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'Not to the same standard that we've got': Where the All Blacks are disadvantaged against Boks
South African rugby pundits have questioned the strength of the All Blacks bench after another second half fade in Mendoza which saw the home side win the second half.
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Whilst the All Blacks did not collapse defensively, after being up 31-0 at the break, they lost the second stanza 12-10 as Argentina scored a late try after the buzzer.
The Springboks have named a 6-2 bench split stacked with forwards like Malcolm Marx, Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph du Toit which is a clear advantage to South Africa according to rugby scribes Mark Keohane and Zelim Nel.
The second half performance against Argentina by the All Blacks brought back memories of last year’s Twickenham test argued Keohane.
“They were outstanding for 65 minutes against England at Twickenham and let England back in, they were 25-6 up and ended at 25-all,” Keohane recalled on SA Rugby Mag.
“They were scrambling to save that game. You just got that feeling in the second half, Argentina got back into the game.
“41-12.. is that a thing that they don’t quite have the bench that South Africa has.
“To go 31-0 up, to be 41-5 up, they didn’t really stick them away.
“Is that the one advantage that we’ve got over many teams, is what comes off our bench?”
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“Absolutely,” Zelim Nel answered.
Nel argued that the All Blacks bench ‘is not up to the same standard’ as the Springboks which includes too many world-class players.
With a near fully fit squad, South Africa has been able to bring players to New Zealand early to prepare for the Mt Smart Test after a strong performance in Pretoria over the Wallabies.
“As we’ve just said, our bench is good enough to be a top tier Test nation on its own,” Nel explained.
“Obviously we need 15 players, point I’m trying to make is world-class players come off our bench.
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“I don’t think you can argue that the All Blacks have got a weak bench, but certainly not to the same standard that we’ve got.
“In terms of guys that have played, have experience, are in form and crushers of the gain line.
“We’ve got an abundance of those sorts of players. That definitely makes a difference.”
At Ellis Park last year the Springboks were hampered by injuries early which saw them lose fullback Damian Willemse and right wing Jesse Kriel in the first 20 minutes.
Compounding problems was a less-than-desired showing by hooker Joseph Dweba which required Malcolm Marx to be subbed into the game early.
As a result, the bench was not able to be used in the final quarter to provide a boost and the All Blacks scored two late tries in the final 10 minutes to come away with the win.
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Chief Cheapshot on the market again.
1 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
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