Springboks - Brave & Passionate

There can be no doubting the courage and commitment and passion offered by South Africa in their 20-18 semi-final defeat to New Zealand. The players gave everything they had in a display of massive physical intensity but it was not quite enough to carry them to victory.

In the end the only two tries came from New Zealand and it was the All Blacks composure under pressure and mental strength and their ability to vary their attacking play that won the day.

The Springboks attacked out wide in the first minute and Jesse Kriel breached the All Black defence brilliantly before being held out from the goal-line, but then, sadly, the Boks tried to run at and stretch the defence so seldom in the game that the attack reverted to a largely one-dimensional, uncreative approach.

“We didn’t get any surprises today,” said Richie McCaw.

For all that, there were certainly outstanding aspects to the Springbok performance.

The defence – except for Lood de Jager’s missed tackle on Jerome Kaino for his try and the inability to shut down Ma’a Nonu in a two-on-two before he set up Beauden Barrett’s try – was organised and committed and tight. Commendation to Eben Etzebeth for his 16 tackles.

The pressure exerted on the All Blacks was excellent. The physicality in winning collisions was immense. A few of Fourie du Preez’s kicks were spot-on, Bryan Habana’s kick-chase exemplary and he showed extraordinary skill in winning ball in the air.

Francois Louw showed again he is a formidable Test openside, with exceptional work at breakdown. All three loose-forwards delivered top performances. The goal-kicking by Handre Pollard, with 5 from 5, and then Pat Lambie, was perfect. The way experienced Du Preez took pressure off inexperienced Pollard was masterful.

The scrummaging was both technically clever and powerful. Frans Malherbe is potent. The discipline in not committing goalable penalty infringements was better than that of the All Blacks. The slowing down of the tempo of the game, in the first half especially, frustrated the All Blacks.

However, the Bok relief kickers either didn’t seek touch often enough or didn’t gain sufficient distance, and kicking for touch from penalties didn’t gain the desired territory either. Tactical kicking was again wayward at times, offering the All Blacks counter-attacking opportunities and putting the Bok defence under pressure.

Four lineout balls were stolen, including a rare steal off Victor Matfield, probably the best lineout jumper in the history of Rugby Union.

Most of all, the Springbok game-plan was again just too predictable. To beat this All Black team, opponents need to be more creative, innovative, and adventurous. The Boks played just as the All Blacks expected them to play, with all the expected courage and physicality, but all too limited attacking variation. 

The Springboks were heroic in their commitment but the game strategy just wasn’t sufficiently ambitious. If only they had continued to run at the All Blacks as they did in the first minute, there may have been a different result.