The Springboks took the victory, 28-19 at Bloemfontein. As a match, it never reached great heights; pressure from both teams produced frequent mistakes, and the Irish referee with the French name, Alain Rolland ensured that he was the centre of attention, as NH referees are wont to do.
The Springboks deserved their win. They shut the All Blacks out in the second quarter, and when they led 17-3 shortly after half-time, a runaway win seemed to be a possibility. To their credit, the All Blacks came back strongly in the last half-hour, and but for a dropped pass by Jason Eaton on the Bok 22 after a period on attack (leading to a try at the other end), who knows what might have happened.
The experiment of bringing Brendon Leonard in for Jimmy Cowan failed. Leonard looked way off the pace, and the combatitive nature of the match would probably have suited Cowan better. Once the trip to South Africa is over, maybe Leonard should be sent back to the Waikato team to get fit.
We're too tired to do too much detailed analysis this morning, so you'll have to go elsewhere for that. However, the All Blacks will take encouragement from their second-half showing, and will be rueing the late penalty which saw them miss out on a consolation bonus point. They'll be a lot happier down at sea level in Durban next week, and last night's match showed that there is not a lot between these teams. Perhaps the vagaries of the draw give South Africa the advantage in this year's Tri-Nations, but an All Black win next week would turn that on its head.
There's only one certainty - you can read about it and debate the game ad nauseum at Keeping Stock!
7 comments:
Peter deVilliers will be off to church to pray for his god to protect from harm and give good health to Maa Nonu,Joe Rokokoko and G(od) Henry at least till next sunday.
Muz - I don't think Nonu did much wrong - he got very little front-foot ball. Rokocoko though looks a shadow of the Rocketman of old. He must be fast running out of chances, and frankly, if he is our "big hope" for 2011, we might as well give it a miss now! Conrad Smith's try was a gem though.
I accept your comments on Nonu but IMHO he is too predictable and with a poor kicking game he is too easy to defend against. At NPC and to some extent at super rugby level his devastating play can go well but at the level last nights game was played he was less than effective and when he made the 1/2 break the boks seemed to find it easy to reorganise before we could recycle. Yes smiths try was a pearler and he had a great alround game. I am becoming concerned that the flatness apparent in the all blacks game is of concern but as we have not succeeded at the cup when we are dominant between events perhaps this is the master strategy from G(od) Henry and co.
Muz I am with you re Nonu. Having watched the test at the `Walkabout' pub near Charing Cross where the ``yarpies out numbered us at least 2 to 1 and a great experience it was that Nonu offers no support and help whatsoever to Donald. He was often standing in front of Donald or standing `fringing' around rucks instead of getting back into position. McAlister must come in at 12 for Durban.
Surely Tialata has played his last test ever!!! He was an embarrassment both at scrum time and around the paddock.
Conrad Smith played his best test ever but even so I have reservations about his long term future.
I agree with you INV2 re Leonard - he is simply not match fit and should be home in the NPC. Mind you I do not agree that Weepu is the be all and end all. He was back to taking 4 or 5 steps before passing and the Fourie try can be put solely down to his dithering at the base of the ruck plus a very hard pass to a player ony a couple of metres away.
What a player Spies is - for mine he completely dominated the first half and McCaw was almost solely left stopping him.
Lucky for the B's that de Villiers had the worst game I have seen him play and it is hard to see a different result next week.
Good thoughts pdm - I agree with your comments about Nonu being out of position at times, but wonder if the whole lack of fluency stems from Leonard - the backline just didn't function. Donald is a capable enough player, but he can't marshall a game in the way that the best first-fives do.
Agree about Tialata - he has been a major disappointment this season - the radio says he is in doubt for Durban which is probably a good thing!
The great Canterbury and Auckland teams of days gone by, specialised in putting pressure on the opposition until they cracked and made errors.
This rabble and several previous versions have specialised in putting pressure on themselves as well and everyone waits until they crack.
Basic things like how to hold catch and pass go missing in action with this mob.
How that is resolved is beyond me and until the issue is acknowledged and addressed nothing will change.
A good tighthead should not be seen. His job is in the middle doing the anchor job. I am still unsure as to what is happening with Tialata. I suspect he has a niggling injury that has disrupted his timing.
Pique Oil - Tialata has been off the pace all year. Over rated for years and now should be out of there.
INV2. I think we both said Leonard should not be in the squad at present due to lack of match play. Having said that at his best he is far and away the best 9 we have when fit and match hardened.
As far as Nonu is concerned his positional play is awful, McAlister must come in at 12 to support Donald.
Finally there has been a lot of comment about Rokocoko but his position is not helped by Henry and co picking 3 left wings - so Rokocoko gets shunted out of position.
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