Time for a few Majorly Ragerly comments.
Firstly, and this over rides anything else. Congratulations to the Boks for 2 things. Firstly for beating us fair and square - better team on the day, better players and despite what else I write below, this cannot be taken away. Secondly for finding Pollard. He's been the missing link between the good SA teams of the last few years and the great SA teams. He is going to piss me off like nobody else over the next few years. What a player.
I don't know what else can be said about AB's vs SA at Ellis park - I could tell we were in trouble at the anthems - Joost, the crowd, the anthems, everything. The 2 best teams, one of the best venues on the planet, and the best rugby rivalry there is. From the match, the intensity, the battles right through to the interviews afterwards. Epic. I went to bed a happy man despite losing. This what sport is about, nothing else. And to think people called this a dead rubber.
The match itself - well, we were blown away early on. But man, nobody stages a comeback like us. Dominated the second half and only lost to a 55 metre penalty. Simply can't be argued. We've had our fair share of last minute victories over the last few years, so on a balance/ledger view, I can't complain.
MOAN TIME - READ IF YOU WANT OR SKIP IF NOT INTERESTED.
It's fucking disgraceful that ultimately the penalty that gave this game to the Boks was there because of the TV producer. Their job is to show the games to the people, come up with replays that the people want to see & offer analysis. It's NOT to desperately scour all the coverage and find something that could potentially be a penalty so the home team may have a chance at winning it. I have no problems with the penalty in itself and Barnes awarding it - no problems at all. But for things to be decided in this manner is not part of the game and never has been. None of the Ref, Touchies, TMO ref had a problem with it in realtime & that is how it works. to have the producer show it on TV endlessly so the crowd went at it, then subsequently JdV asked for it to be reviewed (again, not something I have a problem with in itself) is bullshit.
The IRB better look at this pre RWC. Although I know they won't, as they only peddle to the British scribes & they will all be happy the AB's lost.
MOAN TIME OVER.
So in summary, a great game, a great day for SA and a great advertisement for rugby all around. Records over, Richie is still an absolute god of a player.