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Now that the niceties are over, it's time to give the Springboks their medicine
By Ben Smith
Rassie Erasmus has been on his best behaviour this week, cozying up to reporters and sending praise the All Blacks way in order not to stir up a response.
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Not that the All Blacks would care too much, but it’s what Rassie cares about because that’s the Springboks way. He thinks it matters, so it does, in the mind of the paranoid.
The King of posting up bulletin board material to try find an edge, mind games, and pretending not to care but deeply caring.
Now that the niceties are over, the press conferences with next-to-no headlines as a result of the public grandstanding, it’s time to get down to business.
The Springboks fanbase, not necessarily the team themselves, are riding high after two wins over the Wallabies. The expectations are sky high.
They believe this team deserves a spot on the Pantheon among the greats, that we’ve enough evidence now that the world champions of 15 on 14 rugby are going to produce a worthy encore. The script has been written, it’s just time to watch the play unfold.
Not only that, they believe we’ve got ample evidence that Super Rugby is responsible for the Wallabies and All Blacks demise and how Europe has made the Springboks that much better.
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Ex-players are now struggling to think of teams throughout the history of the game who would beat the 2024 Springboks. They’ve transcended the current day international teams apparently.
History? Forget history, I’ll give you one in the now and present; Ireland, who beat them last month. It’s been three wins in a row since. Let’s please stop the pandering and ass kissing until they deserve it.
Erasmus and his coaching staff have been able to play cute with their selections against the Wallabies. The A team, the B team, let’s hope for their sake this one doesn’t end up the L team.
We’ve got possibly the world’s best blindside playing in the second row, much like Argentina’s fidgeting in the second Test when they put openside Marcos Kremer at lock. That unbalanced pack tipped over at Eden Park and was put to pasture by half-time.
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There is Eben Etzebeth sitting on the pine ready to be the saviour if it all goes pear-shaped. However, that emergency glass option doesn’t always work.
Hooker Joseph Dweba had to be pulled just 27 minutes into the last Test at Ellis Park, with Malcolm Marx sent in to fix the mess unfolding. But that wasn’t enough.
The early damage had been done as the All Blacks got out to a 15-0 lead. According to scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, the Springboks “dominated the whole game but still lost”.
If going behind 15-0 is dominant, then yes, we can call it that. A more accurate description would be that South Africa fought back, but the damage in the first 15 and last 15 ultimately cost them.
The All Blacks came with a bold game plan that day that hopefully Scott Robertson and his coaching staff remember.
The exit plan was give it to Will Jordan on the right wing coming out of their own 22 and the All Blacks ran riot. Rieko Ioane had his best day as a No 13 in the black jersey, running rings around Lukhanyo Am.
It was the same game plan as a week before in Mbombela, but a change of No 10 in Richie Mo’unga saw the plan come together well and the ball finally made it to the edge where the space was.
After conceding line breaks the Springboks had to backtrack 60-70 metres and they were gassed.
The All Blacks were able to put together the phases and score on the tired defence at the other end. There were some incredible passages of passing and offloading, one leading to David Havili’s try a memorable score.
It was a watershed moment for Ian Foster with new assistants Joe Schmidt, now with the Wallabies, and forwards coach Jason Ryan.
In the modern game it is difficult to tire out your opposition. The set-piece stoppages, the eight player reserves, the players are fit enough to handling bursts of play in a normal game.
But that day proved one exception to the rule, and that is when your big men have to run back 60 metres just to get onside, your defensive line is cooked from that point on.
So for the All Blacks it is simple. Don’t exit kick every time from inside your 22. Run it out. And then run it out again and again. Run until those big boys are puffing and need to get pulled like Joesph Dweba because there’s six of them waiting on the bench.
Give the Springboks their medicine.
I must commend you on your remarkable skill in turning every story into a masterclass in bias. Bravo!
What ever tickles your fancy ,I watch rugby for the enjoyment of the game not too pick it apart and look at every stat ,I watch the six nations and it's a flat boring series mostly dominated by Ireland and France that have many players from other nations in their sides as they don't have enough local talent like the Boks to field a full team
Unforced errors can be objectively counted in a game.
"Give the Springboks their medicine"
You look like a real tw@t now don't you😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Boks didnt play well against a team playing out of their skin. Giften them 14-21 points. Came back and won anyway. Rassie's point about arrogance and superstars made last week is correct. I believe it was made with a view towards Kolisis and Etzebeth walking out with that cage fighter and then doing a celebrity 'go ape shite for the cameras' when he won. Not a good example for other Bok players. Fire's up rivals. NZ have been superstars for years 'says it on the AB site'. But you won't catch that from NH teams (not even England or France).
Sexton selling an add for a supermarket in which he gets grief from a female shopper (in a mouthy manner he is known for) is the type of thing you see in the North. If SA are a team of 'Superstars' before the Nations Cup or even World Cup, they won't be winning anything.
Again subjective ,opinions are like A..holes everyone has one
Less unforced errors better attacking, better defending. That SA performance was a significant step down from the level versus Ireland. Throwing the ball when almost grounded hard up to a forward who is not expecting it lead to two tries. The turnover from the second try was a lineout for NZ which lead to a phase 1 try.
The intercept might be good analysis by coaches and execution by Barrett but its still an intrecept. Then NZ lose from a 10 point lead? WTF?
what a jerk. I don't read his articles
That's subjective you might feel that way, good for you
Dear Mr Clickbait, Boks played with 14 for 20 mins yesterday, Fond Regards
Hahaahaa... this did not end well for you Benny now did it son. Should teach you not to open your fly trap too soon. Did not age well for you. Your fellow countrymen must feel so sick of your nauseating drivel. We as boks love and respect the NZ rugby public... except you and a few of your type. You are definitely not part of that collective...Sad little boy you...
You must be picking up a few pounds with all the humble pie you are eating...
Well this article agreed badly.
So Ben are you going to non binary up and write a balanced article about the Bok victory
Hahahahahhaha Ben, big L again. Lekker medicine there! 🤣👀
the result makes you look like a proper box now
The 'wee boy nervousness' is flying off the page from the bok supporters. The decades of frustration of AB dominance over them comes spewing out when they get a moment in the sun.
But when the Bok have forgotten how to score tries against the AB (ie RWC final & last game in SthAf) ... the ABs are feeling quietly confident.
Bok supporters, shhhhhhhh
Nap time.
rather just go suck a dummy withe bennie boy
Snoooooring 😴 switch the lights off AB's
Bwaaaaaaahahahahhaha
Actually the Springboks are going to win but we have mannors so we are nice to you guy's in your time of crysis.
Dear Ben Smith
Rugby tradition is mind games and trolling, expectant fans along with hotheaded ones, and cranks like yourself that try to be relevant with what you think is insightful opinion. Rant all you want, it all comes to game day, minnows beating giants, giants slaying bigger ones, and coaches trying to stay ahead of the curve.
Looking forward to your next bit of quibble.
Troll tries to excuse himself by saying Rugby Tradition is trolling. GTF.
Troll, click, repeat.
Why World Rugby would want in on this shit show blows my mind.
Happy to sell out "rugby values" for the $$$.