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, 22:50 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1694:
Indeed.
Next time.
Maybe arizona.
30 Sep 2011, 22:51 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1693: No question! Brad Thorn entirely.
30 Sep 2011, 22:52 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1681:
By the sound of it it seems as if the hard work is paying off on your side.
Good to hear.
re the WC, I reckon it will be NZ versus England in the final with the kiwi’s to win.
I do not believe we can beat Aus and NZ on successive weekends – it will be a moerse surprise if that happens- i base it on the results over the last few years, we lost 5 out of the last 6 against the Aussies…i cannot see us being world beaters now all of a sudden only because it is world cup. This NZ choking business is more hope than anything else imo.
Anyway, whats up on the music front? Anything new that is worthwhile ? here is some progress in SA, we even have Gwyneth’ s husbands band playing in CT next week.
30 Sep 2011, 22:52 pm
Hey Joe. All well?
30 Sep 2011, 22:53 pm
@ET.(ET.)-1684:
No-one gives a fck.
You are a figure of fun only.
30 Sep 2011, 22:54 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1692: I fully agree with you it’s entire BS!
30 Sep 2011, 22:55 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1697:
Because it is important to me.
I would have been happier if we had played Birm. on Tues. past now we are a game behind.
Damn did we kill ourselves again against B.H & A ? if we had won we would have been 5th last Friday.
I think the business will be done tomorrow.
This damn David is giving me an arrogantly tough time with his Man. U.
I wonder who he supports tomorrow when it is Man U vs. Norwich
30 Sep 2011, 22:56 pm
G’night all. Go Scotland.
30 Sep 2011, 22:57 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1703:
And I had to take a bond out for 3 blerry tickets.
I remember seeing Paul Simon at Greenpoint in ’91 (iirc) and everyone was complaining at the R50 tickets
30 Sep 2011, 22:59 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-1708:
Word.
I was off to bed cos the internet went tiits up, but obviously it starts to fly now.
30 Sep 2011, 23:00 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1709:
Lol, my daughter’s boyfriend has a few tickets so it is still negotiating, bribing, and maybe even begging on this side
30 Sep 2011, 23:01 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1466: sula umlomo wakho. ngiyathi “savage” ngoba badlala fana i-savages… uyaqonda na?
30 Sep 2011, 23:01 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1709:
More fool you.
You could have saved yourself a fortune and listened to the cd with your zippo out.
30 Sep 2011, 23:07 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1711:
Better than shelling out 850 smackers a head I suppose.
@Gunther(gunther)-1713:
Haha, I’m not going though, I’m far too uncool to be seen with my daughter that night.
I’d probably tan my wrists with a razor blade if I was forced to listen to them anyway so it’s all good.
30 Sep 2011, 23:07 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-1697: in Florida it has to be the Cuban sandwiches, the best Philly cheesesteaks in the north east for sure!
30 Sep 2011, 23:10 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1712: Hayi kwedini awutsho uba uveze ibundu!
30 Sep 2011, 23:11 pm
PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS!!!!!
Shut upppp!
30 Sep 2011, 23:12 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1714:
Good man.
Rathet stay at home with a bottle of grouse and listen to you Deacon Blue records.
30 Sep 2011, 23:12 pm
Cli Che
talking about “sounding like Poppa” I see your search for ‘new’ material has you reduced to re-mixing his signature “lemons” taunt.
My, he will be pleased.
30 Sep 2011, 23:13 pm
@JL1(JL1)-1598: A true classic
30 Sep 2011, 23:15 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1718:
Deacon Blue, lol.
At least they are slightly better than the New Seekers.
30 Sep 2011, 23:16 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1720: Uyi fundile la piece ibi poster ngu Sizwe lethu ngetshomi zakho zase-AfriForum?
30 Sep 2011, 23:18 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1717:
How’s the movie?
@Gunther(gunther)-1718:
Now you’re talking my kind of good stuff.
Don’t tell anyone, but my music is 70′s punk though I do like Deacon Blue
30 Sep 2011, 23:18 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1719:
Fukkoff now there’s a good girl.
You are starting to sound boring,
I know you are upset but try and move on.
30 Sep 2011, 23:19 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1721:
I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.
30 Sep 2011, 23:21 pm
Jock a bit amateur. Adrian unlikely superhero!
30 Sep 2011, 23:21 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1721:
Gawd, I’ve seen Deacon Blue 3 times before. And one of them, a warm up in a pub in London for some sell out concerts at Wembley was quite honestly one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.
Shhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
30 Sep 2011, 23:21 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1716: “Uvese ibundu”….? Ja, mhlati wakho… uyakhuluma gabhi fanayo ET manje…
30 Sep 2011, 23:23 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1725:
There you go. A true classic, my grandmother’s version was nearly as good as the original.
30 Sep 2011, 23:23 pm
Akon should be good gig. Antidote to coldplay.
30 Sep 2011, 23:24 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1726:
Yep, it doesn’t quite suit him being all mean and moody. It was watchable though a bit cheesy if I recall.
But big guns and alien blood all over the place means it can’t all be bad.
30 Sep 2011, 23:26 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1727:
Great band.
70′s punk?
Stiff little fingers?
Iggy and the Stooges?
The Fall and the Cramps?
30 Sep 2011, 23:26 pm
Poor old Cli Che Guevera, the Keo Freedom Fighter, resorting to curses and threats.
time for Daddy to hire a new Nanny.
30 Sep 2011, 23:28 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1722: Lol. Uyazama. na? Cha, Afriforum umhlobo awakho… isiNgisi mina… Afriforum angithanda i-”Rhodesian” futhi…. so zama futhi blaady isilima…
30 Sep 2011, 23:30 pm
Panther you are growing weak.
Gunther outguns everyone in the humour stakes.
Try to get yours back.
30 Sep 2011, 23:30 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1727:
My lips are sealed.
i saw a bloke called Chad playing in a pub in dartmouth England last Wednesday- he did the best cover of the beatles classic ‘Come together’ that I have ever heard- bluesy on accoustic guitar- John probably turned in his grave.
so, yes, it is not only the superbands that can make music.
30 Sep 2011, 23:31 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-1733:
Why would you want to talk about my father all the time?
He’s not in much of a state to hire anything.
I said goodbye to him a week ago.
30 Sep 2011, 23:33 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-1735: Well said. But clearly Carly is on a mission to “outfunny” the Gunther… Like plugging a dam wall… or a RWC without an AB choke…. Futile.
30 Sep 2011, 23:35 pm
Sorry to hear that Gunther
30 Sep 2011, 23:36 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1732:
Nice one Grunts, they obviously taught you something at Slough Comp
Stiff Little Fingers are one of my two favourite bands of all time (The Clash being the other). I’ve seen them countless times and still listen to them often. Man they still tour every year and in fact played in Philadelphia last week. I know because I laughed wondering if Dr Killjoy would have gone.
The Cramps and of course Iggy the legend were good as well, but I was never a fan of The Fall.
*** Pistols
The Skids
The Damned
Cockney Rejects
4-Skins
Buzzcocks
Angelic Upstarts
Blitz
The Exploited
Crass
UK Subs
Dead Kennedy’s
Fark yeah……
30 Sep 2011, 23:41 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1736:
I loved living in London. I used to go to a different gig almost every night, mostly in pubs but it was great looking in the TNT and planning where to go. I even saw eVoid over there more than once and I felt the same way about ‘Always take the weather’ when they sang it even though I never liked the original Crowded House version.
Something great about live music, especially in a pub or small venue.
30 Sep 2011, 23:41 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1740:
The buzzcocks and the dead kennedys.
Notable ommissions.
Slough Comp had an excellent music school.
@Dawn(Dawn)-1739:
Shot dot.
30 Sep 2011, 23:42 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1737:
Fark, sorry to hear that mate.
30 Sep 2011, 23:46 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-1741:
Nothing beats a small venue imo too.
i am out now- good luck for u team tomorrow – but I still support England
@Gunther(gunther)-1742:
Sorry to hear man
30 Sep 2011, 23:47 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-1742:
I can’t believe I missed the Ramones from that list.
I always remember reading about some guy who said he went to see the Ramones when they were starting out in some dodgy NY hovel.
The place was empty but they went for it anyway and produced 30 minutes of noise. He said the only way he knew they had changed from one song to the next was when the drummer shouted ’1,2,3,4′
30 Sep 2011, 23:48 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-1744:
Traitor
Out too, night all…
30 Sep 2011, 23:48 pm
Shot fellas it don’t look good but I live in hope.
Sleep calls I have to work tomorrow such is the life of a trust fund ****.
30 Sep 2011, 23:49 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1716: Ngiyaxolisa…isiZulu sami-ndini…awukho amaZulu phakathi London ukuzijwayeza… akuna amamenazi ngiyaqhubeka kukhuluma Fanagalo. Ngiyaxholisa, kodwa uyakhuluma noma uyabala iSingisi kungcono. ngiyakhohlwa.
30 Sep 2011, 23:52 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-1728: Uyanya kwedini, ndiya thetha, ndiya kubona uba ubonisa ubhunu kawu gezayo! Ndakutsweba boy!
1 Oct 2011, 00:01 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-1749: Ag ukhulekha umfana… Farkoff with your ibhunu this and that. This is equal opportunity ragging for all AB supporters on a Bok supporter site. Take it like a man.
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