After arriving in the land Down Under cock-a-hoop and full of the joys of a Lions series victory, the Boks are now officially on a tour from hell.
I am reminded of the Jimmy Ruffin classic, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.
For all intents and purposes the Springboks should be walking the land wondering if their happiness was an illusion, confused and trying to find any kind of peace of mind.
In two games that were meant to be a tune-up for a bigger dance against the All Blacks, the Boks were outplayed by a better coached, better rounded and more highly skilled Australian side.
Things are only going to get worse for them, especially if the South African reaction is anything to go by. Apparently the Wallabies wins can all be put down to the Boks being a shadow of themselves.
This lack of self-awareness is a large part of their problem, as is the over-confidence – some would say arrogance – that seems to tarnish this South African side.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
However, they do have an outsider to blame as well.
It was, after all, Warren Gatland who led a Lions touring party to South Africa that was scared to hold onto the ball. It merely kicked possession back to Willie le Roux and Handre Pollard, much to the frustration of players like Finn Russell, who knew the Lions were blowing the series by doing so.
Ironically, the Springboks may have been better off not getting in that 240 minutes of preparation against the Lions and flying straight to the Rugby Championship. It would have been less dangerous for player welfare.
It appears that the South African brains trust never anticipated running into a team that simply refused to play along and kick the ball back to them.
Maybe this is partly because South Africa has been so focussed on moving to the northern hemisphere. Did they forget that passing and running are as fundamental to the game as kicking and mauling?
Maybe it’s because Rassie was so distracted by getting his Stephen Spielberg on that he forgot to think beyond August.
Whatever the case, the Boks are now in severe trouble, and it’s very difficult to see how they will get out of a hole they seem intent on digging deeper.
Jacques Nienaber was asked about his side’s attack but could only say, “From a defensive viewpoint we need to make changes and do things better, you know. I think the last time we conceded four tries was against New Zealand in 2018.”
Not once did the South African coaches appear to recognise that they may have let their players down with one-dimensional game planning and attack, if it can even be called that.
Not once did anyone seem to realise that what worked against Warren Gatland has not worked against Dave Rennie.
The Wallabies have now shown exactly how to beat the Springboks. Kicking only when they needed to, the Wallabies stretched the Boks across the field phase after phase and attacked through Samu Kerevi and Len Ikitau.
Australia also showed that with endless kicking comes endless broken play and attacking opportunity. It is much harder for South Africa to organise their defence if their opponent holds the ball on his own terms after its kicked to him.
Broadly the Bok pack needed to be lung busted, and the Wallabies use of the ball to do the work was smart.
Rather than stepping ten metres to one side and then ten metres to the other while waiting for a kicking duel to conclude, the South Africans were run ragged, or as ragged as was possible given they tried their best to wander slowly back behind Le Roux each time he called ‘mark’.
Anyone who argues that the Springbok forwards are as mobile as the Wallabies and Kiwis obviously missed the men in green bent at the hip or hands on heads gasping for air throughout even the first half on Saturday.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
It also seemed as if the South African backs came out at halftime with a plan to speed up the game and spread the ball wider. Whoever gave that team talk forgot to speak about how to run, pass and catch.
Admittedly, it’s very hard to ask players to implement a game plan that’s been missing since 2019 at halftime in a Test, especially when they haven’t been selected as a unit to play expansively and their skills are blunt.
All of this was imminently foreseeable regardless.
There were echoes of 1992 over the past few months. The Boks had been alone with only Warren Gatland for company in the Republic for so long they thought they just needed to show up to win.
Those of us who sounded the alarm and questioned the one-dimensional nature of South Africa’s game plan were branded anti-South African.
Apparently we simply did not appreciate the power and genius of the world champions. It was about winning, after all, and nothing else. Responsibility to the game – what responsibility?
It did not take a genius to figure out that the Wallabies and All Blacks simply would not play into the Boks hands the way the Lions did.
What should be deeply troubling for South Africa is that the All Blacks won’t require any tutorials from the Wallabies this week. In fact the New Zealanders will implement the winning blueprint better – they’ll be more clinical, they’ll play faster and they’ll most likely humiliate the world champions.
And rugby fans globally are baying for it. They sense blood in the water and are desperate to see the All Blacks deliver more.
Again, the Springboks were only using the Tests against Australia as a tune-up for the show down against the Kiwis. A showdown to put a full stop on 100 years of rivalry before they sidled up to the private equity power brokers in London and joined the Six Nations.
Winning is everything. We are the world champions.
The reality is that the Boks really aren’t very good right now, and winning against New Zealand ain’t going to happen. It will be four losses on the trot.
What is needed to stop that slide is a little more humility and introspection from South African administrators, coaches, players and supporters.
Is anybody holding their breath?
Armtwister
Roar Rookie
Or they passed so badly-either to high, behind etc and the move broke down. It took several attempts before the ball moved successfully all the way along the backline. Very poor skills .
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
As I said Ruckit, the record books don't show that, & don't kid yourself, as we in Aotearoa, had refs, that weren't the best. Such was, the way back then, before neutral refs. Even here in Aussie, there were some atrocious ones. Remember Dick ( the spider ) Byers?? But honestly, the Bokke did have it over us for approx. 60 years in the for & against.
Raymond
Guest
The Boks lack skill, flair and imagination and will lose to the ABs by more than 40 points.
Ruckit
Roar Rookie
The Saffa faffas for and against: pre prof 21 – 18, post prof 15 -41. That’s a total of 36 to SA and 59 to ABs. Not that even really. And pre prof includes the days when non one won in SA due to biased refffing ( but maybe there was biased reffing in other home countries also).
Ruckit
Roar Rookie
Martin, I m a Kiwi (& with a past-AB cousin), But I would not be so bold as to predict a AB win. Saffas respond differently to the the AB challenge and lift dramatically. I doubt they can do 2 in a row tho as history shows..
Lara
Guest
Thanks for the article ????????????✌️
Steve Buys
Guest
Agreed. Covid in SA has definitely had a major impact on the national team prep. What many seem to be forgetting is the fact that domestic rugby started up in New Zealand and Australia well before it did in SA, meaning the players have had far better preparation and conditioning. If players aren't training and playing, development is halted. I also find it frustrating how many people are bashing the Boks for the kicking game they adopted in the BIL Tour. To me it was the BIL team that brought their game plan and the Boks played to it. It was far from a normal series due to covid restrictions but both teams did their best, considering.
Darren WA
Roar Rookie
No BS just a reflection of there current society.
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
Yeah it is a shame that the game will be played in Townsville - it does deserve a more traditional setting. Should be a cracking game - I’m just hoping the boks can stay in it…
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep I see your point Bro, but IMO, I do expect the Bokke to up the intensity this coming weekend, being the 100th game between us, in which we were sadly robbed of, due to the pandemic. It was originally meant to be played, in the city of the first encounter, Dunedin, but now we see it shoved away into a North Queensland township, that doesn't have a true rugby following. A poor substitute, for a game that will mean so much for us Kiwi's & Safa's alike. In fact, the greatest test match, as judged by many, was the test at Ellis Park back in 2013, in which I had the pleasure of being there. We do, have a excellent history between us.
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
The passing was esp good from aus and noticeable poor from SA. So pleasing to the wallabies passing quickly and in front of their runner.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Complaining in defeat is something that in my observations comes very readily to most sides and their supporters and certainly isn't a trait particular to SA. It never looks good, commonly obscures the real reasons for defeat and often goes hand in hand with being ugly in victory.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Jantjies at 10 will generate some heat, deservedly or not. He would probably be the SA version of Cooper here, or Carlos in NZ (back in the day) - his detractors really hate him and look for even the smallest infraction to jump on. I am agnostic about him at this level. I wonder if there is too little time to make real changes to the way they are playing, especially against NZ, who will apply a lot more heat than Oz can, or did. Watching on Saturday I was struck by the difficulty of trying to run in the backs when they are out of practice with that - balls passed behind runners, passes that don't find the man, knock ons, not running straight etc. Then, because it isn't going so well, one feels it doesn't work and so one reverts to tight etc. Maybe they need to accept that they have set their course and really just focus on that, with perhaps an aim to strike through the backs on a very limited, clearly defined basis. Then try to develop a bit more by way of options in the break between seasons (such as it is)? The players are there but the rust looks pretty thick in terms of ball in hand.
Ken
Guest
Some data that you might find interesting regarding your pointed comment about neutral refs in SA. I looked at all Bok games from 1891 to 1986 - the point at which SA were stopped from competing internationally for a number of years. Neutral refs were first used in the mid 1970’s. Games played at home : 109 Games won : 69 (63%) Neutral refs in this total : 20 games Games won : 15 (75%) Games played away :: 59 Games won : 39 (66%) Games v NZ in NZ lost 71% Games v NZ in SA won 71% This should put the whole neutral ref and implied cheating comments to bed.
Harry Jones
Expert
Not really. It worked to keep NZ to 2 tries. And those came from odd errors. SA’s D kept improving
mused6
Roar Rookie
I was in Paris that year too, and couldn’t afford the tickets so I went drinking down the Champ de Mars instead and watched the game on the big screens. Probably the most Englishmen with swords and armour in France since 1230 AD.
biltong
Guest
Oh please, no more dirty than any other team. It astounds me the BS some supporters can come up, it is laughable
Darren WA
Roar Rookie
Not really, because there are a lot of South Africans living in Perth and the depression and whinging that takes place can become a bit much. South Africa are not doing very well and can be very dirty in there approach (eye gouging) sometimes reality for some people is hard to deal with.
Darren WA
Roar Rookie
No, I’m not a kiwi
Prof_Kaos
Roar Rookie
I won’t predict the ABs thrashing SAF, pride before the fall & I don’t want to tempt fate with all teams growing an extra leg when playing the ABs. What interested me was this knowledgeable SAF write of the Boks “before they sidled up to the private equity power brokers in London and joined the Six Nations.” I thought this was obviously going to happen since the failed Super Rugby conference system. IMO, SAF has decided it can’t beat the player drain to Europe so it’s going to join it. A shame as a united SAF+NZ was the only way to challenge this problem. As such I think NZR needs to get real about SAFs departure and develop a Pacific Rim competition with NZ, Aus, Japan, Pacifica and N+S America particularly Argentina before they too join Europe. That or give up and NZ also joins the 6Ns. Not my preference but SANZAAR looks to be imploding. Once SAF departs, which I believe started when their two Super Rugby teams started playing in Europe, what next for the rest of SANZAAR? If NZ wait too long the ABs will be left out in the cold with no regular decent competition.