An All Black try from fractured play right off the bat. A card for daring to try to intercept. You couldn’t have designed a worse start for South Africa.
And yet, the lead changed seven times. A true fetcher, a fired up skipper, a superior second row, and Frans ‘Malbec’ Malherbe winning his familiar two-penalty scrum margin. George Bridge never looked comfortable under the garryowen. The ball was jarred from New Zealand carriers more times than I ever recall in the professional era.
With a few minutes to play, the embattled Boks had somehow managed to eke out a one-point lead, and even had possession.
But with all that, it still felt like South Africa had set the table, hell, built the table and the chairs, killed the calf, cooked it down, put the food on the plates, and then forgot to eat!
Twice or maybe three times, a series of brutally effective pack play had won the Boks the ball well inside the Kiwi half, and Faf de Klerk or Herschel Jantjies hoofed it high.
The time was ripe. The All Blacks were just as tired. The Bok wings are quick as hell. But the ball was wasted on speculators.
It was if the Boks kept hoping their lucky try would be duplicated. And the All Blacks, too, passing sloppily, hoping it would stick. But Jordie Barrett cleaned up at the back, Bridge never hung his head, and on the other side, the Boks smashed All Black runners, or jackled them.
And so it came down to kicks. A kick. As it seemed it would.
And what a kick it was. One of the best I’ve seen to win this level of Test match.
Flushed. Pure. Roped.
I told myself before he kicked, that Jordie simply had to miss it. He was due a miss.
But the raccoon-haired fullback held his nerve and broke Bok hearts.
It was a proper Test.
It’s a pity the Boks never play off ten. But the counter argument is this style of rugby creates 1-3 point contests with the No.1 attacking team.
This was a full blown masterpiece of Bok forward play. Sadly, their backline could not equal them.
All of the Bok forwards stepped up, even Kwagga Smith, who I’ve critiqued harshly.
But an over reliance on the base kick robbed the Boks of that extra punch needed to win.
Jordie, take a bow. There are areas to work on for NZ: the midfield, the high ball, set piece, and handling. But they knew how to keep at it, kept composure when it mattered, and took the biscuits.
Good on you, old foe and friend.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Hazzaaaaaaa.... Boks if they want to sustain in the 21st Century: - They need to learn how to play off ten - Impossible some might say - Its as impossible as a black front row would have been, from a fan of the 1980s point of view
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thats what happens when coaches take "thinking" as an option away from the players and turn them into robots. It was so ingrained in their heads to kick that even that match situation couldnt stop them.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
It doesnt because the ABs are better at it than Aus is. How is the SA way working for them? I guess if you dont like running rugby and I love running rugby then its lucky we follow the teams we do isnt it. I watched the 2 2018 tests the other day and the Boks are playing very different to then. There was still a planned kicking game but the SA backs ran the ball quite a bit. I dont understand this recent style going to the "kicking" extreme its gone to and it aint working.
Harry Jones
Expert
How does the Wallaby way work against NZ?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The Wallaby results against SA show it works and the NZ results v everyone show it works.
Harry Jones
Expert
The Wallaby results against NZ don't show that trying to run it works. Just squeezing a bit harder.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, I think KneeKnocker is just doing percentages. Missing something.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Hazaaaaaa. Jake White, as a comparison, was a good coach: - He stripped back a team to their best possible base play - The diff is JW made sure the strip was not just a short tease - DR / nine neuter need to add to the Bok toolkit - The skill and will is there. turn it on COACHES!!!
Spew_81
Roar Rookie
I'm definitely glad Gatland isn't getting the chance to turn the Chiefs into the Lions.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Tough result Harry ... commiserations ... that's 2 games in the last 3 that the Boks have lost tests in the final minutes .. Unfortunately I had a prior engagement last weekend and had to watch the games on replay knowing the results. No tension in watching a replay when the result of a close game is known beforehand. Good luck for Saturday ..
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sorry Harry that match was not a throwback at all. SA are a bore-athon. And the results this year show its not a style to win rugby with.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Haha they were off to the pub to get arrested….Wasnt the score in the Saturday league game 10-6? Wow such excitement.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Mick Byrne has been announced as the DRUA coach for the next 2 years. Looking forward to what he has to offer
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im happy he's going to the Chiefs Spew. Also happy the Cheifs have announced that Gatland will be an overseer and not the head coach.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
fair to say you got a little carried away with how the Boks were trending... fair enough, they had been very poor.
Harry Jones
Expert
Fair!
Harry Jones
Expert
G Fox accurately pointed out the breakdown wasn’t NZ’s. Changes in store.
Harry Jones
Expert
It was the only way to describe that hairstyle?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
You posted 2 sentences.. First one yes fact.. Second one.. Its an IQ Test of sorts for you.. Would you present that as a fact or not..
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The coaching staff I have the biggest gripe with, naivety and arrogance I fear.