The hype building up to this match was big and the result as well especially if you support the Springboks. They dominated from the word go and also built the lead from early on. The match started at a huge tempo and held that most of the match, giving fans a great match to watch. The scoring of the match started slow with the Springboks scoring a early try but the Wallabies stayed in touch with penalties.
The end result of 38 – 12 in favour of the Springboks and a bonus point to boot has moved the Springboks 1 Log point clear at the top of the Log, 1 point ahead of the All Blacks, who they will be facing next weekend.
The Springboks also broke their drought at Suncorp Stadium as well as the drought in Brisbane since 1971 and proved that they can beat major teams, away from home, in their back yards. With 9 wins a row a lot of people will back the Springboks to beat the All Blacks next weekend and this clash could turn out to be the decider for who could take The Rugby Championship in 2013.
The Wallabies on the other hand have no wins in The Rugby Championship in 2013 year and also find themselves at the bottom of the Log. They play the Pumas from Argentina next weekend, which is most probably going to be a make or break game for their season, as should they lose it will be most likely that they will remain at the botton of the Log through the rest of The Rugby Championship.
The Springboks will be taking a lot of positives from this match, but the Wallabies have their work cut out for them if they want to beat the Pumas on the weekend.
Players who stood out in this match were Duane Vermeulen and Willie Le Roux for the Springboks and James O’Connor and Adam Ashley-Cooper for the Wallabies.
James O’Connor and Adam Ashley-Cooper were the only two Wallaby players that ever seemed capable of getting past some of the Springbok defenses. They were also the only players who did not try to have a constant chatting session with the referee.
Duan Vermeulen made his big presence felt with big hits on defense and hard rucking, whereas Willie Le Roux should be kept on the right wing. He scored his first try for the Springboks and played a big part in the Zane Kirchner try. There were numerous Sprinbok players that can be mentioned, as this was a well rounded team effort.
Overall
9 Out of 10 / 3 Out of 10
The Springboks receives a 9/10, as they scored a bonus point victory away from home. They showed that they are the team to beat in this year’s The Rugby Championship and they also look as the most rounded of teams in this year’s competition.
The Wallabies receive a 3/10 as they were never in this match, with a lack of discipline and too much talking on the field cost them. They were overpowered in all aspects of the game.
I watched the replay last night. Boks were very, very good, every one of them. Next week is the real test though.
Nice article.
I personally don’t like each player rated as I think that is unfair towards players.
I especially liked the way you rated the Bok Team as a whole. Far better to rate a team and not the individual players. Well done, as I have never seen it done like that before.
Spot on with the ratings for both teams.
@ Puma:
We the public serves our purpose to criticize them i believe.
Imagine we said nothing about Ruan,s slow play behind the scrum?
He stepped up and played above himself. Would he realize he is the brake in the Bok back line if we just accepted what he did?
NO WAYS.
We are passionate and we also understand the game , sometimes we must speak out, voice our opinions.
If not they can just as well play the game in empty stadiums.
HM, Zane and Ruan all listened to the critics and advice and i salute them for it.
The Springboks rocked the Wallabies.
superBul wrote:
Good point!
@ superBul:
I disagree, I think they get more from the coaching staff than the public.
Well what helped ruan was our forwards more than anything, two weeks ago and still a few times on saturday het got dragged into the ruck, no scrumhalf in the world is immune to that. Genia was insignificant on Saturday because his forwards got smashed like ours in Mendoza.
@ MacroBull:
From this very site there was very few if any that supported Ruans inclusion until last weekend. We certainly pointed out Ruans slow service and we asked serious questions about the love relationship HM had with Ruan. So it was on various other platforms. The reaction by Ruan before the game when he himself admitted that he must step up was due to pressure from outside the coaching staff. From us the paying public.
I see a coach building his team and his success is important over a reasonable time period. But its funny when the pressure mounts how fast they get their act together.
We are the people who pay him, we are the reason why SARU exist.
superBul wrote:
I’ve been harping on this point for a long time now.
The question that I pose is, “Does SARU even acknowledge this fact, and if so, do they care?”
I think I made mention on the thread re Prof Fritz Eloff, that since professionalism, it almost seems that the level of professionalism amongst those administrating the game has actually DROPPED, and that the focus is more on personal benefit than the well being of Rugby Union and the players that keep the game afloat, to say nothing of the disdain that the likes of SARU seem to have for the average man in the street who has to fork out his hard earned money for tickets.
Maybe I am seeing things wrong, and that it’s not as bad as I perceive.
If so, please gents, convince me otherwise.
@ superBul:Well these guys should deal with our weight of expectation, hopefully.
So far, in JHB, our forwards dominated and Ruan was awesome, his best game this year.
Mendoza, our forwards were taken out of the game and Ruan had to fight for the ball and it was slow, it also effected his kicking game badly.
Brisbane, Our forwards destroy Aus, and Ruan does have a slightly above average game.
I am glad he wants to improve his game and lift it, but to be fair I do not think all the criticism is fairly warranted.
MacroBull wrote:
Agree
@ MacroBull:
I disagree with you there. A good 9 will be able to absorb the pressure and still get the ball out quickly. Pienaar trundles up to rucks and mauls, takes his time to weigh up his options before passing. He played much better than last time out against Argentina, but was still a bit slow too my liking.
@ Lion4ever:
Ruan basically made Zanes try… I am not saying Ruan is a sure thing, I would like Vermaak to start, but our forwards also sometimes need to take the blame for giving the 9 slow ball.
Genia is apparently the worlds best, how awesome was he on saturday when his forwards got smashed all over the park? You can be the best 9 in the world but your form will bottleneck according to the form of your forwards, no doubt. Name one 9 that has consistently played well behind a struggling pack?
Interesting argument here. I think we can give Pienaar his due. But take the first game vs Argentina. Look at the difference between Pienaar and Du Preez. Both played behind the a great pack of forwards. And there was a huge difference between the service of Pienaar and Du Preez. I will give Pienaar his due in this match, but he still has a lot to prove.
I also don’t think that Pienaar is a bad scrumhalf, but with the options we have available he is not the best available.
Why with a massive lead, does HM only gives Jano less than 5 minutes to play. If he wants to find out in Jano is a good replacement he is not learning anything by keeping him on the bench.
Unless there is something behind the scenes we are not aware off.
This is the only area I can fault him at present.
To be fair to Ruan, when our forward s protect him he plays medium to good but when the ref allows the loose ball contest area to go to shit, our loosies can’t adjust and are drawn into the brawl – Refer Scotland last year and Mendosa this year
@ Gena_ZA – Hahahaha. I have to agree. Especially building to a WC you need to know who will be able to cut the cake if you have injuries.
I read the book Jake White wrote. In black and white. And in this book, it would seem that there is always something going on in the back round.
11 @ MacroBull:
I feel right now Aaron Smith is better than Genia.
Correct I don’t think any scrummie will play well if their forwards are struggling. NOR will the flyhalf for that matter. Both will struggle if their forwards are struggling.
For this game against the ABs the only change I would have loved to have seen is FdP back to start. Until then if Ruan plays like he done on Saturday Ruan to start. He still was not brilliant, but he was far better than he had been. Also agree, it was Ruan’s pass that set up the try for Zane. Also don’t underestimate Willies catch at pace there from receiving that pass from Ruan and Willie’s quick pass inside to Zane.
I think at Newlands even if we have FdP we will still see Ruan start. Meyer will want to give FdP more game time with the team. Like he done with Bissie getting back. I am sure we will see FdP start the big one at Ellis Park.
I have seen too many times great passes like Ruan done to Willie in the past getting knocked on by the receiving player. Willie has great hands for sure. Receiving that ball from Ruan at pace was superb from Willie and that quick inside pass to Zane was outstanding. Willie too had a lot to do with that try.
I like Willie on the wing. Seems to play with huge confidence. Could we possibly see JPP moved to outside centre when he returns for the eoyt? And we keep Willie on the wing? Willie has been a inspiration to the Boks this year. I really don’t want him to start off the bench, he has to start in the side. JJE was very good at FNB. Since then seems to have fallen a bit off the pace I think. I hardly noticed him on Saturday, where as you noticed just about every player that started or came on later. Anyhow just a thought as I am sure when JPP comes back he will start somewhere. Doubt Meyer will leave him out.
@ Puma:Aaron Smith has been playing behind a monster pack and also looked insignificant when arg had NZ under pressure, he also kicks a lot.
NZ scored 3 tries, 1 brilliant offload from Reid, try 2 was a break from Carter(where he got tackled but got back up without releasing the ball) and the chargedown try, I think there was quick ball from Smith with all the all blacks advancing, was easy. Where was his “quick try making” ball?
Easy to play behind a winning pack.
do not worry about JJ, he remains a gamebreaker.
17 @ MacroBull:
I know it is easy playing well behind a winning pack. Just look how Ruan and FdP went at FNB? Ruan was good, but Fourie was brilliant. Look if we are struggling mark my words even Fourie will struggle as well bud. That is always the case if your forwards get outplayed. Look how awful Genia and Cooper were on Saturday? Look how Ruan struggled in Mendoza? Look how great McLeod was against the Bulls where he was mom after only being on for 30min, then the very next week he struggled against Province because our forwards struggled. That will always be the case.
17 @ MacroBull:
So what I am saying if ABs forwards have a great game on Saturday be prepared for A. Smith to have a great game. He for me is a better 9 than Genia. Well at the moment he is. I don’t think he is a better scrummie than Fourie du Preez. For me Fourie is still the best and better than Genia. I wish he was ready for our game on Saturday.
@ Puma:
Puma you are now insulting the greats of SA rugby. Look mate did Joost ever struggle a whole game? Did FduP ever?
Read me right, i say struggle the whole game. That is where you are so wrong. I know you love to make every young player a Springbok, if you think how many guys you said deserve a Springbok jersey….. The fact is a real great SH will see a way to take his team forward when struggling. I wont say he will win all his games but the ball will be used sensibly. So i feel naming Ruan and Fdup in the same sentence is unfair. Joost was even better
20 @ superBul:
Super think you are wrong. Why can’t I have a opinion without you thinking I am insulting players. Why?
Did Fourie not start at Newlands in 2008 where we lost to the ABS for the first time to zip in South Africa? Where they beat us 19-0. If he started there then he sure did struggle.
20 @ superBul:
Also the Bulls side took many beatings in 2008 where Fourie started. Why was that Super? Did your forwards not struggle there? I think they did.
21 @ Puma:
Oompie, you always come accross so indignant when someone takes you on for something you have said, that they differ heavily with.
Relax man, SuperBul or any of us, when the situation arises, is not out to get you and gun you down…
Now don’t go sulk in a corner for a week again… moer SuperBul and get on with the fight!
20 @ superBul:
YES Fourie did start for Boks when we got hammered by not scoring a point for the first time in history against the All Blacks at Newlands in 2008.
YES he struggled and I was not insulting him Super. No where at all was I insulting Fourie. I was merely agreeing with MacroBull that a scrumhalf will struggle if his forwards were struggling.
I never insulted any player. You owe me a apology Super.
@ Puma:
Can you blame the SH, in the zip game? Look if i say you insult a great it does not mean everyone feels that way, its ME. I think that a class player like Joost and Fourie made more wins in dire situations. Joost was great because he could make use of a bad ball. So too Fourie. They never passed the buck.
23 @ grootblousmile:
NO man gbs. Where the hell was I insulting Fourie? I take exception to that. Super owes me apology as no way ever was I insulting Fourie. I was merely agreeing with MacroBull that a scrumhalf will struggle if his forwards struggle. For that matter so will the flyhalf. It is a known fact.
@ superBul:
25
Where did I insult Joost? Where? I never even mentioned his name boet.
My personal view… it is bloody difficult for a scrummie to shine from the back foot, but not impossible.
Sometimes that specific scrummie can and should also help to turn the fortunes of his forwards around, by placing THEM on the front foot.
Ruan Pienaar is slow and cumbersome, he was certainly better this weekend and for continuity sakes I would keep him in the starting berth for this weekend, but I would also sure as hell give Jano Vermaak quite a bit more game time compared to what he was given this past weekend.
For the home leg of The Rugby Championship, I would farm Ruan Pienaar out of the team, directly replaced by Fourie du Preez… and then from the End Of Year Tours I would not even select Ruan Pienaar. Some might differ with me, but Ruan has had his chances and needs to be replaced at some stage soon.
@ superBul:I am with Puma on this, he just said what I said earlier that a SH’s form will bottleneck with the quality of the ball he gets from the forwards no matter how good he is.
23 @ grootblousmile:
I think I will go to the cooler for a week or more again. That was totally out of order by Super. Super can’t accuse someone of something they were not saying. Come on. Why not stand up for me when I am right? Super was totally out of order saying I am insulting players.
Anyhow MacroBull and I was just agreeing that a sh and fh would struggle if their forwards struggled. I pointed out how ours were terrific with our forwards playing well and when not.
Okay catch up later.
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