­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ All Blacks outlast Boks

All Blacks outlast Boks

Published on July 25, 2015 | Leave a response

The All Blacks delivered a typically superior fourth-quarter showing to beat the Springboks 27-20 on Saturday, reports JON CARDINELLI at Ellis Park.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen this movie before. It ends with cheers for the All Blacks, and tears for the Boks.

The Boks dominate the initial exchanges. They hold the lead as the game enters the decisive final quarter. In those final 20 minutes, however, they begin to tire. They begin to make mistakes.

By contrast, the All Blacks move up a gear as the game races towards its climax. Their superior fitness comes to the fore. Their option-taking is outstanding, and their execution is flawless.

Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park was a rerun of the old Boks vs All Blacks movie. There was so much to be pleased with in those first 60 minutes. There was reason to believe that the Boks were in control. And then, at the death, there is the inevitable twist. The All Blacks make the big play. The All Blacks win.

The Boks were dominant in that first period, with Lood de Jager producing a commanding performance at the lineout and in the loose, and Jesse Kriel and Willie le Roux combining to play some thrilling attacking rugby.

But the All Blacks had the final say at the end of the half, with debutant Lima Sopoaga searing down the right flank, and delivering an inspired pass to Ben Smith. The conversion by Sopoaga levelled the scores at 10-10.

The All Blacks absorbed a lot of pressure in the third quarter, and even managed to deny De Jager a try. In the 57th minute, however, Sam Whitelock was yellow-carded for a cynical infringement at the breakdown.

Bok captain Schalk Burger then made a bold, and in retrospect, costly decision. The Boks were awarded a penalty, and Burger turned down an opportunity for three easy points.

Burger opted for a scrum. The seven-man All Blacks pack held their own, forced the turnover, and cleared the ball upfield.

Unforgivably, the Boks failed to score a single point while the All Blacks were down a man. The Boks lost key players such as De Jager and Francois Louw to injuries over the course of the match, and their lineout and breakdown effort suffered as a result. But they should have put more pressure on the All Blacks during that period of advantage.

Sopoaga had a chance to level the scores in the 64th minute. There were boos from the partisan crowd as he lined up the kick, and then cheers when the attempt sailed wide.

When the All Blacks were handed another penalty 10 minutes later, captain Richie McCaw pointed to the touchline. The All Blacks set the lineout. It seemed as if they were preparing to maul.

But this was a ruse. Reserve hooker Codie Taylor threw the ball to the front, where McCaw was waiting. The All Blacks captain, in what is likely to be his last Test in South Africa, then crossed the line for the game-winning try.

The Boks were always going to struggle in the fourth quarter of this fixture. The travel fatigue after traversing the Indian Ocean twice in the space of a week was always going to be a factor.

What was disappointing was the Boks' decision-making in that fourth quarter, as well as their failure to punish the All Blacks when their opponents were reduced to 14 men. They let another great opportunity to beat the old enemy slip.

Springboks – Tries: Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel. Conversions: Handré Pollard (2). Penalties: Pollard (2).

All Blacks – Tries: Ben Smith, Dane Coles, Richie McCaw. Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (3). Penalties: Sopoaga (2).

Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger (c), 7 Francois Louw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lionel Mapoe.

All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

Posted in Rugby Championship, Springboks

Post by Jon Cardinelli

Jon Cardinelli

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×