Springboks v All Blacks 2
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@chimoaus Not that surprising tbh. Winning two Tests in South Africa shouldn't be considered a given, and Argentina are rapidly improving so the opportunity to get a win at home against Oz isn't unlikely.
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Just watched SAs first try. All set up by our terrible play in our own 25. Started well, no box kick, Moounga passed onto haviili who should have punted for the line. But he does that stupid pop kick. Before that we had been much improved in terms of cohesion, pattern and execution. Richie was a significant upgrade from BB
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@antipodean said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@chimoaus Not that surprising tbh. Winning two Tests in South Africa shouldn't be considered a given, and Argentina are rapidly improving so the opportunity to get a win at home against Oz isn't unlikely.
Also the Arg/Oz games a bit more free flowing, hence the bonus points.
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@antipodean said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@chimoaus Not that surprising tbh. Winning two Tests in South Africa shouldn't be considered a given, and Argentina are rapidly improving so the opportunity to get a win at home against Oz isn't unlikely.
I'm not sure many would have picked it midweek given nobody gave the AB's a chance and I doubt many people picked the drubbing Australia would get. I am happy for it to be close and look forward to the next rounds.
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@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
But this front row thing of theirs is fucking stupid. They played inferior players for 35 minutes and dug themselves a hole. Yes, their actual good players almost dug them out of it, but in the last 10, they were cooked as well. Too fucking clever for their own good.
This is it. We finished with way more gas in the tank.
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That was a great test - not really in terms of the skills on display - but, the intensity.
Showed the value of running hard and straight into the defence - Sami T., Frizell and even Dave Havili prominent among others.
We started very nervously - the backs looking like they'd never met - but, started to get some cohesion and settled once we got points on the board. Looked like we were running the Jaapies off their feet towards the end of the half and forced them to call the cavalry early.
Unfortunately a couple of shit exits were costly and we let them back into the game either side of halftime.
In the end though, it was almost like the Ellis Park altitude factor played into our hands and we finished over the top.
Far from flawless performance - there'd be very few who didn't make a significant error - but, pretty much all of them came back to make a big play or two and contribute to the win.
Richie was an integral part of that victory - found some answers to the rush defence and helmed us around the field. People have been asking for him to play like he does for the Crusaders - he does and some of them start wetting their pants!
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On Fozzie, I'm guessing @chchfanatic is going to be close to the money and Fozzie likely knew he was gone before he left NZ.
But, Robinson's press conference surely has to tell the tale - either they're sacking him now or he's there till RWC - whether we've still got the Bled or not.
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Compared to last week, ABs were more accurate. Boks were less so.
It was a better all-around performance from NZ but ultimately still the same game plans on both sides - which is expected as you can't suddenly pull a new one out of your arse.
Whitelock deserves some plaudits for pulling apart the Bok lineout at critical times.
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@NTA said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Compared to last week, ABs were more accurate. Boks were less so.
It was a better all-around performance from NZ but ultimately still the same game plans on both sides - which is expected as you can't suddenly pull a new one out of your arse.
Whitelock deserves some plaudits for pulling apart the Bok lineout at critical times.
There were some very noticeable differences in the way the ABs attacked both with our ruck work and the backline formation.
We committed more numbers to the breakdown - that meant more direct play from forward ball carriers and not being isolated. The setup was important rather than the accuracy.
We set up deeper - created space and was able to better (not perfect) deal with the rush D.
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@NTA said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Compared to last week, ABs were more accurate. Boks were less so.
It was a better all-around performance from NZ but ultimately still the same game plans on both sides - which is expected as you can't suddenly pull a new one out of your arse.
Whitelock deserves some plaudits for pulling apart the Bok lineout at critical times.
We were more direct. That allowed us to control our breakdown and clean out more consistently. Kicking was generally better, but need to stamp out stupid stuff in our own danger zone
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Well just got home from golf and still happy reflecting on the game (test not my f***ing golf). I still believe one of best things I enjoyed in game was the close in running, I know I been harping on about it, but would prefer our forwards to run close to breakdowns and make 1m than wider out and make 5m and be isolated. Thought Frizzel was great at this. But whole lot looked pretty good to me and let's hope we get repeat performances. Enjoyed listening to Mounga after game , when he was saying they were coming to this point 2 weeks ago, just needed to get the last few things right, and spoke of how good Cane, Whitelock, BB, A Smith and Dane Coles have been on getting everyone on same page. Vey interesting I thought and he was adamant they all on same page and Havili added they all got Foster's back etc, which is what you want to hear I think.
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Pure Gold:
Lineout defence, JBs fantastic punt, SWs steal, De Groots look, Samisoni bring it on
SYP Moment:
Ref: 'Im good with the pass', Havillis' home made up n under in the 22 -
@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Every single player except BB contributed positively. I reckon nearly everyone made errors but who cares? They didn't let them get them down
I'd add that every single player seemed to step up and do something individual to change the momentum when it mattered - Jordan taking a high ball under huge pressure, Clarkes try-saving tackle, Sam & Scooter's lineout steals. You can go on.
Loads of mistakes and plenty to work on, but that was a team win.
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@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Foster does this. His teams look excellent with the wind behind their sails and when things go well. Then suddenly, at the first sign of stormy weather, the boat goes down.
If fronting up to the Boks at Ellis Park, having lost 5 Tests out of 6, being hammered the previous week and almost all of NZ calling for your head(s) on a plate isn't stormy weather, then I'd like to know what the fuck is. It wasn't error-free & it might not continue but last night's win was a huge test of character and they made the grade big-time.
Foster, his coaching staff, Cane and the whole team deserve huge credit for that win.
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@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I'm not buying that any of our problems have been fixed, except by accident (BB being sore) and the injection of a good forwards coach (forced onto the head coach).
I agree, there's loads more to work on.
And I don't buy the idea that Ryan has made instant, lasting improvements either - we have to wait and see f they are (hopefully) sustained.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Clarkes try-saving tackle
Was that the one where he did a regulation tackle on the guy he should be marking? Because he also did a try creating non tackle before it.
I've been really disappointed with Clarke. Missing that tackle on Am, not long before that he was running around getting knocked over at the slightest hint of a tackle. He's kinda shaping up as the Frizzell of the backs for me...
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@Victor-Meldrew said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I'm not buying that any of our problems have been fixed, except by accident (BB being sore) and the injection of a good forwards coach (forced onto the head coach).
I agree, there's loads more to work on.
And I don't buy the idea that Ryan has made instant, lasting improvements either - we have to wait and see f they are (hopefully) sustained.
Just a coincidence that his arrival has seen a marked improvement in several aspects of forward play 😉.
In fairness, the AB forwards had shown the ability to go up the guts in a couple of games (French Nov test being the best example), but this was a step up on anything I've seen from ABs since the Irish QF in RWC 2019.
If anything, it looks like Ryan has simplified what he wants the AB forwards to do. Reducing the complexity reduces the over thinking, which frees the players to express themselves.
It looked like the players played with a bit of freedom finally. The pack played like one too. Cohesive and following the plan. It has been a while since they have done that.
