The Test match the rugby world needs

Speaking only for this Kiwi, I've always 'liked' the rugby the Springboks play! Please don't mistake my dislike for recent Rassie related rancorous relations as a disrespect of Springbok rugby as a whole. And I enjoyed that breakdown from Parsons and Hall... makes me wonder if the strength of Am can be exploited somehow? maybe set 13 up as the obvious carry and bring the 11 in to the line with the 15 looming as a tip-on option, so if he bites too hard too soon someone can be sent into the space he leaves in his wake? although he is VERY good at adapting in that channel....

Thanks for two of the most insightful and accurate assessments Ive seen on this subject Geoff. Rassie's rant was indefensible regardless of point of view or fantastical straw-man defences... but I think you could add to the analogy that he had had Nic Berry strapped to the front of his car Mad Max style whilst he was speeding through that school zone!

@Harry I usually agree with you Harry but not this time. No one needs a game with Boks playing the same tactics as they've used since 2019 RWC. Boks are simply appalling to watch now against anyone win, lose or draw. Add on Erasmas being a total PiA. Boks are now bringing the game of Rugby into disrepute imo. While I've never been a Bok fan I now won't watch them against anyone. And best thing for world rugby is they are flogged by everyone (even the Poms) until they ditch Erasmas and start playing watchable rugby. Here's hoping the ABs beat them by 100 :)

What?

Hola!

Bledisloe Cup Fixtures Rugby Championship Fixtures Wallabies Squad World Rankings Six Nations Fixtures The Test match the rugby world needs Harry Jones Roar Guru Yesterday 131 2191 Reads ASet small text size ASet the default text size ASet large text size The 100th Test between the All Blacks and the Springboks is up in the air. One hundred years ago the two sides faced off in Dunedin. New Zealand defended home turf by 13-5. This year’s centurion Test was sited in Dunedin again, but it may be played in Brisbane or Cape Town or Dubai or Paris or London. Or not at all. A century of Springbok-All Black Tests has given the two rivals and the rugby world at large so many great moments, deep controversies and rugged competition. Over the long arc of time the Boks have won one of five Tests against the old foe in New Zealand – the best strike rate of any nation – and the All Blacks have won half of their Tests in the Republic for a 6-10 overall margin, a Bok-beating record easily eclipsing any team. Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share Thus this is a lopsided rivalry, even if the No. 1 ranking – officially and, before that, unofficially – has for the most part been held either by New Zealand or South Africa and no matter if both hold three World Cups, with the Boks having two fewer attempts. The gap has been real, and we all know it. The All Blacks are the better team over the hundred years – the best team in rugby history. The Boks are a distant second and only just ahead of the pack. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) But lately the renaissance of Bok rugby has reignited the match-up. If you take the last 16 Tests of both heavyweights and eliminate matches against amateur sides (Namibia, Canada, Tonga, and Fiji), we find these razor-thin margins: South Africa New Zealand Wins 13 11 Draws 2 3 Losses 1 2 Avg score 28.5-12.8 29.2-16.5 Avg margin 15.7 12.7 Nine of those 16 Tests for the All Blacks have been against the hapless Wallabies, but both sides have played England and Wales once in that time, with very different outcomes. The fact that South Africa faced the British and Irish Lions three times within the last 16 Tests balances out the two Tests against Japan. Argentina is the most common opponent. Two of the last 16 Tests – remember, I am deleting amateur sides from the list – have been head to head: a 16-16 draw and a 23-13 All Blacks win in the pool game of the World Cup. Nobody would call that dominant, particularly given that the pool game turned on two spilled kicks by the Boks. By the way, in that match the Kiwis kicked 30 times from hand – six more than the Boks, who had 59 per cent of the territory and 53 per cent of the possession. More Rugby 'They saved my life:' From a devastating diagnosis to Paralympics glory, Emily's story is pure gold Why the All Blacks and Wallabies will be thrilled to avoid South Africa in 2021 The Rugby Championship should expand to six nations Bruce Robertson was majestic, aristocratic, elegant… Yes, I am talking about a rugby player! 'Tough for the relationship': Turinui says Aus-NZ relations worst since 2003, spins Ian Foster theory RUGBY But if we scoop the 2018 Tests, we see scores of 36-34 and 32-30. Perhaps the rivalry is returning to its proper status, with the 2016-17 smashing of the Boks a distant and anomalous memory. Each side has managed only single-digit win streaks against the other (eight straight wins for New Zealand and six for the Boks). With all the dross and gloom and dire news of 2020-21, the Test the rugby world needs is Boks-All Blacks. In one corner we have by far the best attacking team in the world. In the other corner, the undisputed king of defence. Even if that is overstated – look at the margins in the last 16 Tests – the fact is this a world champion and Lions series victor that is not seen as the true No. 1, while the challenger is seen as the best, still, until the Boks can prove it on the field. Style match-ups make fights, and this is the one we want. New Zealand Rugby, please give it to us. Wherever. I think the Boks will play in a car lot outside Wigan. Without water carriers. Maybe not even a ref. 131 Join the conversation Looking for a bet on the rugby? Look no further than PlayUp, Australia’s best fixed-odds bookmaker with the best customer service. Sign up & bet now, and remember to please gamble responsibly. 131 Comments Sort by Oldest Comment Threads BoldItalicStrikeLink ????????????????????????????????????????????????????⚽???????? Your Comment New around here? Check out our comments policy. Comments can be edited up to 45 minutes after posting. Add Comment Buk Buk Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 9:35am Harry, the ‘without water carriers’ was a great line ???? I am really interested to see how the Wallabies slick passing attack game will go on a dry ground against the Springboks. In a first up test, and if mistakes are kept to a minimum, it could be telling. At least subconsciously, the ‘100th test’ factor/focus will be weighing on SA, which sets them up for a surprise attack by the Wallabies. Rassie’s success was in getting the Lions to play a ‘let’s question every decision possible’ game, which slowed things down, instead of looking to run the Springboks around. I am assuming he will not be able to do that against the Wallabies in Australia. Reply Harry Jones 1 person likes this Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Roar Guru August 24th 2021 @ 11:55am But I too am “ interested to see how the Wallabies slick passing attack game will go against the Boks” And also interested to see the Wallabies slick passing game. Jokes aside, I believe that the Rennievator will one day iron out the kinks and we will again have an unpredictable 23 that test teams will be wary of. Reply Rusty Scotty P 2 others like this Rugby Tragic Rugby Tragic Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 2:00pm 100% agree Ken … I’m a real fan of Rennie… so much so if it were not for the All Blacks, the Blues, the Auckland provincial side, and the Chiefs I’d almost switch my allegiance to the Wallabies? ???? ….. Ummm to think about that again … nope, I’d have nothing to argue about with my missus (a bleeding Aussie!) Reply Ken Catchpole's Other Leg 1 person likes this Buk Buk Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 2:25pm Yeah Ken, I may be viewing things with slightly optimistic rose-coloured spectacles. But despite the last loss, some of their passing did produce some holes/gaps/space. Obviously a few work-ons, but reminded me of the days of David Knox. Reply FatOldHalfback 1 person likes this Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Roar Guru August 24th 2021 @ 2:30pm Ah! David Knox, ffs he was a frustrating enemy. It was players like him that inspired the phrase ‘kill the 5/8’. Reply FatOldHalfback FatOldHalfback Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 3:46pm As I recall one of the things that most annoyed the opposition about Knox was that he didn’t even look like a rugby player, sloped shoulders, few discernable muscles, blond mop of hair, jersey always clean (he rarely tackled and was rarely caught with the ball) and yet his teams often did well Reply Buk 1 person likes this Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Ken Catchpole's Other Leg Roar Guru August 24th 2021 @ 4:19pm Is that what it was? – all I remember was slippery as a snake with a blonde mop. Edited after posting Reply Banjo Kelly Banjo Kelly Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 9:32pm Knox could play. It may be only 51% true but they reckon DK once pulled his young number 12 aside at training and said “ it’s like this, I don’t tackle, and I don’t get tackled, alright?” Reply Buk 1 person likes this Carlos the Argie Carlos the Argie Roar Guru August 24th 2021 @ 9:39am I propose Brussels, of course, once we are there. Reply mzilikazi 1 person likes this Colin Fenwick Colin Fenwick Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 9:48am Oh yes please. Isn’t it a shame though, that the NZ PM locked down the whole country instead of just the North island. The 100th test could still have been played in Dunedin under the roof. Reply Iso Late Muzzo Harry Jones Anzeboy2460 You and 5 others like this SB SB Guest August 24th 2021 @ 9:49am Nice little read to wet the appetite for what should be an epic battle Harry! As an AB fan I hunger for my brave boys to bash your belligerent boks back in to their box! a return to the “natural order of things” if you will… as a two eyed realist however, I really can’t muster up that much confidence in what Fozzy and co are building right now? and its impossible NOT to be impressed with this well oiled and angry mean green machine Rassie has built… so if I’m honest I probs lean about 60/40 to SA on this one? I can’t wait… would say its home ground wins, but what does that even mean any more! oh and just to get in on the fun… do you REALLY think the boks would play without their two most influential positions? water-carrier and ref that is… ???? ???? Reply Harry Jones Ruckit You and 1 other like this biltong biltong Guest August 24th 2021 @ 3:47pm The only place on earth you find a natural order of things is nature ???? Reply Ruckit Ruckit Roar Rookie August 24th 2021 @ 11:59pm “The All Blacks are the better team over the hundred years – the best team in rugby history. The Boks are a distant second and only just ahead of the pack.” Reply biltong biltong Guest August 25th 2021 @ 1:30am Springboks were the better team until 1996 ???? As the Guest said.. Yes back in the day when they were undefeated at home for sixty years; with their own referees. The stats changed very quickly with the introduction of Home Union selected referees. The All Blacks won a higher percentage of games at home and abroad and the Bokke home record descended faster " than a RASSIE attempt at empathy with Berry . ; )

The same applied in NZ back then, most test matches were home referees then :silly:

You must be terrified Harry, at the thought of us having Foster as our coach for the next few years ..

Not sure RT, but hearsay he did quite well in a tiddliewinks comp!! Lol :laughing: :laughing:

So what is the overall for & against, Gary, not just a selective time period?

Inclined to agree Carlin, as if the Bokke, do beat us, it will definitely redefine the credibility of one, Ian Foster. Just imagine those calling for his head, especially after the NZRFU, lengthened his tenure.

Correction, I think it was Ben O'Keefe in 2nd BIL test not Pual Williams .

It was widely known that it was impossible to win in SA with Saffa refs

So for the Bok v AB 100th game who will be ref? Probably Rassie, to avoid any excuses after

It is what it is EFF - I'm reasonably happy with it being at Townsville, I didn't realise it was such a nice stadium up there

The best game was earlier when Ron Jarden and his university mates thrashed the Bokke on a Wednesday at Athletic Park (22-6). He scored a near coast to coast try that left several Bokke lying on the ground, and then a touch judge of questionable parentage put his flag up, and claimed he stepped on the line.

Yes back in the day when they were undefeated at home for sixty years; with their own referees. The stats changed very quickly with the introduction of Home Union selected referees. The All Blacks won a higher percentage of games at home and abroad and the Bokke home record descended faster than a government attempt at empathy with women or refugees.

Yes Ruckit, that was the case, both ways, to some extent, but the record books don't show that. They only show the final results.