Two Tests between number one and two on neutral ground. A kick at the death both times.
And South Africa is still, even after a gloomy tour in Queensland, and most of the rugby aristocracy baying for the All Blacks to drink Bok blood for the ‘good of the game,’ … the world number one team.
By the skin of Frans Steyn’s super-stretched size 50-22 shorts.
Frans got pinged for not rolling away from a ball he stole from Damian McKenzie in a tackle.
And yet, even though Jordie Barrett flushed another late match kick, it was Elton Jantjies who had the last laugh.
How did they do it?
Belief, brutal strength, bloody-mindedness, ball skills, boots, breakdown bastardry, and brawn. But not because of Willie le Roux, who surely was retired by Ardie Savea’s men?
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
His 50-22 attempt was not initiated by a phase in the Bok half. Frans could probably do one from his own tryline.
It takes a Steyn to win in 2021.
Yet like many Bok triumphs, it was built on the firm foundation of Eben Ectomorph Etzebeth, Malcolm Mongrel Marx, Duane Ver-Maul-en, the Spicy Plum, and Blood de Jager. But it also featured the tricky hands of insouciant Lukhanyo Am and Frans’ territory-eating right foot.
The Boks kicked from hand one less time than the All Blacks, but far more of their kicks were contested or awkwardly placed.
By my count, almost half of the Bok kicks were regained by hook and by crook. And yes, they persisted with kicking inside the All Black 22, waiting for someone besides a Barrett to catch it cleanly.
On the New Zealand side, tall Jordie continued his unreal form, whilst Beauden was good until an unspeakably unwise cross kick into touch in his own 22 with the game in the balance.
The lineout seems to miss Sam Whitelock’s IQ, with Etzebeth a pest. The scrum held up, for the most part, but an early Bok Bomb Squad gained the nudge. Only a valiant effort by Ardie Savea and Co rescued a couple of backpedalling scrums.
The midfield battle seemed to tilt the Boks’ way. David Havili is better in other places at this level.
All four wings looked dangerous. Tries were earned.
The All Black loose forward riddle is still unsolved, but might have a blackadder solution. Akira Ioane was not a good fit for this sort of street fight.
But mostly this was a ding-dong ping-pong battle with a clearly exhausted referee.
The Boks ran more metres with the ball than the All Blacks, and lost fewer rucks.
Faf de Klerk varied his distribution, Pollard and Jantjies attacked the line, and phases actually exceeded three.
I still think the All Blacks have had the best 2021, and can claim “true best” at the moment because of the Bok-Wallaby losses, but if they wobble on the EOYT and South Africa (with RG Snyman and Cheslin Kolbe returning) win out, the Lions series winners may be seen as still the top dog.
But on this night, it was a classic slugfest with big hearts on full display: Kwagga Smith and Elton have copped stick from me for ages, but they looked like proper Test animals.
Is this a better mix of kick-chase-run-pass? Yes. And Pollard’s missed kicks at goal are still undermining the effort.
For mine, Etzebeth was the Man of the Match, and was the Man of the Lions Series. He chases everything, bothers, harries and harasses, is a tractor at scrum, carries and tackles like his hair is on fire, and is the pressure valve of the Boks’ pressure game.
There are still issues.
But backing up a World Cup win with an undercooked Lions series triumph and then surviving a bubbled bad tour to take an All Black scalp says to all: don’t bury these Boks yet.
There is a pathway to greatness if this group (Malherbe, Pollard, Etzebeth, de Allende, de Jager were all in that 2015 semifinal loss) can win these types of Tests in 2022 and 2023, with the help of young players coming up. The mix is the key.
For one night, Jacques Nienaber got most of it right:
1/ the early front row revamp
2/ the calibration of D ‘n A
3/ the goal kicker switch
4/ the shape in the red zone
5/ the bloody score!
But he must pull the plug on Willie. Sad but true.
Time to celebrate this rare win! Frans Steyn is now 5-5-1 versus the old foe. He looked ecstatic.
(He stole that ball, ref. What’s he supposed to do? Give it back in the air?)
The All Blacks will be all the better for these two blockbuster battles. Harder. More clear. And personnel decisions will be made.
Rugby isn’t ruined by style clashes.
RobC
Roar Guru
Was a great test Hazzaa. Fine margins. In retrospect, both teams could have done better. And worse
Abraham Botha
Guest
Thank God…! Objective commentary has returned. In a world filled with stylised propaganda Rugby has found a true worshipper of the game…and not “a team” taking part in the game. WRITE MORE!!!
Scott Will1980
Roar Rookie
At what point can you see the ball go forward in that tackle? exactly, Dmac was going backwards the ball backwards as well, steyn managed grab it off then Dmac got it back before it went to ground an become a tackle situation, nothing one eyed about it, steyn was it the wrong he needed to release an roll away, at what point was the ball propelled forward into steyn? the ball an Dmac both going backwards, this isnt rugby league where if you lose the ball in a tackle its a handover, ball touches the player in a forward motion lol where Dmac is still holding it seconds after hes tackled an going backwards, more clueless bok fans, stick to robbing each other losers.
Big A
Roar Rookie
first time i watched the Wallabies was 12-6 victory in 1979 over the All Blacks at SCG, captained by Mark Loane, in my opinion, the greatest Wallaby of them all. Aust that day won back the Bled Cup from NZ for the first time since 1949 (yep that's right 30 years - i'm sure you remember it better than me CKOL). I then went to the SCG in 1982 and saw Mark Ella play against the touring Scots - haven't missed a game since. As the great Bouda used to say, "GO YOU GOOD THING, GO !!!
James in NZ
Roar Rookie
I was always a fan of Wyatt, I think we had a Blade there too for a moment. We have a few apostrophe names these days, but we got nothing on all the SA vowels, two German dots over letters, and weird truck n trailer names. I guess I don't get out enough.
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Most likely the Wallabies would have been beaten if they played in SA. History says they would have and there’s nothing about either of these teams that suggests they are any better than their predecessors.
itsgoodtobelucky
Roar Rookie
Not short of 'cool' names to say in your own teams though... Akira Ioane, Hoskins Sotutu, Karl Tu'inukuafe (which looks a mouthful but sounds very smooth when he says it himself) ... not to mention Du Plessis Kirifi!! :happy:
Harry Jones
Expert
Best example of that was the tackle by Frans Steyn on Jordie Barrett. Play on. It was the crowd noise which made the ref take a look.
Brad
Roar Rookie
No, the Wallabies were very good and I like their trajectory at the moment. As many have said they were better than the scoreline suggested against ABs and the extra cattle has made a difference. Not sure how they would have faired against the Boks at home though. I'm looking forward to next year's matchups. Everyone should be at their best, Pumas too ????, with home and away. Then we should have a clearer idea of what difference, if any, there is between these teams
Harry Jones
Expert
Nah. SA didn’t pitch up for that second test. Game plan can’t produce effort. No scramble D. No second efforts except by EE, Siya, Mostert. Morale issue. Seemed to flow from exterior circumstances. Good on WBs, but I think Rennie knows that (4 tries) was a one-off.
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Thing is they’re not and never were. Wallabies had a game plan to beat them. SA had a game plan to beat NZ. NZ had a game plan to beat Wallabies. All teams good but beatable
Harry Jones
Expert
No excuses. Was trying to diagnose why we were kak.
pm
Roar Rookie
I don't know Goosen's play at all well enough. I think Pollard is good when he's playing the game, not just kicking no matter what. Though his passing delivery never looks super-sharp to me
MaxP
Roar Rookie
I enjoy your writing Harry, but this excuse making for the losses to the Wallabies is beneath you. The Springboks were poor and outplayed in both games. That’s all that matters. People never allow the Wallabies excuses for poor matches. Similarly the Boks don’t deserve a free pass
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Ha ha ha. The Wallabies only won because the Lions had softened the Saffas up before. The excuses just keep coming.
MaxP
Roar Rookie
I’m with you BiB. But surely you’ve been around long enough to know only Australia benefit from dead rubbers, NZ taking the foot off the gas etc. And we know the wins against the Boks were just gifted because they were warming up for NZ. And on it goes. Wallabies never win, they get gifted games. Springboks never lose. They get robbed or they choose not to try because they’re saving themselves for NZ.
Phil
Guest
Harry,are you sure JN wasn't on the phone to Rassie to make the subs?
Timnaik O'Shaughnessy
Roar Rookie
"Belief, brutal strength, bloody-mindedness, ball skills, boots, breakdown bastardry, and brawn." Loved it. What an apt description. Thanks Mr Jones.
William Kraft
Guest
And then a WIESE lurking in the background as well. And just a thought..... playing Kolbe at 15?
William Kraft
Guest
I am going to dare a statement. Maybe the Wallabies were just that good in the first test against the Boks. I think the Quade Cooper effect boosted an Aussie team who was lacking self confidence after their Bledisloe disaster. That win against the Boks served 2 purposes, It steeled the Aussie resolve and confidence and made the Boks uncertain of their game plan.... which was evident during the second test. Just glad the Boks showed up.... seemingly regrouped and booming belief in their structures against the All Blacks. Those were the 2 highlight games for me in any case. Dare I say, It was a draw over the 2 AB -Bok tests?