Tri Nations
September 2nd 2006 22:25
The Springboks have finally registered a win over a ragged All Blacks side who were more content to play a seven a side style game 21-20 in Rustenburg. The sad thing was the abundance of empty seats in the stadium, which is not the usual host of international test matches. They missed witnessing a close match, where the Springboks dominated the lineouts, and were handed the game single handedly by All Black Number Eight Rodney So'ioalo who should've been subbed.
The All Black lineouts were shaky under pressure from Matfield, but So'ioalo's mentality must been under scrutiny. The abrasive Number Eight threw a slow motion pass which Bryan Habana intercepted to take the Springboks into the lead which they only relinquisned before halftime. The damage from So'ioalo caused a try to be disallowed in the first half when So'ioalo obstructed Jean De Villiers when Andrew Hore went over to score. This was a huge blow as the All Blacks threatened all First Half and thanks to So'ioalo, were only level 13 all.
The Second Half was even with heaps of breaks being made, but poor final passes or fumbles at the break down cost the All Blacks especially. It seemed they were more content on spreading the ball, while Pretorius gave some much needed territory for the Springboks who were more conservative.
A final defining moment two minutes from time occurred when So'ioalo blew over from Matfield and from the side of a ruck to give the Boks a shot at goal from the All Blacks twenty two.
I would have to say that despite having this recent success, play like that shown by So'ioalo has and will continue to harm the All Blacks World Cup chances. In the last World Cup it wasn't the hectic rugby that won, it was percentages. The Mortlock intercept of Spencer's pass in 2003 semi final showed that.
The Mentality of many ALl Black sides is questionnable. When the going gets tough the smart get winning!
The All Black lineouts were shaky under pressure from Matfield, but So'ioalo's mentality must been under scrutiny. The abrasive Number Eight threw a slow motion pass which Bryan Habana intercepted to take the Springboks into the lead which they only relinquisned before halftime. The damage from So'ioalo caused a try to be disallowed in the first half when So'ioalo obstructed Jean De Villiers when Andrew Hore went over to score. This was a huge blow as the All Blacks threatened all First Half and thanks to So'ioalo, were only level 13 all.
The Second Half was even with heaps of breaks being made, but poor final passes or fumbles at the break down cost the All Blacks especially. It seemed they were more content on spreading the ball, while Pretorius gave some much needed territory for the Springboks who were more conservative.
A final defining moment two minutes from time occurred when So'ioalo blew over from Matfield and from the side of a ruck to give the Boks a shot at goal from the All Blacks twenty two.
I would have to say that despite having this recent success, play like that shown by So'ioalo has and will continue to harm the All Blacks World Cup chances. In the last World Cup it wasn't the hectic rugby that won, it was percentages. The Mortlock intercept of Spencer's pass in 2003 semi final showed that.
The Mentality of many ALl Black sides is questionnable. When the going gets tough the smart get winning!
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Comment by Jeannine Baird
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