Springboks vs All Blacks: Food For Thought
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Springboks vs All Blacks: Food For Thought
1 New Zealanders were concerned at their
hooker resources after the retirement of Andrew Hore and with Keven Mealamu
closer to 40 than 30, but Dane Coles showed conclusively on Saturday that he is
already an All Black star. His hooker basics are sound and his ball-playing
ability and elusive running skills superb.
2 Aaron Smith was a threat to the Springboks defence and is a potential World Cup match-winner, but his display was far from flawless – the All Blacks will want greater accuracy in his decision-making, more precision in his kicking out of hand, and no missed tackles.
3 Innovation is still possible at Test level. Richie McCaw’s try that turned the game came from creativity and precise execution.
4 Steve Hansen will have been happy with many things the All Blacks did but unhappy with conceding 13 penalties plus a free kick, and missing 29 tackles. An 80% tackle success rate is not conducive to winning the World Cup.
5 Of the two All Black Test debutants, Lima Sopoaga fared better, making a positive impression in his 80 minutes, while James Broadhurst made only a modest contribution in his 40 minutes, not returning for the second half.
6 Jesse Kriel may miss a few tackles at 13 after playing 15 all season for the Bulls, but he is a potent attacking pressure point with his elusive feet and incisive angles – and he has the gift of spot-on timing, one of the attacking assets most difficult to coach for players who don’t have it as part of their intuitive skill-set.
7 Considering how much time he has spent recovering from injury and how little rugby he’s played, Lood de Jager’s 63 minutes against Australia and 60 minutes against New Zealand have been superb.
8 For as long as the Springboks suffocated the All Blacks by not conceding turnovers, and with quick recycling giving them continuity, victory looked likely, but when they compromised that clinical efficiency, they allowed the visitors to capitalise. Injuries causing early replacements didn’t help the Bok cause.
9 Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, and Bismarck du Plessis may be veterans now but their array of skills and wisdom of experience make them Bok kingpins.
10 Pat Lambie and Cobus Reinach deserve a chance to start at flyhalf and scrumhalf.
2 Aaron Smith was a threat to the Springboks defence and is a potential World Cup match-winner, but his display was far from flawless – the All Blacks will want greater accuracy in his decision-making, more precision in his kicking out of hand, and no missed tackles.
3 Innovation is still possible at Test level. Richie McCaw’s try that turned the game came from creativity and precise execution.
4 Steve Hansen will have been happy with many things the All Blacks did but unhappy with conceding 13 penalties plus a free kick, and missing 29 tackles. An 80% tackle success rate is not conducive to winning the World Cup.
5 Of the two All Black Test debutants, Lima Sopoaga fared better, making a positive impression in his 80 minutes, while James Broadhurst made only a modest contribution in his 40 minutes, not returning for the second half.
6 Jesse Kriel may miss a few tackles at 13 after playing 15 all season for the Bulls, but he is a potent attacking pressure point with his elusive feet and incisive angles – and he has the gift of spot-on timing, one of the attacking assets most difficult to coach for players who don’t have it as part of their intuitive skill-set.
7 Considering how much time he has spent recovering from injury and how little rugby he’s played, Lood de Jager’s 63 minutes against Australia and 60 minutes against New Zealand have been superb.
8 For as long as the Springboks suffocated the All Blacks by not conceding turnovers, and with quick recycling giving them continuity, victory looked likely, but when they compromised that clinical efficiency, they allowed the visitors to capitalise. Injuries causing early replacements didn’t help the Bok cause.
9 Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, and Bismarck du Plessis may be veterans now but their array of skills and wisdom of experience make them Bok kingpins.
10 Pat Lambie and Cobus Reinach deserve a chance to start at flyhalf and scrumhalf.
