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'Not to the same standard that we've got': Where the All Blacks are disadvantaged against Boks
By Kim Ekin
South African rugby pundits have questioned the strength of the All Blacks bench after another second half fade in Mendoza which saw the home side win the second half.
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Whilst the All Blacks did not collapse defensively, after being up 31-0 at the break, they lost the second stanza 12-10 as Argentina scored a late try after the buzzer.
The Springboks have named a 6-2 bench split stacked with forwards like Malcolm Marx, Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit which is a clear advantage to South Africa according to rugby scribes Mark Keohane and Zelim Nel.
The second half performance against Argentina by the All Blacks brought back memories of last year’s Twickenham test argued Keohane.
“They were outstanding for 65 minutes against England at Twickenham and let England back in, they were 25-6 up and ended at 25-all,” Keohane recalled on SA Rugby Mag.
“They were scrambling to save that game. You just got that feeling in the second half, Argentina got back into the game.
“41-12.. is that a thing that they don’t quite have the bench that South Africa has.
“To go 31-0 up, to be 41-5 up, they didn’t really stick them away.
“Is that the one advantage that we’ve got over many teams, is what comes off our bench?”
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“Absolutely,” Zelim Nel answered.
Nel argued that the All Blacks bench ‘is not up to the same standard’ as the Springboks which includes too many world-class players.
With a near fully fit squad, South Africa has been able to bring players to New Zealand early to prepare for the Mt Smart Test after a strong performance in Pretoria over the Wallabies.
“As we’ve just said, our bench is good enough to be a top tier Test nation on its own,” Nel explained.
“Obviously we need 15 players, point I’m trying to make is world-class players come off our bench.
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“I don’t think you can argue that the All Blacks have got a weak bench, but certainly not to the same standard that we’ve got.
“In terms of guys that have played, have experience, are in form and crushers of the gain line.
“We’ve got an abundance of those sorts of players. That definitely makes a difference.”
At Ellis Park last year the Springboks were hampered by injuries early which saw them lose fullback Damian Willemse and right wing Jesse Kriel in the first 20 minutes.
Compounding problems was a less-than-desired showing by hooker Joseph Dweba which required Malcolm Marx to be subbed into the game early.
As a result, the bench was not able to be used in the final quarter to provide a boost and the All Blacks scored two late tries in the final 10 minutes to come away with the win.
The South Africans obviously don't pay attention the bench is a fully brand new bench samidoni is one of the best hookers in the world tamiti Williams is a monster of a prop
Any one noticed NZ are running three teams with the AB XV squad also active - if you think DMac, RM and BB is depth at ten add SP to the mix and rewatch the game where the Blues destroyed the Lions - SP was amazing and he is hissing with the ABXV as are others ... anyone heard of a guy called Brad Webber, or Q Strange? Check the Allblacks XV... NZRFU has a way deeper talent pool than 33 men and RSA is just one little part of the challenge this year.
Mine is longer and bigger thsn yours. It’s as if 2 kids are comparing their attributes. Nothing new under the sun . No relevant and independant analysis
The SA pack and bench are very strong on paper, but a much worse version of the ABs beat almost this exact Springboks team last year. It will take a super human effort from the ABs. Very wise to play this game at Mt. Smart though to preserve the aura of Eden Park.
Keo always amps up some angle on the Boks, especially before big games. The Bomb Squad is not news, and nor is the impressive depth that the coaches have focused on building over the past 18 months.
Is that the big story of this game? It's something to watch, for sure. What I find more interesting is that SA has essentially picked five locks, and if they have an injury or substitution at open side they will have four locks on the field at the same time.
Assuming they additionally replace Wiese with Vermeulen you would have one of the biggest packs imaginable for the last 20m (AVG HT: 196cm/6'5", AVG WT: 118kg/260lb).
Stand by for a forwards battle.
Wow wee. So Sth Africa have more forwards than us, when has that been a recipe for success? It's not 1976 on the veldt and Uncle Pieter refereeing. The media ramp up the hype around these clashes and everyone buys into it.
Can't wait to get to Africa actually and we play them on their hard grounds in the day.
Sth Africa are not the same force away from home.
Go the ABs.
I think the the ABs bench will be way stronger in this test, props especially as any kiwi knows SA bring on their 2 at the 50 minute mark and then have to deal with TAMAITI WILLIAMS a beast! TAUKEI'AHO & LAULALA in the second half who the SA’s haven’t played against
He's sort of right, but he's overstating it. ABs have better depth in 1st five, wing and fullback. But SA have world class bench in the forwards.
I don't read much into anything the commentators / journalists say. Fact is its a test between the ABs and the Boks in NZ. I am totally hyped up over it. To think NZ don't have an advantage at home is pretty ignorant. I miss the SR games against NZ and Aus teams, yeah sure URC is great, but every team at this level brings something to the table.
Way too many Blue's forwards in the squad, Dalton is the only one who puts in the work, they're the reason why Beauden looked so bad this season, pretty much every possession when playing competent opposition was a dilemma, either kick the ball hastily away or get monstered by the defence because you've been getting slow ball and turning over possession in a worse spot.
There's not much we can do about props at this stage, maybe promote the ABs XV boys. Roigard off the bench could provide incredible late game impact, I personally want Coles in the 16 Jersey no matter who put of Taylor or Samisoni starts, he just brings the right impact and his ability to frustrate the opposition could be crucial in the last 30. Josh Lord impressed me last weekend and on the 2021 end of year tour, I could see him being immense off the bench if we're down a Lock or Scott gets used at Blindside.
I feel like we have all the right cards, it's just about playing them right and discarding the Finlay Christies.