Wow
I'm still drained. One and a half days later. What a performance.
At one stage of the match I imagined myself being interviewed as an old man - one of the last alive to have seen the Boks beat New Zealand in New Zealand. Forgive me for my doubts. Before Ricky Januarie's moment of brilliance, I thought we had been beaten again.
As South Africans we're never as stubborn as when we have our backs to the wall. Sometimes that backfires like at Twickenham in 2002. Perhaps that is when we give up on the thought of winning, but refuse to leave without hurting the opposition. Sometimes it works when we refuse to give an inch as we wait for a moment of weakness.
205 tackles to 89. Talk about not giving an inch. Januarie's try. Talk about maximum return on a moment of weakness. It was classic Springbok trench warfare. Repelling waves of All Black attacks in the second half. Talk about belief.
Reason to celebrate
Bryan Habana cried tears of joy at the end. Teammates erupted in joy when Januarie scored. South Africa rejoiced that not only had they built on their world champion status, they had done it in the best way possible. By beating the pretenders to their throne, at the venue where they have never won. If the All Blacks could have named an occasion to prove their claim that the Boks would have lost the World Cup to them had it not been for a poor call by a referee, it would have been a Tri-nations match in Dunedin.
But it was more significant than just that. As is so often the South African case, it was an occasion when many harboured doubts about South Africa's first non-white coach and after an acrimonious week of accusations and counters between the All Blacks and Boks after Wellington.
Reason for hope
Pieter de Villiers was magnanimous in victory yesterday. In the immediate post-match interview, it was easy to see the relief as the coach pleaded for patience from South African fans. He said we were not yet the best but that we would grow.
South Africa is again rated the best team in the world according to the rankings and the reigning world champions. It would be easy to claim greatness.
But stand in captain for the last eight minutes of the match, Jean de Villiers was equally humble.
For good reason. South Africa returned to the familiar recipe of playing off their opponents mistakes. It is a game that few other nations can succeed at. It demands sacrifice of bodies and pain, absorbing pressure and believing in your team mates. It took 22 tackles from Schalk Burger and the turnaround of a pack beaten into submission the week before.
We have some way to go before we create our own opportunities and before we start as favourites against an All Black team at full strength. But that is a journey that starts with winning matches away and building momentum.
Yesterday marked the beginning of that journey. It marked the move from Pieter de Villier's stated desire on beginning his job, to improve the team by 40% and introduce a new brand of attacking brand of rugby. At least he made these claims whilst chasing the core of the World Cup Bok team and returning players from Europe to create a platform for growth. Yesterday marked a return to this sensibility. Before we can seek to retain ball as the All Blacks did in the second half, and attack our opponents through multi-phase ball, we need to create the belief first based on our strengths.
Where to improve
We almost fell victim to the All Black second half surge yesterday. We played for most of the game without the ball. We kicked many balls straight back down the middle of the park. We committed limited numbers to the breakdown and won precious few turnovers. Our chase on our kicks was often poor and our support of the ball carrier not always optimal.
It asks a lot of a team to repel more than 10 phases, kick the ball downfield, and then have the ball run back and repel again. Often games like yesterday's are lost by fractions rather than won by similar amounts.
But the guts and bravery are the platform to change that. It is easier to improve a winning effort than a losing one. It creates the space for players like Butch who is struggling for form and who had another poor game yesterday. It creates the space to begin to target weak opposition rucks for turnovers. It creates the belief required for first phase set piece moves.
Having said that the improvement in last week's effort in Wellington was appreciable. Most notably in the scrums. Hats off to the South African forwards and the coaching staff. Matfield was certainly better and imperious in the lineouts. JP Pietersen's selection was a masterstroke. Bismark du Plessis was solid in the scrums and the loose. Thanks goodness his lineouts held up too.
Januarie deserved the man of the match based on a two week effort. I thought he was even better in the Wellington losing effort. But the moment of brilliance of this week won the game for the Boks, and his mongrel boosts the whole team.
Looking ahead
Robbie Deans represents a huge threat. His tactical appreciation combined with Australian skill levels pose a real challenge in Perth. Together with the loss of Bismark du Plessis to a banning and Butch's lack of form, the Boks will have their work cut out.
I believe the challenge will shift from a physical one to tactical nous. Our kicking game will have to be pinpoint. We have to force territorial dominance and from there look to create opportunities off lineouts and around the ruck and maul. Our support play will have to improve as will our chase of our kicks.
I believe the shift will require a commanding game from pivot. Given Butch's form, I'd want Grant on the bench and Steyn in the starting lineup. I think the World Cup final backline lineup matches the need. I'd use Steyn at first center and Monty to alternate kicking from the flyhalf channel. Of course this is a tough call on Adi Jacobs who I think has been outstanding. Grant covers Steyn at first center too though and gives extra options.
Bismark du Plessis' ban is a headache. I'd fly over Adriaan Strauss from the Free State which I see is also the Bok coaching staff choice.
My lineup for Perth:
15. Montgomery 14. Habana 13. De Villiers 12. Steyn 11. Pietersen 10. James 9. Januarie 8. Van Nierkerk 7. Smith 6. Burger 5. Matfield 4. Botha. 3. Van der Linde
2. Brits 1. Steenkamp
Reserves: Jantjies, Grant, Pienaar, Bekker, Watson, Strauss, Mujati
Player ratings from Dunedin:
Montgomery - 6: Added experience and calmness to the team and got the Boks off to a good start by goaling his kicks. Fielded the ball well with one or two exceptions.
Habana - 6: Hardly involved on attack. Solid in defence.
Jacobs - 7: Fantastic defence and marked two weeks of showing up his critics and repaying his coach's faith in him
De Villiers - 8: Another brilliant defensive performance and another leader on the field. Should be captain in Smit's absence.
Pietersen - 7: What a return. First try of the season after an awful Super 14. Brilliant selection by De Villiers.
James - 5: Really out of form. Some poor kicks, a missed tackle that led to the All Black try and regression in his defensive technique. Perhaps his form is contributing to his trying to make his mark on the game through being overly physical.
Januarie - 8: Just fantastic.I thought he was even better overall in Wellington. But his try was one of those moments to remember - it won us the match and repaid the hard defensive work put in by the whole team.
Van Niekerk - 7: Much happier behind a stronger pack. Played more of a linking game. Made some good tackles.
Smith - 7: Good defensive effort in the tackle and at the breakdown.
Burger - 8: Did the work of three men. The Boks were totally reliant on him in defence and at ruck and maul time. He needs support. If he were injured again, the Boks would be in serious trouble.
Matfield - 7: A much better performance. Has to be given credit as captain for the team effort. Was brilliant in the lineout. Still not a force at the breakdown leaving all the cleaning to Botha and Smith.
Botha - 8: Just incredible at the breakdown. Physically and psychologically hurt the opposition with his cleaning out and tackles.
Van Der Linde - 7: What a turnaround. Restored strength to the front row and removed the All Black dominance in the set piece.
Du Plessis - 6: Some great tackles and a solid lineout performance.
Steenkamp - 7: Did well at scum time and again made tackles all over the park - second only to Schalk.
Reserves:
Bekker - 7: Came on and got stuck in. Made his tackles and helped fill the immense role Bakkies had played prior to injury.
Watson - 4: It was strange to see him on. Again, not really his style of game and he did not look like he wanted to be there.
Steyn - 6: Slotted the winning conversion under pressure. Added another kicking option. Kicks downfield allowed the All Blacks to run the ball back, however may have been playing to a pattern.
Jantjies - 6: solid replacement.
Mujati, Pienaar: not on long enough for an assessment.
Coaching staff - 9: Real guts to turn it around from Wellington. Humility to acknowledge they got it wrong and change the pattern. Selection of Pietersen was inspired. Guts to return Monty for Jantjies despite the latter's really good performance last week.
At one stage of the match I imagined myself being interviewed as an old man - one of the last alive to have seen the Boks beat New Zealand in New Zealand. Forgive me for my doubts. Before Ricky Januarie's moment of brilliance, I thought we had been beaten again.
As South Africans we're never as stubborn as when we have our backs to the wall. Sometimes that backfires like at Twickenham in 2002. Perhaps that is when we give up on the thought of winning, but refuse to leave without hurting the opposition. Sometimes it works when we refuse to give an inch as we wait for a moment of weakness.
205 tackles to 89. Talk about not giving an inch. Januarie's try. Talk about maximum return on a moment of weakness. It was classic Springbok trench warfare. Repelling waves of All Black attacks in the second half. Talk about belief.
Reason to celebrate
Bryan Habana cried tears of joy at the end. Teammates erupted in joy when Januarie scored. South Africa rejoiced that not only had they built on their world champion status, they had done it in the best way possible. By beating the pretenders to their throne, at the venue where they have never won. If the All Blacks could have named an occasion to prove their claim that the Boks would have lost the World Cup to them had it not been for a poor call by a referee, it would have been a Tri-nations match in Dunedin.
But it was more significant than just that. As is so often the South African case, it was an occasion when many harboured doubts about South Africa's first non-white coach and after an acrimonious week of accusations and counters between the All Blacks and Boks after Wellington.
Reason for hope
Pieter de Villiers was magnanimous in victory yesterday. In the immediate post-match interview, it was easy to see the relief as the coach pleaded for patience from South African fans. He said we were not yet the best but that we would grow.
South Africa is again rated the best team in the world according to the rankings and the reigning world champions. It would be easy to claim greatness.
But stand in captain for the last eight minutes of the match, Jean de Villiers was equally humble.
For good reason. South Africa returned to the familiar recipe of playing off their opponents mistakes. It is a game that few other nations can succeed at. It demands sacrifice of bodies and pain, absorbing pressure and believing in your team mates. It took 22 tackles from Schalk Burger and the turnaround of a pack beaten into submission the week before.
We have some way to go before we create our own opportunities and before we start as favourites against an All Black team at full strength. But that is a journey that starts with winning matches away and building momentum.
Yesterday marked the beginning of that journey. It marked the move from Pieter de Villier's stated desire on beginning his job, to improve the team by 40% and introduce a new brand of attacking brand of rugby. At least he made these claims whilst chasing the core of the World Cup Bok team and returning players from Europe to create a platform for growth. Yesterday marked a return to this sensibility. Before we can seek to retain ball as the All Blacks did in the second half, and attack our opponents through multi-phase ball, we need to create the belief first based on our strengths.
Where to improve
We almost fell victim to the All Black second half surge yesterday. We played for most of the game without the ball. We kicked many balls straight back down the middle of the park. We committed limited numbers to the breakdown and won precious few turnovers. Our chase on our kicks was often poor and our support of the ball carrier not always optimal.
It asks a lot of a team to repel more than 10 phases, kick the ball downfield, and then have the ball run back and repel again. Often games like yesterday's are lost by fractions rather than won by similar amounts.
But the guts and bravery are the platform to change that. It is easier to improve a winning effort than a losing one. It creates the space for players like Butch who is struggling for form and who had another poor game yesterday. It creates the space to begin to target weak opposition rucks for turnovers. It creates the belief required for first phase set piece moves.
Having said that the improvement in last week's effort in Wellington was appreciable. Most notably in the scrums. Hats off to the South African forwards and the coaching staff. Matfield was certainly better and imperious in the lineouts. JP Pietersen's selection was a masterstroke. Bismark du Plessis was solid in the scrums and the loose. Thanks goodness his lineouts held up too.
Januarie deserved the man of the match based on a two week effort. I thought he was even better in the Wellington losing effort. But the moment of brilliance of this week won the game for the Boks, and his mongrel boosts the whole team.
Looking ahead
Robbie Deans represents a huge threat. His tactical appreciation combined with Australian skill levels pose a real challenge in Perth. Together with the loss of Bismark du Plessis to a banning and Butch's lack of form, the Boks will have their work cut out.
I believe the challenge will shift from a physical one to tactical nous. Our kicking game will have to be pinpoint. We have to force territorial dominance and from there look to create opportunities off lineouts and around the ruck and maul. Our support play will have to improve as will our chase of our kicks.
I believe the shift will require a commanding game from pivot. Given Butch's form, I'd want Grant on the bench and Steyn in the starting lineup. I think the World Cup final backline lineup matches the need. I'd use Steyn at first center and Monty to alternate kicking from the flyhalf channel. Of course this is a tough call on Adi Jacobs who I think has been outstanding. Grant covers Steyn at first center too though and gives extra options.
Bismark du Plessis' ban is a headache. I'd fly over Adriaan Strauss from the Free State which I see is also the Bok coaching staff choice.
My lineup for Perth:
15. Montgomery 14. Habana 13. De Villiers 12. Steyn 11. Pietersen 10. James 9. Januarie 8. Van Nierkerk 7. Smith 6. Burger 5. Matfield 4. Botha. 3. Van der Linde
2. Brits 1. Steenkamp
Reserves: Jantjies, Grant, Pienaar, Bekker, Watson, Strauss, Mujati
Player ratings from Dunedin:
Montgomery - 6: Added experience and calmness to the team and got the Boks off to a good start by goaling his kicks. Fielded the ball well with one or two exceptions.
Habana - 6: Hardly involved on attack. Solid in defence.
Jacobs - 7: Fantastic defence and marked two weeks of showing up his critics and repaying his coach's faith in him
De Villiers - 8: Another brilliant defensive performance and another leader on the field. Should be captain in Smit's absence.
Pietersen - 7: What a return. First try of the season after an awful Super 14. Brilliant selection by De Villiers.
James - 5: Really out of form. Some poor kicks, a missed tackle that led to the All Black try and regression in his defensive technique. Perhaps his form is contributing to his trying to make his mark on the game through being overly physical.
Januarie - 8: Just fantastic.I thought he was even better overall in Wellington. But his try was one of those moments to remember - it won us the match and repaid the hard defensive work put in by the whole team.
Van Niekerk - 7: Much happier behind a stronger pack. Played more of a linking game. Made some good tackles.
Smith - 7: Good defensive effort in the tackle and at the breakdown.
Burger - 8: Did the work of three men. The Boks were totally reliant on him in defence and at ruck and maul time. He needs support. If he were injured again, the Boks would be in serious trouble.
Matfield - 7: A much better performance. Has to be given credit as captain for the team effort. Was brilliant in the lineout. Still not a force at the breakdown leaving all the cleaning to Botha and Smith.
Botha - 8: Just incredible at the breakdown. Physically and psychologically hurt the opposition with his cleaning out and tackles.
Van Der Linde - 7: What a turnaround. Restored strength to the front row and removed the All Black dominance in the set piece.
Du Plessis - 6: Some great tackles and a solid lineout performance.
Steenkamp - 7: Did well at scum time and again made tackles all over the park - second only to Schalk.
Reserves:
Bekker - 7: Came on and got stuck in. Made his tackles and helped fill the immense role Bakkies had played prior to injury.
Watson - 4: It was strange to see him on. Again, not really his style of game and he did not look like he wanted to be there.
Steyn - 6: Slotted the winning conversion under pressure. Added another kicking option. Kicks downfield allowed the All Blacks to run the ball back, however may have been playing to a pattern.
Jantjies - 6: solid replacement.
Mujati, Pienaar: not on long enough for an assessment.
Coaching staff - 9: Real guts to turn it around from Wellington. Humility to acknowledge they got it wrong and change the pattern. Selection of Pietersen was inspired. Guts to return Monty for Jantjies despite the latter's really good performance last week.
Labels: all blacks, dunedin, rugby, springboks, test
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