The Rugby Thread - Part Deux

sand_man said:
Didn't take our opportunities, period.

Marx getting ripped in the tackle as he is about to dot down and Grant getting charged down, 2 critical moments in what was up until then a tight contest, which we were leading by 4 points.

Boks 11 22 entries with a conversion rate of 0.9 points, NZ 9 22 entries with a conversion rate of 3.4 points...

Marx rip in the tackle, Sacha held up over the try line, Jasper held up over the try line, I think OX too... so many scoring opportunities but caught short. 1 more phase or pass away from converting. A general lack of accuracy plagued the side throughout the fixture.

Much is said about Tony's impact on this squad and for all the good work he has done, for all the attack has matured and evolved, we still behind the likes of Ireland, France and NZ in terms of fundamental ball handling skills. We have so many strengths in other departments that the deficiencies are plastered over. No hiding it yesterday...

NZ then made easy meters in the last 20 minutes. Sacha from a restart kicking the ball into the dead ball, scrum on the halfway, another critical error. Too many errors that inevitably went punished.

We played so much rugby and enjoyed long periods of dominance but with nothing on the scoreboard to show for it.

55 minutes we turn down a kickable penalty and opt to scrum some more as there was a period of scrum dominance. Scrum is in their 22 just off-centre field. Golden opportunity to score, we down 16-19. We get penalized at the scrum, Steenekamp walking around... NZ exit and score soon after... 14-point swing for the 2nd time in the game... Some punters crying that we should have kicked our goals, others crying that we should have kicked less penalties and gone for the kill. Hindsight is such a cozy place from where to comment.

man, it was painful to watch...

Ethan and Lord knock each other out of the match, probably with concussion so NZ now tapping into their bench. Further advantage SA but the boys coming off the bench did a job.

De Groot actually came into the match sick and you could tell. He was getting bossed at the scrums. Bouwer, who replaced him, did a much better job at the scrums (still got bossed mind you)...

So, to conclude, no need for panic. I wouldn't make too many changes for Cape Town although Rassie likely will. We made critical errors at inopportune times but the game plan was sound. Take half the opportunities created and don't get charged at the box kick and you're probably winning this test. That what makes the loss so unappetising. WE DID ENOUGH TO WIN!

Ethan Hooker in for Kurt-Lee potentially, Siya starting and Paul on the bench. Might see Cam on the bench. I'm hoping Lood gets a start. Man is a weapon in the lineouts and carries hard, good hands too and he brings much needed rugby IQ to a pack lacking some of that.

Thomas du Toit and Boan Venter, good chance both will feature.

Pollard potentially in for Sacha or Manie, it's a tough call. Boks will look to grind out a win in CT but it could be a huge mistake gearing up for a 17-14 type grind because I just can't see how one could restrict NZ to 2 tries or less. The style of rugby they're playing it would take something extraordinary to keep them to 2 tries or less. 5-1 they outscored us last night. That is a hiding of note. You not offsetting that deficit kicking penalties. Have to outscore them. Do we outscore them with Pollard at 10? I don't think so...

Sacha isn't a test 10 yet, IMHO. Too selfish a player and lacks the distribution skills of an international 10. 12 or 15 for me. He definitely starts because he is absolutely clutch, just not at 10...

Our bench last night failed epically. Marco and Cobus yellow cards, Steenekamp walking around penalty etc but one shouldn't judge too harshly. Can one play themselves out of the Bok side, playing 20 minutes off the bench, when momentum is swinging so violently against your side? Maybe, maybe not...

much to ponder... in Rassie we trust... We are now back to being underdogs and world's number 2 ranked side. Just like we like it...
Click to expand...
Spot on !!

Screenshot 2026-08-24 084304.jpg
 
sand_man said:
Didn't take our opportunities, period.

Marx getting ripped in the tackle as he is about to dot down and Grant getting charged down, 2 critical moments in what was up until then a tight contest, which we were leading by 4 points.

Boks 11 22 entries with a conversion rate of 0.9 points, NZ 9 22 entries with a conversion rate of 3.4 points...

Marx rip in the tackle, Sacha held up over the try line, Jasper held up over the try line, I think OX too... so many scoring opportunities but caught short. 1 more phase or pass away from converting. A general lack of accuracy plagued the side throughout the fixture.

Much is said about Tony's impact on this squad and for all the good work he has done, for all the attack has matured and evolved, we still behind the likes of Ireland, France and NZ in terms of fundamental ball handling skills. We have so many strengths in other departments that the deficiencies are plastered over. No hiding it yesterday...

NZ then made easy meters in the last 20 minutes. Sacha from a restart kicking the ball into the dead ball, scrum on the halfway, another critical error. Too many errors that inevitably went punished.

We played so much rugby and enjoyed long periods of dominance but with nothing on the scoreboard to show for it.

55 minutes we turn down a kickable penalty and opt to scrum some more as there was a period of scrum dominance. Scrum is in their 22 just off-centre field. Golden opportunity to score, we down 16-19. We get penalized at the scrum, Steenekamp walking around... NZ exit and score soon after... 14-point swing for the 2nd time in the game... Some punters crying that we should have kicked our goals, others crying that we should have kicked less penalties and gone for the kill. Hindsight is such a cozy place from where to comment.

man, it was painful to watch...

Ethan and Lord knock each other out of the match, probably with concussion so NZ now tapping into their bench. Further advantage SA but the boys coming off the bench did a job.

De Groot actually came into the match sick and you could tell. He was getting bossed at the scrums. Bouwer, who replaced him, did a much better job at the scrums (still got bossed mind you)...

So, to conclude, no need for panic. I wouldn't make too many changes for Cape Town although Rassie likely will. We made critical errors at inopportune times but the game plan was sound. Take half the opportunities created and don't get charged at the box kick and you're probably winning this test. That what makes the loss so unappetising. WE DID ENOUGH TO WIN!

Ethan Hooker in for Kurt-Lee potentially, Siya starting and Paul on the bench. Might see Cam on the bench. I'm hoping Lood gets a start. Man is a weapon in the lineouts and carries hard, good hands too and he brings much needed rugby IQ to a pack lacking some of that.

Thomas du Toit and Boan Venter, good chance both will feature.

Pollard potentially in for Sacha or Manie, it's a tough call. Boks will look to grind out a win in CT but it could be a huge mistake gearing up for a 17-14 type grind because I just can't see how one could restrict NZ to 2 tries or less. The style of rugby they're playing it would take something extraordinary to keep them to 2 tries or less. 5-1 they outscored us last night. That is a hiding of note. You not offsetting that deficit kicking penalties. Have to outscore them. Do we outscore them with Pollard at 10? I don't think so...

Sacha isn't a test 10 yet, IMHO. Too selfish a player and lacks the distribution skills of an international 10. 12 or 15 for me. He definitely starts because he is absolutely clutch, just not at 10...

Our bench last night failed epically. Marco and Cobus yellow cards, Steenekamp walking around penalty etc but one shouldn't judge too harshly. Can one play themselves out of the Bok side, playing 20 minutes off the bench, when momentum is swinging so violently against your side? Maybe, maybe not...

much to ponder... in Rassie we trust... We are now back to being underdogs and world's number 2 ranked side. Just like we like it...
Click to expand...
Great write up,.
 
stefan9 said:
Deserved loss. Clear lack of execution when in scoring positions is what cost us this game.
Click to expand...
No back line, zip, zero, zilch !! wtf is back line ?!!

When I saw Pollard standing there looking at end of the first half he even knew we ****ed.
 
Reminded me of the Boks off old - Dominate contact, possession and territory only to come away with nothing. Meanwhile, the ABs get a sniff and immediately put it away.

Then we forgot what a rugby ball looks like, got rattled and discipline went out of the window.

I was expecting to lose this test, Ellis Park is not a fortress and the ABs came in with game preparation (tour matches), but man we were dreadful.
 
thestaggy said:
Reminded me of the Boks off old - Dominate contact, possession and territory only to come away with nothing. Meanwhile, the ABs get a sniff and immediately put it away.

Then we forgot what a rugby ball looks like, got rattled and discipline went out of the window.

I was expecting to lose this test, Ellis Park is not a fortress and the ABs came in with game preparation (tour matches), but man we were dreadful.
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't know why our media always talk about Ellispark advantage and highveld conditions..blah..blah...blah. On a NZ rugby show recently one of the old All Blacks said they love those conditions. And it shows in their performances at Loftus and Ellispark too.

I think a lot of Boks got shown up. Especially our 9 and 10.
 
SeRpEnT said:
Yeah I don't know why our media always talk about Ellispark advantage and highveld conditions..blah..blah...blah. On a NZ rugby show recently one of the old All Blacks said they love those conditions. And it shows in their performances at Loftus and Ellispark too.

I think a lot of Boks got shown up. Especially our 9 and 10.
Click to expand...
Grant was ok apart from the charge down, the missed tackle on the line, the poor passes etc.

/s
 
SeRpEnT said:
Yeah I don't know why our media always talk about Ellispark advantage and highveld conditions..blah..blah...blah. On a NZ rugby show recently one of the old All Blacks said they love those conditions. And it shows in their performances at Loftus and Ellispark too.

I think a lot of Boks got shown up. Especially our 9 and 10.
Click to expand...

30-years into professionalism, talking about altitude is rather silly anyway.

These aren't amateurs that have spent two weeks on a ship and are seeing South Africa for the first time in 10-years.
 
netstrider said:
I just kept seeing the ref arm going up to penalise us. We were hond kak and Rassie can say what he wants, he has to take this kne on the chin as his fault.

Team not prepared mentally or physically. Kak performance and it could get worse.

Had to walk around at Ellis Park congratulating the few AB fans who were not sure if they were allowed to celebrate too much.
Click to expand...
Some guy who obviously had too many brandy and cokes decided to splash a local all blacks supporter in front of me towards the end when he was celebrating....so uncalled for.
 
The new 9 & 10 combo was merely more of the same Rassie formula of 'keep it different, try new combos, keep em guessing'.

Why do so many think it should have been different this time?

Oh... hindsight... okay.... don't mind me. Carry on.
 
www.planetrugby.com

Springboks: SEVEN reasons and a 'damning statistic' behind their loss to the All Blacks

The World Champions crashed back down to earth with that performance! 🇿🇦
www.planetrugby.com www.planetrugby.com

Great article and in depth analysis of Boks's problems.

Just some of the problems highlighted here:
  • Bad tackle completion ratio. Even PSDT had a bad day.
  • Slow (and of of the slowest in the world) ruck recycling gave us way too little oomph in attach in their 22. Also a reason for that charge down. Our scrummies are slow and predictable. Also a lack of overall intensity and work rate. Pedestrian attacks might work when you do the up and under high ball game plan but once you are playing catch up rugby you will get nowhere against the good teams with slow attacks.
  • One of our strengths turned to a weakness.... Jasper Wiese's numerous power charges most of the times resulted in loss of possession. Slow support, good AB strip takling and Wiese's inability to offload properly.
  • Crucial injuries effed up Rassies 6/2 split and we had to play players out of position... which against the All Blacks is unaffordable. Kriel and Williams on the wing was badly exposed.
  • Total scrum dominance early in first 55 minutes resulted in 3 points. Three. 3. Drie. Pathetic.
 
You guys should just relax. At times in the first half it looked like men playing against boys. We just needed a Manie at 10 to finish it off. The game would have been done and dusted.
Next test the Boks will win by 30, except if they decided to play Pollard.
 
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