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The simple half-time chat that paved the way for a potential Grand Slam
While a Grand Slam is a lauded feat in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s something rarely discussed in the south.
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Having defeated the Springboks by just two points in Saturday’s 100th encounter between the two sides, the All Blacks now have the chance of going through the 2010 Rugby Championship without dropping a game.
It’s something the All Blacks last achieved in 2017 – and something no other Rugby Championship nation has managed in a home-and-away round-robin format.
While the 19-17 win on Saturday night secured the Rugby Championship trophy for the year, an undefeated tournament would be the icing on the cake for second-year coach Ian Foster.
“You go up to the Six Nations and if they win five, they celebrate it as a Grand Slam,” said Foster after the historic victory. “We’ve got that chance now in the Rugby Championship to have a Grand Slam opportunity next week and for this group to actually put themselves in that position, I think is a massive credit to [captain] Ardie [Savea] and the men for the way they’re gelling together and working hard. We know to achieve what we want to achieve next week and get that Grand Slam, we’re going to have to lift up a couple of cogs from tonight.”
In an overall scrappy match, the All Blacks entered the half-time break with a 13-11 lead after the two rival nations traded tries and penalties in the first 40 minutes.
The All Blacks certainly hadn’t been at their best over the opening stanza but there were no angry blasts from the coaches in the changing room – the players knew exactly what they needed to do to get the upper hand in the intense arm-wrestle of a test match.
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“It was a simple chat at halftime,” Savea revealed following the game. “It was up to us to change what we needed to change. We were making mistakes, giving silly penalties away. When you give those penalties away to a team like South Africa, they’re just going to punish you.
“We went out there and still gave penalties away but the boys dug in deep. [The chat was] nice and clear, it was all up to us to fix [the errors] ourselves.”
It took a late-game long-range penalty goal from fullback Jordie Barrett to secure the win for the All Blacks but Savea, in his first season as captain of the national side, said his nerve held well – in part, thanks to the presence of other experience leaders on the pitch.
The All Blacks knew exactly what the Springboks would be sending their way – so why did they still struggle at times with Faf de Klerk's constant barrage of box kicks? #AllBlacks #Springboks #NZLvRSAhttps://t.co/KR9XDH7qop
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2021
“It’s lucky that I’m a calm person,” Savea said. “I’ve got to give credit to a lot of my leaders beside me who I leaned on today. It was a collective effort but great learnings. Those kinds of games [are] something I’ll learn from and grow from as a person and as a leader.”
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Perhaps the biggest challenge for Savea, however, was matching up physically to the sizeable South African forwards.
With the Springboks not taking part in international rugby last season, it’s been over two years since the All Blacks faced the might of the Boks in a test match, and Saturday’s fixture did not disappoint, at least from a physicality point of view.
“[It was] physical,” said Savea after the game. “We knew it was coming and they put us under a lot of pressure, their style of play.
“I’m just relieved and proud at the boys [for] sticking in and their attitude to just getting through it when we were under pressure.
“It doesn’t get easier. Huge respect for the Springbok brothers. It’s always a massive clash and my body’s feeling it now. Hopefully I’ll jump in the spa and the pool and recover well.”
While the All Blacks struggled to bring their A-game against the Springboks, the narrow victory provided some perfect lessons for NZ moving forward. #AllBlacks #Springboks #NZLvRSA100https://t.co/LNRv7mpTta
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2021
For Foster, the game loomed as the coach’s biggest challenge of his tenure to date and the man in charge was understandably pleased with how his charges performed on the night – especially captain Savea.
“I’m really proud of the men,” Foster said. “The man next to me [Savea], I think, has been a superb leader on this tour. This group’s got tight. We’ve got a mission we want to achieve and tonight was a massive part of it.”
Foster also delivered a tribute following the passing of former All Blacks legend Waka Nathan.
“There’s a whole lot of things that are special about tonight – the hundredth [game] and the Rugby Championship [title], the Freedom Cup and also our chance as a team to honour the passing of a great All Black who’s been massively iconically in our game, in terms of Waka Nathan. So just on behalf of the team, to his whanau we’ve got our love and aroha with you people; we know it’s a tough time but he’ll be remembered fondly for everything he’s done for our game.”
The All Blacks and Springboks will square off once more next weekend, with the Springboks potentially able to steal second place on the Rugby Championship table with an upset victory, and the All Blacks gunning for that coveted Grand Slam.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments