What a fantastic finish. Two tries in the last two minutes have given the All Blacks a 29-22 win over the Springboks at Soccer City, and spoiled John Smit's 100th test.
Down 22-14 with around 15 minutes to go, things did not look good for the All Blacks. But it was the home side which faded in the last few minutes as the AB's threw everything at them. Tries to Richie McCaw and Israel Dagg sealed the result and the Tri-Nations. The Dagg try came after a turnover when the Springboks were setting themselves for a match-winning drop kick, and a fantastic break by Ma'a Nonu, whose pass to Dagg was inch-perfect.
To use a Fitzy, full credit to the Springboks; their defence (until the last few moments) was heroic, and they gave the All Blacks a contest worthy of all the pre-match hype. We're just watching the post-match interviews and John Smit is absolutely gutted. His side gave everything tonight, but still came up short against an All Black team that was far from perfect. But the All Blacks hung in, and finished the match in lethal fashion.
"A bit of an itch we had to scratch" is how McCaw describes the 3-nil spanking from the Springboks last season. What a difference a year makes, and what a difference the next year will make. The All Blacks are building, whereas we just wonder whether the Springboks are at the end of a cycle. The likes of Smit, Matfield and even Burger are not young men; can they bounce back for the Rugby World Cup? We suspect that will be a topic of conversation around the braais over the summer months.
The All Blacks have a few weeks off now, whilst the Springboks host the Wallabies twice. On the basis of tonight's performance, we'll pick the Boks to break their losing streak and add to Aussie Bob's misery. But this morning, let's just celebrate a tremendous victory in a great game of rugby.
6 comments:
The best test this year (no league look alike this one) and a draw may have been a good result for both teams. The AB's got the rub of the green in the last couple of minutes especially with McCaws try which included a forward pass and probably his foot in touch before he got the ball down.
Still the ref was quick on the draw with Burgers try which looked very dodgy to me.
My man of the match was Jean de Villeirs who until the last minute of the game outplayed Nonu and Smith. What a waste sticking him on the wing earlier in the series.
And Graham Henry lets get a decent halfback to replace Weepu. I thought he was awful - numerous fumbles, even more steps than usual before clearing the ball and a coukple of weak kicks. Please Graham Mathewson or Leonard - however I thought Cowan was strong and cleared the ball very well. It was hard to understand why he was replaced unless his injury was playing up.
One further thing - why were a number of All Blacks wearing gray boots. Call me old fashioned but All Blacks wear black boots.
Social creditors wear grey footwear.
Didn't see the game becuase of a combination of good chat, food, very good wine and some fool opening the scotch.
Great result however, and well done the AB's.
Oh and PDM I share your horror of grey shoes. Although it extends to men wearing brown shoes with grey or black suits.
One of those utterly illogical prejudices that develop over time.
Alex I am hardly a picture of sartorial elegance but I am with you re the brown shoes.
Just watching the replay now (halftime) so will reserve comment for full-time.
Those boots are supposed to be silver, I think though. At least there's no fluoro yellow...
At least there's no fluoro yellow... or rats tails hairstyles. At least he played a good game.
Ab's were good...but not as good as everybody is making out.
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