[2013 TRC] New Zealand vs South Africa in Auckland (14/09/2013)

[donmcdazzle]

Bottom line is, the ref killed this game. We will have to wait for Ellis Park to see how the teams measure up.

SA didnt show me anything to denote they were going to win the game. For all the huffing and puffing the attack still consists of bomb and chase or a line out drive.

didnt SA have to win by 15+ to get the #1 ranking too? I don't think that was ever going to happen. (Happy to be corrected on that point).

 

[smartcooky]

I'm sorry Larksea, but you cannot compare how the All Blacks fared against a 14 man springbok team. Bismark is a key player. In his absence we were not as formidable at the breakdowns and lost a lot of physicality in the pack. Ruan Pienaar had to throw in at a line out and as a 7 man scrum, we were always going to be on back foot. Without strong set pieces, a team will never do well. The springboks found themselves under constant pressure which led to a lot of "scrappy play" in the second half. That said, their first time tackling could have been better.

Bottom line is, the ref killed this game. We will have to wait for Ellis Park to see how the teams measure up.

He wasn't sent off until the second half, and the Springboks were getting well beaten at the breakdown for all of the 30 minutes in the first half when they had him still on.

However, I do agree that they were disadvantaged in the second half of course, and they had a 14-13 advantage in the last 10 minutes, and all they could manage was that freakish kickpass try out wide.

It was a brutal test match and there will be a helluva lot of bruised, battered and sore bodies in Auckland this morning.

 

[GeneralduPreez]

didnt SA have to win by 15+ to get the #1 ranking too? I don't think that was ever going to happen. (Happy to be corrected on that point).

???I never said anything about springboks taking #1 ranking. Just wanted to see how the two teams measure up at this stage.

Cant really get the back line fired up, if your forwards cant lay solid foundation, now can you? Not that I am claiming that the Springboks are a flamboyant
back line team. I couple of tries from driving mauls would have been fine by me.

I didn't really see anything spectacular from the All Blacks as well, to be honest. I think the whole standard of the game dropped when the boks started to
struggle.

 

[Packman]

Well I haven't seen a referee screw up that bad for years. 42minutes in and I switched off confident that it was 5 pts for NZ. Came back for the Aus v Arg match and shock horror, 5 pts for NZ.

A great game ruined.

 

[ABs2011]

Man, It's a real shame this forum has been hijacked by a bunch of kids being idiots...takes away from the forum a bit, but we ignore them and move on I guess.

Also a shame the game was effectively ruined by the yellow card to BDP.

Makes it particularly hard to infer too much from the game. I feel for the SAs as the game was much hyped and looked like it was going to be a cracker, but we are all left feeling pretty empty as the battle barely even got started.

As a Kiwi, I thought we played very well, particularly Read and some of the young fullahs. Of the young bucks Barrett impressed me the most, Cane went pretty well, and Todd was good. On the flip side Coles was average and as a result I think NZ have big concerns at hooker. I thought Messam had a strong game, and I liked the way Nonu played until he had yet another brain explosion. I've been a supporter of his for a while now, but he's starting to ware me thin with his idiotic flagrant fouls. Maybe it is time for him to go. His only saving grace is that I still believe, IF you take that crap out of his game, he is easily the best 12 in NZ (and we don't have much depth there so...what do you do.... wait for SBW or take a short term hit and go with Saili?)

The return match should be fantastic and I look forward to it. From what I saw last night, the teams were well matched although I still think NZ has an edge.

Oh and the scrums were an embarrassment â€" man they need to fix that.

As a Kiwi, I thought we played very well, particularly Read and some of the young fullahs. Of the young bucks Barrett impressed me the most, Cane went pretty well, and Todd was good. On the flip side Coles was average and as a result I think NZ have big conerns at hooker. I thought Messam had a strong game, and I liked the way Nonu played until he had yet another brina explosion. I've been a supporter of his for a while now, but he's starting to ware me thin with his idiotic flagrant fouls. Maybe it is time for him to go, his only saving grace is that I still believe, IF you take that crap out of his game he is easily the best 12 in NZ (and we don't have much depth there so...what do you do....)

EDIT - Forgot Piutau - thought he had his best game in an AB jersey yet! If anyone has watched this kid for Auckland you will know he will be a special player!

 

[Dougydeluxe]

I just think the TMO needed to voice his opinion better. He did not really help Poite out. Gave very obscure answering.

Think the Red card really made it hard for SA to get the losing bonus point. But I agree with people that the SA attack is still a little to blunt to really take on the ABs and win.

JDV is a class act and I would love to have a pint with him. As my group of friends say... the guy is a real Beauty!!!

 

[jessta]

Wouldnt mind seeing piutau have a starting crack against argentina

 

[Larksea]

I'm sorry Larksea, but you cannot compare how the All Blacks fared against a 14 man springbok team. Bismark is a key player. In his absence we were not as formidable at the breakdowns and lost a lot of physicality in the pack. Ruan Pienaar had to throw in at a line out and as a 7 man scrum, we were always going to be on back foot. Without strong set pieces, a team will never do well. The springboks found themselves under constant pressure which led to a lot of "scrappy play" in the second half. That said, their first time tackling could have been better.

Bottom line is, the ref killed this game. We will have to wait for Ellis Park to see how the teams measure up.

at the end of the day it was one bad call on a yellow card, at no time in the game did the springboks look a serious threat to the all blacks, and its not like everything went the AB's way. Lost Carter and Dagg to early injury and played the last 10min with 13 players and the reserve halfback playing on the wing and looking like a possum in the headlights - those factors should have evened the game up but the ABs were generally just better player for player.

The boks got put in a difficult situation because of a bad yellow card. AB's put in a difficult situation because of injuries, ABs responded better. Much Much better.

One thing is for sure, the Refs calls are not in the AB's control. Disrespecting the ABs because of the French Refs calls is pretty hollow. Id hope the game is not remembered for that when it should be remembered for the performances of Retalick and Cane in particular but also the rest of the team.

 

[smartcooky]

I just think the TMO needed to voice his opinion better. He did not really help Poite out. Gave very obscure answering.

Dougy, have a listen.





Poite had already decided that du Plessis was getting a yellow card for a high, no-arms tackle.

The TMO answers exactly what was asked of him....

[TEXTAREA]Poite: "Can you check if there is any foul play. I've got the tackle; the high tackle. I didn't see any foul play, but just check about this?"

(we don't hear what Ayoub says in reply)

Poite: "No, the tackle is my decision, but check if there is any foul play afterwards"

(then he talks to de Villiers and tell him to call No. 2)

de Villiers then asks what was wrong

Poite: "Height, the shoulder and no arms."

Ayoub: "I have a decision for you. There was no foul play. A lot of pushing and shoiving, but you go with your decision

[/TEXTAREA]

Poite was only asking the TMO about the handbags after the tackle. He had made it clear to the TMO that he had already made up his own mind about the tackle itself.

I think he was wrong. The tackle was shoulder first with no arms, but it wasn't high, and didn't IMO, deserve a yellow card. Nonu's shoulder charge was much more deserving, and got one.

 

[OneBlackEye]

Dammit, I was really looking forward to this game and that card ruined it for me. BdP was on fire too, feel bad for you Saffas.

Habana played better as a loose forward, 2 turn overs and no line breaks? Kirchner was pretty ineffectual too.

Nonus kicking game is excellent these days, shame he is moron. Ive had enough of him, can you really expect to play in the best team in the world and make decisions that bad? Use your arms you idiot! Every ref is going to watch him like a hawk.

Barrits kicking game was a bit shaky and Luatua didnt have the same impact off the bench I thought he would. Im a big fan of Messam but Ive been really really impressed with Luatua so was looking forward to him coming on fresh to make a huge impact. He still played well I just thought he would rip it up a bit more. It was a pretty chaotic game to come in to to be fair.

Still an awesome all round performance, the next one is going to be huuuuge.

 

[jessta]

On a completely unrelated note, carters gone for rest of championship. F me! The mans made of glass these days

 

[Gena_ZA]

Having calmed down must say most of The All Blacks supporters have it spot on. The AB's were a bit better man for man, at home and no 1 side in the world, as expected.
In the near future you will be traveling to Ellis Park, brilliant stadium and you will face the wrath of the SA nation (this will be very similar to the 95 WC final in terms of anticipation), see you on the flip side

 

[jessta]

Having calmed down must say most of The All Blacks supporters have it spot on. The AB's were a bit better man for man, at home and no 1 side in the world, as expected.
In the near future you will be traveling to Ellis Park, brilliant stadium and you will face the wrath of the SA nation (this will be very similar to the 95 WC final in terms of anticipation), see you on the flip side

Bring it! So keen for that game

 

[Gena_ZA]

Bring it! So keen for that game

me to man!
But you bring it, we will be waiting, it's our den

 

[Zapphod]

On a completely unrelated note, carters gone for rest of championship. F me! The mans made of glass these days

Indeed he appears to be, but to be honest I think he is close to being surpassed by both Cruden and Barrett, I would suggest that it is really only his experience in the role that is keeping him selected and I doubt he will be at the next RWC.

Now I realise that the "Carter is god" team will waffle on about his supremacy and I am certainly not going to argue that up until the RWC injury he was the best but since then I think he has been a shadow of his former self and perhaps these injuries are a good thing for the AB's as it allows us to focus on the two players I believe will be at the next World Cup.

 

[smartcooky]

Having calmed down must say most of The All Blacks supporters have it spot on. The AB's were a bit better man for man, at home and no 1 side in the world, as expected.
In the near future you will be traveling to Ellis Park, brilliant stadium and you will face the wrath of the SA nation (this will be very similar to the 95 WC final in terms of anticipation), see you on the flip side

We haven't won at Ellis Park since 1997. I hate to say this, but I hope the Aussies beat you in Newlands, because I wouldn't want us to be in the position of having to beat you at Ellis Park to to win the RC. It could come down to points difference and/or bonus points.

The All Blacks match against the Pumas in La Plata has now taken on enormous significance. We will be needing to win it by a big margin and with a bonus point.

 

[austingtir]

On a completely unrelated note, carters gone for rest of championship. F me! The mans made of glass these days

I was saying this at his last injury..... BUT it was just a freakish tackle by Bismark really thats done the damage at the end of the day if Cruden or anyone else had been tackled like that the result would of been the same.

Barrett performed better than i thought he would but the game had broken down by then. Starting a match in SA would be a whole different thing for him and imo its to early for him.

We haven't won at Ellis Park since 1997. I hate to say this, but I hope the Aussies beat you in Newlands, because I wouldn't want us to be in the position of having to beat you at Ellis Park to to win the RC. It could come down to points difference and/or bonus points.

The All Blacks match against the Pumas in La Plata has now taken on enormous significance. We will be needing to win it by a big margin and with a bonus point.

I agree with this. This rugby championship is almost the Boks to loose if we dont put in a good performance against Argentina. And we actually usually struggle a bit with them at home they are pretty tough.

 

[jessta]

Indeed he appears to be, but to be honest I think he is close to being surpassed by both Cruden and Barrett, I would suggest that it is really only his experience in the role that is keeping him selected and I doubt he will be at the next RWC.

Now I realise that the "Carter is god" team will waffle on about his supremacy and I am certainly not going to argue that up until the RWC injury he was the best but since then I think he has been a shadow of his former self and perhaps these injuries are a good thing for the AB's as it allows us to focus on the two players I believe will be at the next World Cup.

good points you raise sir, but i think he will make the squad but defs wont be starting. barrett hasnt received enough praise for his epic performance last night. hes running game was slick and he didnt just act as a distributor. he varied his game well and kept the all blacks mechanism moving along nicely. a mans whos often criticised for his defense, i didnt see any noticeable errors. and how about his killer run fending off the big boys and busting a few tackles. he defs outplayed morne

 

[tenpm]

Wonder if Hansen will employ the same logic that he used for Messam/Luatua to start Cruden?

 

[austingtir]

Wonder if Hansen will employ the same logic that he used for Messam/Luatua to start Cruden?

I have no doubt if Cruden is fit he will start against the boks.