Last weekend saw the curtain come down on the 2017 Rugby Championship, but not before the vastly improved Springboks gave the All Blacks the scare of their lives.
Cape Town was the setting for South Africa’s final game, and an opportunity to make amends for the 57-0 debacle in Albany a couple of rounds ago. They played quite well the previous week, though they couldn’t quite get over the line against Australia. But with their home supporters behind them, you knew that they would be a different beast when it was the turn of New Zealand to visit. What unfolded was a truly epic encounter. I felt the New Zealand line up was just about the best team they have put out this season (with the
exception of Retalick). A great mix of players with unique ability. If the Springboks were going to have any chance of thwarting the All Blacks, they were going to have to dig deep to their roots, and play the good old fashioned South African way. Which is largely based on using their giant men to smash into the opposition. The Springboks players really stood up to the occasion, with skipper Eben Etzebeth leading from the front. They carried strongly, were aggressive in the tackle, and were relentless at the breakdown. Three vital elements if you are to compete with the world’s best team. Along with Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit was immense. Malcom Marx consistently broke the defensive line, and was virtually immovable when he got over the ball in the tackle area winning many a penalty for his side.
With both sides showing great attacking intent, you just couldn’t take your eyes off the game. After being put under sustained pressure by the Boks, the All Blacks found some fluency in their back play that sent Reiko Ioane over. But the young winger lost control of the ball over the line, which was a real let off for the hosts. Ryan Crotty was finally able to break the deadlock and score off a kick through in the first half. But the Boks returned fire with fire. Ioane was not to be denied when he intercepted a stray pass to sprint down from the opposition ‘22’. But yet, the South African’s came right back into it. Some brilliance by debutant Richard Haivili and Damian McKenzie, which saw the latter slice through some tired forwards seemed to put the game beyond the home team. But there was more drama to follow, with Damian de Allende shown a straight red card for making contact with the face of Lima Sapoaga. Has to be said, it was a pretty poor and unnecessary decision by Jerome Garces, who otherwise had a decent game. South Africa, to their utmost credit did well to still score with a man down, but it was too little to too late by then.
A few hours later in Mendoza, Australia managed to do the business over Argentina and take the game 37-20. In the process, they managed to leap-frog South Africa to finish in second place on the log. After the epic thriller dished out in Cape Town, this game was not particularly easy on the eye. But Michael Cheika will not care less. The Aussie did well to absorb the early pressure from the Pumas, playing in front of their passionate supporters. And then they took their chances when they opened up.
I want to talk about one particular incident in that game that has posed a few questions. Off a kick off, Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete went clanging into Argentina’s Tomas Lezana, which left the latter laid out on the turf, and having to be stretchered off. While there was no intent on the part of Koroibete to cause bodily harm, he clearly made contact with the chin / face of the Lezana. The result? Not even a penalty, whereas poor de Allende was slapped with a red card when Sapoaga suffered no ill effects whatsoever. Where is the consistency? I think World Rugby really needs to re-visit how assessing foul play is done.
That said, let us now consider the state of each of the South’s powerhouses
Argentina
After capturing many hearts on their way to reaching the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, it is fair to say that Daniel Hourcarde’s charges have been in steady declined. Rather disappointingly, they finish this year’s tournament winless. The Pumas did play well in patches, and even threatened an upset against the All Blacks when they met in Dunedin. But in all their games, they struggled to maintain a high tempo for the full eighty minutes. Often, they completely well away in the last quarter. With experienced players in the form of Augustin Creevy, and Nicholas Sanchez, they will no doubt be disappointed with their efforts.
Jayan Jabbers by Jayan Goonetilleke
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When the Jaguares were introduced into Super Rugby, one felt that it would really spur on Argentina forward as an international team. Giving their players the opportunity to test themselves regularly against top opposition was a big step in the right direction. However, both the Jaguares and the Pumas have not been able to kick-on. Furthermore, the new selection policy for the national team deems that anyone playing outside Argentina is ineligible for selection. This i feel has really hurt their prowess. Leading up to the last World Cup, the team really benefited from the experience that those plying their trade in Europe brought in when they joined up with the squad. This element is clearly missing now.
To progress and consistently compete with the top nations, I believe that they badly need input from some foreign expertise. At least in an advisory role – pretty much like what Graham Henry did with them some time ago. They need something to re-ignite them, and a proven old head from New Zealand or even Europe might do them a world of good
South Africa
This time last year, the former two-time world champions were in shambles. Serious question marks were raised about the ability of their players, and especially the coaching staff. However, though they are still not quite the finished article, the Springboks have well and truly made progress this year. After comprehensively beating France in June, the litmus test was always going to be how they play in the Rugby Championship. After convincingly beating Argentina in both games, you felt they should’ve gone on to beat Australia in Perth. That kind of took the wind out of their sales, before they were decimated by the All Blacks in Albany.
Yet, they were able to finish on a relative high when they returned for their final two home games. After once again drawing with Australia, they put in a stupendous effort before eventually succumbing to the All Blacks.
On the positives, Eben Etzebeth has learnt to channel his aggression and has taken his game to another level. In Steven Kitshoff, they have unearthed a real rough diamond, who has the potential to be a great loosehead prop. Pieter Steph du Toit is another tough man to keep down, and Malcolm Marx has already put himself forwards as one of the best hookers in world rugby.
For me, where they really have things to figure out is in the backline. We all saw the difference when Hendre Pollard came on. He took the ball flat and moving forward. It was his half-break and off-load that set up Marx’s try that kept the Boks in the game. Elton Jantjies does not bring that to the game. Jesse Kriel is another question mark at out-side centre, as I don’t feel he has the creativity to make the most of his back three
Australia
For the first time in 40 internationals, Michael Cheika selected an unchanged team for consecutive tests. And it seemed to work. There was evidently more coherence and continuity in their play. I was particularly impressed with new blindside flanker Jack Dempsey, who looks to have a great work ethic. What is particularly pleasing from a Wallaby stand-point is that their senior players – Michael Hooper, Will Genia, and Tatafu Polota-Nau are beginning to have a real influence in their game play.
If you look at it this way, barring that first Bledisloe game where they got comprehensively walloped in Sydney, the Wallabies were in winning positions in every other game they played in the championship. They should have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand, and could well have beaten the Boks in both games played as well.
So, after a tumultuous start, the Wallabies are very much headed in the right direction. With the countless number of new caps blooded, Cheika has finally managed to identify some good talent. We already spoke of Dempsey. Koroibete also looks to have great qualities of a ‘finisher’. Lukhan Tui was also introduced, and he looks to be someone in the mold of a Etzebeth.
They have one more crack at the All Blacks before jetting off to Europe. With the World Cup just two years away, things are beginning to take shape for the green and gold
New Zealand
They say that a hallmark of a champion side is that they find a way to win, even when not playing particularly well. This can’t be any truer of the All Blacks, who have now won their 9thchampionship in twelve years since the expansion of the tournament. Despite comprehensive wins in Sydney, and more recently at Albany, the All Blacks have not had it all their own way.
Beauden Barrett has had moments of brilliance, but his goal kicking, and distribution skills out-wide have prompted some debate as to whether he is best suited for the ‘10’ shirt. We also saw Lima Sapoaga given some opportunity, but I feel the likes of a Richie Mo’unga is probably a better option to test out. Sonny Bill Williams has also had a quiet season. With the likes of Anton Lienert-Brown, and Jack Goodhue waiting in the wings, it’ll be interesting to see who the All Blacks management trial out in the Autumn internationals. Reiko Ioane has really made a name for himself, and is bound to go from strength to strength. They are spoilt for choices out wide, and I’m happy that the likes of Waisake Noholo were given a crack again.
In terms of the forwards, I was worried about the front row. But Kane Hames looks to be a quick learner and had a good game at Newlands. Codie Taylor has also raised his game, and is arguably ahead of Dane Coles on current form. New Zealand also have two quality blindsides that look to be taking over the baton from Jerome Kaino – Liam Squaire, who looks to be a hybrid of flanker / second rower / number eight, and Vaea Fifita who plays like Jonah Lomu on the flank. Not bad options to have.
The gap between the All Blacks and rest has narrowed. But New Zealand still set the benchmark. No matter who you support, you have to tip your hat off to this great team.
