Saracens
New Zealand 40 South Africa 7
A Step Ahead of the Rest
By Josh Black
August 1 2011
The Tri-Nations is hardly making a pretence of being an important competition in and of itself this year. In a shortened form, and with friendlies between Australia and Samoa and New Zealand and Fiji leading up to it, there’s no denying that this is a warm up to the World Cup. Indeed, to Southern Hemisphere folk, this is a preview of the semi-final stage.
Just take Eddie Jones, convinced that the pool of potential winners for rugby’s grandstand tournament consists of the All Blacks and his own team, Australia.
And just as no football world cup has really begun until the samba kings of Brazil take to the field, or Wimbledon until Federer or Nadal begin to draw the crowds to Centre Court, the World Cup build up is all about the All Blacks.
When an eight-try romp (over Fiji) prompts comments about your rustiness, you know you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. But against South Africa in Wellington, the All Blacks looked like they hadn’t a challenger in the world.
Part of the aura of the All Blacks is that you simply don’t know where the attack is going to come from. Then again, even when you do know – for example, that Dan Carter should on no account be given a gnat’s breath of space – they are still irrepressible. Carter, who kicked abysmally, still ruled his domain with imperiousness. Trapped in his own 22, he slotted a grubber kick through without giving the slightest indication he was considering it. Ma Nonu was alert to it and in a flowing move, Zac Guildford was gifted his first test try. Then, in the second half, Carter fielded a long but directionless South African clearance, burst through one of the gaping midfield holes (thanks to some ‘effective’ obstruction from Richie McCaw) and sent Guildford in for his second. Such was New Zealand’s confidence that they sent on Colin Slade at first five-eights and had Carter tutoring the young Highlander from 12.
Nonu was turning back the years to be his rumbunctuous old self, while McCaw would have to unscrew all the Bokke’s studs and water the pitch with a hosepipe at half time before the referee would call him up for foul play. Then again, the wily blind side is a master of not being seen and probably wouldn’t be caught. Special credit must go to Cory Jane, included in the squad as an afterthought and probably the last man you would tell that his name was, well, a bit girly. One individual try of exquisite brilliance and another ruthless finish from fifteen metres out mark him out as a player to watch in a month’s time.
As for South Africa, there’s relatively little to be said. Only Danie Roussow, Morne Steyn and Ruan Pienaar truly looked like test players on the day and though John Smit scored a trademark try from a lineout when South Africa threatened to muscle their way back into the match, the hooker and captain looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The list of their injured players going into this match give a good indication of the experience that the Springboks are missing.
They will undoubtedly be a different prospect when the pressure of the World Cup environment can turn coal into diamonds and Matfield, Smith and Burger are options for a back row that was done over ferociously by New Zealand, but coach Pieter de Villiers was again making bizarre substitutions and tactical changes, throwing on three-quarters when what the team needed were fresh legs in the forwards to slow the All Blacks advance down. Until then, they will need to refresh their weary troops and prepare to do battle against Australia in Durban on August 13.
Australia may be flying after beating the All Blacks at home, or have their youth and lack of physicality found out. It is worth remembering that they were the last team to beat the All Blacks though, and a victory next week could add some spice to what is already a thrilling World Cup warm-up.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Wyatt Crockett, Andrew Hore, Ben Franks; Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson. Replacements: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Jarrad Hoeata, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Colin Slade, Sonny Bill Williams.
South Africa: Patrick Lambie; Bjorn Basson, Adi Jacobs, Juan de Jongh, Lwazi Mvovo; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Dean Greyling, John Smit (capt), Werner Kruger; Gerhard Mostert, Alistair Hargreaves; Deon Stegmann, Jean Deysel, Danie Rossouw. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Ryan Kankowski, Ashley Johnson, Charl McLeod, Wynand Olivier, Odwa Ndungane.
New Zealand: Tries: Guildford 2, Jane 2, Crockett, Slade Cons: Carter 2 Pens: Carter 2
South Africa: Try: Smit Con: Steyn
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:12:19:54:28 by Kat..
On another note, as alluded to above, the other interesting NZ backline was Carter at 10, Sonny Bill Williams at 12 and Nonu at 13. Could work...
New Zealand's backs look like they could, and frequently do line up in practically any formation. To be fair, the way their backs played made the refereeing look inconsequential.
Looks like PdV is heading the same way.
Quote:jeremy ogaribaldi
and the French do like a bit of undercooked meat
But the New Zealand team don't. That's why they will probably be taking their own chef again.
Thanks for the piece, Josh.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:08:08:12:21:14 by TonyTaff.
... no Carter, no McCaw
The New Zealand squad:
Forwards:
John Afoa (Auckland), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Canterbury), Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki)*, Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (captain, Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Adam Thomson (Otago), Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury), Ali Williams (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Victor Vito (Wellington).
Backs: Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Andy Ellis (Canterbury), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Cory Jane (Wellington), Ma'a Nonu (Auckland), Colin Slade (Canterbury), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Piri Weepu (Auckland), Sonny Bill Williams (Canterbury).
* Hoeata will undergo a shoulder scan later Friday to assess his fitness to travel to South Africa. If he cannot make the trip, Tom Donnelly (Otago) will replace him.
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