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Springboks drag All Blacks into boring rugby row with kicking barb
The Springboks have fired back at their critics in the tempestuous boring rugby row, accusing the All Blacks of using similar kick-dominated tactics in general play to help them during their 2017 Test series with the Lions. After two games in the three-match series in South Africa, the ESPN scrum.com statistics show that the Springboks have kicked on 72 occasions from the hand compared to the Lions’ 51, the hosts kicking a whopping 37 times last weekend to draw level in the series with their 27-9 win.
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This sparked an avalanche of criticism about their style of play, not only from the touring Lions but also the All Blacks who have been watching developments unfold from afar. Their coach Ian Foster claimed in the wake of the low frills second Test: “It put me to sleep… two teams playing a similar style, it’s a bit of a slugfest.”
It was Friday afternoon in Cape Town when the Springboks’ riposte eventually materialised, backs coach Mzwandile Stick using a query about the changes to the Lions’ back three for the series decider to refer back to the 2017 series where the All Blacks kicked from the hand on 77 occasions across the three-game series compared to the 63 kicks put in by the Lions in a series that ultimately ended in stalemate after a third Test draw.
The All Blacks’ tally was made of 26, 30 and 21 kicks, enough for Stick to suggest they were talking out of turn by criticising the Springboks approach to the Lions. “With the aerial contest, it’s not a secret – we always talk about it from the beginning that it is going to be massive in this series.
“Even if you go back to 2017 when they played against the All Blacks, it was very, very massive and it’s funny when some coaches now all of a sudden are saying the Springboks are playing boring rugby because of the kicking whereas if you go back to the 2017 series there was a game where a team like the All Blacks has more than 30 kicks in general play and they won the first game.
The All Blacks coach has been paying attention to what is happening in South Africa. https://t.co/wgOvbGRYsO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 2, 2021
“Unfortunately kicking is part of the game unless there are new rules that we are not allowed to kick. We are looking forward to the aerial contest. It’s going to be massive and Liam Williams is one of the best guys, he is very tough, very physical, he doesn’t go away so it is going to be tough for us and we are looking forward to that challenge.”
The Lions have made six changes to their starting XV following their second Test loss and Stick also name-dropped midfielder Bundee Aki as someone whose inclusion has been noted by the Springboks along with full-back Williams.
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“Having a guy like Bundee Aki in a partnership with (Robbie) Henshaw, we know those gentlemen are very physical and also having a guy like Liam Williams in their backline and (Josh) Adams, guys that are playing together for Wales for a while, so we know they are trying to select their best possible combinations.
“If I had to summarise everything, what we are guaranteed to face is they are going to want to give their best when it comes to the physical side of the game. We know Bundee Aki is one of the toughest players to play against but we are not going to focus too much on that. It is something that we have analysed, something that we have mentioned to our players, but we just need to make sure we get better from last week. I feel like we had a good last 40 minutes and finished well.”
The tension ahead of the Test series decider has ratcheted up following Friday's respective Lions/Springboks media sessions #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugby #RSAvBIL #CastleLionsSeries
https://t.co/sGSg8UjSOl— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 6, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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.
10 Go to comments