The All Blacks beat the Springboks 27 – 20 at a packed Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday, coming from behind in what can be described as a typically fantastic New Zealand/South Africa match.
The sold out crowd were treated to one of the best test matches we have seen between these two nations, but were left cold and disappointed after the Springboks lost it in the last quarter of the match.
I read all the reviews and match reports with journalists hailing the new attacking style of play while harping on about positives, yet the fact of the matter is, they lost. Again. After being in a position to win. I would go as far as saying that a loss after playing so well hurts more than not being in the match at all.
I agree that there are positives to take out of the match, the front row again performed well, and yes the centre combination looks good on attack (less so on defence though). The overall play at the breakdown was magnificent, every single player seems to have gotten a steal on the ground at some point in the match. But none of that resulted in the Springboks winning the match. Unfortunately, it was the opposition who again finished the match better and stronger. This is something the coaching team will have to look at. Whether it is a case of fitness, the bench not matching up to the opponents’ bench, or whether the wrong approach is taken towards the end of the game. Whatever it is, we need to sort it out.
The Springboks would have wanted to gain a fair amount of momentum heading into the World Cup later this year, there are now only two matches left, both against Argentina. What exactly they will be able to learn from those matches remains to be seen, but I fear these two losses will not only put doubt into the players’ minds later this year, but they certainly missed a trick in getting a mental boost before facing either Australia or New Zealand at the World Cup.
I might seem a little negative, but surely we cannot expect only positives after successive losses, especially given the bigger picture.
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Am I the only one noticing how pollards tackling is a little to be desired. Against aus 2 trys were scored due to that andagainst the kiwis 1 try
3 losses down going into the world cup. I am sure we will get two wins over Argentina, but whether or not that is enough to boost confidence for the WC is questionable.
I find it crazy that people praise Meyer for a new game plan, when he has already made the mistake of not introducing it years ago. We are only just starting to build this team, a couple months to go.
And if Meyer doesn’t pull a rabbit out of a hat at the WC, it will meanie never achieved a single thing as bok coach.
Our lineout started to go to pot towards the end of the game. I recall at least two hard won penalties where we lost the subsequent lineout – only to be back in our 22 defending for dear life.
I have just one word to say……..FITNESS!! If we were at least as fit as tge ABs we could give it the full 80…you can see that they know its one of our biggest weaknesses! And they just patiently wait to strike as soon as we relax or sit back. This is not the first time!!!
They have 6 weeks if that to get as fit as possible!! Get blerrie cracking bokke!
Richard…well written by the way. ..It says exactly how I feel!
@Sharkfinn (Comment 5) : No fitness will be done between the Arg games, and neither will it be done once we leave for the WC. So we don’t have six weeks, nor would that be enough time for fitness conditioning.
ja good performance but now they must do it for 80 min and not 60-70 min!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lose and learn to hopefully win the World cup!!!!! Just remember no team that won the Rugby Championships (Tri-Nations) could win the World cup in the same year!!!!
I must also add Cobus Reinach is in horrible form. Lood de Jager is looking more and more like a future legend just needs lineout training. Brussouw didn’t deliver as much as expected. Too much of a specialist and he got tackled backwards very often.
Heinrich Brussouw was a bit dissapointing. He had his chance but I dont feel he made the most of it. Marcel at least 40% better. No room for Jean. We missed Victor. Sure if he was still on field Richie would not have gotten that try. That said… cannot believe we made primary school error…
I must admit i was annoyed after the game as stupid penalties cost us again. That last penalty given away by Habana should cost him his match fee. Overall i thought it was a good and encouraging performance BUT at the end of the day we lost. Its a test match and we lost- thats all thats important. Winning every test in a Bok jersey is important. All this crap about building and improving are excuses that losers make. Winners win, losers are ‘building’. And thats been the Boks problem during Hyneke Meyer- they lacked the balls to say we wanted to win no matter what and we lost and its not acceptable. Forget this crap about encouraging performances.
@SheldonK (Comment 11) : Well said.
Anyone have a vague theory about why no contest scrum? Who made the call Schalk?
@Seth101 (Comment 12) : I am so tired of this- we are building and gave an encouraging performance crap. Whats encouraging about losing? Yes we played well in patches- but the game is 80min so overall we were shite. We can sugarcoat it all we want. Winning is a habit, but so is losing. Argentina will be shite in Durban unless it rains- but that game away wont be easy at all…and if we lose are we still building and encouraging?
Boks have now lost 4 out of the last 6 test matches, right? That is simply not good enough.
What HM is doing now he should’ve done 4 years ago when he started. I like the mix of experience and youngsters we have right now (with victor and jean out). Everyone keeps singing victor’s praises for what he can do in the lineouts, but this past super rugby champs he was pretty average. Even if he was still the lineout king, he’s a spectator for the rest of the match. Lood is a much better prospect, with Flip and Franco as cover.
@coolfusion (Comment 13) : Apparently Nyankane was designated as only loosehead replacement. So ref made right call technically. It is a bit silly as props should be able to play both sides altho i know its very different.
@coolfusion (Comment 13) : Apparently the ref did, but you can see Richie also making the ref aware of it when the prop replacement was done.
@SheldonK (Comment 14) : I agree 100%, the time for building was 4 years ago! We as the fans could see that a move to a more expansive gameplan was what was needed even back then.
My second gripe is this perception that our players are less skillful. I think the AB’s are generally more skillful, but a player like Wille or Lambie is just as skillful as their best. If we think a player needs to be upskilled then do it, don’t complain about it.
Last gripe, why is Lambie not getting a shot at 10?! Pollard does not take charge of a game, his tackling is not consistent and his tactical kicking needs work. All that said, he is a good player, but needs time to mature. Lambie is who I would place my money on if we were in the Final.
Centres very good, I don’t see place for Jean, except maybe on the bench.
@SheldonK (Comment 16) : Right got it. Missed large parts due to poor dstv coverage. So Mccaw stacked the odds again did he? Win by any means I suppose, even a schoolgirl tactic.
Sheldon I agree 100%…and Seth…ja bru that sums up our chances then.
I agree with Keo (which is rare) http://m.sarugbymag.co.za/compatible.php?postslug=&slug=blog/details/meyer-must-be-honest-about-loss#meyer-must-be-honest-about-loss
@StevieS (Comment 18) : Because Pollard is the future and it’s cast in stone. Funny I remember Goosen being the future no too many years ago. And I’d enough people repeat you mantra Pollard is the future we start believing and clinging to it no matter what evidence there is to the contrary. My question is this we place all our money on pollard and he gets hurt at a critical juncture the Pat Lambie with less than one hour cumulative game time has to step in and work miracles. Typical SA rugby shortsighted.
@Sharkfinn (Comment 6) : Yes agree, well written Richard.
@coolfusion (Comment 19) : Cant blame McCaw for being a good captain- his side just went down to 14 men. He sees we lose another prop, of course he has a quick ask isnt it uncontested. He wouldnt be the captain he is if he didnt ask. @StevieS (Comment 18) : The difference between the sides is not the skill level- its the accuracy and maintaining that skill level for 80min. All Blacks can d it, Boks can only do it in small patches. Our fitness is way off theirs.
@coolfusion (Comment 21) : I also think we need to remember that Lambie just came back from a very serious injury- almost career ending! So i think Hyneke Meyer is both trying to see how much Pollard can offer in big games but is also trying to ease Lambie back into it as another injury to his neck and career is done.
Nicely written Richard…my sentiments exactly.
I do however question whether it really was our fitness? We seemed to stick with the AB’s far better than with last year’s test.
To me it was a mixture between bench and composure…our bench is very green, and we keep losing all these games in the final 20mins. with experienced campaigners making basic mistakes (our entire lineout being very guilty).
Also, Habanna’s little temper tantrums toward the end of each game (especially when the game is lost) is working on my last nerve….such a little spoiled brat he’s become.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 25) :
You say our bench is green, but I disagree. Yes the props, well Koch at least, is new, and Whiteley.
But Strauss is seasoned, Nyakane has been around the block, so has Flip. Reinach and Mapoe yes, are relatively new, but it would have been Reinach and Hendricks, and Hendricks has 10 tests to his name.
More than half of the bench are seasoned guys, it really shouldn’t fall to pieces when they come on. Mapoe had 2 minutes and 25 seconds, of which he saw no ball. There wasn’t even a backline formed while he was on the park, so we can hardly place any blame on him.
Of the bench – I would say Koch probably added the most value, being one of the less experienced players..
@SheldonK (Comment 24) : Sure I understand Heineke’s management of lambie. I’m talking about the sa public out there latching on to any option BUT Lambie at 10. I even hear talk of Jantjies now…why can anyone but Pat be the future? Is it because he is a shark? He really gets very little recognition for all his efforts. Is it so much of a stretch to think the future of SA flyhalf has been here all along in Pat? I see many people say Pollard is the future but no real evidence that he his a world cup winner, not so far and maybe not ever?
I must say I am getting a lot of respect for Koch. Back to centers will serfontein ever get a shot again?
I didn’t want to write a massive review after you all read the Sunday papers and already have an opinion on how the guys went. But if I had to sum it up:
I thought we were great in the loose, we didn’t miss Marcell Coetzee, but it wasn’t Brussow that stepped up to make that happen, it was the entire team.
On Brussow, I thought he was off the pace and you could see he hasn’t played rugby in a while. He is a good player, but I think we have better. He would best be utilized off the bench.
Jannie had another storming game, as did his brother. Both seem to peaking at the right time, and keeping their temper in check. Good to see.
Eben and Lood make a good partnership, they need to play together for the next two tests and all through the group stages. Matfield can be the bench if he gets back in time.
Schalk makes a decent captain, but I am not convinced he is the best we have. He played another fantastic game, and has to be there for the World Cup. I would rest him against Argentina, especially the second match.
Pienaar is the scrumhalf that we need to take to the World Cup to start. Reinach again had a torrid time off the bench. Yes we can say both appearances came while the Boks were under pressure, but he failed to shine in both instances.
Pollard doesn’t control a game like he should. He seems low on confidence at the moment, so I can understand Meyer trying to boost that by playing him. I would drop him for the Durban match to give Lambie a go. If Lambie doesn’t go well, start Pollard again in the second Arg test.
The centres need to play together more. They are fantastic on the front foot, but less effective defending. They just need to get that understanding and they will be fine.
Willie was better against the All Blacks, lets hope he can continue to build on that form over the next two games, I cant see Meyer picking a new fullback now. As for the wings, I didn’t think they were spectacular.
Bench was average, Whiteley had more time this match and again didn’t show us anything that we know him to be capapble of. He deserves to be in the squad, but I am not sure he deserves to start outright.
Yes the Boks showed a lot of good in this game but lets also remember that we had a numerical advantage for 10 minutes, also that this game was played at altitude in front of a full house Ellis Park, which is probably the most intimidating place to play a test match. Now also couple that with the All Blacks having 2 of their world superstars being rested in SB Williams and Dan Carter and also having Sopoaga making his debut in the aforementioned ultra intimidating Ellis Park and then I think we can actually feel that we missed a perfect opportunity to register a good win.
Well Meyer seems nonplussed. Maybe he is close enough to see the positive aspects a lot better or maybe it’s just bravado and or some good PR that has him saying we ate world cup ready?
I’ve seen a lot of reports hail the ‘new’ attacking style. There was actually a game played in 2013 very similar to this one where a number of fans (myself included) and reporters lauded our new style of play that had finally come into fruition under Meyer. Game also happened to be played at Ellis Park and the AB’s also happened to take the reigns in the last 20 minutes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Rugby_Championship#Round_6
We were, for the most part, super positive after that game because although the AB’s beat us we had shown some wonderful attacking intent and we were sure we would learn from and build on that performance.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 30) : That is the best summation of the game that I have read so far,well said,except you forgot that the most lethal try scorer in world rugby Julian Saivea was also missing
Guys, Lambie will not be given a chance at 10, HM is defending Pollard to the death and is adamant that Pollard has been brilliant, he has also said Lambie is a 15, we all know that is BS and no matter how well Lambie performs it will be Pollard at 10, we might as well get used to the idea.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 30) : Take into account the captaincy in the game for us was not good, remember a Stormer vs Sharks match where schalk was captain? we won before schalk made the wrong calls and never took the shots at goal??
Pollard has in the past 2 matches missed quite a few one on one tackles, Lambie has missed zero like we saw on Saturday when the AB player broke through the middle of a ruck, Lambie all alone at the back brought him down and saved what would have been a try.
My question is what is Meyer going to do with Francois Steyn,play him at12,15,10???
While I like Damian on attack. I think Steyn offers more on defense and adds a boot to the backline. So probably 12? That’s if de Villiers isn’t pushed back in.
@sharks_lover (Comment 36) : Agreed.
@The hound (Comment 37) : My guess would be 12 or most probably 15. Same with JDV- does he come in at 12 or 13? Can the Boks afford erratic Reinach to come on in last 5min in a close encounter? Same applies- can the Boks afford reckless Habana in last 10min?
@SheldonK (Comment 40) : Fourie du Preez will be back so don’t think Reinarch will get a game. Pienaar will be his no2 scrum half.
I agree on Habbanna he reminds me of an Italian soccer player,wish he would just retire.
The article is absolutely fair…valid questions! One should probably mention that injuries really did trip us up in this game…
I agree with you Richard.
@Dunx (Comment 1) : Ja look, his defence was poor in both games. Overall he was better against the All Blacks. I still say Lambie’s game management is better…and so is his defence (see tackle on Fekitoa as Exhibit A)…
@The hound (Comment 41) : Thought DuPreez only back just before World Cup – Reinach 3rd scrummy in the squad u reckon? Chances of a Reinach/Lambie combo for Argies at Kings park? And when last did Habana influence a game positively? Our scrum will be tested at Kings Park
11 handling errors vs 5, and those lost lineouts at a crucial time in the game. I reckon that is where the game was lost.
Like I said yesterday. Accepting mediocrity seems to go hand in hand with being a Sharks supporter. Nothing less than a win is good enough in my view.
@SheldonK (Comment 45) : don’t know about Du Preez but Reinach has been a bit disappointing and did not do a lot to improve his ranking as no 3. As for Habana the less said about him and JJP the better……..
@JD (Comment 48) : And if Lambie gets the nod for argentina I hope for his sake he doesn’t get Reinach. He will need to shine and if he has Pienaar or faf serving prefer faf. Then he will look better. Cobus may need to come do some curry cup duty to get back in touch.
Guys you are all wrong. Meyer rates Lambie the highest on the team, he is such a good utility back that he HAS to be on the bench to cover every single backline position, for the good of the green!
@vanmartin (Comment 32) : My word, the Heyneke apologist in you really is on the wane…!
@Culling Song (Comment 51) :
@Culling Song (Comment 51) : Indeed. It should have come sooner but after some soul searching I realised the last time I was truly positive about Bok rugby was after the Rugby Championship loss to the All Blacks in 2013 at Ellis Park. I thought if we tightened up a few things we inevitably start winning.
It’s almost 2 years later now. The World Cup is just not the be all and end all of rugby to me. I want the Boks to beat the All Blacks at least 50% of the time. I want the number 1 ranking to at least pendulum back and forth between the top two nations. It hasn’t happened in Meyer’s tenure.
Sure I’ll celebrate if we win the World Cup but it won’t exonerate his failings (to me at least).
It’s a bit of a downer when your new star centre runs a great line to score a beautiful try and then the opposition hooker does exactly the same a little while later. Way to get back down to earth.
@Spirit of Rugby (Comment 54) :
Yeah, and when your fullback misses a one on one and nobody is around to cover.
Most disappointing moment of the match for me.
As with last week’s mindless kick in the closing minutes, brought to us by Willie.
I’m a fan, but crumbs he’s erratic.
@coolfusion (Comment 21) : Goosen was indeed, and nobody can deny the impact he made in his debut season in S15, and at test level. Unfortunately injuries have derailed him. Most pundits agree that Pollard is for now the man to take us forward. Best get used to it!
@KingCheetah (Comment 56) : “nobody can deny the impact he made in his debut season in S15, and at test level” I will happily deny it, I disagree completely.
I thought he had an amazing first Currie Cup, and then had a very off and on super rugby, until he broke and was never fixed.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 55) : Ja, bad miss by Willie. Well done to Coles for shredding our entire defensive system to pieces, though.
*sigh*
@vanmartin (Comment 53) : I think we need to convince Wayne Smith to apply for the Bok coaching position once Heyneke departs…
@Seth101 (Comment 57) : You are welcome to. I was following his debut season in S15 closely. Before he dislocated his shoulder he was by far the leading points scorer. So i think that is pretty impressive for a S15 debutant. Only played 9 matches and scored 142 points.
Not too shabby considering he wasn’t even in a table topping team.
Interesting article…I must say that I asked my mates about this…they all said I was mistaken…apparently not:
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/150727/Was_Richies_try_legal
But it’s in the book…
@pastorshark (Comment 62) : “Of course the Boks will kick themselves for the chances they never took, including Vincent Koch knocking on with an open goalline, Lood de Jager’s “try” that wasn’t given by the TMO and a wild pass by Willie le Roux with an open Cornal Hendricks on his outside, proving again that to beat the best team in the world you need to take the chances when they come your way.”
What are the folks at Supersport smoking?
@Ben (Comment 63) : Written by Brenden Nel. That explains it.
@Ben (Comment 64) :
@pastorshark (Comment 62) : @Ben (Comment 63) : ja maybe but none of the rules mentioned is blown in games, 90% of the time the jumpers are in the air waaaayyy before the hooker throw. It’s just like the rule that states that feeding a scrum must be straight, fuck some of those were so skew it was under the feet of the locks!!!!!!!
You just knew the ABs would finish strong and be too good for the Boks. Quite worrying how easily they pick us off at the death, almost every time, even in Super Rugby.
@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 67) : There’s a SA mentality regarding not letting your guard down when you’re doing well that needs some urgent attention.
Tank and Nel are spewing this ‘we should have won and the ref screwed us’ stuff everywhere. It’s embarrassing seriously.
We made no attempt to argue the uncontested scrums. And NO ONE, not us, not the boks, not the commentators, not the panelists, not ANYONE noticed anything wrong with that try.
@Seth101 (Comment 69) : ja boet looking for something to blame, fact is Bokke should have been so far ahead at that time that the try should not have made a deference.
Benedict shared this on Facebook, well worth a read: http://www.rdm.co.za/sport/2015/07/28/we-almost-beat-the-all-blacks-should-not-be-celebrated
I’m not sharing this because I’m pining after Coach Div but I do agree with his sentiments.