Boks Blacks’ biggest threat
26 Sep 2011
New Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue says the Springboks are the only side with the capacity to beat the All Blacks.
The Springboks on course for a quarter-final match-up with Australia, a side they have lost four of their last five Tests against, two of those defeats coming in South Africa. Progressing beyond that stage will be difficult but if they do a semi-final awaits against the All Blacks, who are likely to dispatch Argentina comfortably in the preceding round.
The Blacks produced their best performance of the tournament in hammering France 37-17 at Eden Park on Saturday and reaffirmed their standing as the favourites to win the tournament. Rattue dismissed the challenge of any northern hemisphere sides as well as Australia, pointing to the Springboks as the side most capable of ensuring the Blacks’ title drought continues.
‘Thank goodness for the Springboks, because without their promising form we would be forced into declaring that the All Blacks will win the Webb Ellis in a canter. This sort of outrageous arrogance is not allowed in hosts with the most in terms of famous World Cup failures,’ he wrote.
‘The Australians are dog tucker on this side of the Tasman and are dallying with disarray. The northern hemisphere teams are subtlety-free. No one else has Daniel Carter and Ma’a Nonu. Springbok muscle and their history of rising to the occasion loom as the only serious threat.
‘The All Blacks are rip-roaring favourites with South Africa left as the main hurdle. The Boks will have strong support at Eden Park, the world’s best goalkickers with a range of 60 metres, and forwards such as Gurthro Steenkamp, super-sub Bismarck du Plessis, Heinrich Brussow and Schalk Burger in rollicking form. They know how to win World Cups, unlike the All Blacks.’
Rattue pointed to the 10-12 axis of Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu as being the fulcrum around which the Blacks’ success revolves. He called Carter ‘almost untouchable’ but saved his most lavish praise for the white-hot Nonu.
‘He is cutting teams to ribbons, but his temperament and handling under pressure have not been challenged. If given the chance, the Boks will try to uncover the Nonu of old,’ he wrote.
‘The tournament is there for the All Blacks to lose, and any team hoping to sink the favourites will need to turn the mighty ship Nonu around by reducing his front-foot ball or confidence. I don’t fancy their chances.’
To read the full column click here.
37 Comments
26 Sep 2011, 02:30 am
It’s called schmoozing, pilgrim.
26 Sep 2011, 02:57 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-1:
Its called ‘stating the obvious’, more so if he included Australia but, then, those 2 now have to sort each other out first. Remember how much Rattue was falling over himself to laud the Wallabies and, more specifically, Dingo…..PRIOR to the Ireland match ?!
Rattue is a Contortionista, no wonder he’s now blowing BaXXies (fnarr) at the Bokke.
26 Sep 2011, 03:07 am
Rattue blows hot and cold, and sometimes tries tooo hard to be controversial, much like Keo………loves blowing smoke up a rses and ripping people/teams to shreds. Big deal when it is on paper………..
Another media dingbat! Every country has them!
26 Sep 2011, 03:08 am
Chances are they may never meet this RWC as the Wallabies may do the business before the ABs get a chance.
26 Sep 2011, 03:28 am
Wrong wrong wrong Rattue it is the refs who are the biggest threat to the All Blacks
26 Sep 2011, 04:54 am
Nonu’s recent rise in form is the key reason I’d back Frans Steyn at 12 against the All Blacks instead of JDV.
26 Sep 2011, 05:02 am
Given the context of the competition shouldn’t it be the blacks are the boks biggest threat seeing the boks are there to try and defend the title and NZ are there to try and win it.
Anyway I agree the Abs vs boks will be a huge game
26 Sep 2011, 05:07 am
Of course Chris Rattue’s controversial, that’s his job! Love him or hate him, people read his column, that’s why the NZH employ him. He flips from enemy to advocate to evoke reaction, and gauging from the regular drivel in response to his articles, he’s doing a damn fine job. Come down off your ‘high horse’, open the other eye, and perhaps you’ll realise that he’s actually a very witty and shrewd sports observer.
26 Sep 2011, 05:08 am
@ET.(ET.)-4:
Another self loathing South African with zero confidence.
I think the Boks can knock over this Aussie team. Three months ago I would have agreed with you…now….I see a win. 10 through to 15 are awesome.
Our front row are more than capable of taking on the Aussies.
26 Sep 2011, 06:15 am
Lets not look too far ahead of the Samoa game. SA could still be passing me mid air as I make my way over for the QF’s.
26 Sep 2011, 06:15 am
Anyone know how they worked out the draw to have seeds 1 & 2 in the semi? Or was the draw done when Aus were seeded 2?
26 Sep 2011, 06:16 am
@spartan(spartan)-5: Agreed!
26 Sep 2011, 06:21 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-11:
I might be wrong (dont be shocked, Ladies) but I think Seedings take in to count the previous RWC or, even previous-RWC’s ?
As much as locals will say ABs “were 8th” in 2007, of course QterF exists mean 5th- 8th equally. France, as losing SemiFinalists, rank 3rd or 4th.
Either way, the Draw was Live on tv. But current RWC rankings, at that date in time, wouldnt seem fair either.
26 Sep 2011, 06:24 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-12: Can hear the winging and squealing already…
26 Sep 2011, 06:33 am
Aussies beat SA twice in the 3N 2011 — away (admittedly the Bok B side) and, more significantly, at home (the Boks best line-up).
26 Sep 2011, 06:36 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-9: agreed GWS – SA should have no problem with Aus. Hammer them upfront, defend like trojans at the back and wait for Quade to make his customary errors then pounce.
26 Sep 2011, 08:03 am
@JamesNkomo(JamesNkomo)-16:
No problem, I doubt that they have cleaned you up in the last two years.
26 Sep 2011, 08:19 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-13: It was done on IRB rankings I think about 3 years ago? Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand were the seeds, because they were the top 4 IRB ranked teams at the time. England and France both progressed further then Australia and New Zealand in that world cup, but lost the plot shortly afterwards!
26 Sep 2011, 08:21 am
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-6: I wouldn’t say Nonu has had a recent rise in form. He has been outstanding since he missed selection in the RWC 2007 AB team for Luke McAllistar .
He has been the best 2nd five in the world for a number of years now. He put SA away with a late match run and perfect pass to Dagg last year. Everyone talks about the Nonu of old but even his worst detractors are his biggest fans now. If the game plan for SA is to have Frans Steyn unsettle Nonu at inside centre that would be playing into the ABs hands. Wont happen. Nonu is world class now and far more experienced than Steyn in the role. Best bet is the old crew of DV and Fourie.
26 Sep 2011, 08:55 am
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-6: What . Frans Steyn the long lost twin brother of Kung Fu Panda . You’ve got to be joking
26 Sep 2011, 09:52 am
The ABs have really not been that impressive throughout the WC. Their performance against France was HUGELY aided by an inept defensive showing from the Frogg’s second stringers. All the tries came from constructive play, but the final job was done by poor defensive lapses from the French.
And Nonu wasn’t playing agaist a very strong defensive unit. Parra can’t tackle anything (he’s even worse than Steyn). An actual fly half instead of the scrumhalf would’ve been a far better bet.
Lievremont handed them this game because he doesn’t want SA/Aus in the semis, simple as that. Now France’s route to the final looks better.
26 Sep 2011, 10:08 am
@lapoftherugbygods(lapoftherugbygods)-19:
Yeah right.
Jean De Villiers while a decent centre has been mediocre for the better part of 2 yrs since he left for Munster.
I;ve never been the biggest fan of Frans Steyn BUT he is a world cup winning 12, he has been in very decent form since he moved back to midfield.In fact Steyn’s most consistent performances are as a midfielder. Plus with 3 world class kicking options in Lambie,Morne,Frans and a world class lineout in Botha/Matfield/Burger/Spies-which is imperative for kick defense and playing on the right side of the pitch vs AB’s.
F.Steyn is also a bigger,more explosive back than JdV and a better allround defender as JdV is prone to slipping a few once in a while.Frans also has a good understanding with Fourie as well.
All things point to Steyn playing in midfield.
26 Sep 2011, 10:22 am
Urgh. We could swing mud in all directions all we like, but all 3 Tri-nation teams better start taking the opposition seriously.
NZ probably buried the ghost from the previous World Cup this weekend, but they could easily create a new one. The Pumas are starting to gel and they’ve shown in the past they could beat anyone… especially after a few games playing together. They could easily show the flair the French failed to muster up this weekend.
Pumas will be out to show the tri-nations teams they are ready for the new series to start.
26 Sep 2011, 11:16 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-22: JdV has always played more on potential than actual performance…
26 Sep 2011, 11:35 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-22: If anything he has improved at centre. With all the effing about with him at fullback and flyhalf its been a while since ive seen him in his best position (which I always maintained) and man has he delivered. The way he has been putting Jacques Fourie into space by drawing defenders and flipping SBW passes out the back has been well impressive and he takes some bringing down. His lines he runs are solid, his defence is huge. He really is a complete 12. So good to have him back there. he is a decent fullback but he is a GREAT 12.
26 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm
I’m scared of the Aussies, like the Reds they jump around and hop around, and make it hard for our big guys to get a good shoulder on them.
We prefer playing direct runners.
Aus are a major obsticle for the Boks. I’m real nervous.
Wish those Aussies had beaten the damb Irish.
26 Sep 2011, 12:31 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-25: FS puts people into space, JdV just doesn’t do that anymore. de Villiers was never really all that good at putting people into space. Fourie just managed to make space anyway by running the perfect lines.
I’ve been saying it for ages, JdV has been the biggest problem with the backline for some time. I imagine that all those injuries when he was young prevented him from ever reaching his full potential.
26 Sep 2011, 13:05 pm
Wallabies have actually won 5 of the last 6. I love how you have all written off the wallabies becuase of one poor performance. They were there for a glorified training run and got surprised by the irish. Good to have the arrogance knocked out of them in the pool stages. It wont happen again.
Just remember who the only team to beat the all blacks this year are, who has the tri nations, the mandella plate and the super XV.
Food for thought. Just dont want you all to get your hopes up. You should be praying for an Italian win this weekend.
26 Sep 2011, 13:13 pm
@We are red(Redbull)-28:
*cough* bullsh*t *cough*…..Boks beat AB’s in PE so that assertion is not true…
Plus Deans & his Wallabies were the only team 2 play strongest XV throughout 3N so their success should be tempered down a wee-bit.
Oh and they have lost to NH opposition more than any other SH side,notably TWICE at home vs England….Deans has a 54% record…
Ireland victory wasnt simply a training run,Wallabies out out their strongest xv barring injury to Pocock/Iaone if you take consistency in team selection from 3N into cognisance.
Wallabies were shown up for their soft underbelly upfront and their ineptitude tactically especially Cooper.Inability to change tactics.And the fact they dont have an international class kicker( 85% plus)
Play it down all you want, but Oz were beaten by the OLDEST team in RWC
26 Sep 2011, 13:22 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-29: And don’t forget that the Reds had a holiday in the Australian conference in the S15..
26 Sep 2011, 13:54 pm
Sould have been a Bok/AB final. Not sure why they seed so early. Should only seed a year before. That way we get the best two teams probably playing each other in the final and not the semi.
IRB should look at the seeding for the next world cup. Every rugby supporter would want to see the best two teams facing each other in the final and not the semi.
Boks beat Oz and get to the semi without any injury they for sure can beat the ABs. Of course ABs can beat the Boks too. Gonna be one brilliant game if we make it to the semi injury free. Probably the final before the final. What a shame.
Go Bokke Go.
26 Sep 2011, 13:59 pm
@spartan(spartan)-5: Refs are the Boks biggest threat too.
26 Sep 2011, 14:10 pm
Nonu was used as a great deploy. Sucked in two defenders created gaps around. try time and again and again.
Solution- one man take him on, defense must trust, but that one man must know how to tackle like a man( anckles).
M Steyn, I prey each night that you will stop your girly tackling and go low and hard. I beg you not to be a girl. Nonu and Co await you.
26 Sep 2011, 14:27 pm
@lepel(lepel)-27: For sure. he is the rot in the Stormers and Boks backline. Ive been whingeing for ages about him. I call him Hopie. All he ever does is run straight into (and I mean STRAIGHT into) his opposing defender, then promptly falls into a ball at their feet (hence the name Hopie and more often than not has the ball turned over. He is utterly useless of late. Have no idea what happened to him but since Munster he has been awful. A spent force if ever there was one.
26 Sep 2011, 14:42 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-2:
Soooo…….. what you are saying is that, he is the NZ version of Keo?
27 Sep 2011, 04:03 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-15: That means as much as your AB alliance … zip.
Same as AB’s beat (“whipped” is the word you used) France twice in 2007 pre RWC. Means zip.
The fact is, with 50% RWC wins the boks are the most successful team in RWC history, are current RWC holders, and are defending that. Any team wanting to take that away will need to bring a game above their mid-term test standards … this is final exams. So bring it on.
Even with fatigue and the possibility of some injuries after a very hard Aussie game, home ad etc, boks won’t be a push-over. Not even crusty’s contribution will help all that much. But – be thankful for those gifts, as AB’s will need them.
Watch Carters eyes go wide and all teary again.
27 Sep 2011, 04:40 am
watchout for Aussie anybody writing Aussie off is asking for a big fat snotslap coming straight out of left field, they still the wilyest team in the competition even with that prancing pricked of a showpony prancing and dancing around at No.10.
But the real dark horses here are England could be an AB – England final while nobody else is looking.
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