Kiwis show champion credentials
21 Aug 2010
SIMON BORCHARDT says the All Blacks made a big statement by winning a game they could so easily have lost.
To come to Soccer City and beat a desperate, highly motivated Springbok side in front of 90,000 fans, is no mean feat, yet the All Blacks achieved it despite playing well below their best.
In Auckland and Wellington Graham Henry’s side destroyed the Boks at the breakdown. But in Soweto the hosts committed more numbers to the ruck and it was the visitors who conceded three penalties in the first 15 minutes, twice for slowing the ball down and once for going off their feet. The All Blacks would go on to make an impact in this area of the game, but it wasn’t the Richie McCaw show many had expected.
The Boks got a couple of good hits on the All Blacks scrum in the first half, as forwards coach Steve Hansen admitted afterwards, but came back well in the second and started to dominate.
In open play, the visitors were uncharacteristically sloppy, throwing a pass into touch, failing to secure the ball from a restart, looking shaky under the high ball, knocking on or conceding a turnover after going through several phases, and throwing 50/50 passes when going to ground would have been the better option.
Dan Carter summed up his team’s indifferent performance in the first 75 minutes. While he was a constant threat on attack and his boot kept his side in the game he missed four shots at goal, had a kick charged down that nearly led to a Bok try and dropped a Bok kick when there were no attackers near him.
The All Blacks came up against a much improved Bok defence, with their players often being carried back a metre or two in the tackle, yet still managed to score three tries, including two in the last five minutes.
A champion team wins matches they could have lost and that is what the All Blacks did today much to the delight of their coach.
‘You don’t get better than that,’ said Henry afterwards. ‘The heart [shown by the players] was outstanding and the fitness levels are very high, which is why we finished so strongly.
‘To come from behind at altitude against the [world] champions is a significant achievement. They say you need 10 days to acclimatise and we haven’t been here that long, so the guys showed strength of character to deal with that.’
McCaw, who captained the All Blacks for a record 51st time, said he had always felt his team was in the game.
‘We knew if we kept believing and kept playing [with ball in hand], the points would come.’
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39 Comments
21 Aug 2010, 19:28 pm
Respect NZ. Well done. We’re hurting bad.
21 Aug 2010, 19:41 pm
Par excellence AB, hats off to your superiority!!!!
21 Aug 2010, 19:50 pm
They look to create space in every phase and simply create more try-scoring opportunities than their opponents.
Simple stuff that delivers killer punches.
21 Aug 2010, 20:03 pm
So Simple Simon, what where you writing with 2 minutes to go? I think the AB fans better be worried. ABs didn’t feature much in the game. In my opinion Carter is too much of a glory boy, but in the big games he has no BMT.
The games could have It could have gone either way, if the ref had his eyes open and the TMO ruled correctly.
Boks have come back a lot by just putting players in their correct positions, playing some new blood and bringing some old blood back. Imagine how they would play if they got rid of the fat like Smit (who can’t throw straight or tackle … he cries after the game, but he was the one who threw it all away).
So how would the ABs have competed if the Boks played a team with match fit players like Bissie, Heinrich, Fourie du Preez or Frans Steyn? Not that Hougaard and Aplon didn’t have good games.
Next year at the RWC … I will still put my money on the Boks. They showed today they still have the spirit.
21 Aug 2010, 20:06 pm
You have to give credit to the Boks for pressuring the AB’s into many mistakes. As a Kiwi I was pleased to see hard defence in the last two games.
21 Aug 2010, 20:07 pm
Gutting today for the Boks, defence at crucial times very poor yet again yet another game handed to the opposition. The Boks seem to be masters at it how many games have they lost at the death now?
21 Aug 2010, 20:17 pm
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4: The game could have gone either way, but it didn’t. It went the way of the team that can play as hard in the 80th minute as in the 1st.
As you were watching ref decisions so closely I know you saw how often the Boks were well ahead of the kickoff and how often they were offside at the ruck.
The TMO ruled correctly. There was one angle from behind that showed McCaw’s foot in the air, the other views were inconclusive.
This was a fair game and the best team won.
21 Aug 2010, 20:25 pm
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4: jeez,you should be the bok coach,no idea.
21 Aug 2010, 20:26 pm
wait till dagg plays the full 80,oh wait you’ve got habana
21 Aug 2010, 20:54 pm
@Gooch(Gooch)-7:I guess you saw different footage of McCheat.
He gets away with so much murder in a game. Dunno why refs are so scared of him. In my opinion if a players commits a pro foul 5m within their try-line they should be carded. Twice in the TN, Boks have been without warning (Bakkies and BJ). McCheat can just smile at his fan club and wave to his mother.
I still have faith in the Boks. Who knows they might just pull off some good games against Aus (who hardly ever play well in SA).
21 Aug 2010, 21:07 pm
Here we go, more bleating from the “Groen Skaap” about referees being biased or always making mistakes against South Africa
1. The TMO call was absolutely correct. He couldn’t tell whether McCaw’s foot was out before or after the ball was grounded, and using the universal mantra of all referees everywhere, “if you don’t see it, or you are unable to judge it, you DO NOT make it up!!!
2. The alleged forward pass was marginal. Whether you saw it forward largely depended on which team you support. Even though the receiver may have been marginally ahead of the passer, the pass looked flat to me (and Rolland was dead in line). Law 12 (the forward throw) refers only to the throw of the ball, not where the players are standing. Rolland knew that!
21 Aug 2010, 21:53 pm
@cooky(cooky)-11:
Oh come that ball was forward, compared to World Cup 2007 you know that incident where the New Zealanders took it on the chin and didnt complain one bit #cough# #cough#. You didnt need a slow mo to see it was forward.
21 Aug 2010, 22:48 pm
lets face it,close game yup,but the boks never really looked like they were going to score after their first try.all blacks had a lot of chances and it was always going to be a matter of time before they cut loose.
21 Aug 2010, 23:27 pm
Great game today, thansk boks for yet another epic match. Can’t wait till next year when you guys will no doubt come back even stronger
21 Aug 2010, 23:27 pm
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4: Three-zip. Eleven tries to three. ABs have blooded a number of young replacements, such as Dagg for Mils, Jane for Sivi, Gear or Ranger for Rokococo… They don’t need over-the-hill has-beens who are outclassed now already with still a year’s more decline ahead of them leading to the RWC. By then all those yesterday’s heroes will be geriatrics.
22 Aug 2010, 01:48 am
The pass was forward. The ref was quite a bit back behind play – it was an explosively quick move – and the TJ’s view was probably obscured.
Anyone not wrapped up in Bok rugby knows that Smit, Matfield, Spies, Steyn, Habana, the prop sub and Januarie are all not up to it for various reasons.
At times one or other of them will do something quite good then the level of achievement flat-lines again. Well Januarie’s line is flat all the time and Matfield and Smit’s were pretty close to that. Spies is simply overrated.
So, 5 starters and 2 subs who shouldn’t be there. A third of the personnel.
22 Aug 2010, 03:18 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4:
Here we go again,having a crack at the officials.Watch another game,how about netball or even volleyball.
IF you dont like Carter than so be it but he missed an easy kick but ran the backline and made alot of breaks. Out of Morne and Carter i will say Carter once again showed who is the best overall player. Morne can kick goals but when the pressure is on he as well makes huge mistakes,like kicking the ball over the deadball line from a penalty.
By the way there are a few more games before RWC,so lets see how you feel after OZ games and EOTY.
SA did show they still have spirit but the RWC is in NZ,thats where the Boks seem to have problems with showing this so called spirit
22 Aug 2010, 03:49 am
Please, NO BS about cheats or biased refs, for gods sake.
If you think the pass was forward, take that unconverted try off the score and you still lost!
I can understand any bok fans pain, but please don’t degenerate a fantastic, pulsating, titanic struggle that was this game.
Credit to the boks, they played sensationally but were pipped at the post.
Huge game, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen for 80 minutes, it was another epic battle between the worlds 2 best sides, and a century of pride and passion was displayed from both teams. But someone had to win and someone had to loose, and it could easily have gone either way.
It was a huge step up for the boks and next year will feature more close and hard battles like this.
Enjoy the great rugby on display, but don’t disrespect both teams by making BS claims of cheating. Both sides were guilty of indiscretions, and always will be!
22 Aug 2010, 04:42 am
I am an ABs supporter. However, I have an issue with the reffing because it is not up to level it needs to be. Nigel Owens seemed have had an even game. BUT:
The forward pass was blatant and should of been picked up at a minimum by the touchie. How the hell that wasn’t seen still mystifies me. Therefore McCaw’s try no mater how controversial (and difficult to judge!) would not have been an issue.
Would it have changed the outcome of the game? Very hard to say but definitely would have had an impact.
The only positive really is it was 15 on 15 and final try was sweet however it was still disappointing that it turned on a serious non-call
22 Aug 2010, 05:26 am
So, if the Boks lose another two tests to the Wallabies, bringing the total to six hidings in a row, are they going to send a weak B team over on their Grand Slam opportunity EOYT?
22 Aug 2010, 08:06 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4: As long as you keep thinking like this, we’re OK.
You are the archetypal “one-eyed Bok supporter” credit for your passion, but an “epic fail” for your analysis
22 Aug 2010, 09:17 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4:
I guess you will be able to tell us the exact game times that McCaw supposedly “cheated” in this match and didn’t get penalised. If you can’t then shut the f**k up.
If you bothered to watch with TWO eyes, i.e. without your green eye-patch on, you would have noticed that the All Blacks were penalised at the breakdown a lot in the early stages of the match, but they (especially McCaw) we’re smart enough to adapt to Nigel Owens’ rulings. The reason McCaw doesn’t get binned a lot is because he tests the referee and finds out where the boundaries are, and then backs off to that boundary. That is not cheating, that is good intelligent tactical thinking.
The vast majority of Springbok fans I have encountered on this, and other forums, have been gracious in defeat its just the “fluitspel skape” like you, blindly parroting the lunatic rantings of PDV, that give your fellow supporters a bad name.
22 Aug 2010, 09:21 am
@heboric(heboric)-12:
After having another look in slo-mo, I agree, the pass was forward, but hey, thems the breaks.
The T03 all managed to miss some other forward passes both ways, they just didn’t lead to tries.
22 Aug 2010, 09:22 am
Boks lost, nothing to blame except the obvious.
Fat Captain, no coaches worth anything, no game plan, not willing to lay it on the line for the country.
One dimensional. If the Sharks are able to totally change their game plan in a few weeks, why can’t plod and Snor do the same – because they haven’t GOT A CLUE.
Nuff said.
22 Aug 2010, 09:25 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4: If you want to put your money on the Boks next year, with the current management, then I am glad to take your bet, big as you like. I want my winnings in crisp hundreds please.
22 Aug 2010, 09:33 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-4:
i agree with players returning from injury and provided the coaches get the selections right there’s a chance
22 Aug 2010, 09:46 am
We get handed our arses in NZ by 20+ points. That was bad enough. Now we get to SA, our captain plays his 100th match, we have home ground and altitude advantage. 90 000 supporters on our side. Yet, NZ still beat us. Anyone else seeing the bigger picture here?
22 Aug 2010, 10:06 am
the all blacks just play smart i noticed they killed our rush defence by just kicking over the top
22 Aug 2010, 12:01 pm
Kiwis played well, congrats on the win, you desrve it.
As for the Boks, how the hell do you persist in kicking possesion away to the best attacking team in the world and then sit back and want to willingly defend the whole day?
How the hell do you expect to score points hwen you don’t have the f’ing ball?
For once in my life can someone pleas explain to me how a team can win a game without the ball to score points?
22 Aug 2010, 12:19 pm
@cooky(cooky)-22: 41:20 … ruck on AB try-line. McCheat comes in from the side from an off-side position and slows the ball down. Should have been more than a scrum.
Cooky … I watch rugby. Boks have their rules. ABs and McCheat have their rules.
22 Aug 2010, 16:53 pm
Pass was definitely forward, but so what…?
You have to play the game expecting to get one or two dodgy calls going against you as it will happen in most games to both sides, it’s just that most supporters fail to notice the dodgy calls that advantage their own side.
Great match, great arm wrestle between two top sides and no, SA have not turned to c**p, despite what some supporters are saying. That game could just have easily swung SA’s way and then the boards would be a whole lot different, despite 99% of the game being the same.
22 Aug 2010, 16:56 pm
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-30: A lot of people have wasted valuable brain cells trying to help you and your ilk but can’t get through. Ok then, you are the expert. Please explain to us in detail how the referee conspiracy works. Are they being paid off? Blackmailed? Threatened? As PDiv found out you need to put up or shut up.
22 Aug 2010, 17:12 pm
Boks have themselves to blame. 5 min to go in the game and they are leading and what do they do? They kick the ball to the AB’s. Last year we would held ono that ball for the next 5 min.
22 Aug 2010, 18:14 pm
@Gooch(Gooch)-32: Maybe you would like to explain why the All Blacks are never carded? But they are the Kings of being penalised at the breakdown. People moan about Bakkies playing dirty, but at the end of the day, McCheat always plays on the edge.
22 Aug 2010, 23:51 pm
Ho0w did Richie not get sent off for interfering at the ruck when Carters kick was charged down? Isn’t that EXACTLY what Bakkies got sent off for (first time with no warning)?
22 Aug 2010, 23:58 pm
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-35:
Bakkies was lucky to have been on at that point anyway. Bakkies stopped a certain try so cya later
23 Aug 2010, 01:36 am
@JustAnotherFan(JustAnotherFan)-34:
Maybe you needed to see how McCaw approached that ruck in front of the posts.
He came through the gate, right through to the boks side.
Now, this is where your analysis fails – the Boks have been guilty for not committing enough players to the ruck, thus allowing McCaw to waltz right through an unguarded area. You call this cheating, we call it taking the initiative and driving through a ruck to disrupt the opposition whilst still on your feet.
That’s why the ref did nothing, McCaw was well within his rights; and he will continue to do this as long as the both the laws of the game allow it, and the ref rules correctly.
Your players don’t come through – because we stop them.
23 Aug 2010, 01:38 am
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-35: No, Bakkies deliberately came in from the side to stop the ball coming out, falling to the ground and preventing the ball to move. McCaw entered the ruck through the gate, and was still on his feet.
23 Aug 2010, 13:13 pm
I seriously believe that if we harnessed all the strengths of the different types of rugby played by the different types of racial groups in South Africa, we could be better than the All Blacks year after year. Our rugby as is, is mundane and predictable, it is not entertaining even when we were winning. We need to get rid of all our prejudices!, New Zealand was only able to play that brand of rugby once the Maoris started playing alongside their white country men, it is then that they incorporated their diffrent styles to formulate their current style of rugby which is renowned world wide. IN FOOTBALL IT IS THE SAME, BRAZIL, A CLASSIC EXAMPLE. WHETEHR WE WANT TO ADMIT IT OR NOT BLACK FOLK HAVE MORE CREATIVITY AND AGILITY, SO WHY DO WE NOT WANT THIS SUCCESS FOR OUR COUNTRY. THE BLACK PEOPLE OF THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE HAVE BEEN PLAYING RUGBY FOR OVER A 100 YEARS, WHY DO WE INSIST ON HAVING THIS GLASS CEILING FOR ALL ASPIRING TALENTED BLACK PLAYERS WHO EXCELL. WHY ARE THEY ALWAYS RELEGATED TO BEING ON THE WING. BLACK PEOPLE COULD BE DEVELOPED MORE SO TO BE ANY OF THE LOOSE TRIO, SCRUMHALF, FLYHALF, INFACT MOST OF THE BACKLINE POSITIONS. COME ON PEOPLE, LET US PUT MORE RESOURCES IN ASSISTING DEVELOP THESE YOUNG PLAYERS. SOME HOW THERE IS AN OBSESSION IN SOUTH AFRICA ABOUT SIZE BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT IS CODE FOR RACE. RUGBY IS A GAME THAT WAS CREATED BY THE ENGLISH, TO BE ENJOYED BY ALL.
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