So the New Zealand All Blacks had made a truckload of changes to the team that trounced the Wallabies in Auckland. So they were eight or more players short of their first-choice run-on team. So they had never — but never — won in Port Elizabeth. They still expected to win! And a lot of good judges also expected them to win.
Well, they didn’t win. In fact this was their second-biggest losing margin in South Africa. They lost the first half 5–15 and the second 0–3. They never had the lead, from start to finish. It sounds like a comprehensive win for the Boks!
Not on your life!
There were plenty of positives for New Zealand. With just a little more in the finishing department, they could have scored perhaps three more tries — as indeed the Wallabies could have last weekend. Mind you, the one they did score was from a clear forward pass, as was the one denied them after the controversial advice from the TMO. Keven Mealamu thought that with just 10 per cent more, in terms of the accuracy of their performance, they could have won. I think that he’s right, but the Boks looked much more focussed and determined and I think that there’s more to come from them also.
We have been influenced to believe that there is huge depth available for the All Black selectors. ‘We could field two teams and play ourselves in the final’ — this pretty much sums up the feeling that we’ve got from the many opinions coming out of New Zealand over the last weeks. It’s not going to be like that. I’d go so far as to say that no team can win without their best players. I think that, if any team lose even two of their very best players, they’ll struggle. Maybe it’s always been this way. Maybe, but it’s sure like it now. It looks to me that as many as eight teams could compete at the very highest level next month. What a prospect!
New Zealand used this match to give some of their returning (from injury) players a high-level trial. Dagg, Kahui and Woodcock have not played for extended periods, and certainly Dagg and Woodcock will be important in their plans. I would assume that all three will improve further in the coming weeks, although Dagg already looks a contender for player of the tournament. Nevertheless, the Springboks exposed some frailties — heaven knows, we’ve all been looking for some. The All Blacks scrum was seriously fragile and, although they were without their best scrummaging prop, Owen Franks, there will be serious concerns in their camp. Afoa was not up to it and concerns exist on the ability of both Woodcock and Crockett to scrummage within the laws.
Some have already pointed to the fact that the Boks scored all of their points from goals. However, rather than this fact offering any degree of comfort for New Zealand, I believe that they will be concerned that maybe the refs are starting to see what most of the rugby public in the world have been seeing for some time now. Perhaps their team management may now be nervously considering, ‘Will we have to quickly develop a completely new mindset — in double-quick time?’
The Boks deserved their win. They bounced back, with courage and determination, after three successive losses, with two of those featuring performances well below what will be required in their defence of their World Champions title. The All Blacks began by exposing the Springboks defence, apparently almost at will. But intense, scrambling defence from the home team, aided a little by less-than-accurate All Blacks support play, kept them at bay.
Bryan Habana was prominent and, as every good winger should, worked hard on the opposite side of the field. His tackling was powerful and immediate and snuffed out numerous opportunities. Jacque Fourie was also most effective and, on three occasions, he actually emerged from these desperate defensive situations with the ball in hand. He did exactly the same in last weekend’s Wallaby test in Durban, so these cannot have been flukes. In another quality defensive read in the 24th minute, he anticipated a second-line play from the All Blacks and caught Toeava way behind the advantage line. This drew a penalty to the Boks — for non-release of the ball in the tackle — and Morne Steyn kicked to touch on the 5 metre mark. From the lineout and subsequent phases, the All Blacks infringed again and Steyn kicked his fourth penalty. These were all big plays, either saving or gaining points for his team. His instinct in these pressure situations is amazing!
As is usual, the Bok lineout was good but their scrum was simply devastating. As early as the 8th minute, they demolished their opponents, with both the tighthead and hooker coming up under the pressure, and drew the penalty for Steyn to kick his second goal. In the 58th minute they actually took the ball against the head and when Thompson came offside to retrieve the situation, Steyn added another three points. The Springboks had well and truly earned their points!
The Springboks have missed Heinrich Brüssow hugely — they don’t have many door mats amongst their numbers — and he was tremendously influential again. He will continue to get better in the weeks ahead. The changes to the front row, with Steenkamp and Bismark and Jannie du Plessis in the starting lineup, were also significant. What a difference a week makes: demolished by the Wallabies scrum one week, smashing the All Blacks scrum the next.
The All Blacks, as I have said already, looked very dangerous in the launching phase of their attacks, but unusually inaccurate with their subsequent support and passing. During the first half especially, many passes were bounced to the receiver, slowing many promising attacks. Perhaps the anticipation of bone-juddering defences distracts them as much as it does everyone else!
We’ve always known of the Springboks’ physical strength and brutality — it’s ever-present — but this performance speaks volumes for their attitude. And they are starting to look match-fit! I’m sure that the All Blacks will not be relishing the prospect of a semi-final against their old foe.
I’d better not forget the ref! I thought that he started excellently and was never going to tolerate bodies on the ground over the ball — a welcome and refreshing departure from the current norm — but by the second half he had begun to fall away and the tackle contest turned into a free-for-all. Still, he has promise and will presumably get fitter. This may help his eyesight and restrict forward passes!
