Springbok rugby must surely be in a golden era.
The match must have left a sweet taste in the mouths of Bok supporters as the once unbeatable All Blacks were once again comprehensively outplayed. The tide has now indeed turned. The Green and Gold machine is the dominant force in world rugby. All Black coach Graham Henry is quoted as saying that in all his years as international rugby coach ( with NZ and Wales ) this is the best Springbok team he has ever seen.
Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana ran out for 50 test caps yesterday. Thunderous applause and cheers rang out at ABSA stadium, Durban as home boy John Smit ran out as captain of an international rugby team for a world record 60th time. Behind him, a team you would just like to wrap in cotton wool forever.
Hearing their national anthem ring out last and with intermediate downpours, must have had the All Blacks thinking they were playing at home as they took an early 10-3 advantage after an Isaac Ross try. Even though with an early setback and a record of the Springboks having not beaten the All Blacks in consecutive home tests since 1976, they never looked like a team that was going to lose.
The All Black game plan was difficult to understand. The majority of the time they resembled a bunch of rabbits caught in headlights as they hurry-scurried from all areas of the park, looking for ways to breach an unbreakable defence. This may be attributed to the fact that they felt they could not beat the Boks at the set plays. That was the correct assumption. Victor Matfield and the rest of his lineout spies out jumped ( and out thought ) the All Black lineout. They were also to be penalised for wheeling the Bok scrum when the dams broke late in the second half. One actually cannot recall when last the All Blacks looked so rudderless, so much so that their hooker and half backs were substituted early in the second half. Have the All Blacks ever lost 3 matches in 1 season ? Serious thought needs to be given to the way forward as they depart SA shores. One thing is for certain they sorely miss Daniel Carter ( who returned from injury for Canterbury this week ) and players such as Chris Jack whom are plying their trade elsewhere.
MORNE STEYN MAKES HISTORY.
The Springboks on the other hand look completely settled. Morne Steyn celebrated his coming of age as he rattled up all the Bok points with 8 penalties , a try and a conversion. A record for a player in a Tri Nations test. Together with the little general Fourie du Preez and the big booted Frans Steyn the All Blacks were bombarded with kicks as the Springbok tactical display was spot on. Pinned back in their own half the All Blacks ill discipline and handling errors cost them dearly as they were out muscled and out scavenged by a rampant Bok pack. Morne Steyn fittingly won the man of the match award for his 31 points, but in fact so compelling was the team display that one of many could have walked away with the prize.
South Africa victorious 31-19.
Australia at Newlands Cape Town, are next for the Springboks. The Australian record in South Africa is terrible. One cannot see complacency creeping into the experienced Springbok team. A victory over the Aussies would set the Boks up with a huge advantage for the away leg of the competition.
Ricky’s Read : Springboks to win by 12 or more.
Editors note: Ricky got the read correct by predicting a bok win for this past weekend.
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