, apply pressure through a rush defence and take penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking along.
New Zealand, frankly, looked shell shocked at times during the opening minutes of the match. Uncharacteristic wayward passes and dropped balls in their own 22 showed the nerves on display.
However, despite enormous pressure in an exceptionally vulnerable part of the field, the Boks didn’t have the killer instinct to pounce on some of these mistakes.
The match seemed to turn when Pollard’s penalty goal attempt was deflected off the post, heralding a New Zealand resurgence which saw two quick scores in five minutes.
New Zealand blew the Boks out of the water with this blitzkrieg. Disappointingly, some lazy defence galvanized the All Blacks, turning these attacking opportunities into tries.
A clever cross kick by Richie Mo’unga, which didn’t seem like a tactical masterstroke, was elevated into something exciting due to a crucial defensive lapse by Mapimpi.
He hesitated for a moment, instead of taking his man on directly, which led to a breakaway and an eventual try.
It speaks volumes that the Springboks didn’t lie down after these scores. In past years, this turn of events would have signalled the opening of the floodgates, but they weathered the storm and seemed to regroup appropriately.
Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.
(Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
The second half was a more positive display from the Boks, with some strong running, hard tackles and promising periods of attack. The missing link here, however, was the Boks’ inability to adjust to the match conditions.
I don’t want to lay any of this at the officiating by Jerome Garces, but it was clear that the breakdown was the Wild West on Saturday night.
Near the 70-minute mark Duane Vermeulen was wrenching the ball from the ruck for about five seconds without a call of holding on.
Interpret his officiating as you will, the fact is South Africa didn’t adjust to him, and they were duly punished by New Zealand who caused some crucial turnovers near their own tryline.
On two or three occasions, South Africa looked like they may cross the whitehwash, but a Bok player would get isolated, and the breakdown would disintegrate and the ball would appear on the All Black side of the ball.
The Boks failed to make the necessary changes to their ruck play, and have only themselves to blame.
Another area of concern was that key players didn’t step up to the occasion. Malcolm Marx was industrious, but not the classic menace in loose play he is known to be.
Faf de Klerk had a terrible night with the boot, with his box kicks not going far enough, often putting South Africa under pressure instead of New Zealand.
Our midfield, though aggressive on defence, is utterly uninspired on attack.
Willie le Roux has been criticized this year for being out of form, and I have given him the benefit of the doubt. I hoped that he would return to his dangerous best for the occasion last night. I was sorely disappointed.
The low point of the match was when one of South Africa’s line breaks, which looked like a sure try, was butchered by a howler pass from Le Roux to Cheslin Kolbe.
The Willie le Roux of yore would have kept the ball in both hands, put the afterburners on and if he didn’t manage to score the try himself he would have expertly drawn the defender, and timed a brilliant pass to Kolbe to put him away.
On the matter of Kolbe; he was the standout in an otherwise underwhelming South African attack. His ability to beat defenders, find space, and his unbelievable pace are awesome to watch.
It is a real shame that South Africa hasn’t figured out how to unleash this at the right time on attack. Instead of planned moves, curated to open up a gap or mismatch for his devastating speed, Kolbe has to conjure it all up himself, usually out of the blue.
Consequently, more often than not, there are no Boks nearby in support translate his work into tries.
South Africa ceded an unacceptably high penalty count, kicked away crucial possession, and didn’t take their opportunities like the Kiwis did. Despite that, they came within four points at one stage, and only lost by ten.
Rassie Erasmus had an inexplicably wry smile on his face during the post-match interview, and the optimist in me hopes he has something up his sleeve.
Perhaps the wily coach is looking ahead to the final, and used the opening match as an exercise to feel out the opposition.
Here’s hoping that Rassie knows something I don’t.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
I thought (from the pre-match articles), that SA were a bit over confident due to the Wellington result. They were SO happy with the draw....too happy I thought. Then as the AB's found out in Perth, if you let any sort of over confidence/complacency leak into your thoughts, then you are in trouble. And....Faf did not kick well and was kept on the park for too long.
Shaun
Guest
You making things up much? Replay your slap down... slow it down, put in some glasses and the pause and play and rewatch. There was no SB hand in there, just Crotty the ball and Mounga’s legs... I like a good robust argument as much as the next guy but let’s not make stuff up
ozxile
Roar Pro
Agreed, the Boks blew it - more specifically the coaching staff, Kolisi and all the rest of them who let Faf de Klerk continue to kick the ball away to ABs. His kicking was abysmal. What were they thinking, that they would nullify one of the best counter-attacking teams on the planet by giving them all the ball to practice with? What particular element of de Klerk's game justified letting him kick possession away; his defense, offense...tactical nous? Rubbish - he's one of the most overrated players in the tournament. Did he do even one thing in that match that Herschel Jantjies could not have done just as well - in addition to Jantjies keeping the ABs guessing with his sniping away at set pieces? If de Klerk had been pulled at 1/2 time (at the latest) this whole discussion could have been focused on the AB's mistakes failure to adjust to the x-factor Jantjies brings with him.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Haydn Thanks for those links. Really interesting analysis in each. Interesting stats with Australia being the most undisciplined side ( love to hear from Gloria on that) and Ireland clearly the team that is both disciplined in terms of penalties but is also keeping posession. It would interesting to see what happens to the AB's if you got Schmidt as coach. Would they be able to keep up their high scoring per game with 10-15% more posession? I think they are different styles but imagine the horror of the rest of the world if Schmidt coached the AB's and was successful in pulling off the blend?
Paul Kruger
Roar Pro
Hi Old Bugger thanks for reading. I take your points and agree for the most part, but I think they blew it in the sense that they let themselves down. They were outplayed by NZ sure, but they had a match riddled with errors. Defense, kicking, rucking. It was sloppy stuff by SA at crucial times. I think if SA had a better tackle percentage, and managed to properly secure their rucks, they could have won.
Coconut
Guest
Well given that this is now the third time this link has been posted either in this thread or the "The Wrap" thread, including twice by you, I'm beginning to wonder whether some AB fan should put together a little collage on the many Springbok indiscretions I noticed as the game went. Not to mention that this belief that the ref dudded the Springbok has been plastered all over SA mainstream media. No wonder their public actually believe it. I actually think all this blamestorming is doing their team a real disservice.
Highlander
Guest
Thanks
ojp
Guest
lol, flattered I reckon; at least until divergent views arise ! :thumbup:
Coconut
Guest
Wow... this post really takes the cake... providing a link entirely devoted (by someone who apparently has a lot of time on his hands) to real or perceived things the ABs got away with, whilst at the same time providing nothing from what must have been an absolutely squeaky clean Springbok side ... I think its fair to say, that these kinds of supporters are only ever going to see things the way they want, no matter which team they support.
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yes although he's retreating, and probably onside when he plays the ball, he is taking up space whilst he was still offside, so it probably should have been a penalty.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Hés 4 foot tall, shouldn't be a problem..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
And Cane kicked in the face..
Old Bugger
Guest
Paul The Bokke did not "blow it" at all. What I suggest happened is, the Bokke did not envisage the ABs defence to be just as lethal if not more than, their own blitz rush defence. You see, time and time in previous seasons even those leading up to the last RWC, the ABs were renowned for losing the possession and territory stats but still manage to win, the scoreboard result. Nothing's changed for the ABs because defence, has always been the "other ace" that their opposition, fail to comprehend and the longer the ABs play a match that denies their opponents from scoring points then, the more psychological impact it places upon the opponent, to switch into "hail mary" territory, to get some points. And "boom", that's the moment the ABs have been waiting for - when the opposition ventures outside of their game tactics and plans to pursue results/points, for all their earlier efforts except a missed pass, dropped ball, awkward kick whatever happens and it presents a moment for the ABs, to play the advantage and score, against the run of play by counter-attacking. We saw on Saturday - the Bokke dominating territory and possession and yet the score after 22mins, was just 3-0 to the Bokke. Over the next 5mins, the score became, 17-3 to the ABs. The Bokke did not "blow it" Paul - my impression is they did not pay enough dues to the ABs defence and perhaps found themselves at the quarter-mark realising, they really haven't got enough points result, to show for all those efforts.....they then IMO, over-extended their hand looking for the something different only to have the ABs fire another salvo of box-kicks back at them to create, an error. The rest as they say, is history because that's all the ABs need - an error to pounce, something new in a kick-pass, inter-passing, a quick ruck, the ABs backs running at a Bokke back-line full of forwards and then Bridges, is over the chalk-line for a 5-pointer. A hell of a game but, the AB tactics still remain similar from 6 years ago......loose every stat except the scoreboard stat.
Ex force fan
Guest
https://youtu.be/1Oj1pMWo4oE Here is an one sides SB view of Garces performance. I am sure NZ supporters can also come up with a similar compilation. I never rated Garces as referee as he is not consistent and often get the big calls wrong. Let’s hope the officials get better as the tournament progress.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Just watched it again myself and had to laugh - PSdT was the player that tried to tackle Barrett in goal and slid beyond the dead ball line and was still on his back when Barrett passed to ALB who made the break and set the ruck, you can see him still retreating running towards his own line when he grabs the ball and then turns to take the tackle and set up the ruck - nice cheap shot from Mostert into (S) Barrett's face in the ruck too for good measure...
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
I've just watched it again and if I had to make a bet I would say he just made it back by the time he played the ball. It's close though and on another day he might have been penalised. The initial reaction of Barrett B and Smith was that he was offside.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Pretty harsh on the dogs isn't it. :laughing:
Greco Dominicus
Roar Rookie
I'll just leave this here https://youtu.be/1Oj1pMWo4oE Mapimpi's tackle was not illegal. Garces didn't give a yellow card because the TMO told him on the microphone the tackler released the ball carrier. I see some people are now talking about a high tackle. That's not the penalty the referee wanted to give. The penalty was for killing the ball. All of this is clear if you watch the game tape. Game is gone but I think the youtube outlines why so many Springbok fans are disappointed with the officiating. The video does not even show the forward pass from the Scrummy to the Wing I think during the 1st try or Read strangling Pieter Steph half to death. If Moody was a South African he would long since have established a reputation for being one of the dirtiest players in World Rugby. Anyway the game is done now so...
One Eye
Roar Rookie
Well, I am unrelated to the other if that's what you're referring to. Still undecided as to whether I should be flattered or miffed about this emergence...
ojp
Guest
Do you think Frans Steyn still has the gas to defend in the outside channels Paul ? No snark, genuine question ? Certainly has a cannon boot and enjoyed his work back in the pre Europe days. Do they have any other FB options in the squad ?