Remembering the 2009 Springboks – the last great rival of the All Blacks
It’s been nearly a decade since the All Blacks had a true rival, tasting the pain of multiple defeats against the same opponent. They have dished punishment to many sides, and few have returned the favour with regularity.
That’s what makes the 2009 Springboks special – no side has done or since come close to doing, what they did. They beat the All Blacks 3-0 to claim the Tri-Nations title, the first and only side to sweep the All Blacks in a series, in a season for the ages that might be the best on record for a South African national side.
It was a brief period in an age of All Blacks dominance where the Springboks held World Rugby’s number one ranking and truly earned it.
This was a first-class outfit headlined by a number of players considered the best in the world at their position – Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers as well as the reliable boot of test debutant Morne Steyn and long-distance sniper Francois Steyn.
The pack was monstrous with other young talents like Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and rare athletic specimens like Pierre Spies coming off the back of the scrum, and Bismarck Du Plessis packing down in the front row. This was a side that could beat you down physically, overpower you mentally, and ultimately force you into submission. Death by ‘3’s’ was an accurate summation of how they played, with the sharpshooter Steyn knocking them over from everywhere.
This could be said to be the height of Bok Rugby, a side at the peak of its powers just two years removed from a World Cup victory. A large contingent of the 2007 World Champions were still in the side, mixed with emerging talent from the Bulls who were building a Super Rugby dynasty.
That same year the Bulls had captured their second Super Rugby title in three years and would go on to win a third in 2010. They crushed a hapless Chiefs outfit 61-17 in the final in front of 60,000 at Loftus to officially crown themselves as a dominant force.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise then, that the Springboks would mirror the success of the Bulls. In an age where physicality and goal kicking reigned supreme, the Springboks had the most physical team and the best goal kickers on the planet.
The first assignment of the year was a touring British & Irish Lions side, a historic and revered opponent that would give the Springboks a chance to make an early statement.
Ahead of the first test, A British journalist asked vice-captain Victor Matfield in half admiration, half intimidation: “Can you get any better? Tell me you can’t get any better.”
The Springboks answered by clinching the series 2-0 within the first two tests, with the boot of Morne Steyn playing an integral role, sealing the second test 28-25 with a 52-metre penalty after a 26-21 win in the first test. The Lions won the dead-rubber third test as South Africa dealt with suspensions to key players.
Ahead of the 2009 Tri-Nations, the All Blacks were chasing a fifth consecutive title and were certainly the favourites. Although the Springboks had tasted World Cup success, they had a hangover of sorts in 2008 crashing back to earth with a 2-4 record in the Tri-Nations that year.
With home ground advantage in the three-match series against the All Blacks, 2009 would be much different.
Centre Jean de Villiers, who formed an imposing midfield with Jaque Fourie that year, recalled his memories of that side in an interview with SA Rugby Magazine.
“That side was stacked with X-factor players and it was completely united.
The Springboks put away the All Blacks 28-19 in the first test in Bloemfontein with two tries, the second of which sealed the match in the 73rd minute.
In the balance at 20-16, Pierre Spies hacked a loose ball downfield, which was picked up by Jaque Fourie who scored in the corner. Francios Steyn added a couple of penalties and Morne Steyn, coming off the bench, kicked three in the second stanza.
In Durban, the second test was arguably the individual achievement of Morne Steyn’s test career – a record 31-point haul against the All Blacks, scoring every point in a 31-19 win. It was just his fifth test match and only his second start. He kicked eight penalties, punishing nearly every All Blacks infringement with 3 points.
A decisive try on the stroke of halftime by Steyn pulled the Boks away 22-13. After a tighthead win on the 5-metre line, where the All Blacks scrum was demolished, Steyn strolled over basically untouched.
The third and final test against the All Blacks would decide the Tri-Nations and was to be played in Hamilton. It was also the return of Dan Carter, who had been injured for most of the season with an Achilles injury.
“Part of the belief in that side was down to the fact we had beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2008 and then twice in the early stages of the 2009 Tri-Nations. Winning became a habit,” said de Villiers.
The Springboks continued their run, getting on top of the All Blacks on the scoreboard forcing them to chase the game.
Two long-range penalties from 60-metres and 57-metres from the ‘Superboot’ Francois Steyn stunned the Hamilton crowd, and a further drop goal from Morne Steyn gave the Springboks an early 9-6 lead. A try to halfback Fourie du Preez had his side up 22-12 at halftime.
The Springboks were described as ‘physically dominant’, unsettling the All Blacks at the breakdown and lineout with the towering Matfield as All Blacks fans lamented an error-ridden performance.
10 minutes into the second half Jean de Villiers put the icing on the cake, with a trademark intercept off Dan Carter to stretch the lead out to 29-12. A late comeback by the All Blacks fell short and the Springboks completed history with a 32-29 win in Hamilton becoming the first and only side to sweep the All Blacks in a series.
2009 was labeled ‘The Year of the Springbok’ and this side was thought to be the best ever – the current World Cup holders, holders of the number one ranking, the Tri-Nations champions, holders of the Freedom Cup and the Mandela Plate, and Super Rugby champions. They held the Sevens World title for good measure too.
It is hard to argue that it wasn’t the greatest Bok team ever. They have also been proven over time to be the last great rival to the All Blacks, with no team coming close to achieving the same feat.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments