Even in this World Cup year, it just doesn’t get any bigger than this.
Miracle man Schalk Burger, having completed a remarkable recover from a life threatening case of bacterial meningitis just two years ago, leads the Springboks in a test match for the first time – and a more fitting occasion than a Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks, one could not ask for.
Heinrich Brussow is another man making a comeback to the Boks, after a bizarre 4-year exile that only coach Heyneke Meyer can explain. Brussow has never lost against the All Blacks and will be hoping to maintain that statistic today.
Kick-off at the stadium that will always be ELLIS PARK in our hearts, is at 17h05.
Go Bokke!
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger (captain), 7 Francois Louw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.
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Very nervous about this one. Go Bokke!
I’m always hoping for a Bok win…but this one is impossible to call.
Boks to win or lose by 6 😉
All Blacks by 10+
Let’s get going
Chaps its been a while since I had to stream. Anyone have a free link?
Interesting stats.
Last week
Most Tackles missed
Damian de Allende 6
Handre Pollard 4
Ruan Pienaar 3
Tackles made
Schalk Burger 20 of 21
Francois Louw 18 of 19
Lodewyk de Jager 18 of 18
Defenders beaten
Jesse Kriel 6
Marcel Coetzee 4
Damian de Allende 3
Clean breaks
Damian de Allende 2
Jesse Kriel/Eben Etzebeth 1
And we have kick off by Pollard
And an early penalty. Jesse Kriel not releasing
Another penalty. Boks falling over the ruck. Sopanga going for posts
AB 3
Boks 0
3min
Try Willie le Roux
Converted
Boks 7
NZ 3
11min
All Black get a penalty in front of the posts. Take it quick but knocks it on
@Mutley (Comment 12) : And of the resulting scrum the Boks get a penalty
Penalty by Pollard
Boks 10
NZ 3
21min
Pienaar sticking to the basics is far better than a Pienaar trying to emulate Fourie du Preez.
The Boks have had a very good first half hour!!
There wasn’t much commentary on here about our try, but it was brilliant!! Brilliant…
We’re also very good at the breakdown, despite the odd odd decision by the Frenchman. Jannie with a great steal there…
Pollard takes a shot…
Pollard going for a long range attempt. Short
Bokke 10
NZ 3
32min
Horribly hit…short and to the left! Ai…
Brussouw penalised at that breakdown!
Sopoaga with the shot at goal…
Sogoanga taking a shot at goal but wide
NZ 3
Bokke 10
34min
Missed to the right…still 10-3 after 35 minutes…
Brussouw with a great steal!!
Boks do great work to hold the ABs up…the two locks…turnover!
Lood hurt…
…but is back up now…
Bok scrum has been very solid!
We’re a danger at plenty breakdowns! And Bismarck steals another!!
Great play Boks…but Willie just can’t get the offload away accurately in the tackle…otherwise that was a try…
Pollard off for concussion test…Lambie on!
Lambie on.
Try Ben Smith
Try All Blacks on halftime!!!!
Hendricks turned over under the high ball and the All Blacks too good on the counter…
Halftime
All Blacks 10
Bokke 10
The conversion is good and it is 10-10 at halftime…
That is where the ABs are dangerous! Wow…
But a really good half of rugby by the Boks. There is much to be happy about…
@Mutley (Comment 34) : Heyneke made sure to bring Lambie on with just 1 minute remaining in the first half. 🙄
Interesting Halftime Stats
Clean Breaks 5-2
De Allenda 2
Sopoanga/Smith 1
Meters run 274 – 231
Willie Le Roux 57
Ben Smith 71
Tackles missed 7-13
Kriel/de Allende 2
Aaron Smith 3
@Ben (Comment 42) : He will blame the try on him.
just me or is Brussow a little anonymous?
Question: why is everyone except Flouw pilfering ball in these last two tests
Brussouw great at the breakdown…
Whitley on for Louw. Concusion test
Koch on, Whitely on, Pollard back after halftime…
@robdylan (Comment 45) : Quite at times…but a few good steals in his last 10 mins…
Try Jessie Kriel!!!!!!
Kriiiiiieeeeeeelllllllll!!!!
Wow!!! And that pass by Pollard was good…
Converted by Pollard
Bokke 17
NZ 10
47min
Jessie ‘Sidewinder’ Kriel
17-10 after 47 minutes…
Knock by Lood…first scrum for Koch…
Haven’t seen a SA 13 score a try like that in quite a while. Thrilling.
Big tackle on Dagg by de Allende and Burger…
Coles scores under the poles!!
Brilliant try by the All Blacks. What pace by Dan Coles!!!!!!
Damn…Coles straight through our midfield…after his tackle de Allende wasn’t there…
17-17…
Feketai putting Cole in a gap between Pollard and Kriel and Cole beating Le Roux to score. Sopoanga converts
NZ 17
Bokke 17
49min
And the Boks get caned by that ‘blinde sambok’
17-17 I hope we are not getting set up fr the usual second half blitz by the All Blacks. Have a nasty feeling that all our first half dominance should have accounted for a lead.
Big maul…collapsed!! Penalty Boks…
They kick for the corner…TMO…
SA get a kickable penalty. Go for touch and drive. Over for the try? Go to the TMO
Is it touching?
Try Lood de Jager but no it is short. Scrum 5m to Bokke
Ohhhh…grounded short…
@pastorshark (Comment 72) : Agreed
5m scrum Boks…come on!!!
Penalty advantage as the Boks attack!
Knock in the tackle…back to the penalty…
The Boks are certainly not one-dimensional…
Schalk is playing very well…
Penalty converted by Pollard
Boks 20
NZ 17
57min
Boks lead 20-17…
Great, great, great Bok play…
Yellow to Sam Whitelock
80m counter attack!!! Cynical foul All Blacks…Penalty…yellow card…
Be brave…scrum…
Boks take the scrum
@pastorshark (Comment 83) : Serial offenders in the red zone they are
@Mutley (Comment 85) : Boks get a penalty from the scrum, Boks take another scrum
And Koch knocks
Good brave stuff Boks…over but not grounded…another penalty…another scrum…
Big scrum Boks, Burger picks up early…Pienaar to Koch…but Koch knocks on!
@pastorshark (Comment 89) : Surely a penalty try must be on the cards now?
Koch off for blood…Nyakane on…
Nyakane on for Koch. Blood
Lambie on for Le Roux
Ref calls for uncontested scrums…why?!?! He says Nyakane is playing out of position. That is kak and gives the All Blacks a get out of jail free card…
@vanmartin (Comment 91) : Sorry, thought it was our put in
Lost a ball on our own throw…and we let the All Blacks off the hook…damn!
Sopoaga will take a shot!
Sopoanga taking a long shot attempt at goal. But wide
NZ 17
Bokke 20
65min
He misses…but we still let the All Blacks off the hook…ai!
All Blacks knock on the 22 kick off…
Boks a bit lucky there…but get a penalty…
Why uncontested scrums? Really…
Great tackle by Lambie as Fekitoa goes straight through the middle!!
What?!?! SA made the call for uncontested scrums…that is crazy!!!
Man up with Whitelock off and WE ask for uncontested scrums? Wow…
Strauus on now for Beast…seeing as the scrums are uncontested…
We lose our own lineout again…and the All Blacks have a penalty advantage again…ag crap…
Sa have always been mental midgets of world rugby 🙄
Mistakes in the last 10 minutes…ai!
All Blacks are over…but held up…
They come back 371 phases for the penalty…
Now the All Blacks kick for the corner…and score…
Brilliant try by the All Blacks. Mcaw scores
Wow…great lineout move!! Wow, wow, wow!!
Conversion crucial…
looks like my instincts were right – the All Blacks just know how to win, the Boks have become very weak in minutes 60 – 80.
Straight through…20-24…
Sopoanga nails the convertion
NZ 24
Bokke 20
75min
So we now have to score a try…
Reinach on for Pienaar
All Blacks turn it over in the maul…
All Blacks are smart. The Boks have passion but no smarts.
That uncontested scrum call by us on their line was absolutely crazy and will cost us the game…
Ach Reinach…forward pass…that was confused and crap by the Boks…
Mapoe makes his debut and gets 3mins
Mapoe has his cap…
CR must be the worst 9 in rugby,where ate all the patriotic clowns now,WC is just a dream
@benji (Comment 128) : Agree
Game over…
We will never win a would cup under Meyer.
Dream on Bokke
Game over. It’s just another loss to the All Blacks, become so common place it doesn’t hurt any more.
If we cannot beat them at Ellis, what chance of beating them on neutral ground at a WC?…
NZ get a penalty and takes a shot at goal. Sopoanga converts
NZ 27
Bokke 20
Full Time
Good, but not good enough.
Damn so close to my 10 point prediction.
With losses to Australia and NZ it simply confirms the collective position of the South African Super rugby teams – a distant third.
Meyer dud the exact same thing bring on players when we were down, what an idiot. Seriously how many times does he have to lose to learn?
Another very good Bok performance ends in disappointment. Much that was good. I have hope for the World Cup. But concerning that we can’t close it out…
And that’s 3 test losses in a row for the Boks. Wales last year and the Wallebies and All Blacks this year
@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 137) : Wow? Did you watch the same two games as I did? DISTANT? No way…
I am just so so disappointed in the decision to ask for uncontested scrums!!! Chicken move…WE WERE ON THEIR LINE WITH THE CHANCE TO PUT REAL PRESSURE ON!!!! *sigh*
@pastorshark (Comment 141) : We have lost our last three games, very distant. I predict we lose our first knock out in the world cup.
@pastorshark (Comment 142) : That was crazy we could have brought Jannie back on. Idiot coaches.
Springboks remind me of a guy whose just bought his first superbike. Opens the throttle and then grabs the brake each time the bike shows what it can do.
@Seth101 (Comment 144) : Jannie was injured.
Let’s ask ourselves y they chose not to bring on Jannie
I’m not going to get involved in arguments about how kak we were! We were good…we have something to learn about closing it out. Substitutions at this stage are largely about prep for the world cup. I am too happy about the wonderful rain we’ve had!!! So now it is party time!!!
@Ben (Comment 146) : Was he?
@vanmartin (Comment 145) : Spot on!
@vanmartin (Comment 145) : Ai, but there were some beautiful Bok moments and I am really happy about what looks like a dynamic game plan!
Interesting Bok stats
Tackles made
Schalk Burger 14 of 15
Heinrich Brussow 13 of 14
Damian de Allende 11 of 14
Missed tackles
Jesse Kriel 4
Damian de Allende 3
Handre Pollard/Lodewyk de Jager 2
Defenders beaten
Damian de Allende 7
Handre Pollard 5
Jessie Kriel 4
Clean breaks
Willie le Roux 3
Jesse Kriel/Damian de Allende 2
Time for a party here in Wartburg!!
@pastorshark (Comment 151) : That’s exactly it though, the Boks should be even more vigilant after those brilliant moments. The AB’s know that’s their time to strike back.
Brilliant moments mean nothing if you don’t win.
@Seth101 (Comment 149) : Why else do you think he didn’t come back on?
@Ben (Comment 156) : Because of Meyers timed subs, but never realized he was injured.
Our centers need to work on their defense, but I’m very excited about what the future holds for them as a combination.
I know trevor cant scrum …. but to blatently call uncontested scrums is a bit of an insult dont you think
Cobus Reinach is the biggest brain fart lol. Its two weeks in a row he plays a part in messing things up for us at the end. And Willie not being able to stop a hooker from scoring a try when he’s the last man line of defence, well that just baffled me. Oh well, looks like we really can’t beat this damn all blacks, when last did we even win against them?? Ay, after dominating this game, its quite sad that we come out 2nd best yet again.
@Mutley (Comment 152) : interesting for who,point being what,boks lost
Are you guys still saying Hendriks is not worth his salt? Playing games I tell you. We wouldn’t be able to pick up a stripper in a strip club. Can’t spot talent to save our lives. Didn’t see him miss a tackle today. Those things you can coach but natural ability is something else. Counting on JPP! Must be joking.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 162) : Agreed! Baffles me how narrow minded people are. They all focus on the missed tackle by Willie, and forget all the good he does on attack!! It baffles honestly!!
Seems our Boks don’t believe they can win games…SR ghost still haunting these boys.
Losing two games in a row in the final 10mins. smacks of a lack of confidence and a severely under powered bench.
HM is probably still hoping on FdP, Jaque Fourie and obviously Matfield to get him through this world cup….can’t wait to hear his excuses this week. 🙄
@FireTheLooser (Comment 164) : Boks could win by 10, and you would still find something to grumble about!!
I think the guys played a positive attacking game. Some strange calls today, the uncontested scrum had me baffled.
The AB’s certainly didn’t expect us to play the attacking brand we did. Overall, the books look pretty much on track with their prep for WC.
@KingCheetah (Comment 165) : I have never complained when the Boks won and I’ve said it a million times before: if HM wins with 100% retired former bulls players, I wouldn’t mind a single bit.
Winning is a habit, and so is losing….3 losses in a row will get stuck in the minds of this group, and they show signs of serious panic during the final 10 mins. of the game….chances are, this panic will be smplified in the wc play-offs.
We’re not on track and the world cup will expose us.
@pastorshark (Comment 106) : If its true that we requested uncontested scrums then it was a huge mistake, we were all over them at scrum time wit SW out, maybe we did it cause we intended to bring strauss on and keep bismark on, if so, it came back to bit us
i want clarity on this ?
@revolverocelot (Comment 167) : The commentators said word was we chose it…I read in an article that the ref said it had to be uncontested scrums and that that is the rule if both tightheads are injured. Is that so? Even if Nyakane can also play tighthead? Wow…news to me…
@KingCheetah (Comment 165) : I agree with you plenty of percent! Spot on…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 166) : Well, we’ll see. I’ve made the same complaints as you on occasion in the past…but name the retired former Bulls players that played tonight? Chances are that we lost the last two games because we didn’t have ENOUGH experience on the field. I am very happy with the game plan we are employing, very happy with most of our play. I am just not happy that we haven’t yet been able to close these games out…and that Lambie seems to be relegated to a bit part player (though, to be honest, Pollard had a good game tonight…).
@pastorshark (Comment 170) : Yes we lacked experience, because HM has spent the past 4 years banking on the availability of FdP, Jaque Fourie andMatfield.
Because of that, we do not have an experienced backup scrummie, nor an experienced backup lineout lock and notan experienced defensive backline player.
HM had 4 years to develop players, he chose to wager it all on the availability of the afore mentioned seniors….it seems to be backfiring.
I enjoy the running rugby, but we’re still not winning games we should honestly have won.
Wow… What a game, and what an excellent performance by the Springboks… There is no doubt these Springboks have upped their game… Just unlucky for them the best team in the world has also upped their game… And lucky for them otherwise the Springboks would’ve whipped them tonight.
I’m astounded by the ongoing whinging from some of the arm-chair selectors on this site… You guys must be a misery to live with… The type of people who will find fault with everything in life.
I could maybe take some of the whinging more seriously… If just one of you naysayers had the decency to admit you were wrong about HM’s selection of Jessie Kriel. There are so many other areas of improvement you’re choosing to miss too… But at least show you have some integrity by admitting when you’re wrong… Instead of ignoring it and immediately pointing out the next short coming.
There’s no pleasing some people
@CS (Comment 173) : HM has achieved less than both JW and PdV….so I’m not sure what exactly we’re supposed to celebrate here?
Zero rugby championship wins in 4 years.
1 win over the kiwis in 4 years.
How much ridicule did JW and PdV have to endure during their respective 4 years in charge? Yet after the same amount of years in charge, both achieved far more than HM.
But somehow we are expected to celebrate the hero that is HM – double standards fella.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 174) : And based on the tone of your comments these days… I’m betting you were one of the people doing all the ridiculing on JW and PDV
Like I said… Some people just like to whinge, no?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 174) : And for the record… I never said HM was my favourite Bok coach of all time… So no double standards from me, fella… Don’t be so one-eyed all the time… It’s boring!
@CS (Comment 173) : must agree with you on one thing HM has changed the way the Bokke is playing this year and that makes me excited. I mostly like his team selections as he seems to be moving away from the “bigger is better” way of coaching!!!!
@pastorshark (Comment 141) : ja don’t know about the “distant” part but anyway would rather lose now whilst preparing for the World cup than win now and lose in the World cup. Lots of positives to be take out of the two games just hope HM sticks to the changes!!!!!!
@JD (Comment 178) : I felt a lot of guys played really well… Lood’s work rate was excellent, I thought Ruan played really well. We were definitely the better team tonight I thought, the All Black’s class got them through this one… As they say, a really good team is one that wins even when they shouldn’t… That last try of theirs was brilliantly worked.
I think maybe our main weakness is on the wings… Compared to the All Blacks, our wings aren’t as threatening as their’s perhaps, although thought Hendriks was better than JPP has been. Lambie is a much better defender than Le Roux… And like someone suggested earlier this week, maybe Willie is a “1st half” player only… Maybe Lambie must come on as Fullback immediately after half time… Other than that, I can’t really think where we could’ve been better tonight… Other than a few centimetres here and there, we did everything required to win this game by at least 14 points.
I actually can’t believe how some people will sing Meyers prays no matter how badly he does. We have not won a single rugby championship under him.
I guess some people don’t have a problem with mediocrity.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 171) : We lack experience in those positions even on franchise level. Which STANDOUT experienced centre, scrumhalf and lock were developed by either fanchise over the course of 12 years other than what he had already picked or retired or injured? Meyer can only pick what he has before him.
@Seth101 (Comment 180) : Accepting mediocrity comes hand in hand with being a Sharks supporter it seems.
Australia beat Argentina 34 points to 9. Australia vs New Zealand to decide the Rugby Championship this year.
@Seth101 (Comment 180) : Given the absolute rubbish SA super sides (including our beloved Sharks) dished up this year, HM has managed to done wonders with the Boks. I can buy into this game plan.
When last have you seen a Bok team play like this? We just need to convert the opportunities we are creating – probably left at least two tries. The reason the All Blacks are still ahead of us is that they know how to convert the smallest of chances into points.
@Bokhoring (Comment 184) : I should exclude the Lions from that comment – at least they tried to play some decent rugby.
@Bokhoring (Comment 184) : When last did I see them lose 3 in a row? Not for a long time.
@Ben (Comment 182) : And I was just as out spoken about the Sharks.
@Bokhoring (Comment 184) : I agree totally. Considering we have relative rookies in the 10,12,13 channel, we played excellent attacking rugby. We also had two players that have just returned from injury, with almost no game time in Brüssow and Lood. Given the late injuries to Jannie, Flouw, Lood, Koch and Whiteley, and the whole debacle of uncontested scrums, I think we gave the AB’s loads to think about.
The uncontested scrums, came from the ref in my opinion, and certainly played a big role, as it negated our edge at scrum under their poles with a man down.
Immediately after the game, I said to my brother in law, I am still happy with the way we played.
@CS (Comment 175) : When we lost, I complained – however in 2009, there was nothing to complain about…we won the Lions series, we won the tri-nations and we white-washed the ab’s.
HM’s results makes for poor reading (please tell me what he achieved thus far as Bok coach??)….you may enjoy celebrating his “achievements”, personally I base my opinion on results – not emotion.
@KingCheetah (Comment 188) : Do you still think Adriaan Strauss is the best hooker in SA
In my mind Burger surprisingly showed his inexperience as captain when he did not contest the ref’s decision to have uncontested scrums. All he needed to do was tell the ref that Trevor can play tighthead and he is not happy with uncontested scrums. With the AB’s a man down in the pack and a defensive scrum on their line, there is no doubt that the uncontested scrum hugely favored the AB’s.
Yes I am happy with the way the Boks played, despite the loss. But we gotta ask ourselves, why has HM taken so long to adopt this ball in hand style rugby instead of kicking ball away and gifting the opposition possession like we normally do. We also gotta ask ourselves, if Matfield had not got injured, would we even have seen what Lood has been able to do, similarly De Allende/Jesse and Jean.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 181) : Sharks got plenty of experience at 5, 35 years worth of it – should be right up HM’s alley 😉
In seriousness though, how many of the up-and-coming franchise players did HM trial at international level?
Now we’re stuck with Reinach as backup scrumhalf, and he is VERY green as an international….surely HM knew he needed 3 scrumhalves for the world cup, why not give all three much needed game time during previous years? (here’s why, because he banked on FdP and Ruan Pienaar only).
What happens if Kriel gets injured (and I’ll concede that Kriel in panning out as a brilliant 13), but after him we’re stuck with a wing or inside centre playing 13 again, because HM banked on Jaques Fourie’s availability.
Same goes for 5 lock, he didnt want to give PSdT (when he wasn’t injured) a chance as 5 lock because of some lame excuse about him asking Bakkies too nicely to stay in the lineout line (some sad sack story to that effect)….now without HM’s Matfield, our lineout is a mess because HM never gave any of Lood or PSdT or Lewies or Mostert (or whoever else) a shot at gaining the required experience as the lineout lock, because he banked on Matfield only.
So even with no injuries, there weren’t any international development for the positions mentioned….the franchises had players, but they were never given the necessary exposure at Bok level. Whose fault is that?
@jonnow (Comment 190) : No for sure he isn’t! Bessie has sorted out his head and is once again the best in the world. That said, last year, Strauss was playing great rugby. He has certainly regressed in Pretoria.
I was also caught off guard with that one. Don’t think it would have made a difference though. Apparently it is an IRB protocol to nominate TH and LH props, and if a LH comes on as a TH, uncontested scrums are ruled. IRB are screwing this game up big time. Good yes, he was tried last year already. Think in fairness, it was only really PSDT and Lood’s injury, plus the departure of some tall timber overseas that twisted Meyer’s arm to lean towards Vic. The idea was for him to mentor the upcoming 5’s.
Meyer has always been singing Jesse’s praises, and for sure he put his hand up with strong performances.
I don’t think we can fault HM on giving guys a shot!
@Bokhoring (Comment 184) : In 2011 we murdered the Ozzies with our attacking rugby, just to end up losing the quarter final in those last 10 mins. of the game (because we didn’t capitalise on our superior possession and territory ….I’ve seen that trend playing out in two consecutive games this year – not good for the team’s winning confidence.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 191) : So when has PSDT been fit?? As for Lood, he was given a run last year, but he has also been injured. I also recall Piet van Zyl being called to bok camps.
I think your HM hatred is just reflected in your tirades. HM certainly hasn’t been shy to reward form shown during Super rugby. I agree Kriel has been hot, but do you want a whole team of rookies on the field? Heck why not then you can have another frothy about Meyer throwing the untried and untested to the wolves.
Kriel has been brilliant. But given that he had Louw, Coetzee, and Brüssow as openside options, plus at the time Vermeulen, Alberts, and Schalk as options, I don’t think you can fault him. Kriel will undoubtedly get a shot in the future. Brüssow, Coetzee, Flouw, all tried and tested at international level.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 193) : Ha ha, so the fact that Brüssow, who was all over the ball like a rash, being taken out illegally, and the refs clearly biased performance, had zero to do with our loss?
You are becoming funnier by the day!! Hiralious actually 😆
@KingCheetah (Comment 194) : My hatred is toward our poor results, I don’t care who the coach is as I am not planning to have a friendship with the coach – the next coach will also be judged by his results.
At scrumhalf, HM tried Vermaak too, but never settled on his third choice scrumhalf (he should have backed someone two years ago already and stuck with them the same way he stuck with Pollard).
As for PSdT, the point I’m making is that HM didn’t want to give him (or anyone else) an extended run to settle at 5, even when they were fit….he couldn’t wait to select Matfield in his starting lineup as that negated the risk and effort of getting someone else up to international lineout level….our lineouts cost us dearly yesterday – HM’s only solution however is the return of Matfield.
@KingCheetah (Comment 195) : That story is about as stale as the AB’s ’95 poisoned story…doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but that was not the only reason we lost that game – if it was, then surely we should’ve backed PdV for another 4 years as Bok coach, as we claim that we would have beaten NZ in the semi-final too 😉
While I am happy that HM persevere with Pollard at 10 despite a few mistakes from Pollard, I really think that Lambie should replace Pollard at flyhalf with 15 or 20 minutes to go, just to close out the game. I believe Pollard has been been very good with his attacking mindset, but Lambie’s game management in the final quarter is superior. HM is doing Lambie no favors by bringing him on late as a replacement fullback.
@Ben (Comment 182) : Ugh don`t remind us.
Do we have any currie cup prospects to look forward to this year?
Er wait I`ve been ” out of the loop ” for a while, is there gonna be a Currie Cup this year?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 191) : Hougaard was tried and should have been able back up but that failed. Juandre kruger and Bekker should have been first choice 5 but that failed and du Toit keeps on getting injured, therefore we have Matfield.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 200) : Well, unlike PdV, it seems HM has positioned himself very well to take no blame whatsoever for every loss by the Boks 🙄
(and HM followers are empowering this position, at the expense of Bok rugby)
@FireTheLooser (Comment 201) : I don’t think anyone on this site has ever said Meyer is the best ever Springbok coach… I don’t think anyone on this site has denied that Meyer could’ve done some things differently/better over the last 4 years… What we ARE saying on this thread specifically, is that on the 25th July 2015, 23 Springbok rugby players played a brand of rugby the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time from a Springbok team… And I for one thought it was pleasing and a pleasure to watch… And I think the All Blacks were impressed too!
If you think Saturday’s performance was mediocre… Then… Well, lets just leave it there… I won’t get personal.
@CS (Comment 202) : Nice brand of rugby, except for a blatant lack of finishing off of opportunities and actually winning the game…so enjoy the brand of rugby all the way to the world cup quarter final, where these evident frailties will be exposed and the opposition will take full advantage of us (the same way the Ozzies and Kiwis did for two weeks in a row now).
Fellow countrymen, I’ve slept on the matter and arrived at the following conclusion. I don’t care whose fault it is I’m just seriously gatvol of losing to the AB’s, especially at the death (it happens too often). Blame the coach, the players, the bench, the conditioning, the franchises, the AB’s, the ref, SARU, SANZAR, the IRB, the government, the altitude, the weather, the 50% polyester blend Springbok shirts, the Blue Bull recruitment policies, the pound, the euro, the yen, Supersport, load shedding or your mother in law. Pick whatever combo you prefer and debate as long as you like. I’ll wait here quietly. When you’re done I’ll still be gatvol of losing to the All Blacks.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 203) : So this is your official WC prediction, Boks will not get past the QF… Just so we all know where you stand?
@KingCheetah (Comment 205) : I’d love to be wrong, and I’ll be first to admit should I be wrong…but the Boks reaching the semis would be an unexpected achievement in itself.
@vanmartin (Comment 204) : Tsk, you forgot to mention Conrad Hoffman
Have to say those All Blacks play clever rugby. That lineout move from which McCaw scored the winning try coming through the middle, was so bloody unexpected.
@Bokhoring (Comment 208) : Not a new move though…they used it against the Scots a few years ago, the very next week the Scots used it against us successfully…we fell for it for a second time.
@Culling Song (Comment 207) : I thought I’d spare you from having to read his name on the Sabbath.
@Bokhoring (Comment 208) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 209) : thats the thing tho, NZ is so good at everything and their ability to vary their play something all teams can learn from
The Boks lost 5 in row under White in 2006 and 4 in a row under de Villiers in 2010.
Meyer’s current percentage is 69.23, White’s final was 66.98% and de Villiers’ 62.5%. By the end of the WC, when we include the easy warm-up and pool games, Meyer’s numbers are likely to look even better.
I like to look at overall records, because tournament outcomes are often decided by a single good (or bad) luck moment or referee mistake.
The more matches in the sample the less randomness to contend with.
All we are really left to ponder with overall percentages, is whether the quality of the opponents varied in favor of one coach or the other.
HM, had less games against the ABs than White or de Villiers, which perhaps helps him, but then the quality of the AB team is not static either.
One way to gauge this would be to compare how the ABs fared against teams other than the Boks.
During White’s tenure the ABs lost 2 matches against Aus and 1 against France, in addition to the 3 losses against the Boks. They never lost at home.
During de Villiers’ tenure, they lost 3 against Aus and 1 against France (in Dunedin). They lost 5 times against the Boks (2 times in New Zealand).
Since Meyer took over, the ABs have lost only 1 match against England and 1 against the Boks. Both away games. And 2 draws against Australia in Australia.
The worst moment of the match for the Boks yesterday was the decision to piss away several minutes of YC advantage, by choosing to scrum. They should have kicked the quick 3 pointer and upped the pace for the rest of the 9 minutes to take the score beyond reach.
Instead they gave the AB backs a much needed rest.
Feel free to crucify the coach or captain for that one.
@CS (Comment 202) : Personally I like my brand of rugby to be a winning one, not losing.
@fyndraai (Comment 212) : Difference is White managed to wing the Tri Nations. Meyer has not achieved a single thing.
People are willing to be fanboys of anything these days, it would seem.
This outfit looks far from a finished product. Problem is time has run out for HM to show us the winning formula.
@Bokhoring (Comment 208) : Which is why they are more successful our guys are so stuck in structures and what they were drilled on from school days that they forget the shortest shortest point from a to b. Now and the you will get a lateral thinker in our team and by comparison to his mates he looks like a genius.
@Seth101 (Comment 216) : Yes having wonderful stats only benefits the coach’s resume while the team have nothing to show for it.
@CS (Comment 173) : I dont rememeber anyone really questioning Kriels selection.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 220) : I will admit I did, and he has impressed, I question his defense, both centers in fact, but they have done well.
@Seth101 (Comment 221) : But if you look at our other options at center serf, de Villiers possibly de Jong, would we fare much better on defense? Frans could be a solid option on defense but does he have Damian’s attacking flair? I’m just wondering what else do we have besides these two. Mapoe possibly but if he remains untested we won’t know.