All Blacks v Springboks II
Yew! Too much! Great game good win!!
Not perfect but then who is?? Huge Improvement in 7 days in a couple of key areas and she was a different game.
Took a little while to stick, but then the Cane try was fucking gorgeous and from there we took charge. SA didn't go away but after our 2nd try they were fucked.
Then the whole game changed in an instant. The Boks subbed their starting front row for actual good players. And we completely stuffed that exit. We were basically 2nd best from then until strangely BB got carded. Game ground to a halt with penalties and errors and we got ground down
But the last 10 was fucking sensational.
Huge improvement up front. Huge improvement in the air. Far more simple on attack. Completely different game.
That's a good win, and anyone not giving the coach and the captain credit for it have given up all semblance of objectivity.
Every single player except BB contributed positively. I reckon nearly everyone made errors but who cares? They didn't let them get them down
Even BB contributed by getting carded and somehow galvanising the side.
Baby black front row huge. Locks big games. Shannon fucking Frizzell put in a shift. A Savea with key moments, S Cane a fucking warrior.
A Smith ran the ball which surprised the fuck out of the Boks. Mo'unga played a great passing game. Havili with some nice touches and a couple of good kicks. Ioane had a whale of a game at centre. Clarke is very difficult to handle. Jordan dealt with his kicks and took thr chance that led to the win. JBs best game for fucking ages, his game in the air was a massive change to last week.
Bench forwards all contributed. Tupaea played fucking flanker. Just a good team win.
My first thoughts, what a great game of Rugby with tension, suspense, and some great tries.
Credit to the Ref, overall, he was consistent even if a few were wrong. He communicated well and was in control of the game.
Hats off to RM, his clearing kicks and exists bar the disaster were very good. His tactical kicking was pretty good and we seemed in control.
I though RI was very busy and had some good touches, but the midfield is a bit of a disaster, every time we seemed to put it through the hands or try a move it ended up on the ground or in touch.
What is wrong with Jordan, I guess he is either a fullback or not in the side, I feel Reece would have been far better.
Credit to Ryan, that forward effort was far superior, and I cannot recall that many turnovers this week so we protected it much more. The forwards really stepped up and is the reason we won, simple as that.
Now the forwards seem to be playing better we need a new attack coach that can sort out the backs.
SA lost in the set piece, this must have been their worst performance in a very long time, I lost count the amount of lineouts and scrums that did not go their way which is the cornerstone of their play.
It's ironic that SA look very good with ball in play and their wingers in space is very exciting.
Apart from the scrum penalty and few dodgy lineout throws I thought ST was very dominant out there. I have been worried about our props but I think Bower, EDG and Newell show there is some talent coming through.
We have the stock, we just need to have a consistent plan and good coaching. Overall, a wonderful game and well done to the boys in black to win in that environment.
@chimoaus said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
My first thoughts, what a great game of Rugby with tension, suspense, and some great tries.
Credit to the Ref, overall, he was consistent even if a few were wrong. He communicated well and was in control of the game.
Hats off to RM, his clearing kicks and exists bar the disaster were very good. His tactical kicking was pretty good and we seemed in control.
I though RI was very busy and had some good touches, but the midfield is a bit of a disaster, every time we seemed to put it through the hands or try a move it ended up on the ground or in touch.
What is wrong with Jordan, I guess he is either a fullback or not in the side, I feel Reece would have been far better.
Credit to Ryan, that forward effort was far superior, and I cannot recall that many turnovers this week so we protected it much more. The forwards really stepped up and is the reason we won, simple as that.
Now the forwards seem to be playing better we need a new attack coach that can sort out the backs.
SA lost in the set piece, this must have been their worst performance in a very long time, I lost count the amount of lineouts and scrums that did not go their way which is the cornerstone of their play.
It's ironic that SA look very good with ball in play and their wingers in space is very exciting.
Apart from the scrum penalty and few dodgy lineout throws I thought ST was very dominant out there. I have been worried about our props but I think Bower, EDG and Newell show there is some talent coming through.
We have the stock, we just need to have a consistent plan and good coaching. Overall, a wonderful game and well done to the boys in black to win in that environment.
That's a performance you can build on.
Positives - Defence has been good for 2 tests in a row now. Set piece was good today and edged the best set piece team in world rugby at their spiritual home. Forward drives were effective and committed Bok defenders. ABs scored 4 tries against the best defensive team in world rugby.
Negatives - Backline still lacks cohesion and doesn't offer as much threat as it should. Kicking game was better today, but still isn't consistent enough. Team still gives away too many penalities to relieve pressure Will Jordan is struggling on right wing a bit, which removes a key attacking weapon. Still not convinced about back row balance.
@pakman Yup, may already have been posted but yes Wayne Smith ...
The whiteboard session that proved Ma'a Nonu as an All Blacks great (https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-whiteboard-session-that-proved-maa-nonu-as-an-all-blacks-great/)
Rewatching the game now 
... may post later
@taniwharugby said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Fozzie did say he felt something special was brewing.
I wouldn't go as fast as saying that was a special performance except in the context of the last 5 weeks.
That, to me was more reminiscent of an AB performance bouncing back after a loss.
Were patches where the ghosts of the past couple of months returned, but by and large, one of the better 80 mins of the past couple of years.
Will it be a stay of execution for Fozzie, who knows, but if he and his coaching team can get a forward performance like that more often, we might just start that climb back toward #1
Putting aside all our dramas even ,
I guess it was a great result considering this is supposed to be a great bok side ( according to all the online South African rugby supporters ) at their fortress
Funnily enough , before the season , if you were to look at all the games , you might pencil in this one as the toughest to win .
@kiwiinmelb said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@taniwharugby said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Fozzie did say he felt something special was brewing.
I wouldn't go as fast as saying that was a special performance except in the context of the last 5 weeks.
That, to me was more reminiscent of an AB performance bouncing back after a loss.
Were patches where the ghosts of the past couple of months returned, but by and large, one of the better 80 mins of the past couple of years.
Will it be a stay of execution for Fozzie, who knows, but if he and his coaching team can get a forward performance like that more often, we might just start that climb back toward #1
Putting aside all our dramas even ,
I guess it was a great result considering this is supposed to be a great bok side ( according to all the online South African rugby supporters ) at their fortress
Funnily enough , before the season , if you were to look at all the games , you might pencil in this one as the toughest to win .
I guess that is the beauty of sport isn't it, the result is never gauranteed and if you perform on the day, you always have a chance.
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I'm left with this niggling thought though.... just where was that desire, drive and want the last half a dozen tests?
I think all these things have been present during the season so far. Our problems haven't been attitude.
Today passes stuck and high balls were caught. But it's s concerning we conceded so many points against a limited SA attack.
Passes did not stick.
We dropped ball in the midfield all game, and threw a very soft intercept as well. We just didn't get punished for it today.
South Africa's attack is not "limited", it is simply direct. This is test rugby, and fancy stuff in the middle of the field just doesn't work, and they wisely don't try. They were more than capable of spreading the ball wide and finding lots of space, which they did all game. The lack of lineout mauls did hurt them though -- but then again, everyone knows they are going to do it and still usually can't stop them.
The ABs were very lucky in the middle of the second half when it was getting very crunchy that a penalty was overturned for the tackle after the whistle followed soon after by an enormous mid-field break being recalled for a very small infringement (of the sort we did several of). That was massive points swing, just as we looked to be losing our way.
The ABs played some good rugby, probably the better rugby, but this iteration of the team have no ability to control games. We remain largely at the mercy of how the other side want to play. Today the Boks didn't set out the "defend and feed off scraps" stall, and we took advantage of that.
It will be interesting to see whether Foster has learned that while Beauden Barrett is at #10 our backs suck, that Reiko Ioane is a winger and that even when we play well our helter-skelter methods leave us vulnerable. I doubt it, given previous form, but the next selections will be interesting.
@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I'm left with this niggling thought though.... just where was that desire, drive and want the last half a dozen tests?
I think all these things have been present during the season so far. Our problems haven't been attitude.
Today passes stuck and high balls were caught. But it's s concerning we conceded so many points against a limited SA attack.
Passes did not stick.
We dropped ball in the midfield all game, and threw a very soft intercept as well. We just didn't get punished for it today.
South Africa's attack is not "limited", it is simply direct. This is test rugby, and fancy stuff in the middle of the field just doesn't work, and they wisely don't try. They were more than capable of spreading the ball wide and finding lots of space, which they did all game. The lack of lineout mauls did hurt them though -- but then again, everyone knows they are going to do it and still usually can't stop them.
The ABs were very lucky in the middle of the second half when it was getting very crunchy that a penalty was overturned for the tackle after the whistle followed soon after by an enormous mid-field break being recalled for a very small infringement (of the sort we did several of). That was massive points swing, just as we looked to be losing our way.
The ABs played some good rugby, probably the better rugby, but this iteration of the team have no ability to control games. We remain largely at the mercy of how the other side want to play. Today the Boks didn't set out the "defend and feed off scraps" stall, and we took advantage of that.
It will be interesting to see whether Foster has learned that while Beauden Barrett is at #10 our backs suck, that Reiko Ioane is a winger and that even when we play well our helter-skelter methods leave us vulnerable. I doubt it, given previous form, but the next selections will be interesting.
All of this. We were not far away from losing so changes still required.
To be a bit negative in outlook, I am still concerned about our kicking game. Quite a few times last night RM benefited by being at altitude and clearances to relieve pressure that just put us out of danger zone would have not achieved that at sea level.
Why is it that we always use our 10 to kick to touch when there is a much bigger boot at 15? Even from penalties and FKs? At that ground JB could have been doing a Roger Gould and peeling off huge distance.
Every single player except BB contributed positively. I reckon nearly everyone made errors but who cares? They didn't let them get them down
Even BB contributed by getting carded and somehow galvanising the side.
Baby black front row huge. Locks big games. Shannon fucking Frizzell put in a shift. A Savea with key moments, S Cane a fucking warrior.
A Smith ran the ball which surprised the fuck out of the Boks. Mo'unga played a great passing game. Havili with some nice touches and a couple of good kicks. Ioane had a whale of a game at centre. Clarke is very difficult to handle. Jordan dealt with his kicks and took thr chance that led to the win. JBs best game for fucking ages, his game in the air was a massive change to last week.
Bench forwards all contributed. Tupaea played fucking flanker. Just a good team win.
@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I'm left with this niggling thought though.... just where was that desire, drive and want the last half a dozen tests?
I think all these things have been present during the season so far. Our problems haven't been attitude.
Today passes stuck and high balls were caught. But it's s concerning we conceded so many points against a limited SA attack.
Passes did not stick.
We dropped ball in the midfield all game, and threw a very soft intercept as well. We just didn't get punished for it today.
South Africa's attack is not "limited", it is simply direct. This is test rugby, and fancy stuff in the middle of the field just doesn't work, and they wisely don't try. They were more than capable of spreading the ball wide and finding lots of space, which they did all game. The lack of lineout mauls did hurt them though -- but then again, everyone knows they are going to do it and still usually can't stop them.
The ABs were very lucky in the middle of the second half when it was getting very crunchy that a penalty was overturned for the tackle after the whistle followed soon after by an enormous mid-field break being recalled for a very small infringement (of the sort we did several of). That was massive points swing, just as we looked to be losing our way.
The ABs played some good rugby, probably the better rugby, but this iteration of the team have no ability to control games. We remain largely at the mercy of how the other side want to play. Today the Boks didn't set out the "defend and feed off scraps" stall, and we took advantage of that.
It will be interesting to see whether Foster has learned that while Beauden Barrett is at #10 our backs suck, that Reiko Ioane is a winger and that even when we play well our helter-skelter methods leave us vulnerable. I doubt it, given previous form, but the next selections will be interesting.
Limited or direct. I don't really care what word is used. Yeah sure we may have dropped some but I don't recall too many momentum killers.
Exits were by far our biggest worry but in almost every case the problems came from poor decisions rather than poor execution so hopefully that was a symptom of trying a little too hard. When it comes off (eg Jordan from the claimed mark) we can be lethal but the risk/reward didn't balance overall
Boks are fucking good aye. Set piece is good, they fly around on defence, and are very quick to biff it wide to dangerous areas where they have real pace. Pollard as a game manager is probably unmatched in world rugby right now, never seems to panic.
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.
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I don't recall Jordan being as disappointing as some are suggesting. I thought he did what he needed to do. Were there some stand out errors from him I have forgotten?
There are some miserable pricks on here today
Jordan was fine. Yes errors, but nothing massive and he made several key contributions.
@ACT-Crusader said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
There’s only one thing that will make this win sweeter, if the Aussies lose later today…
It’s sweet as ?
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
I don't recall Jordan being as disappointing as some are suggesting. I thought he did what he needed to do. Were there some stand out errors from him I have forgotten?
Jordan was very good I thought - as @mariner4life says a few errors but a hugely positive contribution overall. Put Cane away for his try - linked up wonderfully with Rieko which lead to the first 3 points - the high ball take/mark that lead to Rieko's searing break late etc
@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
That's a good win, and anyone not giving the coach and thr captain credit for it have given up all semblance of objectivity
100% this. Excellent win.
@stodders said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@ACT-Crusader said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Fantastic win
Congratulations
But you won in spite of RM not because
If you think he’s the answer at 10 you’ve learned nothing
He did some very important things in terms of getting our backline going. Made some terrible errors too. But overall his intent in attack is what we needed tonight.
Yeah laughable to suggest what Mike said.
@Canes4life said it best when discussing JGB. I'd rather have rocks and diamonds than just rocks.
If Polllard had been playing for NZ it would have been a canter
What the fuck did Pollard do? Disappeared or passed it to Am? Yeah good one.
Kicked for territory
Got his backline moving
Didn't put his side under needless pressure
Didn't give up pointsAll behind a non-dominant forward pack
If he'd had the ride RM had, the margin of victory would have been greater
It worked really well. Meanwhile RM gave his forwards a sweet ride so that he could get a sweet ride.
Ha ha
Must have been watching a different game from me
I hope you keep him
Because he'll shit the bed when you least want him to
Yeah cos you'd be extremely worried if we got Barrett out there instead to steer us backwards down the pitch. I hope we keep him too, because he'll shit the bed when we least want him to... instead of all the fucking time.
Mike doesn't want Richie playing when Wales play ABs in November ?
Oh yes I do
Just watching the game now. After 30 minutes the Boks are gassed and their runners are getting isolated. Their starting front row was pretty shite, especially the hooker (did he throw one straight?). Even when Mo'unga chip kicked out of the 22, they were struggling to use the ball, and Whitelock got the turnover (good Rieko Ioane tackle, only one Bok supporting the carrier).
Better link play from forwards so far. Cane's best game in a while.
AB defence a step us this week.
@No-Quarter said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Rieko really benefitted from us playing deeper on attack. It was great to see him able to run into the ball and get a head of steam up before getting to the defensive line, he had a number of string carries as a result throughout the match and grew in confidence.
Anyone who says he's not a centre after that running and passing game obviously made up their mind 18 months ago and just refuses to change it.
@Tim said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
Am's a very good player but fuck me Clarke should never have missed that tackle.
That was a really soft miss, absolutely no mitigation.
@Tim said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@mariner4life The short bomb exit from the 22 to no one by Havili was crazy.
The whole game changes right there. I don't know but it looks like he got caught in 2 minds about long or high and so just fluffed it.
@Tim said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@mariner4life The short bomb exit from the 22 to no one by Havili was crazy.
I just curled up into the fetal position and refused to look at the TV. By the time I had summoned the courage, the Boks were in. Just friggen WHY?
Oh I thought the ref was really good too. Couple of rulings pissed me off, but if I am honest it's because they went against us.
There was only one I thought was complete bullshit, but then the cameras may not have seen what he saw
(We got called for lifting the player in a maul and I thought he just got squeezed up from pressure)
@mariner4life The good bok front row got a scrum penalty first pop. Think ratings would look different if they had started the same pack as last week ...
@Tim said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@mariner4life The good bok front row got a scrum penalty first pop. Think ratings would look different if they had started the same pack as last week ...
Just an insanely stupid tactic.
@Tim said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@mariner4life The good bok front row got a scrum penalty first pop. Think ratings would look different if they had started the same pack as last week ...
On scrum penalties, the one late in the second half where we got penalised, the ref missed the first Bok front rower that stood up and as Bower pushed forward he went up as well. Very harsh penalty against us.
@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
That's a good win, and anyone not giving the coach and thr captain credit for it have given up all semblance of objectivity
Absolutely not. Although I have never been bagging Cane anyway, so I don't have to stop.
Your position appears to be that our season has been so far, by game: 1) excellent, 2) dire, 3) even more dire, 4) even direr yet, 5) excellent no worries at all, anywhere, we're good to go.
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).
We're still playing two open-side flankers, a centre at wing, a terrible reserve hooker and an unreliable 2nd five. We still struggle with exit plays, drop the ball a lot, kick the ball poorly in general play and leak very soft tries.
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.
@Chester-Draws said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks 2:
That's a good win, and anyone not giving the coach and thr captain credit for it have given up all semblance of objectivity
Absolutely not. Although I have never been bagging Cane anyway, so I don't have to stop.
Your position appears to be that our season has been so far, by game: 1) excellent, 2) dire, 3) even more dire, 4) even direr yet, 5) excellent no worries at all, anywhere, we're good to go.
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).
We're still playing two open-side flankers, a centre at wing, a terrible reserve hooker and an unreliable 2nd five. We still struggle with exit plays, drop the ball a lot, kick the ball poorly in general play and leak very soft tries.
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.
that's it in a nutshell for me. we have a two year body of work to look back on. don't be fooled by today. even a blind squirrel finds the odd nut.