1
Thanks but no thanks, the All Blacks do not need to copy the Boks
By Ben Smith
The Springboks have not found a foolproof recipe for World Cup success that the All Blacks need to follow under Scott Robertson.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Boks are a tough, gritty, resilient side that work hard and bring a relentless defence and rely on a healthy dose of luck. The games with them are nearly always close.
After riding their luck through two knockout wins over France and England, they were spoiled by fortuitous circumstances for a third straight game.
The 12-11 win in the final over New Zealand came against a team down to 14 men for a combined 64 minutes after Frizell was sin-binned for falling on the leg of an opposition player and Cane was red carded for a rising tackle.
Losing hooker Bongi Mbonambi to injury for the match was indeed a massive blow, South Africa’s lineout turned to a malfunctioning mess with flanker Deon Fourie throwing, but the undeniable absence of a player for 80 per cent of the World Cup final had a much greater impact.
The All Blacks played a man down for the majority of the game but still nearly won. That’s everything you need to know. One side had to cling on for dear life against an undermanned opponent, the other only lost due to their own mistakes, irrespective of the cards.
The night’s events unfolded with one side on the receiving end of some fantastic good fortune in the first half.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Frizell incident cost the All Blacks a cheap three points inside two minutes and a man off the field for 10 minutes.
The second three-pointer for South Africa came after a sustained period of attack that deservedly won a penalty when Ethan de Groot didn’t roll away.
The third was a dubious call on Ardie Savea that Barnes admitted on the mic he “didn’t see the replay”.
It was by all accounts a textbook pilfer, hands on the ball with body weight supported by feet. The clean couldn’t disrupt Savea’s position. Instead of an All Blacks penalty, it was three more cheap points for South Africa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Six of the first nine points were leprechauns’ gold, most teams would have loved to got those. By this point the rugby gods had blessed this side more than they deserved.
Minutes earlier the bounce of the ball gave South Africa a big break when Jordie Barrett’s chip kick found an empty backfield inside the 22.
The ball bounced out of the path of the leading chaser Ardie Savea, into the path of fullback Damian Willemse, seemingly saved by divine intervention.
The bounce of the ball cost the All Blacks a definitive two points, possibly four, with the rather straightforward conversion. They settled for a penalty goal.
But the coup de grace was still to come, Sam Cane’s first red card as a professional player that handed the Springboks an early Christmas present.
You see many of the innocuous moments that saved the Springboks’ bacon in Paris were largely out of their control. They had no sway over the bounce of Jordie Barrett’s chip, Sam Cane’s tackle height or Barnes’ view of Savea’s poach.
So when you look at what to copy from South Africa’s plan, you might as well buy some ladybugs, horseshoes, a four-leaf clover. Anything else that you think might bring the same amount of incredulous luck that this team was blessed with.
How many rabbit’s feet do you need to own for a TMO to operate outside their jurisdiction and overturn a try past four phases? Or for Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett to miss two potential lead-taking kicks? Or for a time-wasting warning to not go punished on a scrum feed?
Sure, every team would rather be lucky than unlucky, but to copy South Africa’s approach based on three one-point wins that could have fallen any way is totally senseless.
Jacques Nienaber now holds one of the best coaching record against the All Blacks in recent memory, with four wins from seven since his time as “head coach” from 2021-23. Rassie Erasmus finished with one win from four in his short stint as official head coach from 2018-19.
They have re-ignited the rivalry to be competitive, but combined they have five wins from 11, still less than a 50 per cent win rate against the All Blacks despite winning two Rugby World Cups.
They haven’t been able to post a winning record over the All Blacks and now Robertson is supposed to copy them? Spare us.
New Zealand rugby made the mistake of chasing South Africa’s style a long, long time ago, adopting 10-man rugby and becoming obsessed with size and power up front to match theirs.
The 1937 shock loss at home to the Springboks led powerbrokers at the time to believe the falsehood that 15-man rugby wouldn’t beat South Africa again.
It was an identity struggle for three decades until the 1967 All Blacks broke the shackles, taking the world by storm with attacking rugby and re-finding the national identity.
Over the professional era the All Blacks have dominated South Africa. The overall record is 44-1-19 in New Zealand’s favour since 1996.
1998 and 2009 are the only years since where the Springboks have been able to hold the All Blacks winless.
Thanks but no thanks, New Zealand does not need to copy South African rugby.
More useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
“The harder I work, the luckier I get…”
Gary Player.
Also a South African…
Such control, clinical from Ireland, full 80 minutes.
wow that maul was unstoppable.
so smart
Top two by miles all others under 90. Ireland looking good to regain No 1. British & Irish Lions will be full of Irish for sure.
South Africa 94.542
Ireland 92.11
the two tests between Ireland and bokke, are the show stoppers for 2024. Watch nothing else.
This was same topic from the same interview as BS, but Colin was better
Scott Robertson reveals the Springboks-style ‘evolution’ that could benefit the All Blacks
by Colin Newboult
planetrugby . com / news / scott-robertson-reveals-the-springboks-style-evolution-that-could-benefit-the-all-blacks
Some further observations:
Most Rugby lovers I know agree that the AB’s have been the gold standard for as long as anyone can remember - very few people disagree.
The odd time that any other team has some sort of ascendency - there are always those (albeit the minority) NZ supporters that need to remind us of the AB’s glorious gold standard that anyone winning them is only down to a mixture of pure luck or some or other sinister reason or bias from match officials (or indeed the Universe).
For reasons mentioned above, any other team with some ascendency over the AB’s (even if it is the 1st time in 100 years) may not receive a pat on the back and a well-done - as they only did so out of pure luck.
In my opinion, if the Boks were in the same realm as the AB’s SF opponents - they would have been smashed also - whether with 14 or 13 or 12 players. But remember they were just “lucky”. As a Bok supporter, I will say this team has done our proud - despite losing some games along the way. Like the AB’s, the games the boks lose are 9/10 times one score games - this is a long way from hidings like 57 - 0…And in that we must be proud.
Most of these type of articles - especially those focusing on the RWC final rather conveniently leave out any mention of Pieter Steph du Toit, or even Eben Etzebeth who won all their collusions all day long.
So to those very very few bad loser AB supporters out there (definitely the minority) - I’ll say what you want to hear - the AB’s are without any doubt the best Rugby brand ever. They have consistently achieved what all other teams can only dream of. And no doubt they will scale those heights again. Now what about allowing others the odd ray of sunlight that comes our way?
It was the decider for the year (and WC cycle really), 1 1 either side with both teams struggling to deal with the other at times in the previous two matches, then unfortunately NZ didn’t get the rub of the green, tries disallowed and the ref handing 3 pointers over to SA…
Such a shame rugby wasn’t the winner on the day.
Ireland have earned respect as the best side in World Rugby throughout this cycle. They deserve all the accolades they get.
No, it will be a great series in South Africa but unfair really to have the result reflect on 23’, it is a new cycle now and I can’t wait to see what SA can do against them. I hope also to see Ireland not so meek, like they were when grinding out and placing too much importance, as in that win in France.
Both sides can really play, and even in the bok choose their typical style again (like they had to revert to with BIL tour, WCF etc), it won’t detract for me. Hand on heart say that when WR should fix up the game, it is not to hurt SA but just to improve rugby as a spectacle. I know it must be hard to accept that from everybody. Boks have a great chance to go either way, NZ was down nearly as bad as 57-0 (it felt like it at times) and I’m really proud they even got a chance to take on SA in the Final - and they did just lack some inspirational players like Steph grabbing the that game - but they’ve got a real chance to make some huge improvements now too. Would be great to see both going stride in stride back to the top of WR.
Why do people call the All Blacks not Pacific lions. Everyone that has picked for their All Blacks is a New Zealander so stick that in your pipe.
Why don’t they call the springboxes corruption Africa. So stick that in your loadshedding
oh Rodneigh the Faʻafafine is back.
thanks I will repost.
THE PACIFIC LIONS
Just for information -facts only please.
This shows a sustained pattern. Below are 2015, 2019, 2023 3 consecutive RWC, plus also 2012 U20 team. Just carbon copy all the year in-between and poaching varies from 15-20% of the team.
Pasifika rugby player poaching, it has been done for years and years. Players born outside on NZ and subbed in to prop up their world class coaching and development system.
RWC 2015 squad
1. Pauliasi Manu - Neiafu, Tonga
2. Jerome Kaino - Faga'alu, American Samoa
3. Malakai Fekitoa - Ha'apai, Tonga
4. Waisake Naholo - Sigatoka, Fiji
RWC 2019 Squad
1. Nepo Eti Laulala - Moto'otua, Samoa
2. Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tuʻungafasi - Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
3. Shannon Michael Frizell - Folaha, Tonga
4. Sevuloni Lasei Reece - Nadi, Fiji
RWC 2023 RWC squad.
1. Samisoni Frank Simpson Taukei'aho - Tongatapu, Tonga
2. Nepo Eti Laulala - Moto'otua, Samoa
3. Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tuʻungafasi - Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
4. Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku - Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
5. Emoni Narawa - Suva, Fiji
6. Shannon Michael Frizell - Folaha, Tonga
Also poached from a young age
2012 U20 IRB Junior World Championship
1. Aniseto Ofa He Moori Tuʻungafasi born in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
2. Taniela Manu - Tongan
3. Ope Peleseuma - born in Apia, Samoa
4. Milford Keresoma- born in Samoa
5. Junior Va'a Tofa- Samoa
Read this when there were 0 comments. Now there’s 194. Ben is the best journo on here.
Bahaaaaaaaa haaaaa haaaaa cough choke .. and boom . . People hate the truth. Hence the reaction .
Ben…you should formally apply to World Rugby for an “almost did win” RWC trophy…you will automatically qualify given your 2019 and 2023 portfolio of evidence !!
…so so sad…the year 2023 when the AB’s should have, could have, must have, almost did have …still strugling to sleep at night Ben ?🙈🙈🙈
….ben ben…you forgot to mention that the AB’s threw the RWC final away by missing 2 kicks at goal….or maybe i missed a narative that the ref influenced the 2 missed attempts …blyter….
…blah blah blah…yawn yawn !! Fact sheet - not withstanding that the Springboks participated in 2 less RWC tournaments than the AB’s , yet they dominate the history books as the only country to have won it 4 times. ( and we are well on our way to have won it 3 times in a row). Yah, blah blah blah All Blacks !
Why do the kiwi journos not report on the financial mess that New Zealand are in?
I can understand the embarrassment caused by their “Aratipu Report” that endorsed a Trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition that excluded Argentina & South Africa, but this whole slant journalism and deflection stuff just makes the entire nation look pathetic.
Surely there are other things to report on like why the NZR made a loss of $47,461,000 last year and are going bankrupt.
Things are so bad that the NZR want to sell another chunk off to Silver Lake for $62 million that will take them up to 7.5% ownership.
There is also the issue with the NZR are hiding their diabolical Super Rugby Pacific attendance numbers.
If you want to know, the attendance in NZ was 255,84 and Australia 120,332 for a total of 376,177.
And here is whine ho . Crawling out from his rock . .