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Ex-Bok analyses the concerning All Blacks trend that's cost them this year

By Josh Raisey
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of the Springboks signals the win to his parents after the final whistle during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on August 31, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

One of the biggest differences between the All Blacks‘ performances against England in July and this Rugby Championship has been how they have approached the final quarter of the match.

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On consecutive weekends in July England looked to be heading towards a rare victory on New Zealand soil before the hosts, largely through the exploits of Beauden Barrett, were able to snatch victory.

Only a matter of weeks have passed, but the latest Scott Robertson’s side have managed to score in a match so far after three rounds of the Rugby Championship is 52 minutes, against Argentina in round one.

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The Boks Office crew, joined by Andrew Mehrtens, discuss why South Africa fell behind at Ellis Park. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

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Although it did not prove costly in round two against Argentina, having built a handsome first-half lead, this inability to score in the final quarter has been the All Blacks’ undoing so far this Championship.

The reigning Rugby Championship winners were leading at the hour mark in round one against the Pumas and round three against the Springboks before going on to lose both matches. If matches were only 60 minutes, New Zealand would be table toppers currently.

Match Summary

4
Penalty Goals
1
3
Tries
4
2
Conversions
2
0
Drop Goals
0
106
Carries
100
3
Line Breaks
7
12
Turnovers Lost
15
7
Turnovers Won
3

It is quite a contrast between the two campaigns so far this year, and while three matches is a small sample size and not enough to suggest there is any kind of deep-rooted problem, Schalk Burger recently dissected how the visitors’ game management let them down in the final quarter at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday as the world champions were able to overturn a 17-27 deficit to win 31-27.

The former Springbok pinpointed the All Blacks’ discipline as their fatal flaw on RugbyPass TV’s latest episode of Boks Office, which allowed the Boks to gain the ascendency and score 14 unanswered points in Johannesburg.

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“I would say this weekend their biggest culprit was probably going into game management too early,” Burger said.

“But then you go into game management but your discipline doesn’t go the same way. In their last 15 minutes they conceded I would say seven or eight penalties and then you’re trying to kick it early in the phase. So they kick the ball to us and we were desperate to chase the game down.

“Obviously Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s yellow card was a disaster because then our pack of forwards fronted up and said ‘listen here, we’re tucking it up under the jumper’ and our attack in the 22 was exceptional.”

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Comments

5 Comments
B
Ben 15 days ago

Many of these comments don't belong in adult conversation. Get a grip please

Y
Yellowcard 15 days ago

So many nasty comments the last few days about the boks buying wins and bribing the ref. Do you people realise we have only just started having working electricity again? So you think we can afford to pay off world rugby? Such stupid comments.

F
Forward pass 15 days ago

What a load of rubbish. You win the game by scoring the most points and its irrelivant when those points get scored. Boks are nothing. With an honest ref and TMO they would not be world cup holders and would have lost last weekend. Money talks and the ex Bok would 100% know that.

K
KP 15 days ago

I totally agree what Schalk Burger states, regarding the AllBlacks. They seem to be competitive for 3/4 if the game, then fades into obscurity. It has been proven over an over again, recently. Just about a year ago, they were totally outplayed by the Boks, losing the Emirates Cup. The 28th of October, they lost the World Cup to the Boks, cause they couldn't convert their kicks at goal. This year, they were lucky to beat England, then lost to Argentina and most recently lost to the Boks again in the Rugby Championship an in defence of the Freedom Cup. Come Saturday, they will once again get beaten by the Boks and in the process, lose the Freedom Cup, they have held, since 2010. It appears that Razor Robertson is not even the answer to the AllBlacks' woes. He should rather stick to Super Rugby and not International Rugby. It will probably take another ten years for the AllBlacks to beat the Boks, hopefully. They have completely lost their aura and invincibility, what a shame, how the mighty has fallen.

C
Chiefs Mana 15 days ago

"it will probably take another ten years for the All Blacks to beat the Boks" - wow, I'll take that bet. The last two games have been decided by <4 points and this is rated as the best Boks side of all time vs one of the poorer ABs ones.


"what a shame" people keep saying whilst loving every second of it. Enjoy your wonderful team and stop being petty.

F
Forward pass 15 days ago

Yep bribe your way to glory. The SA way.

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B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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