I like the humour, but the sentiment being illustrated here just doesn't happen any more. The ABs don't go out to win the fight, they rely on their superior abilities to play the game to win.
No, they don't go out to win the fight. Nor do the Boks. The games are always insanely physical regardless and usually of a quality that supercedes all other games. If you look at the picture in light of that, the challenge presented by both sides to one another and the respect between them then it's the perfect picture.
The Boks' coaching staff have mentioned something around 440 tackles being made at Newlands between the two sides. Some cite Australia to have made 252 tackles, other 270 odd and some even as high as 288.
If we as SA take that they made 250 tackles it still means we made 190 tackles which is a lot also. It's one thing to outlast Australia at Newlands. Doing so against a significantly fresher All Blacks side at altitude is a different beast altogether. So I think before we sing too many praises about the conditioning, which has improved I agree, we need to take the above into consideration.
Second place is virtually guaranteed and there's no way to win the competition for us anymore so I think winning at all costs must be the only mindset here. Our kicking is lacking significantly and I feel this is the only facet of play where the Springboks have regressed since HM took over. The All Blacks on the other hand have kept at it since they realised how helpful a good kicking game is.
I think we will lose this game in the back row, no one really to make any turnovers or provide massive go-forward such as Duane, Louw, Alberts and also because the All Blacks have a superior kicking game. The fitness may pan out 50/50 ish.
