Samoa bring Boks back to earth
30 Sep 2011
RYAN VREDE watched Samoa give the Springboks a reality check despite going down 13-5 at the North Habour Stadium.
The Springboks’ showings in the last fortnight has seen even some usually astute commentators divorce from their senses to join the unadulterated celebration of the team. Tonight was a jolt of note for the defending champions, who would have been beaten by a more refined opponent, so impotent were they on attack (zero linebreaks) and porous on defence (they missed 27 tackles, in line with their average of 26 per match).
They undoubtedly benefited from Samoa’s early tactical naivety. So much for the structured Samoa that could have beaten the Springboks had they not relied on misplaced enterprise – running from deep in their territory – as much as they did. It was a nonsensical tactic to employ, particularly since they looked more than capable of mixing it in the heavies and establishing a better attacking platform on the rare occasion they chose to.
The islanders were denied despite long passages of play in possession in the first half, then undermined their cause in the second half with a string of handling errors, laboured decision-making and poor discipline, the worst example coming from Paul Williams who was red carded at a crucial juncture for shoving Heinrich Brussow in the face.
The numbers were evened out a minute later when John Smit was binned for what was adjudged to be a deliberate knock down with 10 minutes to play. But Samoa never possessed the killer blow. Their effectiveness rode on hope of defensive lapses, when more certainty and purpose would have served them better. Indeed they played like rave music was pounding in their minds, when they should have tuned in to a station that promoted greater composure.
The Springboks will testify to the ferocity and bone-melting qualities of a Samoan tackle and the islanders were rarely asked any telling questions. The Springboks’ opening try was birthed by multiple phases setting up a centre-field ruck before the ball snapped left to Bryan Habana. Morne Steyn converted, before Frans Steyn reminded of the Springboks’ unique trump card by banking a 58m penalty.
Morne Steyn kicked another just before the break, but the 13-0 scoreline going down the tunnel spoke to attacking impotency against competent and combative defensive units which is deeply concerning. The sterile, uninspiring fare they served up on attack tonight won’t see them progress beyond the quarter-final in Wellington next week.
Samoa burst into life in the second half, dominating possession and territory. The Springboks’ much-vaunted structure capitulated and they were reduced to a bumbling mess in the face of incessant attack. George Stowers, immense on the night, crossed for a try which Tusi Pisi crucially failed to convert.
You sensed the Springboks were on the ropes, and they will speak of their character in denying their opponents, but the reality is so much different. They were tested to their limit by a side they have consistently thumped by an average of 50 points.
This Springboks side is a pretender to the one that captured the title four years ago. Their journey continues, but surely not for much longer.
By Ryan Vrede, at the North Habour Stadium.
Follow Ryan’s World Cup coverage on Twitter
1,781 Comments
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30 Sep 2011, 22:13 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1647:
Different storyline D. Set in the same place and the outline is the same I suppose, but different story.
30 Sep 2011, 22:13 pm
@David(David)-1642: David, he is a confused one
30 Sep 2011, 22:13 pm
I was happy to win it. It was never going to be easy, and we were never as good as we made ourselves out to be. Wales was the best indication of where we stand, and we were beyond lucky to get that as a win.
Well done Samoa.
Bismark, Schalk, Brussow, Lambie, F. Steyn and starting front row are good. Oom Danie good in first half. Spies invisible really, Matfield not much to speak of 2′nd half.
We will beat Australia by 1 point. I will take it.
Wales have a very good chance of making the final.
30 Sep 2011, 22:14 pm
Just a little more hi-tech
30 Sep 2011, 22:15 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1646: Now that’s a first.
Nearly had to buy a new computer just missed the key board with my tea.
Skops agreeing with the majority? LoL.
30 Sep 2011, 22:15 pm
It’s a follow up!
30 Sep 2011, 22:16 pm
Is it just me but the magazine cover is quite ***. Even the headline. Butch. And his eyes keep following me and telling me to actually do some work.
30 Sep 2011, 22:17 pm
Is g ay a *** word?
30 Sep 2011, 22:17 pm
Oh it’s a book. Solly.
30 Sep 2011, 22:18 pm
Night all. Best of luck tomorrow Soda and ET, we’re playing ManU so I’m a bit confused but hope for a Canaries win.
30 Sep 2011, 22:18 pm
Aha the creepy butch cover. No-one is gonna buy that book.
30 Sep 2011, 22:18 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1655:
god gerd, what u sipping tea for Joe?
30 Sep 2011, 22:20 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1657:
Its just you.
30 Sep 2011, 22:20 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1646: me agreeing with the majority .. where you been the past 5 years.. I been disagreeing with the majority here till they eventually come around to seeing things the way they are…
Like I already said I don’t castigate you for supporting the AB’s of course it is your right.. anyone can support whoever they like for whatever reason.. but it shows a slight lack of patriotism when a citizen of a particular country actually supports the opposition for reasons other than pure political affiliation
There has to be some inherent deep seated reason for your preference to support Ab’s and not your own country’s team.. do you support Ghana ahead of Bafana when they play each other because Ghana play the more attractive football? If not then your pure sporting argument seems to fall flat..
30 Sep 2011, 22:22 pm
David 1642: the support of the ANC started in 1912, it’s not new. In actual fact I got that nickname from some new zealanders I know, and being a Jew is not insulting.
30 Sep 2011, 22:24 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-1664:
‘ I been disagreeing with the majority here till they eventually come around to seeing things the way they are…’
Brilliant
30 Sep 2011, 22:29 pm
I been disagreeing with the majority here till they eventually come around to seeing things the way they are…
You left out f’cadilly watnotpoescuntbastard armppit and several alliterations.
Otherwise I classic skopism.
30 Sep 2011, 22:30 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1663: Hello Grunts. Howzit?
30 Sep 2011, 22:30 pm
Just watching this game for the first time now. Jeez, but Williams caught Brussouw a cracker.
30 Sep 2011, 22:31 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-1664: From the comments of other bloggers it seems you truly are contrarian, my apologies. My support of the AB’s is clearly not nationalistic, it’s a team that ive supported for many years, I don’t follow soccer so I’d not know about all the other teams, however, I’ve many white friends who support the boks, proteas, and in soccer England, Portugal, Spain and Italy. It does not phase me at all. I really don’t care, all I care about are the AB’s, and we want to win this bill period! My countrymen, I’m happy they now have access to international rugby so my team can whip repeatedly since 1992!
30 Sep 2011, 22:32 pm
@cab(cab)-1662: Cabernet – howzit? How’s mediaeval England treating you, a hear a few gorgeous autumn days.
30 Sep 2011, 22:32 pm
guess it gotta be time out
see you anon
30 Sep 2011, 22:33 pm
I’m catching the drift here. The Samoans are filthy cnuts.
Disgusting to watch.
30 Sep 2011, 22:33 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1670: what does mpundulu mean? Google Translate is useless with Xhosa.
30 Sep 2011, 22:33 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1648:
Cli Che Guevera
still turning a blind eye to your own troops, I see.
get some new material, your act has turned a little rancid. Might be time to get a job and stop living off Daddys coattails all your life.
30 Sep 2011, 22:33 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1668:
Hey Joe, whatsup man, long time no see, U still working very hard in the land of great opportunity?
Who do you reckon is going to take the Webb Ellis trophy home this time?
30 Sep 2011, 22:34 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1673: You 4 Weddings & A funeral ladyman you.
30 Sep 2011, 22:35 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1668:
Howzit bud?
Ready for winter, when are you coming back for some r and r?
30 Sep 2011, 22:35 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1658:
its worse than that
I called Peaches an “absolute h o t t i e” here this week and that was banned too.
Google China starting to look like Hustler-online
30 Sep 2011, 22:36 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1670:
‘we’
I can’t imagine how you can get any gratification from New Zealand beating South Africa, but I suppose it takes all kinds to make the world tick.
30 Sep 2011, 22:38 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1676: Hello Robbie. man I thought that I had missed you. So good to see you.
Working hard. The harder you work the more opportunity you get I guess. Any way. Gotta pay da mortgage.
Rob. Honestly without being Keo (who has to be the kiss of death pundit – Mark if you are reading this can you please write an article saying that the RWC is “New Zealand’s to lose” I would appreciate your evil eye – thanks.) – I think the Kiwis look bloody good.
I predict a NZ-Wales Final.
And I sacrifice goats, squirrels, and much alcohol to the rugby gods for the Boks. We can beat the Aussies – but it is tough, but I predict us to win by 1.
30 Sep 2011, 22:38 pm
@David(David)-1650: I like to temper my approach.
30 Sep 2011, 22:39 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1675:
What would you know.?
Maybe I employ FOUR saffas.
Maybe one of them (gasp) is my best mate.
You lame little prick.
How them lemons?
30 Sep 2011, 22:40 pm
While most of you are deep into you glasses and bottles thus oozing this worthless maudlin sentimentality, it has barely gone 4 30pm here and I am still at work at the end of a long day.
I have not read these posts, and will never, for that will be a waste of much time. But I see my non-” support” of S.A. vexes quite a number of you and note too that a common denominator among you all is that you are the former franchised and favoured and privileged grouping(ethnic if you will).
I owe NO ONE any explanation for my choices in my life as I live it only according to my principles (not your ‘pricipals’) which are totally governed and dictated by my personal experiences. As long as those choices benefit the majority and harms no one physically, mentally, economically or otherwise I will continue in this well considered manner (by very many).
Despite your distortions I have not ever tied myself down to any ONE national team and in all honesty have never ever supported S.Africa in any sporting contest even now because I am still dictated to by my unchanging principles which convince me that neo-racism and not non-racism is what features today in S.A.( who owns the economy). Next w-end I will call and thus support Australia but the w-end after that it will be N.Z. for I have long since decided that the 3 teams most likely to win the RWC is likely to come from N.Z., Aus. or France in that order.
I will soon be heading home and cannot promise that I will respond to anything and definitely not garbage.
Do not waste my time with any rubbish about nationalism or patriotism for they just do not feature in judgement.
30 Sep 2011, 22:41 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1678: Shunts. We did come back in last 2 weeks of June. Joburg for 2 days to see my brother & sister, then Mozambique for a week, the Cape Town for 5 days and more family. winter not a great time to visit, although I would recommend Moz to anyone in June – lovely. But we had all sorts of family stuff.
Last winter was hell bud, unmitigated torture, so I am very much facing winter with trepidation, I suspect that I will be doing lots of business in the Southern US Dec/Jan/Feb.
30 Sep 2011, 22:42 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1683:
Not used to someone answering you back, Cli Che ?
of course you ‘employ’ people, someone has to clean your shoes and iron your shirts.
ps – I have a dog, too
30 Sep 2011, 22:42 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1674: it’s a mythical figure representing the devil, a big black bird with red eyes and claws!
30 Sep 2011, 22:43 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1679: Hello pinky. Your country is hosting a great tournament. Looks gorgeous although seems a wee bit cold when I see what people are wearing. I like seeing the country before the game.
Happy to be home?
Be careful, Keo’s evil eye has been called.
30 Sep 2011, 22:44 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1685:
Good man.
Next time pop in for a jar.
Time to retire to florida.
30 Sep 2011, 22:45 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1680: When the AB’s beat the boks my life suddenly makes sense.
30 Sep 2011, 22:45 pm
@David(David)-1650:
In response to your post of ” the problem with ET “, because you made a political reference, I asked to if you were convinced that S.A. is a truly non-racial society in all aspects including its sporting endeavours.
I now await your answer to that.
30 Sep 2011, 22:45 pm
You know in early days of keo one of the true pleasures was all the Aussies, Kiwis, Poms, Irish, coming on to the site. The banter was great, like in a pub.
Now if someone from NZ/Aus simply banters or pushes back they are “trolls”, go back to “silver fern”.
I think it’s bullsh it, and teh sport was never about that.
We look boorish, no not boerish.
30 Sep 2011, 22:46 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1687: Brad Thorn then.
30 Sep 2011, 22:47 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1689: The family stuff gets kind of dominating. But thanks for the offer, sincerely.
Florida is a totally kak place.
30 Sep 2011, 22:48 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1686:
You are starting to sound like poops on a bad day.
And that can’t be good.
30 Sep 2011, 22:48 pm
ET, it’s a completely mutual and amicable separation. You don’t want SA and SA doesn’t want you. In fact, we have restraining order, so fck off.
30 Sep 2011, 22:48 pm
@ET.(ET.)-1691: why?
PhillySteak. Portsmouth. One of those “sticky wicket” games for Leeds. Should win, but contrive not to.
30 Sep 2011, 22:49 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-1696: Well Katmando. Hi.
30 Sep 2011, 22:50 pm
@1691
” I asked to if ” should read I asked you if…
30 Sep 2011, 22:50 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1677:
Howdy bud. Losing posts here I’m afraid. Tried to send the same one twice but fark, I’m not going to try a 3rd time in case they all come through and it’s not funny anymore
Anyhoo, hit the sack time, g’night all
SCOTLAAAAAAAAAANNNNDDDDD
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