TRC2021 - All Blacks v Springboks, Oct 2, 2021

[Bullrush]

Totally where it was lost. No shame in it, Nepo and Moody were failures. AGAIN. As they were in RWC2019 semi and as they were last week. AB's lucky to split the 2 week series 1-1 as they didnt have the muscle or leadership to resist getting dragged into playing the other teams style.

Brodie looked and played like a spindly baby compared to the boks locks

I would rather have half-broken penalty magnate Scrote Barrett out there than Paper Tiger Pat. FFS he comes on for impact and immediately starts walking. Like a stiff 45-year old.

Then Ofa comes on for impact and plays like he's limbering up for a fuckign yoga class. Could you possibly please perhaps HURT SOMEONE YOU FUCKING HUGE C**T.

Hard to argue with a lot of that…

 

[ACT Crusader]

Well done Boks and all the resident Saffas on here.
A messy game by both but with some very good in there too. Two very contrasting styles but they can produce such a close encounter - one of the reasons I love rugby.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well that was another proper arm-wrestle of a Test Match, wasn't it. Well done bokke for again executing their game plan almost perfectly. One day we'll find a way to counter it properly, yesterday just wasn't that day.

 

[Dan54]

Well I thoroughly enjoyed the test, was another good un between the 2 teams. I personally thought the Boks were just too good for us last night, didn't think the ABs were bad as such, just were beaten by better team, and you know that's why I love the game, there's no guarantees who will win!
And as everyone can see the sun still comes up the next day!
Actually one of the things I enjoyed during the test, as the Boks kicked winning goal, I heard a horn blowing, South African family over the road were watching with friends and there son pulled out a Vuvulela and blew it as they won (was 1.00am), I wandered across road and yelled into his window , and his Dad and him were standing in the middle of the road enjoying discussing the game and having a laugh, reminds me why I love the game! Actually the Dad said he thought the ref maybe gave Boks a couple of breaks, I said I didn't think so personally, just best team won.

 

[formerflanker]

I loved the early celebration from the Boks when awarded the penalty in front of the sticks.
Then Mr Cool does his usual quick, short run up and BOOM a famous Bokke win.

Surely the broadcasters wanted Jantjies to drag out the kick preparation so they could rant on about pressure, no kick is easy, this one for a famous win etc etc.

 

[Dctarget]

Can someone explain this Rock<Paper<Scissors bollocks with Australia<NZ<South Africa? Australia contained Bokkes well, NZ absolutely had Aus on a platter.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Surely the broadcasters wanted Jantjies to drag out the kick preparation so they could rant on about pressure, no kick is easy, this one for a famous win etc etc.

Didn't see anyway, had fled naked and screaming into the night by then.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

ritchie must be hovering in his chopper above the tmo's suite.

Absurd. Patently untrue. Ran the sentence above through google image search just to check and NO RESULTS

A.Mutterer and his Big Lie.

 

[Derpus]

Can someone explain this Rock<Paper<Scissors bollocks with Australia<NZ<South Africa? Australia contained Bokkes well, NZ absolutely had Aus on a platter.

ABs aren't that much better'n us but we have a massive inferiority complex when it comes to playing them (probably because every single Australian player has been losing to them 3-4 times a year since debuting).

That, and the Saffas get up for the ABs more than anyone else and historically suck in Australia.

Edit: Also, we always end up playing super loose attacking rugby against the ABs (like we did last night). Even against the Argies we turned the ball over a fuckload playing that way. NZ would've punished last nights performance terribly.

 

[Dan54]

ABs aren't that much better'n us but we have a massive inferiority complex when it comes to playing them (probably because every single Australian player has been losing to them 3-4 times a year since debuting).

That, and the Saffas get up for the ABs more than anyone else and historically suck in Australia.

Edit: Also, we always end up playing super loose attacking rugby against the ABs (like we did last night). Even against the Argies we turned the ball over a fuckload playing that way. NZ would've punished last nights performance terribly.

Strange isn't it Derps, how Boks always struggle against Wallabies so much.

 

[Blue]

Wow. Stoked. What a game.

This is how we should play. Far less aimless kicking. Tactically we got it right. Still playing to strengths.

To me, the AB's are not getting their back row balance right. It's not quite what it should be with some much talent.

This midfield is also not working. I am used to us getting carved up there but this combination does not seem threatening.

 

[Blue]

PS Mehrts' constant bleating was just beautiful.

Yes Andrew, this is what it feels like for all of us most of the time.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

What a tremendous test match that was. Gripping stuff all the way through and I thought the Bokke was deserved winners. They played with their usual brute force, but were smarter about it this week. Fantastic stuff.

 

[Tex]

All Blacks not competing at the final lineout...

Cracking game, best of the competition.

 

[wamberal]

Strange isn't it Derps, how Boks always struggle against Wallabies so much.

Maybe they take us a bit easy. They all looked well off the pace, not up for the contest at all. That said, they did get pretty close, it could have been two wins for them.

 

[dru]

ABs aren't that much better'n us but we have a massive inferiority complex when it comes to playing them (probably because every single Australian player has been losing to them 3-4 times a year since debuting).

That, and the Saffas get up for the ABs more than anyone else and historically suck in Australia.

Edit: Also, we always end up playing super loose attacking rugby against the ABs (like we did last night). Even against the Argies we turned the ball over a fuckload playing that way. NZ would've punished last nights performance terribly.

No. That's not it. The AB strength is well above what we could ever muster. However there are only 30 blokes on the field and with some work we SHOULD be able to put s competitive team on the table. But with the international, we'd need to build into it.

Not hit the ABs at the weakest point of our year.

We might win one now and again. The timing of the Bled is perfect for the ABs. Early season opportunity to humiliate while they set their own basics. And it is completely the opposite for us.

 

[KiwiM]

What a great game with a surprisingly good atmosphere.

Boks deserved winners.

ABs once again struggle to adapt to Boks.

The whole forward pack aside from Savea (and to some extend Scott Barrett) was really poor. Samisoni needs to start at hooker.

Really not a fan of the midfield either. Need the ability to run direct and neither can.

A real lack of ball runners in the team - in the pack it's basically Ardie by himself as Akira in these Boks games has been bullied.

Guys like Havili and Akira look a million bucks in an open game but in a tight contest they get exposed. ABs still looking for their long term 6 and 12.

Aside from Blackadder the bench was really poor. The plan to have DMac on the bench backfired. At the end of the game ABs had a whole bunch of smaller backs who don't run straight (Dmac, Richie, Havili, Reece etc).

The passive defence combined with an inability to stay onside was very frustrating - the defence coach Scott McLeod has been weak since he took over in 2017 and just keeps getting a gig.

Jordie sensational. What a pair of test matches by him.

 

[formerflanker]

ABs still looking for their long term 6 and 12.

Aside from Blackadder the bench was really poor.

I think you've found the answer to your question.
He's a keeper.

 

[Jeffrey]

The Springbok game continues to highlight the biggest concern that most AB fans have. It is the same concern that has plagued us since the Lions tests in 2017 which the Irish, English, and Saffas have repeatedly exposed:

- we just lack the ability to win the fiercest physical confrontations. We lack powerful ball carriers to bend the line in the tight, we lack the power and stability and ruck time, and we lack the power and aggression to dominate the defensive line.
- our forwards are praised for their fitness, their ability to run the tram lines, and to perform basic skills exceptionally well. But they just lack the power and mongrel that other teams have - the likes of Kolisi, Itoje, Vermuleun, Underhill, Curry, Watson, Ollivon.
When the heat gets turned up, we already come out second best.

The worry is that this problem is long-lasting, which neither Hansen nor Foster seem too bothered by.
At the WC, physicality and defense always comes first.
Skill is a distant second.
With 3 do-or-die knockouts, a skillful team is far more susceptible to running riot in 2 games and getting smashed in the third. England smashed us at the WC. We were completely bashed out of it. I hope we don't forget or attempt to deny that.

The second bit that was telling was when Barrett kicked a penalty to the corner in the 66th. Aumua who had just came on, looked very nervy throwing in. And the line-out inspired almost no confidence. Both Ofa and Karl are not leadership types. Ethan is still new. Ardie was panting heavily with his head facing his jumper. Akira and Patrick looked like they were waiting for something. Only Brodie was barking instructions. It was a pack that lacked the leaders and cool-heads of old. Some of them have a lot of caps but a lot of those are 20 mins or so off the bench. it was just such a look of inexperience and awkwardness.

Codie Taylor looks very flat this year and while his work-rate is decent, he lacks the oomphf. However, while Samisoni and Asafo are powerful players, they look extremely unassured when the pressure goes up
Nepo Laulala is a big blop. But he doesn't seem to be able to use it well enough in contact. His play around the field has improved, but his impact at rucks has decreased. However, Ofa, Angus, and Tyrel all don't look particularly flash either. They are all huge units but they don't play huge. And Nepo remains the ABs best scrummaging tighthead.
Patrick Tuipulotu has, over the course of his career, perhaps because he was drafted into the ABs too early, been an uninspiring mix of a big man trying to play like a skillful one. Patrick - you are 127kg and your 40m dash is faster than some backs. Your competitive advantage is smashing it up or smashing people back. We don't need you to play like Sam Whitelock.
Jacobson and Ioane are reasonable as expansive forwards. But their workrate in the tight is not good enough.
The midfield balance is off. For so long we were spoilt with Nonu, who could do everything. Perhaps most valuable of which is his ability to bend the gainline even if he had the full set of skills. Havili simply can't do the same. He's not that kind of player. He's far too small to be bashing it up. Quinn is a prospect, but he's not ready yet I don't think. Reiko is positionally far too naïve, but he might be the best shot.

I would love to see Caleb Clarke back into the fold. He isn't the perfect wing, but he offers something the ABs need - a target who can smash it up. Regardless of 6,7, or 8, Ardie is now a non-negotiable in the starting 15. Where does Sam Cane fit in? Well I hope he proves himself before sufficiently before getting back on field, because he's been out a long time. As much as I 'm not a fan of Jordie, he has been playing very well of late, and might now have cemented a spot in the team, especially with the goalkicking.

 

[Dan54]

The joys of us AB supporters huh? We have won the RC , Bled cup but we lose one test and we now seem to need to change the team, tactics etc etc. I not rubbishing what anyone says , just having a quiet chuckle that we lose a test as AB supporters a lot of us see the answer is we need to change everything. I agree we do tend to struggle against in the real tough physical confrontation now and then, but seem to recall winning the WC in '11 and '15 by playing similar to how we play now, I would argue that the problem is the skill factor is what has slipped a bit. I also tend to think we played well on Saturday (not great, but I doubt anyone but Boks would of beaten us), the Boks were better, and sometimes that is what happens, you have to look at how well other team plays and give them credit.
I would add it also shows that you need young fellas to learn to play under pressure , something a lot of them haven't had up until last couple of weeks.