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'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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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.
“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
Thanks 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?
11 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.
9 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
22 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
4 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.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments