'The World Cup is not going to be about attacking rugby' - What the stars had to say after the epic Springboks-All Blacks pool stage clash
Right from the spine-tingling rendition of ‘Kapa O Pango’, the All Blacks opening clash against old rivals Springboks lived up to expectations as an epic blockbuster on just the second day of the Rugby World Cup.
Billed as possibly the greatest pool game in history, the Springboks opened the match right on top with physical defence and a wave of possession. All Blacks’ flyhalf Richie Mo’unga said the side was under a lot of pressure.
“They put us under a lot of pressure. A lot of mistakes and a lot of the pressure came from ourselves. We were frantic and rushing things, so we needed to slow down. We needed to kick the ball back to them to put them under pressure,” he said.
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The All Blacks were able to get into the game on the back of winning the aerial contest, with two tries coming off the back of box kicks. The first one to George Bridge was set-up by a Mo’unga cross-kick after re-gathering the first kick.
“It was spur of the moment and just trusting my ability to see something and do it. I play a lot with Sevu Reece – me and him have a good relationship, so I was able to understand that he was free. He is really good at catching and making things happen,” Mo’unga explained.
Streaking down the edge, Reece found Smith back inside before a rampaging Savea set play up deep inside Springbok territory. On the next phase, winger George Bridge scored the first try of the match.
“When the ball got out to Beaudy (Barrett), I saw he had a prop in front of him. So, I told him to have a go at him (the South African prop), and then from there, he just managed to get the offload and I was in support,” said winger George Bridge.
All Blacks’ halfback Aaron Smith was just happy to get his kicking game right.
“It was great to get the box kick right. And then a spilt ball – that’s just rugby,” Smith said.
“For the first 20 minutes we were unable to go to any pressure and it was our first chance to execute something off the turnover ball. As New Zealanders we love playing off the turnover.”
One man who stood up for the All Blacks was flyhalf turned fullback Beauden Barrett, who took home man-of-the-match honours after a starring performance. Aaron Smith praised his usual halves partner.
“He’s an outstanding player and on his day he’s the best player in the world and we saw that tonight. I could hear him and I was trying to give him the ball every time he wanted it. When Beauden Barrett wants the ball, you just give it to him and watch out.”
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Richie Mo’unga also had high praise for Barrett, who thinks their partnership can continue to get better during the World Cup.
“Beauden was awesome for me. He supported me well and it’s good to have two decision-makers in the backline, and it’s something we can keep working on throughout the World Cup,” he said.
Springboks scrumhalf Faf de Klerk also pointed to the aerial game as a turning point in the contest and a penalty count that become insurmountable.
“They were technically very good, they were very good in the air. I think that’s where we lost the game,” De Klerk said.
“I believed that we could win it, (to) come back from behind, so the belief was there to win. But 11 penalties against two, it’s always going to be difficult coming back from that.
Replacement flanker Francois Louw also pin-pointed the high balls as a problem area for the side, but explained it was a collective effort that requires improvement.
“We could have done better in blocking their players when it came to those high balls.
“High balls are challenging, so we can’t blame it on any one player, it’s a collective effort. Unfortunately, they (New Zealand) capitalised on those errors.”
Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard said that the side has to get better at the ‘small details’ and that everything has to be in place against the best team in the world.
“It’s not panic stations, it’s very calm. We’ve still got the confidence in the group and coaching staff. It’s those small details we’ve got to be better at.
“They (New Zealand) are for me arguably the best team in the world, and if you don’t have everything set in place every single time that’s what they are going to do to you.”
One man who gave the All Blacks fits all night was the electric Cheslin Kolbe, who finished with a game-high 124-running metres and double-digits in the defenders’ beaten column.
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“My first game in a World Cup is a memory I’ll take with me throughout my career. It’s not the result that we wanted. But it’s still a long competition,” he said.
Kolbe made three line breaks and almost pulled off spectacular long-range solo try only to be brought down by Richie Mo’unga. Kolbe says he should have put the pedal to the floor a bit earlier.
“He showed a good pair of wheels. I think I could have gone a bit quicker to his outside and backed myself. I’ll just make sure that whenever there’s another opportunity like that I’ll capitalise.”
“They played a very good kicking game. The World Cup is not going to be about attacking. There were a few balls we just couldn’t handle in the air.
The Springboks aren’t looking too far ahead, with a likely quarterfinal looming against Ireland if there are no surprise results in that pool.
“We’ll just keep our heads up high and keep on working for the next game and make sure that we don’t drop our heads.”
All Blacks’ press conference following win over South Africa:
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments