This test started off on a very familiar note, the Boks firing with all cylinders and the opposition struggling to soak it up. From the start of the game, the Boks made their intentions very clear that they would not stray too much from their game plan. But, what they did not prepare us for was their intention to spread the ball wide in the opposition half. Last week, in the preview of this game, I made yet another bold statement but suggesting that the Boks would out score the Aus by 3 tries to 1. Little did I know that the Peter De Villiers led charges wanted 4 tries. My thinking before the game was that PDV is getting his mix right and the boys would be ready to spread the ball as I anticipated more space in the Aus defence. However, I was very shocked by the inability of the Aus team to carry out some basic tasks, catching, passing and kicking.
The Aus front row really came to the fore and both Smit and Beast at some point were found wanting as the Aus front row applied immense pressure. I was really impressed by Robinson who in my books has been the best Aus forward from S14 all the way to this last test vs. the Boks. However, this is where the Aus domination starts and ends. The Bok locks and loosies outplayed their counterparts by a mile. The stats reflect this fact because of the number of line outs and turnovers that the Aus gave away. I was impressed by Juan Smith as usual as he did all the dirty work and carried the ball very well. Pierre Spies also came to the party and his burst from the base of the scrum gave the Boks much needed momentum. Fourie Du Preez had an easy day thanks to Robbie Deans. I still do not understand what Will Genia must do to get the nod ahead of Luke Burgess. Robbie Deans must be blamed fully for either being biased or just plain dumb. He must be the only man in the world who still thinks Luke is a better scrummy than Will.
The Boks backline has finally silenced each and every critic that has been lambasting the Bok strategy. With a try count of 4, 2 for Habana, 1 for Jacques Fourie and 1 for Du Preez, I would like to hear what Graham Henry has to say about the Bok strategy. The backline scored off 1st phase, 3rd phase and off a penalty. What more must this team prove? The Boks used the rolling maul to great effect and at the same time spread the ball out wide. This team displayed the most complete rugby I have seen from any team in the world today. On the other hand, Richard Brown, Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau had a shocker of a day. These players played out of character and I can only think of the pressure applied by the Boks as the only reasons why players of Matt’s caliber could not catch or kick the rugby ball. The Australian backline was misfiring and with such terrible service from Burgess, they struggled to string together any form of cohesion.
In the 65th minute, the Boks coach rang some interesting changes with Bekker coming on for Botha, Schalk coming on for Smith and Steyn coming on for Pienaar at the back. This gave the Aussies a ray of hope as they seemed to find more space and scored 2 tries as a result. This still begs questions on the Boks ability to maintain their intensity with players coming off the bench. However, it must be mentioned that the last try scored by Australia came from one of their players running past an injured Bekker who could not put in the tackle as he had injured his ac joint.
All in all, this performance by the Boks will certainly silence many a critic, including some of our regular I Love Rugby bloggers. It will be interesting to hear what all the Bok haters have to say after such a stirling performance. Personally, I cannot see any team being able to beat the Boks unless the Boks win the next match in Brisbane and claim the Tri-nations and then have to go to NZ with nothing to play for. Other than that, we are seeing the best rugby team in the world doing what they do best, completely dominate and force their opponents into submission.
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28 comments
Manny says:
Aug 31, 2009
I was told not to talk with my mouth full; but I’m gonna be a bad boy and break the rule! So while I am chomping on my humble pie let me say this; the Boks won and they are the number one team in the world, but against a developing Wallaby team that has been ravaged by injuries to key players like Sharpe, Barnes, and Mortlock and that as a result was forced to field a new midfield combination (notice how two of the Boks tries came from attacking the midfield channels) the Boks still only won by seven points! If this team is really the “greatest” Bok team; if the Boks are really that good; why are they struggling to hammer a wounded Wallaby?
I am sure we all remember the All Blacks of 2003 who put 50 points on South Africa at Loftus, and then the following week put 50 points on the Wallabies in Australia. Now that is a team that I can say was really good. The Boks are the world’s best right now but it’s more a reflection of how bad the other teams are than how good the Boks are.
Bokke; the Wallabies will see you in 2011 at the RWC after Baxter has been axed, Pocock has been groomed to become the best fetcher, Brown has stepped up to become a complete 8th man, Burgess gets dropped and Genia becomes the next best thing to Gregan, and after young O Connor has added some beef to his frame!
Fraz says:
Aug 31, 2009
Manny manny manny….. Here come the excuses. Lets not get too excited by the scoreline, it really flatters the aussies far too much!! Yes the boks have only themselves to blame for the 2 late tries, but let not backtrack here and suddenly start claiming that the wallabies are weak!!
Before try nations there was much trumpeting about how great they were going to be and murder the boks!!
Also the new midfield combo was a weakness but it was hardly inexperienced players filling big boots……it was highly qualified players getting outplayed and outclassed!!
Granted we should have won by 30+ and the players know it, but having just landed a few days before, I now see that this weekend, a more settled bok team will finally stub out all the last little embers of wallaby hope and smash them again.
Bring on 2011!!
Ron says:
Aug 31, 2009
Okay Guru, the Boks are going to win again in Brisbane and wrap up the Tri-Nations, there is no denying that but let us not start to use the excuse that the All Blacks are going to beat the Boks just because the Boks have nothing to play for. I am sure PdV has learnt from his mistake after the final Lions tour match of fielding his B Team and I doubt he will do the same against the All Blacks. We want you to bring you best XV in New Zealand so we can teach you a lesson!!
As for the Wallabies, I believe that right now these guys are struggling big time and the Boks could have put 50 on the board against them on Saturday. But as Manny pointed out, the Boks rarely are able to put 50 on the board no matter how poor the opposition is. But I take my hat off to the Boks, they are playing well and are the best team in the world right now but the best simply because the rest of the opposition is weak.
Fraz says:
Aug 31, 2009
I really think you okes are going overboard here as to the boks are the best “only”bcause the rest of the teams are weak?!!?!??!?
Seriously, have you ladies not maybe stopped to think of the fact that the other teams are being made to look so weak because of the immense pressure and precise way the boks are playing at the moment???
I agree both Aus and NZ have fielded stronger teams in the past than the ones that are here now, but that is not to say they are weak!! Both of thos teams have a vast amount of experienced players, and both of them are not fielding huge numbers of brand new players!!
So please do not try and water down this current bok sides achievements by saying it is all due to the oppositions weakness. otherwise you may aswell say roger federer only won all his grand slams and is the greatest player ever because all his opponents were weak!!
I know its tough to admit, and i know the humble pie tastes like sh*te….but man up boys…..
Guru says:
Aug 31, 2009
Many and Ron, as Fraz pointed out, just man up and swallow the HUMBLE PIE……..how on earth do you say the rest of the teams are weak with the following names, Woodcock, Hore, Thorn, Ross, McCaw,Sooialo, Cowan, Carter, Sivivatu, Nonu, Smith,Josevata, Muliaina, Robinson, Sharpe,Horwill, Pocock, Smith,Elsom,Giteau,Ashley Cooper,Mortlock, Barnes, O Conor, Turner……………….come now gents, then if you want to go down that route, the AllBlacks team that won Tri Nations 2003 was not good coz the boks had their worst team since post apartheid era. Then if you want to go down that route, the Aus team of 1999 was not that good coz both AB and Boks then were weak. Come now, can you not just admit that the only reasosn whay Giteua cannot cacth a simple up and under is coz JP and Habana are chasing him like wild cheetahs……..
Oh and Ron, I am certainly not making excuses, I never said the boks will lose, i said if the baoks are gonna lose, it will not be becasue of anything the All blacks do, it will simply be because of the Boks’ own mentality. Let me put it this way, right now, the only team that can beat the Boks is the Boks themselves……………………………….
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
let me start…..
the 2003 all blacks did not win the world cup, that’s a great team, by the way I thought england whipped that team. but that is not the point.
one week the boks play borring rugby, next week they can’t put 50 against a wounded wallaby. bottom point they won.
The Ultimate All Black says:
Aug 31, 2009
England didn’t whip the 2003 all blacks.
Please check your stats gentlemen.
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
dude….
14th june 2003 …. all blacks 13 – 15 england. you are not so ultimate after all.
http://www.nzallblacks.net/stats-viewbycountry.asp?country=england
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
oh wait here is some more proof
http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/1825.php
The Ultimate All Black says:
Aug 31, 2009
you are clearly like those journalists that exagerate and sensational news.
The last time i checked losing a game by 2 points isn’t a whipping but then again its just semantics and your point is that eng beat Nzl. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Therefore using your logic Man U whipped Arsenel 2-1, Liverpool whipped Bolton 3-2 and Man City whipped Pompie 1-0. Wow compelling stuff.
Im sorry dont have an ultimate link to prove my point.
I know the all blacks lost to england in 2003. Im the ultimate all black. Next time just say eng beat Nzl or send one of your trusty links and when we can come to our own conclusions.
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
sorry mate you said I must check my stats. whether it was by 3 point or 100 point margin, its ultimately a whipping. but like I said that was not the point. my apologies if I have touched a nerve.
Guru says:
Aug 31, 2009
I think we are getting caught up with semantics here people. The definition of a whipping is irrelevant to the fact that the boks are currently the best team in the world. It also does not help us when we consider that the boks are making every team look terrible, even with world class players like McCaw, Carter, Gituea and George Smith. The Boks are currently untouchable and only they can let themselves down.
Manny says:
Aug 31, 2009
The 2003 Bok team was crap Guru, point taken, but the Wallabies were really strong that year so for the All Blacks to win the tri-nations was an achievement. And the England team that won the RWC and that beat NZ in NZ was also very very good; a team that was at it’s peak.
The All Black team of 1999 was amazing Guru! Mehrtens, Umaga, Cullen, Wilson, Lomu; and those were just the backs!!! The Aus team of 1999 had what to me is the best backline to have played rugby in the modern era, Gregan, Larkham, Roff, Horan, Herbert, Tune and Burke!Legend after legend after legend! Also note that these teams and players were on song.
As you said Guru, Aussies best player, Matt Giteau can’t even catch a ball right now! He is off form and the team is not playing well at all. Ditto for NZ. Just last week the Bok fans were laughing at how badly both the Wallabies and NZ played in the Bledisloe cup game what with all the errors in that game. Bok fans, we have admitted the Boks are the best, but admit that NZ and Aus, independent of the so called pressure rugby of the Boks, are not playing well.
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
thanx guru and I have already apologized for the boks being the best team in the world. its our fault that the other teams are weak as well so here it is….. sorry guys
Manny says:
Aug 31, 2009
We don’t accept Mozie.
Say it like you mean it and in the process tell PdV to drop Matfield, Brussow, and duPreez! Maybe then will the apology be accepted!
Guru says:
Aug 31, 2009
Manny, even if all teams peaked at the same time we would still have winners and losers. You could take the best NZ, Aus and SA teams that have ever graced our rugby pitches and you would still have a 1st,2nd and 3rd place. If I remember very well, after the World Cup many pundits on this site were saying that the Boks were not the rightful World cup winners coz they did not face the “Mighty” All Blacks and the “Sharp” Aussies. Now that both teams have been repeatedly beaten and recycled by the boks, you are now using excuss such as “even our best players cannot catch the ball”. My response to that is the same as after the world cup, do not punish the boks because your best available players are too scared to catch the ball with Habana coming at them.
As Mozie has already stated, we honestly wish we could assist you chaps and maybe give you some of our Currie Cup players but at the moment please do not take anything away from the boks by stating that your players are not playing well, that’s unfortunately out of our control. Just like we could not face both NZ and Aus at the World Cup because they decided to lose to France and England respectively. After the WC you had excuses, now that both teams have been recycled, you still have excuses, when will you just admit people? The boks will face whatever is placed in front of them and DESTROY….LOL…LOL…LOL (evil laugh)…LOL…LOL…LOL
Manny says:
Aug 31, 2009
Guru, the Wallabies and NZ look very very different now than they did at the 2007 RWC. I may have the numbers wrong but about 14 All Blacks left after RWC 07 and the numbers were quite similar for the Wallabies too! Had the Boks met either of those two great teams at the RWC I have no doubts that Boks would’ve been beaten!
Fraz says:
Aug 31, 2009
And we know you have admitted that they are the best team in the world right now….. but say it with no ifs and buts after please!! that is ALL we are asking….
hahahaha
Guru says:
Aug 31, 2009
Ofcourse Manny, that 2007 All Black team was so good that they lost to France in the Semis right? And I am sure all “14″ of these greats took to the filed that day right? May i remind you that the same French team went onto to lose tp Argentina, who then went onto to lose convincingly to the boks. So as much as the current All Black team is different, the WC2007 team was nopt good enough top beat France so therefore, they did not deserve to face the Boks………………..
Fraz, do not try nd get them to admit unconditionally coz that will never happen, even if the Wallabies get pumped by 20pts next week and the All Blacks get smacked by 20 the following week, these haters will never admit. But at the moment te facts are there for all to see, the Boks are UNTOUCHABLE!!!!!!
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
well manny its a pity we won’t know. at the moment I am enjoying this green machine. until it needs fixing mate.
all the players you mentioned are the heart of bok rugby at the moment. we will miss them once they hang up their boots. after the 2007 world cup, I heard things like the standard of rugby in the tournament was poor because the two super teams lost early and the eventual winners met neither. we once again apologise. 2003 was bad but we did not deny the fact that the english were the deserved winners. 49-0 was embarrassing but jake said, in two thousand and seven, web ellis will be placed in the middle of this dressing room. but now I see, boks can never do good in the eyes of many people.
RuggaFan says:
Aug 31, 2009
Why is BP so quiet???
The Ultimate All Black says:
Aug 31, 2009
Yeah damn right you touched a nerve.
At the end of the Boks are the best regardless of whether there are conditions or not. The boks can’t do anything about the fact they faced Fiji, Arg etc. 07 and 09 are great years for them.
Im not going to take anything from the boks, sat’s performance speaks for itself. However, when people start to make accusations like whipped that’s not fair and honestly disrespectful. I’ll agree that a win is a win. However, if you unpack the win descriptive words such as whipped, thrashing or lucky come to mind. I know its an emotional argument and reason doesn’t prevail but can you refrain from making yourself look foolish. I know you’ll come back with a smart retort saying how great the boks which is true but saying foolish things. Emotions aside can we use some brains.
And yes im touched becoz foolishness shouldn’t prevail.
Ron says:
Aug 31, 2009
Lets us not forget that WC 07, All Blacks were cheated from a forward pass!!!!!!!! As Arsenal’s Eduardo is being banned for diving, that french player who through the forward pass should also be banned from playing!! LOL.
But on a serious note. The Boks are at a stage now where they are the greatest. Just like any sport we go through cycles, who ever would have thought the Boks would be this good during the day of Rudolph ‘Judge Me By the Word Cup’ Strauli.
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
I will admit I am regretting responding to your first post mate. But nonetheless it’s a greater regret to be sharing oxygen with the likes of you. Let me take this as another opportunity to apologize for calling you not so ultimate after all. You have proven your support for the All Blacks. You passion and obsession for this team make you the ultimate All Black supporter. For the record, the great All Black team, narrowly lost to England. Please forgive my foolishness.
Mozie says:
Aug 31, 2009
BP is in Canada I think.
Ron that is what I was trying to say when I referenced to the year 2003 and the 49-0. Usually the cycle for the AB’s does not last long enough for us the Bok fans. I am looking forward to see how long the current bok cycle lasts though. Hopefully it will last till 2032.
Mozie says:
Sep 1, 2009
guru, I see Deans does log on to iloverugby.co.za. Genia starting?
Guru says:
Sep 1, 2009
Mozie, I must say that Deans has surprised me. For a man that has achieved a lot it took him way too long to realise that Will Genia is the best scrum half in Australia at the moment. I saw it from the time the Reds beat the Sharks at home and I instantly saw that the boy has talent. God forbid if that had been PDV, he would have been taken to the cleaners by every commentator. But becasue it is the great Robbie Deans people hold back. I am convinced that Giteua will have much quicker and more efficiant service from Genia and that might just make an imrpoved difference.
Ron, the fact that this great All Black side could be beaten by a forward pass just shows how vulnerable they were. There were many calls that the boks were not happy about both in the Fiji game and the Argentina game but our class allowed us to still win despite many dubious calls…….lol…….I am loving this, both NZ and Aus have no answer for the mighty Bokke and their supporters are having to chos humble pie being dished out by the Bok supporters……..lol
Mozie says:
Sep 1, 2009
do you think deans is now falling into the trap. I mean the kicking game is important (the return of barnes) but why not play q. cooper at 10 and move matt to 12. may be it is true, may be the world is beginning to follow guru.
anyway one forced change in the boks starting 15. I really feel sorry for styne. I did not see anything special from ruan last week.