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The All Blacks coaches owe the South Africans a big thank you
The All Blacks were handed the unwanted 28-point record defeat as South Africa looked sensational against 14-men to claim the Qatar Airways Cup.
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Whilst the score paints an ugly result, it was the perfect one for Ian Foster’s side riding a 12-game undefeated streak, wiping the slate clean ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
If there was a perfect time to take a loss in a meaningless fixture, this was it. In that regard, the All Blacks coaches owe the South Africans a big thank you.
The All Blacks looked lethargic like they had been on holiday in London all week enjoying the sights. Similarly to Chicago in 2016, the neutral venue seems to bring out the worst in the All Blacks without the same focus to the task at hand.
The silver lining here is that a disastrous performance where everything went wrong was flushed out of the system when the consequences were none.
It is the wake-up call they needed, at the perfect time as they head to Germany for a pre-World Cup camp.
In the process the Springboks have become the World Cup favourites, riding high from the Twickenham sugar hit.
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This is South Africa’s World Cup to lose now with the Qatar Airways Cup safe and secure. After beating the current World Cup favourites 35-7, there must be no hiding from the favourites tag.
World’s number one Ireland looked incredibly average against Samoa which should have the Springboks smiling. After demolishing Wales and New Zealand over the last fortnight, no side is in such August form.
They should be expected to ride their four-game winning streak into Pool B where they will be expected to top the pool, before smashing through the toughest finals draw in their history.
As yesterday proved, no side down to 14-men also missing their first-choice tighthead prop can stop a rampaging Springbok team.
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The incredible power of the Springboks scrum was on show in the 21st minute against a 6-man pack with a 23-year-old anchoring the front row coming back from a foot injury. They totally demolished them.
That scrum dominance continued in the second half without lock Scott Barrett on the field and his brother Jordie trying to play flanker. The All Blacks wisely pulled Whitelock after 10 in the second stanza.
Newell, along with 23-year-old Tamaiti Williams, 22-year-old Josh Lord and 23-year-old Tupou Vaa’i couldn’t overcome a one-man disadvantage in the forwards against the bomb squad in the final thirty. The power of the Springboks pack against spring chickens was truly impressive.
The All Blacks were their own worst enemies with discipline, earning a spate of cards after too many indiscretions. They were duly punished and couldn’t get out of card trouble.
They have no one else to blame for the situation they were in. But that experience at Twickenham will prove invaluable, if not for the chance to rid the squad of any complacency. As Anton Lienert-Brown said in the sheds afterward, they received the ‘biggest gift possible’.
The biggest loss was not on the scoreboard, with two key players in doubt for the opener against France.
If the All Blacks can get a reprieve for Scott Barrett, who was issued two yellow cards, and a positive diagnosis for Tyrel Lomax’s laceration, then they will have escaped without much damage.
Barrett’s second yellow card was not upgraded to red following a review of the bunker, which brings hope. Foster sounded hopeful for Lomax, who suffered a deep cut to the thigh. After 30 stitches overnight he isn’t expected to be back in time for the start of the campaign.
The Hurricanes’ prop is regarded as the best scrummager in New Zealand and the All Blacks will need him back by the knock-out phase. The difference in the set-piece since his elevation to the starting side has been immense.
The alternative options for the All Blacks will leave them vulnerable against France.
The All Blacks will count themselves lucky if the pair are available when it matters.
If so, NZR will escape the foolish venture of scheduling this Test match on the eve of the World Cup.
For the Springboks, the sugar rush from the Qatar Airways Cup will hopefully last longer than a fortnight as they get ready to smash through the unlucky souls in Pool B.
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments