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Uncapped flyer enters All Blacks' matchday 23 as Jordie Barrett a late scratch
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Jake White: This All Blacks side lack something no NZ side has ever lacked
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Well, that was a blast. What a series. As the dust finally settles, the first thing I’d say about Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is that South Africa and New Zealand are clearly the two best teams in the world. That’s not even controversial. It’s stating the obvious.
Of course, the All Blacks getting off to a winning start in Johannesburg gave the series the perfect platform, but in the deciding Test, when Ardie Savea went off in the 31st minute, it appeared New Zealand’s hopes went with him.
So, what have we learnt? Well, firstly, the Springboks have shown their cojones again. Down 1-0 and with their backs against the wall, they showed their teeth and bulldozed their way to a 3-1 series win. For that, you have to give them immense credit.
As is often discussed, they have a clutch of ageing players, so to win three consecutive wins over three weekends shows their detractors that they still have the burning desire, and most importantly legs, to go the distance, because they’ll need to do just that in the World Cup knockouts.
There have been question marks raised in some quarters over the longevity of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and even Deon Fourie, who is 40 in a week or so, but they’ve answered doubts unequivocally. They’ve gone to some dark places and come through the other side.
It’s funny, I was asked yesterday, what should the Springboks change? Well, I would say nothing. Without being arrogant, it’s for the chasing pack to catch up.
There are, of course, always going to be selection posers, for instance, who covers for Malcolm Marx at hooker? Could Ox Nche or Jan Hendrick-Wessels be converted over the next 12 months? Whoever it is, Rassie always seems to come up trumps. Whenever he unleashes a plan, it works. We openly pondered who would be the next top-quality scrum-half off the rank and then Morne van den Berg puts in a Player of the Match performance. He has had to bide his time, waiting behind Faf (de Klerk), Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, but that’s what you have to do to get a Springbok cap.
Then there’s the flanks. Ethan Hooker’s ability under the high ball has provided the perfect counterbalance to the hot-stepping wingers, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. Rassie has interchanged positions and personnel very well, and fellow Test coach rained plaudits in his direction, and I agree. Fans and pundits are quick enough to castigate you, but when you get things right, you have to pat him on the back
What has impressed me is Rassie’s powers to motivate, time and time again, because there was no doubt they were chastened and under pressure after that first Test loss. He has to bottle that special sauce and use it to fire the players, staff, wider support group and even fans to lift that squad to new heights.
As for the All Blacks, we can justifiably say they’ve truly turned a corner, but what I’ve picked up from numerous commentators is them documenting how the Springboks have ‘made yards with every carry’. In living memory, I am struggling to remember when that has happened before. Sure, it happens to other sides, but not the All Blacks.
Now one of the key principles of rugby is to go forward, but it’s easier said than done with modern defences. That momentum allows you to put the defence under pressure. Look at Jasper Wiese, Ox Nche, Damian de Allende. They are all comfortable carrying straight and hard and it hurt New Zealand. A word for Jordie Barrett, however. Amidst the onslaught, I thought he was outstanding in defence. When they were on the back foot, they used their power to drive the All Blacks backwards, inch-by-inch, away from the try-line. To the naked eye, they don’t have the likes of Jonah Lomu, Jerome Kaino, Ma’a Nonu, Brodie Retallick or Tana Umaga to punch holes in the same way. Take that 32-phase try, finished off by Will Jordan. It was incredible, but it must have taken so much out of them. You can’t do that for 80 minutes. It’s too much. They need to find guys who can get post-contact metres. Maybe with Caleb Clarke and Leicester Fainga’anuku back in situ, they might have more punch.
As much as they’re making progress, they’re still chasing the Springboks’ tails. In the post-match interview, reporters asked Richie Mo’unga if this Springbok team was better than the 2023 World Cup vintage. His answer, ‘yes, they are incredibly good at creating pressure without the ball’. Kieran Read agreed, when he said, ‘they fight for everything on the ground. Every player goes hard at the breakdown, whether it’s the scrum-half, the hooker or the outside backs, they don’t give away any territory lightly’.
That’s a collective decision. A collective responsibility and collective physicality. It comes off the bench; it comes with rotation, and behind closed doors is most likely Rassie holding them to account. The secret for any coach is how you keep that burning desire on the field. I’ve coached against them and New Zealand used to have it in spades. The Jerry Collins, Sam Whitlocks and Richie McCaws gave you absolutely nothing. They were like Terminators. They just kept coming back. Those comments tell me Mo’unga was left feeling under the pump, and if you can make the 10 feel under pressure all the time, the whole game plan starts to shift in your favour.
Of course, it would be naïve to think the World Cup is a fait accompli because historically, there’s always been an upset or a curveball to upset the status quo, like New Zealand losing to France in Cardiff in 2007, but it’s clear these are the two sides who will have to be beaten on the way to the Webb Ellis Cup.
France are probably closest to challenging the world order because of their power and strength-in-depth and it is interesting to see there have been changes out there regarding limiting game time, and they are taking their assault on the trophy very seriously. On their day, they can beat anybody.
It’s funny, in 2006, I rested players and people told me I was crazy. Looking back, perhaps historically I could have had more wins in the ledger, but if the jewel in the crown is a shot at a World Cup, then so be it. The message is clear to the players; they are being put first, and there is a unified aim. That end-of-year Test will tell us how close Les Bleus are to breaking up the RGR hegemony.
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Can anyone break the South Africa-New Zealand axis of power?
