“This was the Russian tanks rolling into Prague.”
Wallaby legend John Eales reckons the All Blacks are on the verge of a great era. He needs to revise that view – the All Blacks are not on the verge, they are in the midst, writes GREGOR PAUL.
NZ Herald
This was their 12th consecutive win and just about the most convincing of the run; they took just 44 minutes to score 39 points. They took just 35 minutes to secure the bonus point and leave the Wallabies seriously contemplating not coming out for the second half.
The attacking power, defensive clout, tactical awareness and set-piece stability was all there again last night.
There is also an increasingly effective captain in Richie McCaw, who was everywhere, taking kickoffs, scoring tries, smashing bodies, cajoling, urging, questioning and setting a stunning example.
This was shock and awe rugby; the Wallabies, organised, gifted and tenacious as they were, didn’t stand a chance. This was the Russian tanks rolling into Prague – a procession of intent and brutality all underpinned by a certainty of the desired outcome.
It’s hard to recall an All Black side, any side, that has possessed the same clinical accuracy as the current crew. The Wallabies can cling to the theory that they were scuppered by the red card to Drew Mitchell three minutes into the second half.
ROAD FOR FOOLS
They surely must know that is a road for fools. They were already in the coffin by then. Maybe the lid hadn’t shut but no one was expecting the corpse to miraculously revive.
How could it? The All Blacks only needed a sniff, a half metre, and they had the Wallabies split and panicking. Their ability to create openings was staggering.
The composure and patience was critical. So too was the speed at which the ball was moved away from the breakdown and the skill with which it was slipped out of the contact.
It can’t be ignored that the scrum was rock steady, or that Tom Donnelly sucked in just about every kickoff or that the lineout, the odd wobble here and there, was reliable. Gone are the bad old days of last year where those basic skills couldn’t be taken for granted.
But the key to their performance was continuity – perpetual motion, awareness and understanding.
Keven Mealamu grafted a serious number of hard yards. So did Brad Thorn and unlike many thumping ball carriers, these two were always looking for space; always alive to the opportunities that existed.
That’s what killed the Wallabies. They could put the first man down but the ball would always be transferred to the next.
The Dutch once played what became known as Total Football – this was close to rugby’s equivalent.
It was Dan Carter who effected the turnover in the build-up to Mils Muliaina’s first try and it was Thorn and Mealamu who pulled off the neatest and slickest of interchanges to get the ball to the wing.
There was even a freakish quality about the All Blacks.
The way Cory Jane managed to dink a kick off his toe to the onrushing, but offside Muliaina; the way Jane again squeezed in at the corner to claim the bonus point on 35 minutes – he’s not a big man, he’s not racing-car quick, yet there he was dancing and bumping past bigger men.
Even with 14 men – a result of a yellow card to Owen Franks for not using his arms when he pulled off a jumbo hit on Richard Brown – the All Blacks could score.
The fact Mitchell was binned a few minutes later created more bizarre symmetry. In the opening 10 minutes, Mitchell charged down a Dan Carter clearance straight from a kickoff to score in the corner.
Carter then crossed one minute later when he charged down a Berrick Barnes clearance straight from a kickoff.
How the Wallabies must have wished there was more facets where they mirrored the All Blacks. They just didn’t have the same speed of thought, the same movement or the same focus and execution.
They were endearingly brave after they lost Mitchell for good. Other sides, like Ireland, would have run up the white flag in the same situation.
Yet none of that will be of much consolation. This was their eighth consecutive loss to the All Blacks and for a nation that only appreciates winners, they know there is little point in cracking open the Champagne when the horse is long gone.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:31 am
Awesome power and pace by the AB’s. Still playing on the wrongside of the ruck, slowing the ball down, etc. Joubert pinged them – but not enough.
I hope the Boks watched this and noted what they are up against for RWC.
Things they can learn – get to the breakdown quickly and with enough numbers
– Recycle the ball quickly
– attacking players must have support on both shoulders
– tackles must be effective (use two or more players)
– speed around the paddock
– fitness
– getting the ball through the hands quickly
– no brainless play such as shoulder charges, playing the ball on the deck, going off ones feet, slowing down the ball, foul play, etc.
This game was played at a speed the Boks will struggle to match because of inferior ball handling skills, lower levels of fitness and less committment; and if the Boks intend kicking the ball to the AB’s they can expect a counter at speed.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:33 am
Reply to mawm @ 12:31 am:
Were there any kick n chases?
Can’t remember seeing one.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:39 am
Only grubbers (2 tries) and a few kick aheads – Jane’s was awesome. Missed the last 30 – was a bit late in the evening for the old brain.
August 1st, 2010 at 6:56 pm
JA whatever dudes.
The Kiwis has been on the verge of greatness before every single World Cup since 1987…
I was in standard 2 then…
August 1st, 2010 at 7:46 pm
The joke goes
An oke rubs a magic lamp and a genie pops out
The genie gives him one wish
“I want to live forever..”
“Uhm… any wish but that one… bit beyond the powers management gave me… try again”
“Okay… I want to live till the All Blacks take the form from the year before the World Cup into the tournament”
“You crafty bastard…” she says with a sly smile
August 1st, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Hehe Oos Rand. Hoe gaan dit? Jy nog ‘n Lions trui oor?
August 1st, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Reply to Aldo @ 7:59 pm:
Goed om jou te sien, het
die dokter jou afgeboek?
Sy span het gister begin
lyk of hy afgerig word -
baie guts en ‘n oulike
klein 10.
Lyk my hy is wat Dollie
moes gewees het.
August 1st, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I think the Boks need to work on their fitness – the AB’s fell off a lot in the second half and that could be an opportunity.
http://fromthebottomoftheruck.blogspot.com/
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:09 am
So its settled then, the boks are not over played they are just lacking the fitness required.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:52 am
Reply to BokRav @ 2:09 am:
By one poster
Just like that
BokRav
Catch a wakeup
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:04 am
They could be in the midst of a great era… now only two games away from testing their joint record they hold with the Boks… better not lose Carter and McCaw though…
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:36 am
So is it accurate to describe this AB team (not much different from last year) as weak ….?
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:45 am
Reply to farjan @ 9:36 am:
Only if you have paid zero attention to how they came back from their 3 losses last year and immediately regrouped starting their 15 consecutive run spree… and if you are smoking the same stuff that guy in your avatar is?
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 am
And to think that Henry’s job as coach was under massive attack after the last RWC. Worst streak in years from them etc. etc. etc.
Amazing what giving a person a break can do.
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:15 am
“Worst streak in years from them etc. etc. etc.”
It was a TWO match losing ‘streak’
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:15 am:
Tell that to that Kiwi press and supporters who where baying for Henry’s blood
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 am
O, and btw, SA has only last 3 on the trot now. 1 Whole match more than the Kiwi’s did.
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 9:45 am:
I do not hold the opinion that the current AB team is weak. Rather in the year 2009 PdV’s successes were “qualified” as being against weak opposition
My view has always been its unfair to qualify a coache’s victories as you can only play that in front of you and the AB team 2009 was not weak (as we can now see).
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 am
Reply to farjan @ 10:24 am:
With you now… yes I say the same for boxer’s starting out with regards to their opposition…
Reply to Ollie @ 10:20 am:
What’s that got to do with the price of eggs mate… you should set your standards higher…
In 2007 the ‘disastrous’ year for NZ rugby they lost… wait for it… 1 game out of 12 (due to a missed forward pass)…
In 2008 they ‘lost’ 2 games out of 15… and since 2009 have ‘lost’ 4 out of 20…
If you call that giving a coach a ‘break’…
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:41 am:
My standards are realistic.
NZ have a better structural setup than SA right from school level up to the National team. Every single player is contracted to the NZRU. They have consensus between their national coach and the S14 coaches. The NZRU can distribute players evenly across the S14 franchises. Players are centrally managed.
Compare that to SA, which is on the other side of the scale, S14 franchises ignore requests from the national coach, player poaching is rife. Internal politics is dire at the best. Politicians get involved with sport.
I don’t think the Springboks have the god given right to beat whoever they play, every time. I don’t believe missed tackles are the coaches fault. I don’t believe that the dirty image we are getting (again) is the coaches fault.
I believe in giving the coach a chance to do what he is supposed to do, coach. Which currently means we hold 2nd spot in the world rankings, and which also means that 3 of the 4 losses that NZ suffered (as you pointed at) where at the hands of SA.
Yes, PDV can improve, but which coach can’t. Which is what I am trying to point out when I say Henry was big time in the firing line a little while back. There were some big names questioning his ability, because of the way the AB’s where playing. He got the opportunity and used it.
In general, if you compare the SA stats against those of NZ over a number of years ( let’s say 30) then you will see that PDV is a slightly above average Bok coach. Hence I say that my sights are set realistically, and not pie in the sky high as yours seem to be.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
Reply to Ollie @ 11:10 am:
The fact of the matter is South African rugby since 2007 has never been fiscally as well-off, nor had the ‘purported’ depth they have at their disposal and are dominating the world’s toughest provincial competition…
When things go array at ‘national level’ in spite of this… the first ones to get stick are those being paid the highest wages and usually the same ones bringing up the most ‘conspiratorial’ excuses!
We’ll see what transpires in the remaining home games and at altitude nogal…
For the record… I’m willing to accept losses here too if they have shown some tactical improvement/improved adaptation or have at least have attempted to include some that can!
I doubt this brains-trust have the nouse… I’ve seen zero ingenuity from them since their inception other ‘the old traditional Bok rugby’ mantra…
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 11:28 am:
How is the National coach supposed to change the “traditional Bok rugby” when that is what is taught from the schools up?
If you look at the Bulls rugby, it is not that different to the Bok rugby. The execution is different. But then the Bulls do have a bloody good academy and the advantage that the players have the same structures and game plan from age group to CC to S14 levels. The national coaches do not have that luxury.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am
All Blacks are witwarm at the moment, but I’ll be holding the hosannas until a bit later.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:47 am
Reply to Ollie @ 11:36 am:
That said though, at home and at altitude I would expect at least 2 wins and better commitment from the players.
PDV needs to front up to the players and start demanding top performances and rest those that need it.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:15 am:
Dude they lost four matches last year!
One to an overseas touring teasm…. France….
It was hectic
Reply to manvanstaal @ 11:37 am:
I agree
August 2nd, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Bok fitness – OK fair point – but why are the All Blacks not oveplayed then when the Boks are?
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Their home record reads
Four played
two won and two lost
Even here in SA that would be a reason for the axes to get sharpened…
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Reply to Fromthebottomoftheruck @ 1:53 pm:
Because in NPC the All Blacks playing minutes is carefully regulated… remember in Kiwiland the top 120 players are contracted directly to NZRU and not just their union so NZRU can actually regulate playing time and introduce new stars and rest old legs…
Tim Noakes (may his soul rot AND FRY IN HELL) predicted the Boks would start to burn out and “protect themselves” on the EOYT already…
At the time the SARU rugby genius monitoring this said that he was organizing rest for players but the truth is Smit and Matfield as prime examples have played more minutes of unrested rugby than anyone in history!
Them burning out is kinda a done deal… dunno what the deal is with them to be honest…
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I think Noakes said that optimum is 1800 playing minutes per rest (full four week no rugby or fitness at all rest) at that time Smit had already done in the region of 2400 and this was close to a world record… Matfiled was just shortly behind him…
Truth is our coaching staff have sacrificed short term needs for long term glory… and the problem additionally is that with “journalists” like Keohane and JJ Harmse and Rob Houwing and fans like Bryce and Boertjie and Fyndraai they have no choice but to try and play their best side and win every game or their credentials get called into doubt AND THE AXES SHARPEN AND (LET US BE HONEST) THE AMATEURS who are running the unions of SARU’s constituents want the coach fired because they do not understand the first thing of a rugby match aside from that there are two poles like in soccer…
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 2:12 pm:
This is the one thing that I really have any issue with PDV over. Resting the John’s and Vic’s of the squad.
August 2nd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:26 pm:
I have to agree
At least we know that the Boks aren’t going to play CC after 3N…
Hope they spend the last two weeks resting too
August 2nd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
That’s why you need SARU to be handing out instructions on resting the players – every coach wants to field his best players in order to win. PDV should have first call, the tail is wagging the dog.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Reply to Fromthebottomoftheruck @ 7:48 pm:
I like your posts in general.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Reply to Morné @ 8:05 pm:
Not bad for a
rookie on the site.
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 8:19 pm:
Not at all, even Dawie has kept quiet!!!
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 2:08 pm: thats true about all the top players been contracted but they don’t have a say on how much game time they can or can not play for their unions. Last year the Wellington Lions coach refused to play abs players because he knew come semi final time they will not be available. Boks just don’t know how to manage their players properly.