We need each other, says All Blacks legend
22 Aug 2010
Sean Fitzpatrick says the rugby world would be incomplete without the All Blacks and Springboks’ rivalry.
Fitzpatrick, a 1987 World Cup winner, writes in his weekly NZ Heraldn Column, that captaining the All Blacks to a first ever series win against the Boks in South Africa in 1996 remains his greatest memory as an All Black.
Fitzpatrick, responding to suggestions that South Africa may want out of Sanzar, urged officials to make the right decision for the right reason.
‘Don’t do it,’ he wrote.
‘The All Blacks and the Springboks need each other, perhaps more than either would like to admit. In my view, it’s still the best rivalry in world rugby. I have magical memories from my youth of sitting in front of the TV with my family in the dead of night, tingling with excitement at the prospect of watching the All Blacks take on the auld enemy.’
He added that playing the Boks had always been the ultimate challenge for any All Black and that remained the case.
‘It’s probably one of the most intimidating challenges in world rugby. To beat the South Africans, you have to do it off the pitch, as well as on it.
‘From the moment you step into their country, they’re on your back. Groups of kids, solitary old men, middle-aged women having lunch, gangs of beer-laden Bokkie farmers – wherever you are, everyone you meet has a dislike for you and wants to share it with you.
‘I have so many memories from my playing days of people coming up to me and saying, “Fitzpatrick, I want to take you outside and scrum you into the ground”, or “Fitzpatrick you’re going to eat some humble pie come Saturday”. It was almost as if it was personal.
‘You ask any All Black who toured South Africa in 1996 and I’m pretty sure they would cite it as their greatest memory as an All Black. Sure, winning the series helped, but there was so much more than that.
‘The intensity on and off the field was both draining and exhilarating. The single-minded focus and burning desire of the entire group to be the first team to win on South African soil was a joy to be a part of.
‘When we walked off Loftus Versfeld having won the series, the satisfaction that we’d beaten our greatest rivals in their own back yard was immense. For the dirt-trackers to perform the haka for us as we walked off the field was fantastic.
‘For the late great Don Clarke to come up to me in the tunnel and hug me and say (crying) “thank you for achieving what so many generations of All Blacks have been trying to do for years” was emotional dynamite.
‘I count those minutes as among the most rewarding in my entire international career.’
Fitzpatrick wrote he did not know what the answer was to the Sanzar arrangement but felt the South African travel schedule was unfair and ideally both countries benefitted most through tours, as that is what the people really wanted – the All Blacks in South Africa for six weeks and the Boks in New Zealand for six weeks.
‘A tour to South Africa? That is the best of the best. They don’t like us, we don’t like them, so let the man blow the whistle and let’s get down to business. In the fast moving tides of international rugby, we need to be careful that we don’t end up high and dry, stranded on the sanitised sandbanks of quick-fire, one-off internationals; while we hanker back to the good, old days of All Black-South Africa tours and touring – where folklore is created and legends are born.’
180 Comments
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22 Aug 2010, 22:48 pm
Danuk
while you’re at it, tell me how many stopovers between Auckland & Bloem. And then tell me I’d there’s a tougher flight schedule that that ?
22 Aug 2010, 23:02 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-96: Actually the ball was already ruled to have gone out from Jane, which is why a lineout was awarded to the boks …
22 Aug 2010, 23:02 pm
Sonito
respectful and fair, as ever. And spot on ! This TriN has NO bearing in RWC’11, nor will TriN’11 come to think of it.
22 Aug 2010, 23:07 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-97: Yeah, I hear you, the Stormers proved this year that us yarpies cannot handle the pressure of travelling …
the ABs played well this year and we did not, accepted … last year the shoe was on the other foot and the soft yarpies managed quite well in during the 3rd week
22 Aug 2010, 23:07 pm
Danuk
Gouger carried the ball out, clearly. 2 wrong decisions in 1 play, yet we don’t hear about these do we. If locals are to be believed, only opposition teams benefit from poor decisions.
22 Aug 2010, 23:08 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-101: how about playing 2 matches against the Wallabies and then a 3rd one against the ABs
I recon it’s pretty even
22 Aug 2010, 23:08 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-105: and the boks where awarded the lineout how?
22 Aug 2010, 23:15 pm
I don’t really give a sh*t about lenient calls on SA, btw, they happen every Test like they so for all teams of course (eg why did JdV nor Kirchner NOT get YCs in NZ for spear & head-highs repectively ?) – double standards on this blog are a given.
But I really AM interested in the Answer to my previous Ques:- when did Boks last play a TriN Test after a longhaul flight within 1 week of a TriN Test ???
22 Aug 2010, 23:19 pm
Danuk @ 106
oh, try Tests vs Aus & SA, twice, in 3 weeks. But throw in the flight to Bloem from Akld for good measure.
How was that flight betw Akld and Brisbane for the Boks ?
Still awaiting the answer.
22 Aug 2010, 23:24 pm
@ 107
Your guess is as good as mine. No idea myself. Gouger clearly took ball out in yet another awesome try-saving defensive move by Boks, their upteenth. Jane did not.
No mention here tho, still obsessed with McCaw and a proliferation of fringe calls.
22 Aug 2010, 23:36 pm
yeah, must a conspiracy, the boks deserve more yellow cards and the ABs none, after all the boks are dirty and the ABs just play hard right?
about the travel …
the ABs have to play coming of the plane and play immediately and the Boks have to play for 3 weeks in a row, typically across 3 time zones
I don’t see the advantage in either, and teams from either side have managed quite well, regardless
anyway, a pointless discussion for me … I have no complaints about yesterday except towards the springbok management team
22 Aug 2010, 23:52 pm
@ 111
Well, let’s be honest here – the vast majority of Bok YCs are awarded for foul play, not repeat-offences. Which tends to fly in the face of any argument based on penalties-to-YCs ratio, doesn’t it ? And despite that, JdV stayed ON the field for a spear he later plead Guilty to, Kirchner got clean away with an intentional high-high try-saving tackle around Janes’ nose and Gougers’ innate eye-surgery on Pocock didn’t even get a Citing let alone the RC it clearly deserved. And yet all 3 stayed ON the field. What relevance does pens-to-YCs ratio have when thuggery is involved ? Zero !
22 Aug 2010, 23:59 pm
@ 111
“typically across 3 timezones” ?!
TYPICALLY ????
When ?
Since when does anyone suffer jetlag – and therefore affected by ‘travel’ – after a timezone difference of less than 5hrs, let alone 2-3hrs betw NZ & Aus ? In 2009, the Boks 3 week schedule was Perth to Brizzy to Hamilton – when did they suffer jetlag on that schedule ?!
23 Aug 2010, 00:13 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-112:
I don’t think penalty count is relevant to YCs … I do think Richie gets away with more than any other openside, however he is an openside and it’s a referee’s role to manage that aspect
I can’t argue the reasons for Bakkies and the tip tackle YCs, all where guilty and I’m perfectly happy that Bakkies is not playing. There are enough other good locks in SA. The other two were harsh, including the one for BJ, given Richie’s repeated warnings
If you want to refer to obvious YCs then I can imagine it could go on forever, you mention Schalk and I mention Tony Woodcock, you mention Zane Krichner’s high tackle and I mention Ranger’s shoulder charge on Kircher
23 Aug 2010, 00:15 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-113: every year, each city is in a different timezone and they play 3 tests in a two …
anyway, yawn, you win, the ABs are hard done by and the boks have it easy when travelling
23 Aug 2010, 00:21 am
No problem. Yep, Woodcock should have gone. McCaw too after his ‘Final Warning’ in Welly. Roussouws was ridiculous, albeit really really dumb after replacing BaXXies for foul play, and so early in a match. BJs was completely fair. BaXXies YC was a clear killing-ball foul, and I would have had no problem for same reason if McCaw went for pro- foul in JoBurg in front of the posts. I hate 15 vs 14 tho, esp early ones, Roussows made me livid. Ranger ?! cmon, nothing wrong with that, let’s not ridicule this game we love. Mitchells 1st YC was even more pathetic.
But on balance, I still think Boks have got off very lightly with ref to aforementioned offences.
23 Aug 2010, 00:41 am
@danuk(danuk)-104: Super rugby’s been going on for 15 years and the Stormers have been where, exactly, for 14 of those 15 years? And, with lots of Stormers and Bulls in the Bok team, they’ve not retained their imagined mental hardness for very long nor shown the way to their non-WP/NTvl teammates — their hardness was only brittleness.
Sorry — yarpies ARE mentally soft. That’s in contrast to the year-after-year hardness of the ABs.
In the last decade NZ has won 7 and lost 6 tests in SA. A better win rate in SA than the Boks themselves! And they’ve only lost two tests in total on NZ soil in that same period So, whether home or away, NZ enjoys a superior win ratio over the Boks. And they have won 10 out of the 15 3N competitions.
Yes, it really is extremely one-sided, isn’t it? The myth of the Boks being genuinely competitive vis-a-vis NZ is exactly that — a myth. They, occasionally, hit a rare purple patch and briefly prevail, but then they drop back and the normal order is restored.
That’s what the uninterested and dispassionate scoreboard says. Read it and weep.
23 Aug 2010, 01:03 am
NZ Herald
By Chris Rattue
5:30 AM Monday Aug 23, 2010
Rugby has rarely been better to watch, if ever, and this re-built All Black team is already among the best ever.
The All Blacks were magnificent, nullifying South Africa’s famed home advantage and finishing them off with two late tries that should rank high in any memory that can cope with the cluttered modern day test schedule.
As for the Springboks, they are in even bigger trouble than we thought.
If that’s the best the world champs can come up with in a home colosseum while celebrating John Smit’s century of tests, then they are indeed one large tank skidding out of control down one very steep hill.
No wonder Smit sank to his knees after Ma’a Nonu had created Israel Dagg’s superbly taken winner.
The Boks had a lot of initial huff, then ran out of puff. They were clearly second best, even if it did take a late score to prove this.
As a devoted critic of the All Blacks’ last World Cup campaign and, subsequently, the deplorable treatment of Robbie Deans, I gladly concede that Graham Henry is doing a brilliant re-building job, aided by the crucial rule-interpretation changes which encourage skilful ball work by making defenders struggle at breakdowns.
His supporters will have growing feelings of vindication.
Henry’s new All Blacks have a remarkable poise and nose for victory.
These All Blacks are also taking the game further as a spectacle, with far more to come when players such as Dagg are fully integrated into the deal.
The note of caution must be that so much relies on Richie McCaw’s presence. He is, without a shadow of doubt to my mind, the best player rugby has seen – as in the most effective – for a very long time. Perhaps ever.
If it came to picking a world combination of the past 40 years whose sole mission was to win a mythical game, R. McCaw should be the first name on any team sheet. His all-round game is extraordinary to behold.
McCaw’s ability to work the rules and delay opposition ball saved a try in Jo’burg, and his corner-flag finish to score the late leveller was truly exceptional (although poor officiating failed to spot a blatant All Black forward pass).
Rugby is bristling, and again the credit goes to Henry and his team. They are showing the rugby world how to play, in a way that probably only Australia would match if they had more power.
Remembering rugby from the past is like remembering New Zealand life long ago. Both had their charms, but overall – and with the benefit of hindsight – they were a bit of a bore.
The highlight reels, on television and in the mind, play wicked tricks, turning them into magical days.
Watch those old matches in their entirety for the whole truth, nothing but the truth. The game of yesteryear staggered about, littered with interruptions. Few teams – the Auckland side of the late 1980s and early 1990s being one – could rise above the dross.
That’s all we knew at the time, and loved the whole charade.
New rugby is the real deal.
The ball handling under brutal pressure is exceptional. The repeated collisions between massive men is frightening. The all-round skill and athleticism is stunning, an example being Brad Thorn’s crucial diving tackle yesterday morning.
Surfaces are better, way better, and the balls user friendly, unlike those slippery bricks we hurled about back in the day.
We used to drool over revolutionary prop Steve McDowall throwing a long pass, but now every tight forward can do that, as Tom Donnelly showed with his try-creator for wonder wing Tony Woodcock.
The test game needs more long range breaks and open field running, a la the All Black tries at Soccer City.
Apart from that, the game is in fine fettle the All Blacks’ way, with a healthy balance between set pieces, collisions, passing and kicking.
The world champion Springboks are not in good health though, and desperate changes to their line-up failed to find victory.
The South African Rugby Union are bonkers if Peter de Villiers, the fake coach, remains in charge.
Luckily for their World Cup opponents, South Africa’s rugby administrators are so immature that a few rough on-field decisions get them barking about quitting a multimillion- dollar broadcasting deal they’ve only just extended.
The Boks may improve when influential halfback Fourie du Preez returns, although Francois Hougaard was lively yesterday.
From this distance the calm du Preez is the logical captaincy replacement for the fading Smit, although the well-liked No 9 has a retiring personality.
Coach de Villiers lacks the authority to clean out the old guard and make tactical changes. He is groping in the dark, and his latest backline was too lightweight for the modern rugby battle. Their battle plan is confused.
The Springboks went overboard with the Smit centenary celebrations pre-match.
The front row legend could not put the icing on his party cake, failing to get out of a waddle compared to the dynamic work of Keven Mealamu.
South Africa, with vast playing resources, is suffering for failing to take the job of national coach seriously enough.
23 Aug 2010, 01:09 am
@danuk(danuk)-90: Apologies, it was 46: Nartjie, cheers
23 Aug 2010, 01:11 am
The reality is the Boks always had the measure of the All Blacks. Up to 1996 when the game turned professional and the ANC started their campaign to get control of SAn rugby things started spiralling and still are. Up to 1996 the Boks were leading the ABs by 21 test wins to 18. After that is all went pear shaped…..
What one see in the general state of SA is what one see in SAn rugby to.
Sad but true…..!!!
23 Aug 2010, 01:20 am
@fredman(fredman)-120:
In some ways you are right as that’s what the stats will say.
However, the refereeing in both the 1970 and 1976 series in SA was nothing short of blatant myopic control.
To then add insult to injury by not allowing our Maori players to compete in most of the other tours, completed the biased scale we had to operate on.
Pound for pound, we edge you.
23 Aug 2010, 01:23 am
Post 118:
Rattue quotes “the deplorable treatment of Robbie Deans” WTF??? As a kiwi, this is embarrassing to read.
How was Deans treated so deplorable, as he puts it?
In a 2 horse race, he came second, and his record with Australia and Henrys continued record with NZ suggests the right decisions were made, nothing whatsoever “deplorable” about that.
23 Aug 2010, 01:29 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-117:
And I will add, the Bok’s only purple patches over the AB’s are when the AB’s are generally slightly weaker than usual.
It takes the Boks to be at their best and NZ to be under par to yield a Bok win.
When the two are at their best, NZ has generally prevailed.
I’m not so ignorant to suggest that we always see the best of whats available from SA as well, the politically-laced admin of SARU is a disease that needs eradication.
23 Aug 2010, 02:48 am
@ KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)- 121
Refereeing will always be a controversial thing and its up to the team to adjust to that. If the Boks had their blacks and the ABs had their Maoris in from the start the balance would have been the same so the stats i think would’ve been the same.
I cant help but wondering if the ABs were under the same political pressure as the Boks were for the last 10+ years how the stats would’ve looked right now. The Boks dont have the luxury of a stable and sane thinking rugby system behind them. They have to contend and make the best of an African mentality that is almost impossible for the average Kiwi to comprehend.
I dont think you ever “edged” the Boks. I think the failure of the African system came at just the right time to tip the balance in the ABs favour.
I realy cant blame the Boks for not having that deep rooted pride and commitment towards their country anymore…..!
23 Aug 2010, 02:56 am
@fredman(fredman)-120: The SA differential of 3 wins was because the Boks had 6 more home tests than the ABs in that comparison and — highly significantly — with the added advantage of having these home-town tests officiated by SA home-town referees. And SA’s home-town referees set the gold standard of being one-eyed and biased as ALL visiting teams frequently vouched.
Since neutral refs started blowing these contests, the SA lead evaporated and has continued to go into reverse.
23 Aug 2010, 03:02 am
@fredman(fredman)-124: The All Blacks really couldn’t care less who or what SARU decides to put on to the field and/or who coaches or mentors them.
They’re not interested in the plethora of bizarre excuses and all the sundry grizzles and gripes from SA either.
They just play — and routinely beat — whoever is put up against them. Keeping it simple.
23 Aug 2010, 03:15 am
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-7:
That’s simple. SA has always had a penchant for 10 man rugby. They have always believed in the forwards belting up the opposition and scoring the bulk of their points with penalties and dropped goals.
For the last 20 years, NZ have been trying to move away from that style and embrace a ball in hand, running 15 man game and the differences have really showed this year.
Last year, SA with it’s boring but dominant 10 man kicking game, beat an NZ side who had some terrible play makers in the likes of Steven Donald and others, but have this year, paid the price for this out dated style once the ABs fixed their personnel problems.
At S14 level however, SA has finally realised, that after their forwards have beaten up the opposition, ball in hand reaps the rewards, and they open up their opposition time and again scoring tries.
Perhaps SA style has been reinforced by the belief that winning RWCups revolve around this boring 10 man style, so therefore it must be the same at all test level.
Time will tell, but SA must now evolve their game out of their comfort zone if they want to keep up.
IMO tho, I think if they do, as proved at S14 level, they can be a real danger.
Just needs a change of thinking at a national level, and I guess, therein lies their major hurdle as this is a 100 year mindset.
23 Aug 2010, 04:17 am
SA rugby, players and style are every bit as good as anything to come out of NZ. If SA rugby is so bad, with a clown coach groping in the dark, playing a 10 man style, as is stated by some people here, then how did the AB’s only manage to win at the last stage of the game?
23 Aug 2010, 04:20 am
@fredman(fredman)-118:
Sjoe Chris! Not sure why we bother, should just give the World Cup to NZ now and not bother to go next year. That way everyone can save a heap of money and NZ can use the time to parade the trophy at all the new venues they build.
I am sure if they look in the cupboard they will find some left over (or is that unused?) tickertape parade banners and stuff to help, with the euphoria nobody will even note the wrong years on the banners. I also know from reliable sources that they have plenty of brasso to help them keep the cup nice and shiny…
23 Aug 2010, 04:23 am
@ TheTackler(TheTackler)- 125:
Blaming refs is NOT the Kiwi way (or is it?)
126: You are stating a basic and logic human instinct when you say the ABs dont care. That is however not the point. The reality and point is the reason why the ABs seem better than the Boks nowadays. Read my post again and try and stay on it.
23 Aug 2010, 04:40 am
@fredman(fredman)-130:
You must excuse Tackles, he is a little stressed out. He repainted his caravan and got clean bricks to rest it on as he heard accommodation will be high in demand next year. Turns out not a lot of people are interested in a black caravan with a view of the abolition block after all….
23 Aug 2010, 05:03 am
Hell its a whinging kiwi blog today, must be boring in NZ!
Fitzy, the man that bought cheating to rugby, so **** off.
The great rubgy tradition playing the Boks and Abs will not diminish if we leave ZANZAR but what will happen is NZ rugby will, as it runs a lot loss now, will loose lots of money.
South Africa needs to leave SANZOO. The sooner we leave behind this circus the better. And guess what it is going to happen.
This about money and not tradition
23 Aug 2010, 05:04 am
@fredman(fredman)-124:
Did the black people of SA play rugby pre 1980, or more importantly, since 1900 or so? Its an honest question. The Maori’s certainly did here in NZ.
There’s a difference between refereeing being a controversial thing, having to play the ref, and then there are refs who get paid or otherwise compensated for their work on the pitch.
SA were notorious and still are for doing whatever it takes off the pitch to achieve victory on it.
The political systems, intervention etc, are obviously drawn against the apartheid system that was in place – is it there way to try and right the wrongs ?, or throw a little payback ?, you can discuss that all day and night. We cant change that part of the SA setup, but we are delighted at the appointment of neutral referees as it does bring a sense of balance.
131. SLARTIBARTFAS: Ablution, ie toilet block, is that you were referring to?
23 Aug 2010, 05:11 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-133:
Oops yes Kia but with the general disrepair of the building in front of his caravan you can never be to sure…
By the way, be careful with picking up the spelling mistakes. Tackles takes it very seriously and gets a little grumpy when others jump in!
23 Aug 2010, 05:35 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-134: I’m very happy to see everyone bucking up on their often rather-iffy spelling. If you don’t care, it betrays a sloppy mind.
23 Aug 2010, 05:37 am
What’s an “abolition block”? What is being abolished there? Slavery? Alcohol?
Bad spelling?
We need more of those abolition blocks.
23 Aug 2010, 05:40 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-132: “The great rubgy(sic) tradition playing the Boks and Abs(sic) will not diminish if we leave ZANZAR(sic) but what will happen is NZ rugby will, as it runs a lot loss(sic) now, will loose(sic) lots of money.”
Head off to the abolition block, pilgrim.
23 Aug 2010, 05:42 am
135. TheTackler(TheTackler) then you are an arsehole as you have an anal mind
23 Aug 2010, 06:08 am
all this talk of pre-isolation..
the tally was 21-18 to the Bokke..
and as we’ve seen the last two years, a 3 game lead is nothing..
12 games however
23 Aug 2010, 06:21 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-136:
Come now Tackles, it is right outside your caravan and you telling me you don’t know what it is? Surely the smell alone should give it away.
23 Aug 2010, 06:30 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-138: You are just as deficient in physiology as you are are in spelling, obviously!
23 Aug 2010, 07:10 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-138: Just wonder what options the SA rugby have if they leave?
23 Aug 2010, 07:11 am
Interesting childish comment from Blek Panter (#81?) squealing about Burger not giving McCaw the ball when it was a Bok throw in. Do you really want the refs to cheat that much more? Note McCaw trying to claw Burger’s face – not a squeal from you – just a hint of double standards?
I think AB celebrations on winning the TN were a bit subdued. This is the year that what Fritzpatprick started with manipulating the match officials has peaked. The players are actually just a smaller part of greater NZ strategy so they don’t get as much satisfaction from the win as if they had done so cleanly.
23 Aug 2010, 07:20 am
@husky(husky)-143: well thats a load of bollacks, Trust me the boys got a lot of satisfaction from that win, espically infront of so many saffas and spoiling the party of the great springboks captain.
23 Aug 2010, 07:25 am
So if SA want to leave what are their realistic options?
23 Aug 2010, 07:31 am
@husky(husky)-143:
3-0
23 Aug 2010, 07:48 am
congratulations to the ABs and all their fans…
they are by far the superior team and worthy 3N Champions 2010.
@poppa69(poppa69)-146:
pay back’s a b!tch…
enjoy it…!!
23 Aug 2010, 07:55 am
@ufo(ufo)-147: cheers UFO… was a very cruel way for your boys to lose it…was a great great test match though and really a draw would have been a fitting response..
I did think the ABs really weathered the intensity of the Bokke well, and its a shame the Bok didnt play with that when they toured…
I know after last year how many of you feel…
23 Aug 2010, 07:59 am
@husky(husky)-143:
“This is the year that what Fitzpatrick started with manipulating the match officials has peaked.”
since 96 you mean?
bwahahahahaha
classic, how have you managed to survive this long with that level of paranoia??
23 Aug 2010, 08:01 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-148:
you’re welcome bud… you and BP and the other AB fans put up with a lot of abuse on this site… but still keep on blogging… so this win is sweet revenge for you… and well deserved…
i see it differently… it wasn’t a cruel way to lose it… it was a stupid way to lose it… our guys thought they had it in the bag… and just had to hang on… the ABs played until the whistle and deserved the win… no doubt…
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