[2018 Rugby Championship] Round 4: New Zealand v South Africa (15/09/2018)

[Bean]

This is the best thing to happen to Union in years.

 

[Nubiwan]

Some thoughts:

No boks fan but that was simply a sweet final whistle

Fantastic game.

Boks defence was all but giving me a leisurely sensation in my nether regions. Awesome display of grit.

I thought the boks were up against a 16 in (Clive?) Owen the ref. It's not the first time the ABs have got the benefit of some pretty iffy decisions and missed calls in the RC.

I am however biased. I never have liked "look at me, I know the rules better than anyone else" Owen. Rubbish again tonight IMHO. Wish he'd just STFU, instead of trying to be the main event.

World rugby needed an all black defeat. Or perhaps it did not......

All blacks probably needed one though.....

Boks scrum on their own five mysteriously called in favour of abs - Owen

Beau Barrett might be an expressive and dynamic open field runner, but he is one friggin lousy goal kicker. Amazed the ABs stick with him for his kicking. Does he even practice goal kicking with his brothers? Clearly not. Choked against the lions. Choked huge against the boks. Joke kicker.

What's with NZ teams never settling for a drop when camped half an hour on the opposition goal line, in order to win a test match? Like under their goalposts FFS? They need to hire Jonny wilkinson as kicking coach.

Did I mention a great result for world rugby.

owens really been kind to us tonight to an embarrassing extent

He knows where his World Cup final bread will be buttered.

kiwi's never ever underestimate the boks. the respect for our most honoured of enemies is stratospheric
despite boks ranking, most kiwi's will tell you that the litmus test of whether you have an international rugby future or not is still to play against saffa teams. boks is the baptism by fire. no body fears playing aussie, england or ireland.

So let it be written. So let it be done.

Believe it was Ramses II - or perhaps it was Yul Brynner

Predicting a record win to NZ here. 100pt+.

Sort of a kiss of death wasn't it?

Kieran Reid flew in from the side of that ruck where two boks were fairly contesting the ball following the break. Willie leroux rightly penalised but he wasn't the first offence.

The abs consistently enter from the side of rucks, removing opponents, and refs are to afraid to penalize it. You are correct about Reads infringement.

Owens had a shocker (actually not that shocking as he's lost it some time back IMO) - he did everything he could to give the ABs a win.

Solid SA, congratulations and deserved winners.

A shee-ite ref who wants to be at the centre of every match he refs. Even when he's just a touchy. Gets on my wick.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

There really is too much grey in the reffing, on here with international people it's viewed as Owens was helping the AB's...."stuff.co.nz" has a headline along the lines of " Hansen says blaming the ref is too easy"....a refs performance shouldn't be so subjective that it can so polar opposite depending on who you support

 

[mania]

So let it be written. So let it be done.

Believe it was Ramses II - or perhaps it was Yul Brynner

Oops my bad

 

[SomeOke]

I actually thought the ref was OK while it did feel like we were getting penalized a ton, I don't remember any single pen where I thought, "that's a bad call" after defending forever the lads definitely let discipline slip towards the end.

 

[Steeler]

Read's leadership is a worry as well, I no longer feel confident of the All Blacks winning in a tight spot as I did under McCaw.

Read is a gentle giant, doesn't focus the players. We are no longer winning the tight games as frequently.

 

[All Black]

Owens had a shocker (actually not that shocking as he's lost it some time back IMO) - he did everything he could to give the ABs a win.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/spo...ngboks-win-doesnt-blame-officials-missed-call

 

[Steeler]

refs aside, i think a few questions were answered about who should be in the best 23 for the AB's

-J.Barrett has to go from the 23 for me, he's capable back up if we are in an injury dilemma, still I'd even rather have Havilli
-ALB is 4th choice after Crotty, Goodhue and SBW
-To'Ungafasi is not All Black quality, not many Blues players deserve to be in the AB's
-When will McKenzie finally be given more credit and get more starts?
-Ben Smith is 100% our best FB and the best FB in the world - play him there and stop shoe horning in Jordie crippling the sides quality
- if Beaudy is having a night off, we can give the kicking duties to McKenzie later in the game
-need to start playing specialist wingers again, don't know why he won't select such talents like George Bridge, Ben Lam or Alaimalo or just play Naholo

Hansen and Foster have got my confidence, but we are only 10 games away from the world cup, time to build combinations and stop the experiments, the AB's haven't played at a consistent level for some time now, i think that's coming down to some of the selections, they can be stubborn at times to admit something isn't working or if a player is not good enough

Rellalick is a must for us as well, he is our most crucial player, need to keep him fit for the RWC

 

[Steeler]

not meaning to be offesnive here at all, but i think this result is concerning, because this is one of the worst Spring Bok teams I have seen in my life time, tht game vs Australia last week was proof of that, they look to be improving which is great and this result proves there's positives there, but losing at home to them is highly concerning and it's obvious some of our players from last night are not up to the task of stepping up to the next level or the level expected being an All Black

the Cake Tin is becoming a real nightmare venue for us as well!

 

[Bean]

Sort of a kiss of death wasn't it?

I'm more than happy to be wrong. The best thing to happen to Union is that the All Blacks lose a game or two. The next game between RSA and NZ will be so much better because of this.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

2 intercept tries and 4 missed conversions tell the story for the ABs. They can't be that sloppy again.

 

[All Black]

The Boks have this ability to stay with the All Blacks more so than any other team. I'd say England is the other team that can do it but thats maybe because we don't play them much. Now matter how bad the Boks are playing, they still lift and find a way to foot it with the All Blacks and thats why this rivalry is always special.

Remember when last year when the Boks lost to Japan in the RWC and then they almost beat us in the semis? They remind me of that opposition player that you play against that always tackles you and gets up an smiles and makes smart remarks. No matter where you go he comes looking for you with a smile, thats the Boks. Sometimes I think they live to play the All Blacks only and clock off slightly against other sides.

In saying all that I have nothing but respect for the Boks. It wasn't their fault we made dumb decisions and their pressure got to us.

 

[mania]

Read's leadership is a worry as well, I no longer feel confident of the All Blacks winning in a tight spot as I did under McCaw.

read did everything he could. he was a leader and an awesome follow me, do as do, type leader. the boks were just hungrier in this game. sure the ABs wanted to win but boks wanted it and needed it more.
im happy. i said before the match that boks were still a force and i got laughed at. this is proof that boks are still the litmus test for NZ. if you can survive and flourish in a boks game then youre ready for international test rugby.
thankyou boks for the reminder that ABs are but mortal.

 

[SomeOke]

OK before I say this please keep in mind, I'm still thrilled with the win and proud of the boys, but we do need to not get ahead of ourselves.
Yes we won but we certainly aren't the better team, this win was made from true grit, effort and elbow grease. Specifically:
- We had two intercept tries, and yes the ABs do this to us all the time but we can't rely on them every game.
- A few AB players were uncharacteristically poor, specifically the Barret brothers (4 missed kicks at poles is a lot of points left wanting)
- They kicked poorly out of hand in general and made many mistakes - doesn't happen often.
- Willie and Faf fired, it really feels like when they rock up to play we just play better.
- A few Trojans put in absolutely huge efforts and made a huge amount of tackles - PsdT, Mosert, Whiteley etc

Most of the stats show NZ dominance.

Let's be happy, but keep our expectations curtailed, Rome wasn't built in a day, and we still have many problems.

 

[mania]

Let's be happy, but keep our expectations curtailed, Rome wasn't built in a day, and we still have many problems.

enojy, ABs will be back, but for now enjoy a well deserved win
boks stepped up and showed heart. i for one am grateful to the boks for reminding ABs that they are but mortal.
its an awesome timely reminder that we have to be accurate and play better to win.

but man the Boks really took it to the ABs. when it counted the ABs couldnt cross the advantage line. ABs never thought they were gonna lose it (which is why they never went for a droppy) and believed they could score a last grasp try but boks had different ideas, and belief in themselves.
congrats and enjoy your time in the sun. no one believed the boks could win it except the boks players.
whitely imo brought it all and was outstanding. as much as i love watching vermulen (do we know why he didnt play?) it was whitely and his skill set that was needed in this game.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Great game for World Rugby
Good and much needed win for the Boks

Reality check:
- AB's got a wake up call, Boks had about 20 the last few years
- Worst game I have seen the AB's played in recent memory, lost by 2
- Best game I have seen the Boks play in recent memory, won by 2
- Stats show a repeat of last year's 57 zip drubbing, but alas the Boks won

Still a long way off, but the Boks & South Africa needed this
I'll take it, nice to feel proud of the Springbok again

 

[mania]

"but alas the Boks won"

why "alas" ? boks deserved and earnt the win

 

[Icemn]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby...t/news-story/877185b7855e045af5fc2b00dcf590af

I share this sentiment... surprisingly

 

[Brigantine]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby...t/news-story/877185b7855e045af5fc2b00dcf590af

I share this sentiment... surprisingly

This is definitely a thing. And a very well written piece too.

It must be a testament to the All Blacks' absurd level of success. They win so convincingly and so often that fans like me have started to empathise with their opponents; to enjoy the thrill of a genuine challenge almost as much as our own team's success.

Myself, I wasn't upset about the loss - just amused, but I was damn annoyed they didn't even *attempt* the D-Mac drop goal at the death that they were so well set up for. (which was the first time in the game I thought a Springbok win might actually happen)

My friend was upset, but "not because we lost" - more just because they played badly, particularly the Jordie Barrett quick throw in that was intercepted. And because she didn't appreciate us jokingly explaining how it was all Beauden's fault

It's not a new thing either. Last season, there were quite a few kiwi voices in the pub cheering Argentina. At Eden Park this June all the french voices were cheering the All Blacks, but just as many kiwi voices were cheering Les Bleus.

We'll never forgive SBW for costing us the Lions series though - that's different!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I hope that's the attitude of the team!