If you didn’t wake up in the small hours to watch the Springboks play New Zealand overnight, you will likely rue the decision. This match traced two parts of rugby more commonly associated with the early days of professionalism: day time kick off in the Republic and a come-from-behind All Blacks victory.
I could spout on about grit and determination and the will of New Zealand to come through in the crunch; likewise I could wax lyrically about a much improved South Africa who fought to the death, never said die and were unlucky to lose. But I won’t because there are only three things you need to know about rugby after this game. Number one, the All Blacks’ fitness is proving to be their strongest weapon; two, if and only if, de Villiers gets the chop the All Blacks have reason to fear the Springboks; three, McCaw for God.
With the Springboks defence proving a much more resistant force than their last three matches, the All Blacks struggled for most of the match to find the gaps that they’ve become accustomed to. For the most part the Boks were impregnable, forcing a few uncharacteristic errors for the Black team. But you could tell as time wore on and the half gaps opened that New Zealand would breach at some point. Perhaps if Carter had brought his kicking boots it may not have needed two tries in the final two minutes, but it was testament to the All Blacks’ conditioning and their willingness to keep attacking that they could snatch victory at such a late stage. They are fitter, stronger and faster than their opposition every Saturday, but most importantly they have the brains to apply those qualities at the right times – namely the 80th minute, on this occasion.
Possibly the most frustrating thing about this match for any South Africa supporter is that the Boks had all the right tools on the day. None of the players let the side down, with the exception of Pierre Spies, who is not a test quality Number 8. Their tactics were spot-on and the hunger they displayed in front of 90-odd thousand was enough to warrant a victory. But the cracks appeared after 60 minutes, and they were mistakes of execution and leadership. At the ruck, they were far more effective in clearing bodies and creating quick ball, but they still gave away silly penalties. Fly-half Morne Steyn had a forgettable day, aside from his place-kicking. He was erratic kicking from hand and made the mistake of kicking too often instead of using the quick ball his forwards had brought to the table. In the first half, the Boks shifted it wide and caught New Zealand short of numbers. Later in the match they failed to execute this effectively, instead giving away possession via the boot to a dangerous back 3. As the game entered the final ten minutes, the Boks didn’t know how to close it out properly – a symptom borne of losing the winning rhythm – and gifted possession and points to the opposition.
While South Africa will claim that this group is ‘together’ and led by some strong individuals, it seems there isn’t a strong axis of leadership and if this is the case you must always look at the coach. Sure, the new faces helped restore some faith in the Springboks of 2010, but if Peter de Villiers remains in a job, the Boks of 2011 will suffer the same fate. This is a man who routinely shifts blame for his and his team’s shortcomings. Some may see this as backing his players, but it’s also operating with your head in the sand. If he goes, South Africa is an entirely different animal.
Finally, and most pleasingly, Richard McCaw. It becomes a bit boring when he is always up for Man of the Match. He’s like Michael Jordan in the 90’s and the Crusaders of the noughties: he wins so often that it’s fashionable to look for others who may have stood out as much. And players do, but nobody has ever done it as consistently as McCaw. Again he was central to the All Blacks’ cause in Soweto, not least because of his hair-raising run down the right touch to score in the corner and tie up the game with two minutes to go. It’s all been said about him before, so there’s not a lot to add. Dan Carter is probably the most important player for the All Blacks’ World Cup chances next year, but McCaw is the player whose greatness most epitomises the Graham Henry All Blacks.
