Brutal Boks blow away Namibia
22 Sep 2011
RYAN VREDE watched the Springboks decimate Namibia 87-0 at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
The Springboks negotiated this assignment with an ease that utterly embarrassed those that had predicted a tough night, running in 12 tries. So completely dominant where they the Mexican Wave, the universal symbol for mass disinterest, began just 12 minutes into the contest, played out on the most perfect of evenings on the North Shore.
Namibia, while rabid, were mostly rubbish, and were bullied by the Springboks, who built this victory on archetypal brutal attack and another imposing, discipline and organised defensive effort. Initially their dominance at the gainline set the platform on attack and defence, and in the final quarter, galvanised by a flood of reserves, they scored at will, running in an incredible 52 points in that time.
It would be remiss not to note the vast improvement they’ve made in their defensive play. They’ve conceded one try in 240 minutes of World Cup rugby. Perspective needs to maintained – Fiji and Namibia are not noted for their attacking prowess – but it is a notable feat nonetheless.
Namibia resorted to cynical tactics when their misplaced posturing gave way to the realisation that they were pitted against vastly superior opponents (they conceded 15, the majority at the breakdown) and this further sullied their already poor contribution to what masqueraded as a rugby duel. It was a rugby education, and the World Cup not the stage for such a public schooling.
What would the Springboks have extracted from this mismatch? Not much. There were incidents were fundamental handling errors stunted the development of promising moves, and at times the ease with which they were dismantling this mob encouraged enterprise when patience was required. They also continued a disconcerting trend of slipping first time hits (14 in total) that better opposition would exploit. But it would be unfair to latched onto those moments in a performance that was largely clinical, particularly in an attacking sense.
Bryan Habana’s record-breaking try 23 minutes into the match was a highlight. The winger has looked a shadow of the man who dominated
this tournament four years ago, and we can only hope that becoming the leading try-scorer in South African history will somehow prove to be a catalyst for him to escape the maze of mediocrity that traps him. It is unlikely. That try was his only notable moment in an otherwise sterile performance, and Francois Hougaard’s late cameo on the wing further underlined why he, not Habana, should start.
Habana’s was the third of four first half tries, two of which were birthed from turnovers and one from first phase which featured an excellent offload from Frans Steyn to Jaque Fourie. They led 31-0 at the break, and Steyn turned beneficiary of some excellent phase play and slick passing shortly after the restart.
Complacency conspired to rob them of the edge for a period thereafter, but they snapped back into life in the final quarter with a thrilling, expansive game that Namibia had no rebuttal to.
By Ryan Vrede, at the North Habour Stadium, Auckland.
636 Comments
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22 Sep 2011, 21:14 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-598:
Lost 6 hours, how careless…!!
What’s the story?
22 Sep 2011, 21:15 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-594:
What a shocker hey? But I see on the news there has been a bit of a debate going on today and a turnaround might happen. A few Kiwi MP’s are getting in on the action and are talking about it giving NZ a bad name.
I don’t know why they just never said ‘no vuvuzelas’? It would have saved a lot of hassle.
22 Sep 2011, 21:15 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-571:
Missed the game live, but managed to see some of the highlights.
Will watch the game just now. And no I wasn’t sleeping. I work for a living in case there are funny ears and eyes out there.
But favourite highlight was that “maori sidestep’ of Beast. It’s coming along nicely.
22 Sep 2011, 21:19 pm
Jock watched 1st half to 35 mins lunchtime, got home after work, turned on TV and it was 36th minute.
Scottish alien abduction.
22 Sep 2011, 21:26 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-595:
Conservative is exactly the word I had in mind.
You are right with how it is going to be for Aus as well, FDP, MS, BH, FS, JF, JP. PL. You can bet your house on that. PdV is bricking himself and will always 10 times out of 10 go for the old guard in the games that matter.
Again, he has to be careful he doesn’t leave the ‘impact’ players until too late.
@carol(carol)-596:
Hahaha, I like your style. Obviously Big Gav would be the man. 2nd highest point scorer in WC history and a chin like a urinal.
He’d put Gio over the poles for the extra two points after he’d flattened JdJ
22 Sep 2011, 21:29 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-598:
On the odd occaision in university haha.
@JockBok(JockBok)-602:
It was surprising to say the least given that the bagpipes aren’t exactly renowned for drowning out the crowd, players and referee. It was fairly obvious what the ruling was designed to ban and I agree, they should’ve just came out and said it.
22 Sep 2011, 21:29 pm
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-603:
Never mind that work nonsense, try alien abduction. It works for me
22 Sep 2011, 21:31 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-587: hahaha so Chris Ashton must “bug” the sshit out of you then?
22 Sep 2011, 21:34 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-602: why must the ban vuvuzelas but allow those noisy bagpipes?
22 Sep 2011, 21:34 pm
Testosterone overload on Discovery channel Dawn. Bear Grylls and Jake Gyllenhaal doing man stuff.
Anyway, internet has gone for a ball of poo this end. Losing posts and it’s getting annoying. Catch you later folks…
22 Sep 2011, 21:37 pm
Can’t beat the sniper testosterone hooha
22 Sep 2011, 21:38 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-609:
Don’t shoot the messenger Transie. It’s what I read earlier.
Oh, and vuvuzelas are farking annoying
And yes, Ashton bugs the **** out of me.
22 Sep 2011, 21:54 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-612: i’m only visiting Scotland for the dram, that’s it! don’t want to hear no bagpipes nada
22 Sep 2011, 21:56 pm
By the way guys PDV seems to be setting new records as the Bok coach. It seems whatever he lacks in the tactics department according to some he possesses in abundance in other management areas to be able to achieve all these new records. You have to give credit where it is due.
22 Sep 2011, 22:06 pm
I revisited the WC Final 2007 last night. We are a better team now. We will need Butch James in the QF, Semi and Final. His mental strength is exceptional.
22 Sep 2011, 22:19 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-605:
Jock, that reply was pure class!!
22 Sep 2011, 22:20 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-615:
You need Percy…be honest !!
22 Sep 2011, 22:24 pm
1. Guthro – did well as usual. should start next game. Beast is always there
2. John – missed his jumpers. is not a tighthead. very good scrum time
3. CJ – did not understand why he had to go off. Did not set the wolrd on fire
4. Bakkies – needs more game time. is managed well though
5. Dannie – ever improving.
6. Willem – Mr Gainline
7. Schalk – should pass more often
8. Spies – he still owes me 3 big games against top tier nations. not satisfied
9. Hougaard – made me understand PdV. raw at 9. slow ball in first half.
10. Steyn – my sharp shooter. just pass to frans. kick here and there. nothin flash
11. Habs – good on the record try. believe he will get better. hope he does
12. Frans – fast becoming a bully. makes morne relax. good with jacque
13. Jacque – should have passed to gio. good game.
14. Gio – dug his run from the 22. good tries. was himself and played his game
15. Lambie – was like a lamb at times. good on the high ball. disappeared somewhat. he’ll grow
Reserves
FdP – did well. quick ball. is improving. will be fine in the quarters
Flo – needs to start against samoa. like what i see
Ruan – shots at goal good for the confidence. he needs to believe in himself
De Jongh – did well. lethal on attack
Chilli – found his jumpers. scrummed and tackled. clean basics as usual
Beast – bolt like on a 100m track. will always push for starting position. happy with him in a loose game.
Brussow – cant say much bout his performance. did not notice it
All in all, the coaching staff is managing the 30 very well. i fully support their approach. i believe we have the strongest 30 then NZ and then France.
Winning the WC is about 15 to 22 who do the job on the day but we have the best 30 without no doubt and the way it is managed makes me believe we can get a championship winning combination.
22 Sep 2011, 22:27 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-618: Very good synopsis and ratings.
22 Sep 2011, 22:30 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-605:
Big Gavin hey…
22 Sep 2011, 22:31 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-614:have you seen any articles mentioning how well pdv has managed heinrich brussow so far?
there were plenty about how he shouldn’t be rushed and more on “why he was taken to overseas leg of tri-nations & not played”
22 Sep 2011, 22:54 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-253:
Nice one
22 Sep 2011, 23:23 pm
I think the best play in the game was not the tries. It was the BEAST out running the back line and leaving them in the dust!
What bloody prop dare tinks he can out run any back line, really? Has any one heard of that?
hehehe….. it must take a Beast to do something like that…………
A golden moment in Springbok rugby no doubt.
22 Sep 2011, 23:30 pm
Hougaard shpwed how kak habana has become – he was everywhere, looking fo work, and stepping everything. I have not seen Habana step in… well… ever really..
22 Sep 2011, 23:45 pm
@ufo(ufo)-369:
well said
22 Sep 2011, 23:51 pm
@Paws(Paws)-452:
LOL you’re a joke mate. The guy was central to a team that went from 2003 disgrace to WC winners. He has the respect of refs and overseas and local players.
You have got to be one of the 3 biggest blind supporters around.
See next year when he is gone, who will lead SA will humility and grace.
You’ll regret you words buddy boy.
22 Sep 2011, 23:52 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-613:
I love bagpipes
22 Sep 2011, 23:56 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-582:
FDP as a impact player – lol and lol
you really are a moron – rofl lol lol lol
22 Sep 2011, 23:58 pm
@carol(carol)-561:
Have to agree
23 Sep 2011, 00:00 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-551:
hahhahahahahaha
23 Sep 2011, 00:12 am
Fiji not noted for their attacking prowess? I can only shake my head in disbelief…
No mention of Clancy being all over Namibia too. Not that it would’ve changed the result but it didn’t help our cause one bit by getting all of the 50/50′s. Another ref on another day, against more competitive opposition might see it differently. The only worrying stats is the missed tackles and lineouts lost imo. Dropped ball and speculative passes goes with playing teams of Namibias ilk. Not too worried about that. They’ll get that right with tougher opposition. Bismarck to start against Samoa? John needs a rest. So, Victor in, John out with Ralapele on the bench.
23 Sep 2011, 00:24 am
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-624: Given Frans Steyn’s passing, could that be a reason Habana was ’07′s top try scorer? In 2 games our wings got more ball than the last 4 years. Frans was at 12 for the last 2 gamesand Habana scored in his his 1st game back with him at 12. He left the defender for dead which shows he still got the pace. Imo. Give him the ball with an overlap and I’d still back Habana to score next to the posts. everytime. For now Hougie is doing a good job off the bench. Is he overdoing the wrap around the scrum? Scored in exact same fashion vs Wales but got shutdown 2nd time he tried it.
23 Sep 2011, 01:20 am
Hougaardt should not start in any position at this stage of his career. Too many people have blown smoke up his a.ss and he will be the guy who will f.uck up any game plan the coach might have believing that he should be the one to provide the magic, just like Fransie had been doing and is still currently doing.
For now, PdV has it exactly right using Hougie as an impact player together with Beast, Bissie, Danie (if VM is right), Alberts and two others. A big pity that Andries can’t be one of them.
23 Sep 2011, 01:32 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-632:
“In 2 games our wings got more ball than the last 4 years.”
I’m absolutely convinced that the fact that we played against Fiji and Namibia in those two games have something to do with it. We even succeeded in dominating their pack! Most probably the reason why our back line got so much ball to play with.
What do you think?
23 Sep 2011, 02:34 am
Hat of to John Smit. After everything he’s been through, what a leader. For an “overweight plod” he is doing very well. How many guys on Keo can play test rugby for 80 minutes? How many of you weigh 120kg? Smit is the Man. Bismark is better, but the way it is now, is working. John for 45 or 50 minutes, then unleash Bismark.
Morne Steyn. You are brilliant. You can kick, run, pass, and read the game. A MUST FOR THE KNOCK-OUT ROUNDS!
23 Sep 2011, 04:43 am
Hougaard was very slow at scrumhalf and looked rusty in the position. As soon as du Preez came on the flood gates opened. Hougaard must start at wing from now on, he could easily be the player of the tournament there. Also without du Preez playing as a secondary fullback, Lambie was struggling.
Smit played well in the last 20 minutes but his throwing in the lineout was costly. He has to make way for Bismarck, come now.
You can see the pack looks somewhat one dimensional without Brussow/du Plessis.
Surely Spies has to go now, he couldn’t even run rampant against Namibia.
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-635:
Agree with Morne, he is proving the common fan who wanted Butch to start wrong. 7/7 kicks as well.
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