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Why Springboks are World Cup favourites after ‘statement’ win over All Blacks
The in-form Springboks might be worthy of the ‘favourites’ tag ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup after recording frighteningly dominant wins over Wales and New Zealand last month.
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South Africa started their preparations for this year’s World Cup with a big win over Eddie Jones’ Wallabies in Pretoria. It was a statement win, but they needed to back it up.
But the Boks took on fierce rivals the All Blacks at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium a week later, and the result was never really in doubt. The hosts put on a show as they ran away with a 35-20 win.
Two wins over Argentina followed, but the Boks looked like a shadow of their former selves – and time was running out.
But fear no more Springboks fans, your rugby heroes have come of age ahead of their Rugby World Cup title defence. The Boks beat Wales and New Zealand by incredible margins, and will go into their tournament opener full of confidence.
“A month ago I was slamming them when in cold in Mt Smart, they got blitzed in the first 20 minutes, and I asked for a statement performance in Johannesburg against Argentina. They snuck in by one point,” South African scribe Mark Keohane said on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine.
“I wrote a scathing column saying, ‘Come on, give us that statement performance.’
“They went to Cardiff, they won 52-16… Then the All Blacks picked what they could, their best 15 to start, and then Rassie pulled the great one – seven on one, Twickenham.
Head-to-Head
Last 2 Meetings
Wins
2
Draws
0
Wins
0
Average Points scored
22
12
First try wins
100%
Home team wins
50%
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“Looking at that scoreboard, 35-nil after 65 minutes and I couldn’t believe it. Seven of the nine worst-ever Springbok defeats have come against the old enemy, the All Blacks.
“It was really the statement performance… they go into the World Cup on a high and New Zealand, for me, go in with some serious questions, once again about their forward pack.
“The Springboks, two big statement performances just a the right time.”
The convincing win over Wales was a step in the right direction, but the Boks’ highly anticipated clash with the All Blacks in London was always going to be a defining challenge.
South Africa dominated the territory and possession battle from minute one at Twickenham, but they couldn’t quite turn their pressure into points at first.
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But tries to Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and a second yellow card to All Blacks lock Scott Barrett just before the break, opened the floodgates.
The Boks put on an attacking clinic in the second half, with the All Blacks falling to their worst-ever defeat 35-7.
“In the professional era, it’s right up there because again, the quality of the opposition,” Keohane explained.
“This wasn’t a New Zealand second-string side that played in Dunedin, this was a very good All Blacks side that went out there and just got blitzed.
“It was a great performance. We speak about the traditional South Africa and New Zealand rivalry, in the professional era, it’s coming in blips.
“A lot of people have said it’s a meaningless game, the All Blacks were cold – they haven’t played for four weeks, (but) it was a big, big result for South Africa, and a big, big confidence booster ahead of the World Cup.”
Comments on RugbyPass
‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’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 comments