All guts, no glory
21 Aug 2010
JON CARDINELLI reports on the 29-22 victory that boosted the All Blacks to the Tri-Nations title and a clean sweep over the Springboks in 2010.
What an anticlimax. You would have expected the Boks to finish this game with a lap of the field; their record-breaking captain riding high on their shoulders. Instead, John Smit’s team-mates had to lift him from the deck at the final whistle. Smit’s devastation said it all. Four losses from four matches, the last defeat coming on the Highveld.
In the final analysis, the result confirmed why guts and passion are simply insufficient in the big Tests. The game was there for the taking, but the Boks were beaten by a better team.
Smit’s initial entrance set the tone for an improved Bok effort. The camera tracked Smit’s progress down the tunnel and as he emerged, 94 000 fans rose in rapturous recognition of a decade of contributions in green and gold. Riding on that wave of euphoria, South Africa’s biggest crowd belted out a deafening rendition of the national anthem and drowned out New Zealand’s haka with a cacophonous ‘Ole, ole, ole’.
Many felt this energy would give the Boks the edge they lacked Down Under, and in the opening stages it certainly made a difference. Inspired by the gritty Juan Smith, the Bok pack turned in an aggressive showing, and from that platform, halfbacks Francois Hougaard and Morne Steyn proceeded to implement the kick-chase strategy.
The accuracy of these high bombs troubled the All Blacks’ back three, but the hosts struggled to take advantage of these mistakes. Their lineout continued to disappoint, Smit conceding possession in the first two set-pieces, and Victor Matfield battling to contest effectively on opposition ball.
Sensing the weight of occasion and how it may evoke a robust showing by South Africa’s forwards, the All Blacks avoided extensive confrontation. They often exposed the Bok defence in the wide channels, and showed a willingness to run back the less accurate kicks, keeping the ball alive even if it meant surrendering as many as 10 metres.
Some patient phase play led to a clinical try by Schalk Burger, but the Boks conceded a breakdown penalty that was goaled by Dan Carter almost immediately after. The defence lapsed in that crucial period before half-time when Brad Thorn broke the line and set up a wide-sweeping move which culminated in a simple run-in for Tony Woodcock.
The visitors bossed territory in the second half and were helped by the Boks’ misguided intentions. The home team would defend like demons, but a counter-surge so often resulted in a loss of possession.
A three-pointer by Steyn in the 64th minute established a comfortable 22-14 gap, an advantage the Boks seemed unlikely to relinquish. But an instant of indiscipline gave the All Blacks a sniff, a breakdown transgression by CJ van der Linde allowing Carter a simple penalty.
Carter missed a subsequent shot, but the All Blacks continued to apply the pressure. Another quick shift to the wing caught the Boks napping, and a great finish by Richie McCaw leveled the scores.
Carter missed the touchline conversion, but it didn’t matter, as a Ma’a Nonu linebreak sparked the clinching try for Israel Dagg. It seemed fitting that the move was birthed from a breakdown turnover, although on this occasion the All Blacks counter-ruck menace provided the forward momentum.
The result gives the All Blacks a clean sweep over the Boks in 2010, a record that will give them psychological points going into a World Cup year. It also wraps up the title for McCaw’s men and leaves the Boks on one solitary log point after four matches.
573 Comments
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21 Aug 2010, 19:18 pm
Dragons!!!
21 Aug 2010, 19:19 pm
John Smit the non-dragon – he is definitely the 8th wonder of the world – slap k@k wat regop staan…
21 Aug 2010, 19:21 pm
what a game! well done ab’s. must say im proud of the boks even though they lost
21 Aug 2010, 19:26 pm
@mamma_lou(mamma_lou)-3: Jip, the AB’s thoroughly deserved the win – they are a classy side. Not the best individuals players they’ve ever had, but boy, are they good as a team…
21 Aug 2010, 19:30 pm
I feel nothing for the BOKS
I feel so sorry for the Bok supporters, what a tragedy.
The last 10 minutes was a f@cking disgrace.
Hogard was a hero, Juan was fantastic, Burger had a great game.
John Smit let us down, that last missed tackle was a joke.
The Boks in the 2nd half defended most of the time.
We need a new fly half, Steyn is a d.o.o.s
Flip had a good game. Matfield was woeful, the best lock in the world? my arse
Jannie had a good game, after the replacements came on we
were a beaten side.
Spies should be dropped forever.
I am no longer a BOK supporter under that f@ckup PDV.
Without Brussow and Du preez we are nothing.
I hope The Aussies beat us in the last 2 tests.
I refuse to support this stupid BOK side.
The Bok management should be lynched.
21 Aug 2010, 19:30 pm
Congrats to Smit on the 100 games
Congrats to the ABs for a very convincing tri-nations and early securing of the Tri-Nations Trophy
Congrats to the Boks for a much improved performance and getting on the Tri-Nations points table
21 Aug 2010, 19:36 pm
Great game! But Smit has to go now….you’ve given him the 100 but he is no where near good enough at international level now.
21 Aug 2010, 19:38 pm
I definitely don’t feel for the coaching staff. Time to stop messing around and weed out the rotting wood. Yes, that means our legendary captain. For all his qualities, even a football fan will tell you that he aint the answer.
21 Aug 2010, 19:40 pm
Well done AB’s. A proper contest due to good refereeing of the breakdown. Pity that forward pass was not picked up.
I feel sorry for John for slipping that tackle but JP Peterson should have done better to stop the try scorer.
Schalk played well but missed a crucial tackle on Thorne in the lead-up to the AB’s 1st try and critically lost the ball on a few occasions. Juan Smith was my man of the match for the Boks.
So much for the ‘steppers’ in our midfield. They didn’t create anything of note while looking more brittle on defence than WO and J Fourie.
21 Aug 2010, 19:44 pm
Look on the bright side, the Boks have one competition point.
Bonus one for losing by fewer than 8 points.
21 Aug 2010, 19:44 pm
Well played All Blacks. Heartbreak for us Saffas, but that’s the way it goes.
21 Aug 2010, 19:46 pm
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-9:
Oh no they weren’t, they were decisively better.
21 Aug 2010, 19:48 pm
Commiserations to the Springbok supporters – a heartbreaking loss. A hugely improved performance from Downunder, though. Tackling was mostly accurate and very aggressive. ABs spent a lot of the game going sideways because of your defence. ‘Bok breakdown work was much more effective too. Juan Smith was very good (why was he subbed off?). Still think you boys kick too much of your ball away. Your kick-and-chase was better, but still I wonder what would have happened had you kept the ball in hand a bit more and moved it wide a few more times.
There wasn’t much between the sides today. With Brussow and du Preez back (and maybe Juan Smith instead of Spies!) you boys will be at full strength again. Those two players probably add an extra 5% to your team on the day.
Very satisfying win for an AB supporter. Winning in Jo’burg is a very big deal for us as it comes so rarely. Now we have a 3-0 series we have wiped the slate clean from last year’s embarrassment. Great game.
21 Aug 2010, 19:50 pm
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-9:
Huh?
We probably looked better on attack than all the other matches
Midfielders were solid in defense
JdJ was immense, something like 15 tackles and constesting for the ball
We have 3 test quality midfielders, WO is not one of them
21 Aug 2010, 19:52 pm
Francois Hougaard seemed to enjoy facing the Haka. I like his enthusiasm. Always good to have players who actually enjoy playing the game.
21 Aug 2010, 19:53 pm
just look at the stats- possession- territory- tackles made-
turn overs
we dont commit enough to the breakdowns and they still have a laugh with overlaps all over.
horrible to watch
21 Aug 2010, 19:54 pm
Pieter de Villiers is rubbish. He must f@#k off, he must f@#$ off, he is rubbish.
He must take his stuff and f@#k off.
21 Aug 2010, 19:55 pm
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-9: More brittle on defence? What game were you watching?
21 Aug 2010, 19:55 pm
heluim de villiers and his incompetent cronies must be go!!!
21 Aug 2010, 19:55 pm
@Heita(heita)-14: We never looked like scoring a try in the second half.
21 Aug 2010, 19:59 pm
ok so if the fat needs to be cut from this team the following need to stand aside
1. smit
2. matfield
3. spies
4. habs?????????? not much to work with so cant say
burger was great- shud be at 8
JS really good
FHoug good
backs are impotent- midfield in trouble… wings no ball, only chasing kicks
ball was slow and scrappy
we are in di kaak
21 Aug 2010, 20:01 pm
how did burger get MOM,youse lost,should have been McCaw.
21 Aug 2010, 20:02 pm
@Boksarenumber4(Boksarenumber1)-5:
Many of us feel this way buddy.
Keep the faith, we cannot stay **** for long(hopefully). Something has to give.
Gee, I thought Juan smith was immense, and Joe Dirt did very well at no 9. Once again Schalkie gave his all. Who am I not mentioning in the loosies? Oh Pierre the Spear…. ummmm, the bench is the place for you beefcake.
Smit played ‘ok’. Tackled well, but what else? Set pieces were good and young Flippie did well I thought.
JPP looked good on defence, thankfully, and I had my reservations before the game.
Well done AB’s though, they should plenty of endeavour, and were the better team that took their chances.
Another game I blame the coaching staff for cocking up. Why oh why take our 2 best players off the field???
Victor, at least played tighter, but please do more at ruck time!
21 Aug 2010, 20:03 pm
@Jafaboy(Jafaboy)-13: aplon was blocking how many kicks did he really contest?
21 Aug 2010, 20:03 pm
we have been out coached. Time to let go of sentimentality and make changes. We never deserved to win this game….. and the stats prove it.
21 Aug 2010, 20:10 pm
@TaffyIX(TaffyIX)-23: time to look carefully at vic ruck stats- i fear him not hitting enough is giving us poor scrappy ball…
21 Aug 2010, 20:12 pm
how about the ref… not a bad game but my goodness how many times was the guy in the way of play???
21 Aug 2010, 20:14 pm
Riding on that wave of euphoria, South Africa’s biggest crowd belted out a deafening rendition of the national anthem and drowned out New Zealand’s haka with a cacophonous ‘Ole, ole, ole’
Yep JC, great rendition of the anthem but why praise the drowning out of the haka? All it shows is ignorance of the whole aura around a maori tradition and the way the challenge is supposed to be given and accepted. Poor taste really and all the crowd does is motivate the AB’s to a higher level. Why must we be the only nation to disrespect the haka? Time for you to educate the masses on what it is all about rather than praise the denegration of a fine tradition.
BY the way, greatturnaround in the Boks defence in this game (but for the last 10 mins when our lack of fitness found us out).
21 Aug 2010, 20:15 pm
I was surprised by the ABs decision to contest the Test, albeit at only 3 gear
21 Aug 2010, 20:16 pm
The 2nd Half looked like as if the Bafanas were taking over at ‘Socca Siti’,
21 Aug 2010, 20:16 pm
Burger should never have won man-of-the-match. McCaw, de Jongh and Hougaardt were all better.
21 Aug 2010, 20:16 pm
I would have given McCaw Man-of-the-Match today. He was immense.
21 Aug 2010, 20:18 pm
@out wide(out wide)-28: SA not the only nation to try and drown out the Haka. I sort of understand why, but do they really want to lose one of the long traditions of rugby? As a Kiwi I love it when the Pac Island nations play and perform their ‘war dances’ prior to the game. It is a great way to get the goose bumps going just before the real action starts.
21 Aug 2010, 20:20 pm
@out wide(out wide)-28:
There is an interesting correlation between an incorrect response to the Haka and getting beaten.
The most extreme example would have been the changing room Haka in Cardiff and then the game being all over in the first 18 minutes. Don’t think the Welsh will do that again.
21 Aug 2010, 20:20 pm
@out wide(out wide)-28: kidding me with this comment bout the hakka?????
if u come on foreign soil and do a war dance ur are asking for it.
and
the British have been calling for the hakka to be stopped- so we are certainly not the only nation to give them a go.
think of it— when the hakka is done elsewhere- what do crowds do? sit in silence and clap when its over? please. get off ur horse buddy
21 Aug 2010, 20:21 pm
I don’t really care what the crowd do when the haka is performed. It’s not a challenge to them anyway, it’s a challenge made to the players. If the crowd want to make a lot of noise and drown it out, that’s fine with me. We respect it in NZ because it means more to us. You can’t expect the same kind of respect from rival supporters, it’s not their tradition.
21 Aug 2010, 20:21 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-30: lame
21 Aug 2010, 20:23 pm
@Boksarenumber4(Boksarenumber1)-5: Are you having PMS? If you were a real man, you would take things in your stride and support your team EVEN when they lose 3 in a row to the ABs.
21 Aug 2010, 20:23 pm
Habana’s out of position play caused 2 tries. Drop the bugger.
21 Aug 2010, 20:24 pm
@aliboy(aliboy)-33:
and just to remember that we are one of four or five rugby nations who perform the equivalent of the Haka before a game.
PnG also perform one before their rugby league games.
I am thinking that one day SA may do something similar.
21 Aug 2010, 20:29 pm
Boks showing lovely upward curve.
All they need to do is to maintain this momentum and 2011 is a done deal.
Vital players missing, all coming back slowly but surely.
Boks will do the right things at the right time, you heard it hear first.
Well done to Nigel Owens for missing the vital forward pass right in front of him.
Ironically the moment where he got smashed – Rolland prolly deserves it more – was one of the key moments in the game.
They have stolen the 3N 2010 this year, which is sad, from a big picture pure rugby perspective.
21 Aug 2010, 20:29 pm
@chch(chch)-40: To be honest I don’t have a big issue with the crowd ‘challenging’ the Haka. I just wish they would get the on field sound equipment positioned better so I can enjoy the Haka more.
21 Aug 2010, 20:30 pm
All sorts or out of sorts? We will miss next year, du plessis good game, Smit feeble, Guthro ok, m
matfield utterly uninspiring and slow, van der merwe ggod game, burger masterful, smith very solid, spies useless, hougaard inspiring with heart, steyn ok, jdv good upper but average, de jongh with heart, habana worst player of the day, jp was ok especialky in first half, aplon ok
21 Aug 2010, 20:30 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-41: The thing that is really sad is your post.
21 Aug 2010, 20:31 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-41:
If you can miss players in front of the kicker on 10 occasions then you can easily miss a forward pass
Yes the forward pass was pretty obvious
21 Aug 2010, 20:31 pm
Ref was fairky good for a change
21 Aug 2010, 20:31 pm
Oh ffffs… Are we now arguing the merits of the Haka?
My we are lame.
Get over it, we lost, and we are ****, but there is still a glimmer of light at the end.
21 Aug 2010, 20:32 pm
Sheriff no 41 i heard it here last.
21 Aug 2010, 20:33 pm
@aliboy(aliboy)-42:
Yep, the TV network pays for the rights to show the game and then fails to properly cover something that adds to its value for them. Pretty stupid on their part
21 Aug 2010, 20:34 pm
ABs are roughly 1.075% better than the Boks this year.
That is fact.
I expressed the desire early on that we should not have a successful 3N campaign this year.
And I got my wish.
This year has been an eye-opener, thats for sure.
Boks showed why they are so highly regarded when they have their backs against the wall.
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