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Springbok 'uppercut' reshapes 'tight' world rankings
The international rugby landscape can change in a heartbeat, or perhaps more accurately, a Springbok rolling maul.
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The South Africans were dominant up front against New Zealand and profited handsomely from it, ripening the narrative of the Rugby World Cup.
After impressive performances from Scotland against France, the Springboks’ World Cup pool looked like it was going to be a hotly contested encounter with great potential for upsets.
And while anything is possible, the South Africans have made a statement, reminding the world they can bully the best of teams when the pressure mounts.
The World Cup implications will be debated as the hierarchy of the world’s top teams is revised.
Ireland, who join South Africa and Scotland in pool B, sit atop the World Rugby rankings, enjoying a 13-month-long winning streak. New Zealand sit in second and prior to the Twickenham clash, the Springboks were snipping at the heels of the French who sat third.
South Africa has since overtaken the World Cup hosts, France.
The shift in power begs the question, how tight is it among the top teams in the world heading into the Rugby World Cup?
“It is (tight),” All Blacks coach Ian Foster admitted after the match. “But it wasn’t tight at Twickenham tonight, was it? It wasn’t as tight as we wanted it to be.”
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A 35-7 loss brings up another unflattering record for the All Blacks under Foster, marking the largest margin of defeat the team has ever succumbed to.
While the defeat will weigh heavy on the hearts of the players, there’s no time to dwell with a World Cup opening match against France just two weeks away.
“We’ve always known, you’ve got to be at your best and I thought they were, and we weren’t. So, we’ll go away and have a look at that.
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“But the reality is, if you could choose one trophy that wasn’t in the cabinet at the end of the year, it’d be that one.
“And so it’s not going to dampen us in what we’re doing but we certainly got an uppercut today, and we got an uppercut in a couple of areas of the game that we’ve actually been making some big strides.
“Our lineout, scrums, our discipline had been really good in that place, but we got squeezed today and it exposed a couple of habits that we’ve got to sort out.
“But it’s a great time for that to happen and it also reiterates you’ve got to keep your players on the park. Losing our form lock against the South Africans at that stage of the game doesn’t make life any easier.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
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