Christchurch– It’s supposed to be the greatest rivalry in Test match rugby. The last time they met – in the World Cup semi-finals in England in late October – the All Blacks just got up to beat the Springboks, 20-18.
The score on Saturday, when the teams meet at AMI Stadium in the Rugby Championship, is not likely to be so close. In fact, it would be a surprise if the reigning world champions don’t seriously thump the Boks and leave the field with many asking whether All Blacks-Springbok matches are still “the greatest rivalry in the game”.
Since the All Blacks’ World Cup win at Twickenham they have evolved into an even more dangerous and lethal beast – and that without the likes of Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Dan Carter in the ranks – while the Boks, under new coach Allister Coetzee, have stood still. Many would say they’ve gone backwards.
After stuttering to a 2-1 series win against Ireland in June and losing against both Argentina and Australia in the last three weeks, to go with their only win in the Championship to date, against Los Pumas in Nelspruit, the Boks are as vulnerable as they’ve ever been.
And, coach Coetzee, his management team and the players could not be in a worse position ahead of facing the Boks’ biggest rivals.
The All Blacks go into this weekend’s match on the back of scoring eight tries against the Pumas in what was a lethal display of attacking rugby in the second half on Saturday in Hamilton, while the Boks scored two tries from turn-over ball in a losing effort against the Wallabies in Brisbane. And that just two weeks after Coetzee’s team were beaten by Argentina in Salta.
The state of their games could not be more contrasting – the All Blacks are again on the up and playing a standard of rugby unmatched by anyone in the game; the Boks appear uncertain of themselves with questions being asked about everything from the quality of their coaching team to why they can’t put a decent attacking play together.
As things stand ahead of the match, the All Blacks have picked up three bonus point wins, they’ve scored 18 tries and let in just one (against the Pumas last Saturday), while the Boks have one win from three games, with seven tries scored and six conceded.
Scarily, South Africa are still in second place in the standings and will now hope to at least finish the Rugby Championship strongly to avoid picking up the wooden spoon, which they did last year when they failed to win a game in the shortened competition.
This is the daunting task facing the Boks this Saturday: the All Blacks have lost just three times in 59 matches since they won the World Cup in Auckland in 2011 – all away from home. In New Zealand, the All Blacks have not lost since 2009 (when the Boks beat them 32-29 in Hamilton), a run stretching to 43 Tests.
Added to that, the All Blacks’ “bus”, wing Julian Savea is back in tip-top form, while flyhalf Beauden Barrett is said to be from “another planet,” according to the Sunday Star Times. Scrumhalf Aaron Smith is, according to British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland who was in the stands in Hamilton on Saturday, the best player in the world. Then there’s ... the list goes on and on and on.
It’s a huge week for Coetzee and his management and his players. Many here feel the match on Saturday will hardly be a rivalry; it’ll rather be about damage limitation for the Boks.
Independent Media