It was very tedious. The game came to the point that to not have the ball was more of an advantage than to have it.
That being said - South Africa are a very different team than the one in 2009 (the best SA team I've seen in my life time IMO, much better than 2007).
1. South Africa had a good scrum. Both Steenkamp and Mtawiria were in good form.
2. Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Spies were all in great form. Brussow was the best player in the world in my opinion for 2009. His breakdown work was amazing under those rules. For what ever reason people may not like him, he's won 4 matches and lost 0 against the All Blacks (that's every match he's played against them). Even now, not selecting him blows my mind - regardless of SR form.
3. Morne Steyn implimented a game plan that was effective. He had a creative half back who could kick well, pass well and run well. All Morne Steyn had to do was kick the ball between the posts or up and unders (which Habana was amazing at following up kicks - with loose forwards who would pilfer under those rules).
4. Frans Steyn was kicking 60m penalties.
5. Habana was more confident under that game plan. People think he went out of form and is out of form - I can't help but feel he's judged very harshly (I think defensivly he was rushing up too fast in 2010-2011, but he seems to have sorted that). For me, his solidarity was always a huge strength of his and I think he's still pretty much the same player, however kick and chases just aren't as useful anymore, and Steyn isn't good at creating space for his outside back - so he was never going to excell.
That being said - South Africa are a very different team than the one in 2009 (the best SA team I've seen in my life time IMO, much better than 2007).
1. South Africa had a good scrum. Both Steenkamp and Mtawiria were in good form.
2. Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Spies were all in great form. Brussow was the best player in the world in my opinion for 2009. His breakdown work was amazing under those rules. For what ever reason people may not like him, he's won 4 matches and lost 0 against the All Blacks (that's every match he's played against them). Even now, not selecting him blows my mind - regardless of SR form.
3. Morne Steyn implimented a game plan that was effective. He had a creative half back who could kick well, pass well and run well. All Morne Steyn had to do was kick the ball between the posts or up and unders (which Habana was amazing at following up kicks - with loose forwards who would pilfer under those rules).
4. Frans Steyn was kicking 60m penalties.
5. Habana was more confident under that game plan. People think he went out of form and is out of form - I can't help but feel he's judged very harshly (I think defensivly he was rushing up too fast in 2010-2011, but he seems to have sorted that). For me, his solidarity was always a huge strength of his and I think he's still pretty much the same player, however kick and chases just aren't as useful anymore, and Steyn isn't good at creating space for his outside back - so he was never going to excell.
