Smit lauds Bok character
12 Sep 2009
John Smit was lavish in his praise of the Springboks for their ability to withstand immense pressure from New Zealand and claim the Tri-Nations title.
Defence wins Test matches, and nowhere was that more true than in Hamilton. Yes, the Springboks slipped a number of tackles, but when they did they scrambled desperately and brilliantly to hang on for a 32-29 victory.
Their ability to slow the All Blacks’ recycle aided their cause in this regard, and their commitment, strength and accuracy at the tackle point was breathtaking at times.
Smit, looking battered from the rigours of what he described as an ‘epic’ Test match, praised his triumphant charges.
‘We said to the guys at half-time that the All Blacks are an 80-minute team and that proved true,’ Smit said. ‘But I was so pleased with the character we showed.
‘We did the hard yards in the first 40 and wanted to stay on top. The All Blacks came out firing and we needed to up the intensity. We didn’t manage that completely but did enough in the end.’
Speaking about the magnitude of the achievement, Smit, who missed the drought-breaking win in Hamilton in 2008 said, ‘I’ve waited for a long time for a win in New Zealand, this is my first. So personally it’s satisfying, but more so for the team.
‘We come from a World Cup win and managed to carry that momentum and intensity. I’m so proud of the boys.’
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers echoed his captain’s sentiments.
‘It’s huge. We’re on top of the world,’ De Villiers said. ‘To beat New Zealand in New Zealand is a huge honour. We had to work hard to keep them out and we did so.
‘This international rugby, nation versus nation, pride versus pride. New Zealand are the best side in the world, so to come here and beat them is massive.’
The Springboks’ scrum was criticised in the build-up to the Hamilton Test, with Smit being singled out. They made exponential improvements in that facet of play, and De Villiers said some perspective was needed in this regard.
‘There’s nothing wrong with the scrums. We struggled against Australia and New Zealand struggled against Australia, so the common denominator is Australia,’ he said.
‘The scrums have become a lottery. The guys [referees] guess once, then guess twice and then give up guessing. So we’re not to worried about that.’
De Villiers also defended the kick-chase game plan. ‘We didn’t kick more than the All Blacks did, we just took our chances better than they did,’ he said.
He also reserved praise for Frans Steyn, who banked two long-range penalties. ‘In South Africa we have so much talented guys like Frans and tonight we just had to use that talent to the fullest.’
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said their poor first half performance probably cost them the game.
‘We didn’t play well enough early on and if we played like we did in the last 20 we probably would have pulled this one out of the fire,’ Henry said. ‘But congrats to the Springboks. They’ve won the Tri-Nations and deserved to after beating us three times in the tournament.’
The All Blacks were decimated at the lineout, with Victor Matfield, whose prodigious lineout ability Blacks assistant coach Steven Hansen said was being exaggerated, leading the charge.
‘We improved there in the second half and as a result our overall performance improved,’ Henry said. ‘But again, if we’d played better overall I think we could have done a lot better result-wise.’
63 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
12 Sep 2009, 15:11 pm
not necessary rucks – should be – not necessarily scrums
12 Sep 2009, 16:11 pm
How do you like them apples, Tickler?
12 Sep 2009, 19:28 pm
Smittie is a legend, and he has proved many a critic wrong today again.
But he would do himself no harm in retiring … John Eales had a few more games in him, but left on top.
Could it be any better than seeing Smit and Percy coming on with the “water bottles” to direct proceedings when there is a stoppage. Two legends who took so much unecessary abuse from SA fans.
12 Sep 2009, 22:23 pm
#22 puff:
UFO answered that one.
He meant that they have been setting the standard for so many years and to be fair, this group of players are awesome but overall we have not surpassed the ABs.
I think the head-to-head stats will show that.
What is encouraging tho is that we have now beaten them 3 times in a row, I can assure you that hurts!!
12 Sep 2009, 22:54 pm
‘This international rugby, nation versus nation, pride versus pride. New Zealand are the best side in the world, so to come here and beat them is massive.’
See? PDV rates NZ as “the best side in the world”.
Is he a total moron, or what? He’s your coach.
13 Sep 2009, 00:23 am
#48 BMM:
Modern rugby is about rucks, mauls, and lineouts. The rules dictate this. Kudos to the South African coaching staff for recognizing this late last year and putting 100% into developing a strategy to combine these tactics. Of course, there’s a lot still to be improved, but the basics are there.
13 Sep 2009, 00:56 am
#53 TheTackler: “See? PDV rates NZ as “the best side in the world”.
Is he a total moron, or what? He’s your coach.”
He’s just blowing smoke up your arse and lining you up for the next fall. True to form, you already fell for it.
13 Sep 2009, 01:02 am
‘We didn’t play well enough early on and IF we played like we did in the last 20 we probably would have pulled this one out of the fire,’ Henry said … ‘But again, IF we’d played better overall I think we could have done a lot better result-wise.’
Now this is a moron.
“If” my uncle had tits, he’d be my aunt. This is his expert analysis of the result … “IF” we played better, we’d have won. Wow.
It’s a known fact to everyone who is mildly interested in tri-nations that SA battle in the last 20 with fitness. I guess what he’s saying is if SA were tired in the first 60 then he’d have won. Dream on. He needs to find a way to play the first 60, and not play it like the last 20.
13 Sep 2009, 01:06 am
#53 TheTackler:
Another arbitrary, dumb statement, from an idiot. I mean WHAT is your point??
Oh that is it. Nothing else to say. The ABs got drilled good and proper 3-0, as well as the Boks setting themselves up mentally to take the WC in 2011.
Imagine the AB nerves as they face the boks in the WC final in ’11, starring down another CHOKE, in their own backyard nogal, KNOWING that the boks have their number, that they won’t win a line out, that even the great Dan Carter will kick the ball into touch on the full, and that Macaw will drop a sitter pass in mid field!
BWHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAH
13 Sep 2009, 01:09 am
“He also reserved praise for Frans Steyn, who banked two long-range penalties. ‘In South Africa we have so much talented guys like Frans and tonight we just had to use that talent to the fullest.’”
I don’t see much praise for Frans there … he’s basically saying he has another couple of Steyns in SA waiting to just slot in – no doubt of which Ruan Pienaar is one of the top candidates.
You need to catch a wakeup and get off your high-horse Mr PdV … you are going to need Steyn and the others in future, and gambling without them you will be playing russian roulette – without good odds. Revise your policy on this immediately and give credit where its due.
13 Sep 2009, 01:26 am
#10 4moreyears: “Can all the kiwi bloggers on this site please convey our apoligies to the Kiwi PM that we were not thumped by the ABs as he predicted,and that in future maybe he should stick to running the shaky isle rather than throwing his name away in silly predictions.”
Just wonder how big a *** he is feeling! And deservedly so … what a stupid statement for a politician to make!
13 Sep 2009, 01:36 am
#59 TheBoksAreBack:
13 Sep 2009, 07:19 am
Tackler, fact is – you guys have played 6 World Cups – and managed 1 solidary win. A win rate of 17%. Hardly convincing stuff. I all honesty, I would trade a trinations title for a world cup title – and I bet you that is the case with you too.
Tackler, is this why you log into this site each day to have a go – does it make you feel better? Are you bitter that the ABs just do not cut it on the big stage? Glad I am not an AB supporter or a Blackcap supporter either. SA are number one in rugby and cricket – and respect to them. They deserve it. Well done boys!
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.