This game proved to many who would have still been in doubt just how good the bok team and management are. This is a team that has a good combination of experience and youth within its ranks and good team spirit overall. The Wallabies came with a team that looked very good on paper, a coach that has a track record that speaks for itself and they started off just as most expected, firing. But as the All Blacks experienced in their 2 previous tests vs the Boks, the pressure applied by the men in green and gold proved to be too much to handle for the Wallabies.
The Wallabies forwards had a mixed bag of performances as Al Baxter gave John Smit a tough time in the scrums yet James Horwill and Nathan Sharpe struggled to contain Matfield and Botha in the lineouts. Both George Smith and David Pocock did not seem to trouble Heinrich Brussouw in yet another game where Brussouw out played the best of the best. Overall, the bok forwards dominated possession, the breakdown and ensured that the Aus forwards would have to work hard in stopping the rolling juggernaut.
The backline however is where the comparison proved to be more difficult. Here, tactics differed between the 2 coaches. Robbie Deans tried his best to utilise his backline and this was confirmed as early as the 2nd minute when off 1st phase ball, Adam Ashley Cooper found himself a gap outside JP Peterson and scored the game’s 1st try. This was in stark contrast with the boks who never sent the ball down the line once the whole game. It appears that JP Peterson and Brian Habana are on the park just to chase up and unders. While I will not lambaste a winning formula, I must say that I understand what Peter De Villiers was trying to do in introducing “Total Rugby”, which many misconstrued as being a deviation from forward play. The bok backline did not get any ball even when at a point in the 2nd half, the boks had a scrum 5metres from the opposition’s try line. I would have liked to see the backline get much more ball because players like Jean De Villiers and Jacques Fourie are being underutilised on attack.
Luke Burgess was exposed by his counterpart Fourie Du Preez. I still don’t understand why Robbie Deans keeps on insisting on picking Luke ahead of Will Genia who made a world of difference when he came on. Having mentioned my issue with the lack of backline plays, I was very impressed by the workload shown by both bok wingers. My pre-match concerns about Frans Steyn were thwarted because the youngster’s positional play was spot on. He seldom allowed the ball to bounce and on a few occasions, punished the Wallabies when they kicked straight to him.
Special mention goes to John Smit for his grubber that led to the boks’ only try. This play was so good that ESPN (Europe) recognised it as the week’s 2nd best sports play. He may not always be the best in his position but his experience and presence on the field cannot be replaced. With the boks only needing another bonus point victory to clinch the Tri-Nations one cannot see them blowing it from here. They have proven that they are the very best in the world and as long as they can maintain focus, this team could go on to break more records.
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41 comments
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
that was mellow guru….. I enjoyed the game thoroughly. I get the point why do people make noise bout 3 points when it was 15-13 on the field in terms of personnel. but what I don’t understand is things like 2-1 to australia in tries and 7-6 to australia in the second half. boks played 2 weeks in a row while australia did not play any games in the same period. at half time this game was over as far as I was concerned. I did not see a point why should the boks burn like they were chasing the game.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
i take nothing away from the boks, ranked number 1, RWC holders, lions series win, 3-0 in homes games, in the trinations so far and it’ll look like a far cry from them throwing it away, that’d just be self destruction. they look set to break the record for consecutive wins, and you cant take that away frmo anyone
du preez proved he has got to be regarded as the best scrummy if not the best player in the world. John smits leadership is also up there with the very best and you can see the influence he has on the team outside of his chip kicks…and brussouws turnovers speak for themselves
boks did seem to be exposed tho when it came to scrum time, not sure what happened there, but it’ll be interesting what’ll come of that. they’re inability to close it out from 5m is surely a concern, while i agree that 3points at anystage is good, sometimes its not enough, fortunately, it has been so for the boks. pretty much any penalty in your own half and kiss 3 points good bye…
every team must play to their strengths and to a game plan, it seems that the boks are doing both and the entire starting 15 seem to understand this and play to it.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
just out of interest, the only game the boks have lost since the start of the lions series was the only game that was ref’d by a southern hemisphere ref, and they’ll have played 5 out of their 6 trinations games with a northern hemisphere ref…
Fraz says:
Aug 11, 2009
Manny…..oh manny…….where are you manny?????
Fraz says:
Aug 11, 2009
Lads what more can I say that has not been said here, agree with Guru and BP that it was a winning game plan ell executed to once again suffocate the opposition and frustrate them into having to commit penalty offences.
Morne “i can’t miss” steyn was stellar with the boot, and I don’t think he is to blame for the lack of flair in the backline at the moment. I think he is playing according to Pdivs orders. and it is working.
But I must admit I am worried when we can’t convert a 5m scrum under the poles into a try….. but I also think now that plan A is accomplished, plan B overseasmay see the backs opening up a bit, and I can’t help but feel I would be very afraid if I were the wallabies and ABs.
If this bok team starts firing from the backs to add to their suffocating forward play I think we could see some damaging home scores for the australasians.
And to end off can I hear some applause for the man that is heinrich brussow. this man I am afraid gents has just stpped up to the calibre of the legends. Do not mistake me for saying he is a legend as he has many more tests to get to that status……but having admirably whipped up richie the king, and george 100 caps smith week in and week out…. this dude is RRUUUUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!
Fraz says:
Aug 11, 2009
Right BP, if ot a red for Giteu then surely a 2 week ban. That has to be far worse than what Bakkies did in clearing out vs the lions!?!?!?
Any other comments on half brain matty boy?!!!?
Guru says:
Aug 11, 2009
Fraz, I am suire if the boks can seal the Tri Nations victory early we will see some expeansive rubgy after that. I really believe the current game plan can be married with some decent back line moves like the try that Habana scored vs the Lions in the 2nd test which was basically off 1st phase, just outside the Lions 22. We need to see more of that because the rest of the world will study the boks and sooner or later come up wih a strategy which will nulify the current game plan.
Regarding Brussouw, i agree, he has out played the best and has certainly been the find of the season. Let’s hope he can maintain that and entrench his name in the history books.
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
fellas all I am saying is you can’t have enjoyed the bloem and durbs game and not have enjoyed this one. first thing first you play to win. there after its only beautitians who will wonder how did u do it lol….
seriously guys I think boks have a plan and neither wallabies or the all blacks have an answer at the moment.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
fraz, if you look at giteau’s incident, it was a mere moment of lunacy, and i think thats why there was not ban, because if it had been bakkies or brad thorne, then there’d have been more intent, as usual, and therefore deserving of a ban. you cant ban a guy just for a mere moment of stupidity that wasnt malicious at all. its not like he punched him or dumped him on his head. dunno thats just my opinion, which happens to coincide with the panels decision…
if i were the ab’s or the wallabies tho, i’d prefer them to stop the kicking game and try attacking, they’ve shown a complete lack of that as you point out fraz, so why should they worry about that?
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
the only way to stop the boks is to tackle them like matt did… but with better accuracy this time.
I disagree with you BP. I can’t certainly know what was going on in matt’s head when he crashed into fourie. the thing is if I get under your skin u will react. that’s what has been happening to the visitors of south africa in the trinations this year. they have been poked and they react by loosing their cool and discipline. they know its going to cost them 3 point but they still concede. if it was dangerous it should have been penalized and it was fortunate of the ausies that all he got was a yellow card.
Guru says:
Aug 11, 2009
Mozie, I am not worried about enjoyment but more about sustainability. Point is, by 2011 World Cup if the boks are still employing nothing but the kick and chase, they will not win anything coz by then, the Robbie Deans and the Graham Henry’s of this world would have long figured that out. It does not have to be an either or, the boks can still use the kick and chase but at the same time, vary their play, especially when in the opposition 22. That is the time to allow players like Jean, Habana and Pietersen to express themselves.
BP, I have to disagree with you there. When one looks at the Bakkies incident, he was clearing out the ruck with the intention of fighting for possession. Matt Giteua on the other hand did not even have a clue where the ball was. He just jumped up recklessly with no intention of catching the ball.It is completely unfair to handle different players differently simply because of their reputation.
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
I am not saying it should have been read or even worse suspension. but I thought he was lucky
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
guru I see your point but we tried to play any different last year and we ended up 3rd in a 3 team group. I am not convinced this is all this side can do. I have been reading a lot of victor’s and john’s interviews and I am finding comfort in their words. if the opponents are not coming with anything different I will enjoy score lines like 23-10 at half time till 2011. may be the boks have not been pushed out of their comfort zone hence they have not pushed to try anything different. but the guys are aware of this situation
Ron says:
Aug 11, 2009
Well done to the Boks. For the first time ever i had to stand up and applaud the Boks when I saw the little grubber from John Smit!! That was brilliant!!!!!
Truth be told, the boks are the best in the world right now, as much as i hate to say that but lets see what they do on the road.
The boks are beatable that is for sure so they should not get comfortable. Once the AB’s have DC back and they have decided to start playing the way they can play, the boks will be beaten.
Fraz says:
Aug 11, 2009
BP come now, a moment of Lunacy?!!? then he needs to go to the psyche ward to be checked….you don’t hop a metre in the air when you are miles away from the ball leading with an elbow!!!!!!!! that is dangerous and he didn’t just happen to find fourie mid air and say where did you come from! he aimed and struck, and was not in the slightest injured as you would expect if he had not been anticipating a collision!!
And to Mozie, I fully agree if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, but we do need to be able to throw some dangerous moves into the backs from opp 22. we have the talent there to do it and it is potentially an extra 14 – 20 points per game if we can get a couple tries to go with the kicking approach.
Manny says:
Aug 11, 2009
It really hurts to say this but I have to swallow that humble pie baked by Guru and Fraz and admit that the Boks are the best team in the world. Aus and the AB’s have a lot of catching up to do in order to compete against the Boks.
It will be interesting to see how the Boks tour but with Morne Steyn on the field it seems that at worst the Boks will leave each game with a bonus point for losing within seven.
I think what really killed the Wallabies this weekend was the indiscipline (three yellow cards) and the Boks managed to nullify Australia’s lineout, which is the platform that Australia like to attack from.
The Boks have set the standard and its up to the rest of the rugby world to catch up!
Guru says:
Aug 11, 2009
Fraz, I think we can start setting up the table now, Manny and Ron have availed themselves for their promised meal…….lol…2 Humble Pies coming up gents, how do you like them?
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
its always tough to play there. but boks can draw a lot from the french performance in new zealand. how will the wallabies fair with mortlock remains to be seen. australia is difficult to beat at home.
Guru says:
Aug 11, 2009
That’s a valid point Mozie but the Perth test is as good as a home game for SA. Half the stadium will be speaking in Afrikaanse.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
i’m not saying the bakkies incident of clearing the ruck was the same thing, not at all. im just saying that a players rep can influence a panels decision. i never said that giteau was in the right or it wasnt dangerous to some degree, but he’s usually a chilled player. if one fo the boks had done it and been banned you’d be bleating till the cows come home, so just see how it’d be with the shoe on the other foot. as guru said, it was reckless, not intentional, there in lies the difference
boks should at least win one of the away games thus sealing the trinations
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
I hear u BP but the point it who of the two was deserving of a suspension? if fourie was out injured for weeks or may be even months, was the out come gonna be the same?
P_nash says:
Aug 11, 2009
Die bokke are the best in the world without a doubt. But they are a flawed champ. Its unbelievable that they could only beat a pathetic All Black side by 9 and 12. They don’t score trys. 4 in 3 games. I will give them credit, they know how to punish mistakes.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
i think neither bakkies nor giteau deserve a ban
quite possibly, but then we’d be speculating, luckily he wasnt injured
anyways, we cant let one incident detract from the discussion here, being the game as a whole. im in agreement with guru that if the boks continue to employ these tactics, as effective as they have been today, the coaches of teams these days are smarter than those when england were playnig the same game plan and therefore it’d be wise for the boks to ensure that if/when the day comes that teams learn to counter this game plan effectively, they have something else up their sleeves….
P_nash says:
Aug 11, 2009
“My pre-match concerns about Frans Steyn were thwarted because the youngster’s positional play was spot on. He seldom allowed the ball to bounce and on a few occasions, punished the Wallabies when they kicked straight to him.”
Guru mate, this is a ridiculous comment. Frans Steyn had his usual average game. He missed a tackle on the Ashley-Cooper try. He kicked the ball out on the full more than once. Why do you think he was subbed so early.
Guru says:
Aug 11, 2009
P_Nash, you would need to take the comment in context. Have a look at the preview of this game and read my comments there. I had been concerned that the Wallby kickers would be too intellignt for him but he clearly did not struggle with his positional play. The flaws you have mentioned have absolutely nothing with my pre match concerns so you have taken it out of context. Yes he was subbed and yes he squandered some good attacking opportunities but on the whole, he has allayed my fears because after Jantjies’ injury, full back was my biggest concern.
However, where I completely disagree with you is you insinuating that Frans Steyn always has an average game. You obviously do not rate him but trust me he is currently playing much better than Mils Muliaina….lol
Ever since he took over the number 15 jersey he has defended well, played an excellent positional game and done more than anyone could ask from a 21 year old full back.
Mozie says:
Aug 11, 2009
I was sitting next to sharks supporters who kept on looking down everytime steyn had the ball. I kept protecting him because the stommers fan also had his negative sentiments to rub the salt in. he probably ran with ball in hand, further distant than any of the sa players . I just want to know what was expected of him in this match seeing the type of game the Boks played.
BP says:
Aug 11, 2009
i think steyn didnt have a bad game, and i dont like the guy. but if he’s playing to the team’s game plan then he’s doing his job. to say he’s better than mils is a bit of a joke guru, how can you compare the two when they’re being asked to play completely different styles? i think mils is an all round better player, but seeing as the ABs have zero game plan he’s gotta do what he can, whereas steyn plays the kicking game well and takes it up occasionally, beating few players in the process and creating little attacking opportunities…
Mozie says:
Aug 12, 2009
boks play winning rugby … http://www.keo.co.za
P_nash says:
Aug 12, 2009
frans has never struggled with positional play so the Wallabies would not have been trying to exploit him in that way. You are right i dont rate him. Please can you explain this to me: The boks have a conservative gameplan and margin of error is small. So how can we applaud Frans when he has missed tackles that have resulted in tries ( Conrad Smith and Ashley Cooper, I know you may say other people missed tackles but he was the last line of defense.) His tactical kicking was average. You can’t kick the ball out on the full when the team is vying for field position. Thus im inclined to say Frans had another average game. By the way Frans maybe 21 but he is been playing test rugby since 2006 and he must have developed some way by now.
I was going to agree with you and say that maybe Frans is better than Mils. But my man, BP brought up a good point. Mils is better player playing in a team without leadership and direction from a management level. It has resulted in a poor performances and terrible decision making.
Mozie says:
Aug 12, 2009
nash I thought it was morne and not frans who missed conrad. I would also blame jp pietersen for the ausie try. nontheless u seem to have enough faults on this guy. I was constantly poked everytime he did something wrong. but I did not think his performance was average. not flawless but way above average
Guru says:
Aug 12, 2009
Correction people, I did not say Frans is a better players I said “he is currently playing much better than Mils Muliaina” and that’s a fact. Whether you want to chalk it down to team tactics or the whether, the point is today, Frans Steyn is in better form than Mils. So my point was simply stating that there are players out there in worse form playing for their nations. Frans Steyn has done more than enough to warrant him a secured starting position.
To answer P_Nash, Frans Steyn did not miss the tackle on Ashley Cooper, it was JP Pieterson. By the time Steyn was making contact, Cooper was falling over the try line. Besides, I think you are being too harsh by only looking at the negatives. You clearly have an issue with him and you seem to be very biased. Off the top of my head, the Wallabies missed 12 more tackles than the boks, they conceded almost 3 times as many turnovers and they lost 8 lineouts of their own, What then shall we say of these things, change the whole Wallaby team to face the All Blacks? Nash, if you persecute every player for one or 2 mistakes we will end up not having human beings playing rugby. Back to Milse, since the S14 final, that man has had some shocking games where he has been like a dear in headlights andn yet he still dons the Silver Fern. Steyn did not have the best of games vs Aus but if you look at his play in the last 3 tests, noone can find permanant fault in his play? Who then would you suggest to replace him? In my opinion, given the injuries and the players available to him, PDV has made the corect decision in sticking with Frans and he certainly has not disappointed.
P_nash says:
Aug 12, 2009
you make a good point regarding options at 15 for PDV. Frans is the best they have.
re the wallaby stats, you dont sub the whole team because that just irrational. You just hold the players that had shockers accountable. This is test rugby and every mistake should be scrutinised as any mistake can be the difference between a loss and win. Eg. Ruan Pienaar has been ” axed” because of two average games and that isn’t a reflection on him as player. But the reality is that they could have lost those games because of his missed kicks and thats why he will be on bench until a morne steyn injury ( its highly unlikely that morne will have a shocker ).
unfortunately in the professional era, errors can end careers unless you are favoured.
Cant argue that Mils, he’s been shocking.
Morne Steyn missed the first tackle on Smith. But why didn’t Frans stop him? JP missed the tackle but don’t you think Frans could have held up the ball?
This is my beef with players like Frans Steyn, people rate him for no apparent reason. The only thing Frans has a big boot and big body. He does not have rugby IQ (thats why can’t play fly-half). He always runs into contact and doesn’t look to run into the gap unless he has been put into one. I think should play centre and crash all day. Thats all he’s good for.
Ron says:
Aug 12, 2009
Great to have you on board P Nash!!!!
You are dead right about Frans, he is over rated. What i pose to the bok fans, would you rather have Frans at the back or Jantjies? I am sure 99% of you would say Jantjies…why…because his all round game as a full back is better than that of Frans.
P_nash says:
Aug 12, 2009
whatup RonDawg.
Conrad is good and if healthy is the unanimous pick.
if burger is fit do you think de villiers will drop brussouw?
P_nash says:
Aug 12, 2009
by the way isn’t brussouw the biggest game breaker in world rugby now?
Ron says:
Aug 12, 2009
We talked about Brussouw vs Burger last week Nash, you can have a look at that one here, http://www.iloverugby.co.za/2009/08/04/heinrich-brussow-or-schalk-burger/ And I agree with you, Brussow is the biggest game breaker in the game today but we will have to see what PdV decides to do now that he has recalled Burger to the squad.
Mozie says:
Aug 12, 2009
I see kirchner is on the bulls bench.
should we book a ticket for him nash?
P_nash says:
Aug 12, 2009
Dont know about Zane being a bok. I have thought much of him.
Ideally i would put Jacque Fourie at FullBack and start Adie at 13. Its out of left field but Jacque made his currie cup debut at fullback and he has played there for boks in 2006. His Tactical kciking is question mark but he is world class and can adjust quickly.
How about Joe Petersen. Some peeps like him?
Mozie says:
Aug 12, 2009
have not seen much of joe. but the lil I’ve seen was impressive. he spends most time out injured than on the field. well of course there is also a lil matter of conrad to deal with when he is fit. if he is gonna struggle to make the provincial side the chances of making the national side are slim Im afraid. right player at the wrong place.
Mozie says:
Aug 12, 2009
oops I see he has been playing recently. he is on the starting 15 for weekends game as well. to be honest I have not seen much of the currie cup. but ja surely someone like that should have been on the plane rather than touring without the specialist full back. lets see what the rest of the iloverugby family think.
Guru says:
Aug 17, 2009
Frans is doing just fine. No need to start chopping and changing. As long as PDV has a back upmplan in case of injury. At the moment, it looks like he would use Morne Steyn at 15 and Ruan at 10 if Frans were to be injured.