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The All Blacks coaches owe the South Africans a big thank you
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks were handed the unwanted 28-point record defeat as South Africa looked sensational against 14-men to claim the Qatar Airways Cup.
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Whilst the score paints an ugly result, it was the perfect one for Ian Foster’s side riding a 12-game undefeated streak, wiping the slate clean ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
If there was a perfect time to take a loss in a meaningless fixture, this was it. In that regard, the All Blacks coaches owe the South Africans a big thank you.
The All Blacks looked lethargic like they had been on holiday in London all week enjoying the sights. Similarly to Chicago in 2016, the neutral venue seems to bring out the worst in the All Blacks without the same focus to the task at hand.
The silver lining here is that a disastrous performance where everything went wrong was flushed out of the system when the consequences were none.
It is the wake-up call they needed, at the perfect time as they head to Germany for a pre-World Cup camp.
In the process the Springboks have become the World Cup favourites, riding high from the Twickenham sugar hit.
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This is South Africa’s World Cup to lose now with the Qatar Airways Cup safe and secure. After beating the current World Cup favourites 35-7, there must be no hiding from the favourites tag.
World’s number one Ireland looked incredibly average against Samoa which should have the Springboks smiling. After demolishing Wales and New Zealand over the last fortnight, no side is in such August form.
They should be expected to ride their four-game winning streak into Pool B where they will be expected to top the pool, before smashing through the toughest finals draw in their history.
As yesterday proved, no side down to 14-men also missing their first-choice tighthead prop can stop a rampaging Springbok team.
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The incredible power of the Springboks scrum was on show in the 21st minute against a 6-man pack with a 23-year-old anchoring the front row coming back from a foot injury. They totally demolished them.
That scrum dominance continued in the second half without lock Scott Barrett on the field and his brother Jordie trying to play flanker. The All Blacks wisely pulled Whitelock after 10 in the second stanza.
Newell, along with 23-year-old Tamaiti Williams, 22-year-old Josh Lord and 23-year-old Tupou Vaa’i couldn’t overcome a one-man disadvantage in the forwards against the bomb squad in the final thirty. The power of the Springboks pack against spring chickens was truly impressive.
The All Blacks were their own worst enemies with discipline, earning a spate of cards after too many indiscretions. They were duly punished and couldn’t get out of card trouble.
They have no one else to blame for the situation they were in. But that experience at Twickenham will prove invaluable, if not for the chance to rid the squad of any complacency. As Anton Lienert-Brown said in the sheds afterward, they received the ‘biggest gift possible’.
The biggest loss was not on the scoreboard, with two key players in doubt for the opener against France.
If the All Blacks can get a reprieve for Scott Barrett, who was issued two yellow cards, and a positive diagnosis for Tyrel Lomax’s laceration, then they will have escaped without much damage.
Barrett’s second yellow card was not upgraded to red following a review of the bunker, which brings hope. Foster sounded hopeful for Lomax, who suffered a deep cut to the thigh. After 30 stitches overnight he isn’t expected to be back in time for the start of the campaign.
The Hurricanes’ prop is regarded as the best scrummager in New Zealand and the All Blacks will need him back by the knock-out phase. The difference in the set-piece since his elevation to the starting side has been immense.
The alternative options for the All Blacks will leave them vulnerable against France.
The All Blacks will count themselves lucky if the pair are available when it matters.
If so, NZR will escape the foolish venture of scheduling this Test match on the eve of the World Cup.
For the Springboks, the sugar rush from the Qatar Airways Cup will hopefully last longer than a fortnight as they get ready to smash through the unlucky souls in Pool B.
All Blacks lack tough props and fast Loose Forwards. Aaron SMITH was outplayed by Du Pont last time they met.
Du Pont 26 and SMITH nearly 35.
France must WIN. That is dangerous. Then can we beat Ireland?
Well we have a "gushing wound" and everyone saw how to beat the All Blacks and open it up again.
By the way Fossie, it might pay to teach your hookers how to throw the ball in.
Cam Roiguard showed how good he can be with an excellent solo try. Is Foster going to start Roiguard? Probably not.
All Blacks have always had a "Fear of Losing" instead of a "Desire to WIN" Huge difference Mentally.
I think they have been quite "Soft" Mentally, since the 2015 World Cup and their number of losses would
Spring Boks gave us the Biggest hiding in All Black History. Worst Coach, Worst Captain and Worst Rugby Board, who should all be sacked.
Next year I look forward to a new Rugby Board, New Coach, New Captain and hopefully some New Young Talent.
Most of this lot should have gone after the last World Cup.
C'est la vie. . . .
Congratulations! to South Africa on dismantling the All Blacks. We were outcoached and outplayed. I have never seen an All Black pack "capitulate" in 68 years.
This game defined the "State of New Zealand Rugby" We sold 8.58% of New Zealand Rugby to a "greedy bunch of American Billionaires called Silver Lake for US$120.00 million.
Without this investment NZ Rugby would be broke. Our Rugby Union were/are incompetent at running a business. They had to be bailed out. Silver Lakes saw an opportunity. I am sure they thought "Invest and sell"
They are only interested in profit, not in rugby. Their brand was simply destroyed by South Africa.
Egon Durban and Ken Hao are under pressure, "What the hell did you guys buy?"
Silver Lakes Deal was never in the best interest of New Zealand Rugby. It was in the best interest of the New Zealand Rugby Union to solve their business incompetence.
Over the years they ran New Zealand Rugby into the ground.
Suddenly when there was nothing left they looked for a "Business Partner" or a "Patsie"
Hopefully the N.Z Rugby Union Board will be dismantled, just like the All Blacks were and we can start again.
Razor Robinson certainly dodged a "Bullet" as a coach and will be able to start from scratch next year, with a new team and a new Board.
Good Luck to the Spring Boks and I hope you win because we certainly can't.
2023 World Cup. The All Blacks will be lucky to get past the Quarter Finals.
To WIN a World Cup, you must have "World Class Performing Players"
We simply lack World Class Props and Loose forwards. . . We have
gone backwards since 2015, being unable to replace the exodus of "Great Talent" that WON 2015 World Cup.
In that final we had 10 players who had played over 100 Tests each.
South Africa "Destroyed the All Blacks" Ireland destroyed the All Blacks last year.
Simply haven't got the cattle or a progressive farmer, who is "innovative" enough to try new methods of production.
Maybe when the Board gets the sack (Next few week(s) and we allow our top players to play in France and England, instead of a second rate Super Rugby Competition, we may "Improve" our chances.
During the last few years the New Zealand Rugby Union has been thoroughly incompetent. OMWBBAD....Old men with bad breath and dandruff.
The result, An All Black Team that has more chance of getting a
B. . . . from the POPE than winning a semi -final at the World Cup.
Ben’s got a complex. Very funny!
So what about repeat infringements in the red zone affecting the other teams ability to score? What about swearing at the ref? Should two yellow cards not equate to a red? Are you asking for a complete rewrite of the laws?
Suck it up, turd burglar 🤣
Quite a petulant article.
The ABs haven't played for a while, and they probably underestimated the Boks given their dominance in Auckland. But in the end they succumbed to pressure, combination of forward power and lightning line speed among the backs.
I agree that the Bok machine is starting to hum at the right time, their planning and preparation seems spot on. And it has to be, they have four huge games ahead of them given the draw.
Interesting that Lawrence Dallaglio predicted that France and the Boks will duke it out for the win given the size and depth of their forward packs. In contrast the ABs just don't have two entire world class tight fives that they can roll on in a single game.
Old Lawrence might be right.
it showed the All Black depth is not going to be strong enough when/if injuries occur to key players. The boks are stronger in that department but if the ABs can field their first choice side for the big games that matter, they should go all the way to the final. Whether they can win it or not remains to be seen.
I thought the AB coach and captain stated before the test they will not take the Springboks lightly and will glo all out? My God it's hard now they thank the boks what a fuvking joke. Let me remind you 35-7
Send for Grace and move Ardie to 7 drop Reiko