Credit where it’s due. I may have fired some shots at the Boks for their whining in the wake of their Wellington defeat, but they came out and did their loudest talking on the field at Carisbrook on Saturday night, and in the process showed why they’re deserved world champions.
By MARC HINTON – RugbyHeaven | Monday, 14 July 2008
So first and foremost, serious props to the South Africans, and especially to coach Peter de Villiers. It hasn’t been easy for the new boss, stepping in with all that criticism and all those doubts swirling around his head. But he’s soldiered on with his own plan and achieved a result that justifies his methods.
It was never going to be easy for anyone following on from Jake White, and in the peculiar political environment that is South African rugby it was always going to a challenging task for a man like de Villiers. But a few more results like Saturday night and he’ll find the travelling suddenly less turbulent.Â
Now, that doesn’t make my criticism last week any less valid – let’s be clear on that point – but you’ve got to admire a side that backs up its verbals in a test buildup with a strong performance on the paddock. The Springboks secured a massive victory because, when it counted, they stuck their heads down and got the job done.
That didn’t mean they were class acts in the buildup. You won’t convince me of that. There was just too much bleating for my liking, particularly from a side that had been well beaten the match previous.
But maybe having a good old grumble about their lot was the best way they could think of to fire themselves up for a major response at the Brook. If so, it worked a treat.
South Africa beat the All Blacks because they embarrassed our lineout, measured up at the scrum, won the breakdown battle and defended superbly. It also helped that, when the match went on the line, they got a moment of magic from a halfback who repaid the faith of his coach in the best manner possible. It was a deserved victory from a side that finally made its vast edge in experience up front count.
It’s also a result that I believe is good for the game.
The All Blacks can be beaten at home, the Boks have demonstrated that palpably.
Not by over-hyped, under-performing northern hemisphere sides they can’t. But by a genuine quality, well-prepared southern hemisphere superpower, they’re vulnerable.
And this South African victory has set up the Cape Town rematch as an absolute peach. The winner of that clash may well take out the Tri-Nations title. It has that sort of a feel about it, even if it is still early days with the Wallabies yet to launch their campaign.
So it’s a result that’s good for the game, and great for the special rivalry that is the Blacks-Boks. For a contest to remain special – as this one still is – we need results like Saturday’s.
But what does it tell us about these All Blacks?
Well, that they’re not nearly as good as some might have thought, for starters.
That they can’t just keep plucking players out of obscurity, throwing them into the test arena and not expect some sort of payback in terms of performance.
That they haven’t got the loose forward mix right. To suddenly switch from an out-and-out openside role to a left-right flank alignment after, er, a century of playing with the specialist rover, well it seemed to me like a strange move.
Then, once Richie McCaw went down, to press on without a specialist No 7 of any description, well it always seemed to be a business fraught with downside.
The All Black backs aren’t firing either. Andy Ellis doesn’t command his position (not yet, anyway), Sitiveni Sivivatu is out of form, and though there’s plenty of individual linebreaking ability, as a unit the speed merchants are struggling to find their support runners at the right time.
In two tests against the Boks the backs are yet to score a try. That’s a worry.
Some of the defensive stuff around the ruck and scrum is a bit average too. The loose forward mix could be to blame there.
And the lineout is a serious worry. Under pressure it’s creaky. It’s too reliant on Ali Williams. Some serious tinkering is needed here.
So where are we two matches into the Tri-Nations? Well, it’s still anybody’s game, really. The Boks will find it tough to win in Perth this weekend against a well-rested Wallabies side. There will be a natural let-down after their big effort at the Brook.
And then it will be the match we’ve all been anticipating in Sydney. Graham against Robbie, as much as it is the Blacks against the Aussies. No matter how much the two Kiwi coaches try and play it down, that is going to be a week all about those two gentlemen.
Only one of them is coaching the All Blacks, though. And right now, he looks to have his work cut out for him.
Henry v Dingo