Boks no longer benchmark for Blacks
18 Aug 2011
RYAN VREDE writes that the Springboks are deluded if they believe the All Blacks still view their rivalry as the biggest in world rugby.
It is an age-old rivalry, forged and sustained from epic tussles, the likes of which have been uncommon in the modern era. The Springboks have consistently been on the wrong end of the result and this has steadily eroded the prestige of the fixture for the Blacks.
The Springboks, however, still believe they are held in high esteem by Richie McCaw’s men and New Zealand’s rugby fraternity . The reality is they haven’t commanded their respect since 2009, when they beat them thrice in succession. It has to be noted that that was an Blacks side without the injured Daniel Carter for two of their three Tests, and one featuring a string of players who either wouldn’t feature again at Test level or play bit-part roles in 2011.
The Springboks haven’t beaten them home or away since. They have a 42% overall win percentage against the Blacks, which drops to 40% under Peter de Villiers, in which time they’ve been blanked at Newlands in 2008, taken 20 and 14 points at home on consecutive weekends in 2010 and suffered a record defeat in Wellington in 2011. The three victories in 2009 regained a measure of respect, but the aforementioned maulings served to quickly dilute that.
Of course the Blacks have never verbalised their lowered estimation of a once-mighty foe, but there are overt clues that the Wallabies now command their attention, none more obvious than in their selection strategy in the current instalment of the Tri-Nations.
They played what resembled their strongest team against Australia in Auckland – not against the Springboks a week before – and have sent what the New Zealand media have dubbed the ‘back-up Blacks’ to front in Port Elizabeth, while their elite players prepare for a title defence against the Wallabies in Brisbane in a fortnight. Yes the Wallabies have only won 2 of their 13 Tests against the Blacks since 2008, but Robbie Deans’ charges have matured since their initial composition, boasting some of the leading players in their positions in the game. They are a considerably significant threat to the All Blacks than they have been at any stage of their development.
It was also a telling statement that the Blacks exhibited the kapo o pongo haka for Australia, a version normally reserved for what they perceive to be their very biggest matches.
The Springboks remind me of English football club Liverpool, who hold steadfastly that their biggest rivals are Manchester United. This while United has shifted its attention to the challenges of Arsenal, Chelsea, and, more recently, Manchester City. While they continue to value victories and lament defeats against Liverpool because of an historical rivalry, they no longer see them as the benchmark against which to measure themselves.
This is the reality the Springboks have to confront. The only way to regain respect is through consistently success against the Blacks.
123 Comments
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18 Aug 2011, 15:28 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-97: Well said. NZ haas the right attitude, the way it should be. Go all out for 80 without worrying about what happens next week.
18 Aug 2011, 15:59 pm
I dunno about the Liverpool-United analogy because if The Reds were to win the League, it’d be on again in the North-West of England! The rivalry has been diluted by the influx of foreign players into both teams who don’t quite grasp the hatred of it all!
Anyway, if we were to flatten the All Blacks like they did to us between 2000 and 2004 (hahaha, but not necessarily impossible) then Ryan’s assumption would be out the window for sure! We pray.
18 Aug 2011, 18:49 pm
We’ve one two (genuine) World Cups out of four. The Prancing Queens have won one out of six, and it was an experimental, invitational tournament to which the Springboks were not invited. Benchmark that, Vrede.
18 Aug 2011, 18:52 pm
@pierre(pierre)-103: I mean we’ve “won”, not “one”. Spelling fail.
18 Aug 2011, 20:20 pm
New Zealanders respect South African rugby but not as much as before.
This is because South African rugby has lost a lot of respect for itself.
If South Africans want New Zealanders to respect South African rugby more, you’d better start respecting it more yourselves.
This means really,really wanting to win every game, not putting all the eggs in winning world cups.
Besides, South Africa won the last world cup with enormous help from France (and Wayne Barnes)
18 Aug 2011, 20:35 pm
@Auntie Mavis(Auntie Mavis)-105:
Many of us think that way. Far too much store is paid to the WC.
Upsets will happen in every major tournament around the globe. Whatever the sporting code. Just ask the Alll Blacks.
But if you are the no.1 team in the world by a country mile your chances of success at a WC are obviously greater. If the AB’s fail, it will be a disaster. Especially at home.
If the Boks prevail, which I don’t think they will, it will be viewed as a rank outsider causing an upset.
That’s how far the Boks have fallen behind the AB’s.
18 Aug 2011, 23:07 pm
@Auntie Mavis(Auntie Mavis)-105:
Yeah SA has its excuses….. but so have you/NZ apparently?
Gotta say that it is difficult to respect anything arrogant and NZ Rugby is seriously top of that pile!
18 Aug 2011, 23:50 pm
@whatever(whatever)-107:
ho ho, the bottomfeeding pondlife SCUM cracking a joke
Justice4 for the downtrodden, boo hoo
19 Aug 2011, 01:15 am
@pierre(pierre)-103: 9 wins out of 22 games at home last 20 years. Benchmark that.
19 Aug 2011, 01:47 am
@pierre(pierre)-103:
Only the top teams in the world were invited to the first RWC. SA were not even in the running, your own fault.
I can see why your so angry, getting beaten by prancing queens as you call us must really get to you, reasons as to why you have all the excuses under the sun.
@whatever(whatever)-107:
You have trouble respecting anything to do with NZ, no matter what. So your post really has not shed any light on anything at all
19 Aug 2011, 02:37 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-110:
Likewise
19 Aug 2011, 02:41 am
And for the record it is only hypicritical wankers like poppadoos and wet pantie, and a portion of the NZ media who think no one else should even bother playing rugby that I have no respect for………….the rest is all good!
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-108:
Is it lunchtime at the zoo? Someone giving away biscuits again? Better go check
19 Aug 2011, 03:14 am
@whatever(whatever)-111:
not even close.
@whatever(whatever)-112:
Remember it wasnt to long ago where SA believed they were to good for NZ and didnt even want to come over in 2010 until we picked our game up, got that from this very site, and i am sure you were probably amongst it.
19 Aug 2011, 03:44 am
Hi Poppa 69 sorry boet I youre right checked on Wikipedia . Scotland have beaten Boks 4 times first being in 1906 and last 2010
19 Aug 2011, 04:30 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-113:
Yup, remember it very clearly, but I was not one of them bud. In fact I thought those blokes were being arrogant tossers.
But just because one or two were being like that, does not mean you paint everyone with the same brush?
I’ve no issues with you just the doos duo of poppadoos and wet pantie
Two scumbag racist, knunts who make a lovely couple!
19 Aug 2011, 06:00 am
# 8 DAS
I am a Kiwi but you summed up the relationship/rivalry thing between the AB’s and the Boks right on the button. As a NZ’er I will always respect the Boks no matter what and we never miss a game when they are here. My sons and my grandkids are the same in this.
One thing I always note is the strong camaraderie between the All Blacks and the Boks whenever they are together and that goes right back.
Not so with the Wallabies as the Aussie’s tend to push your face in it whenever they win, a need tto overdo it. Mind you it makes for a geat contest next time round. It’s not so much the players as the AU Press.
However this latest group of new players are totally full of the proverbial. E.g. Quade Cooper.
19 Aug 2011, 06:53 am
@whatever(whatever)-115:
sorry my mistake.
19 Aug 2011, 07:51 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-39: after what smith did to marshall,in the semi,i went for england in the final.not to mention grogan carrying on like a p rick.
19 Aug 2011, 09:37 am
Hi all, long time lurker who was content to just read this websites story to get a feel for SA rugby, but this article disappointed me and I decided to throw in my 2 cents.
Ever since I was a kid and first started watching rugby (early 90′s) it was instilled into me by my Grandfather and Father who are biggest rival in rugby was and it definitely was not AUS. I know over the last few decades the rivalry has declined a bit but no other team gets me as excited and apprehensive about a test match like the Boks do. All this hogwash about AUS is bullshit, yeah they get up on us everynow and then and dominated us through 98-03, but they play a completely different game to you guys and it never has the physical presence and passion. Anyway just wanted to throw it out there. Hopefully when P Divvy goes you guys will get your mojo back and we can get back to total war on the pitch like the old days.
Oh also I wanted to say that some of the Kiwi posters on here are a real embarrassment, please don’t take them seriously. All nations have their dregs of society…
Bring on this weekend!
19 Aug 2011, 09:38 am
Hi all, long time lurker who was content to just read this websites story to get a feel for SA rugby, but this article disappointed me and I decided to throw in my 2 cents.
Ever since I was a kid and first started watching rugby (early 90′s) it was instilled into me by my Grandfather and Father who are biggest rival in rugby was and it definitely was not AUS. I know over the last few decades the rivalry has declined a bit but no other team gets me as excited and apprehensive about a test match like the Boks do. All this hogwash about AUS is blrubbisht, yeah they get up on us everynow and then and dominated us through 98-03, but they play a completely different game to you guys and it never has the physical presence and passion. Anyway just wanted to throw it out there. Hopefully when P Divvy goes you guys will get your mojo back and we can get back to total war on the pitch like the old days.
Oh also I wanted to say that some of the Kiwi posters on here are a real embarrassment, please don’t take them seriously. All nations have their dregs of society…
Bring on this weekend!
19 Aug 2011, 09:40 am
Hi all, long time lurker who was content to just read this websites story to get a feel for SA rugby, but this article disappointed me and I decided to throw in my 2 cents.
Ever since I was a kid and first started watching rugby (early 90′s) it was instilled into me by my Grandfather and Father who our biggest rival in rugby was and it definitely was not AUS. I know over the last few decades the rivalry has declined a bit but no other team gets me as excited and apprehensive about a test match like the Boks do. All this hogwash about AUS is rubbish, yeah they get up on us everynow and then and dominated us through 98-03, but they play a completely different game to you guys and it never has the physical presence and passion. Anyway just wanted to throw it out there. Hopefully when P Divvy goes you guys will get your mojo back and we can get back to total war on the pitch like the old days.
Oh also I wanted to say that some of the Kiwi posters on here are a real embarrassment, please don’t take them seriously. All nations have their dregs of society…
Bring on this weekend!
19 Aug 2011, 10:24 am
Apologies for the multiple postings…
20 Aug 2011, 11:04 am
U need a benchmark coach to be a benchmark team just look at Barca vs Madrista
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