Boks lament breakdown burglary
9 Oct 2011
The Springboks have suggested that referee Bryce Lawrence’s failure to punish Australia’s infringement at the breakdown cost them heavily.
The defending champions conceded 10 breakdown turnovers, with Wallabies openside flank David Pocock being the chief destroyer of their attacking momentum.
Referee Bryce Lawrence came into the Test having awarded among the lowest number of ruck penalties on average in the tournament, and that trend continued as he allowed a greater contest than has been the norm. The Springboks undoubtedly suffered as a result, but they must look at their inability to protect the ball in contact and on the deck as the primary cause for their struggles (they also committed 10 handling errors).
Still, captain John Smit intimated that they were hard done by at the breakdown. ‘It [the Wallabies' perceived infringement at the breakdown] was the only talking point between he and I,’ Smit said of his on-field interaction with Lawrence. ‘The message clearly wasn’t going through.’
Asked about Pocock’s influence, Smit said: ‘I guess he was brilliant at capitalising on the way the breakdown was being interpreted. When you are brave and keep the ball, normally you are rewarded. That wasn’t the case tonight.’
Head coach Peter de Villiers echoed Smit’s sentiments. ‘Tactically we played correctly but the breakdown was a mess,’ he said. ‘In a quarter-final you have to take your chances and we didn’t take ours. Well done to them. They had a few [opportunities] and they took them. For the rest of the time we were in control. A couple of calls never went our way, but now isn’t the time to talk about the ref.’
However, Australia coach Robbie Deans, whose side has been heavily penalised by Lawrence in the tournament to date, countered that criticism. ‘We didn’t see it as that. Maybe both sides were hard done by, then. The breakdown was hotly contested, and maybe things evened themselves out,’ he said in a veiled reference to their struggles with the New Zealand official.
Asked to assess Pocock’s performance, Deans was emphatic in his response. ‘Immense. Remarkable. It was bigger than he got credit for. It was probably the most dominant performance [by an openside flank] in the tournament.’
Deans described this showing as the ‘coming of age’ of his youthful group, and added: ‘Tonight the most experienced side in the tournament turned the screws on the youngest. I don’t need to equip these boys with the skills to cope with pressure going forward. They showed that they have that capacity tonight.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Wellington.
164 Comments
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9 Oct 2011, 12:30 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-4: @ET.(ET.)-3:
I could easily find you in real life. lol
9 Oct 2011, 12:31 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-41:
Understand Rob.
I too was embarrased how in 2007 the Barnes saga went down.
I was dissapointed and i knew he missed that famous forward pass but **** happens.
He didnt cheat, he missed as well as the other 2 touch judges. Its a tough job and you will never be liked as a ref. In most games you are hated by one lot of Fans and not the other.
Lets hope the good SA fans dont get put into the same pot as these other bleaters as we did in 2007.
9 Oct 2011, 12:31 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-44:
. I’m proud to be South African .
And so you should be Bill.
Your Boys gave it EVERYTHING.
You can ask no more.
9 Oct 2011, 12:32 pm
@cane(cane)-45: Barnes and Joubert will get the semis, Kaplan the final … I hope you chokers get Barnes.
9 Oct 2011, 12:32 pm
@BlueBlood(BlueBlood)-32: I hadn’t realised you were the author of those previous disgusting posts. Nothing further to say to you except bye.
9 Oct 2011, 12:34 pm
@cane(cane)-42:
lol
Yep Piri should have a statue placed upon the Wainui Hill.
And i think your right, not one of us actually threatened Barnes on Keo, only in my sleep
We were just told stop moaning and get on with life, probably from half these guys on here that are crying like Kobus.
9 Oct 2011, 12:35 pm
@cane(cane)-53:
Thanks mate! The one good thing about this world cup is that teams are getting closer and closer to each other. Wales have been awesome, the French, well they are the French and can beat anyone but lose to minnows. It is going to be a great game next weekend and I will be glued to my TV watching two greats going into battle. May the best team win…
9 Oct 2011, 12:35 pm
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-51:
lol Kobus couldnt find anyone without a stock ID tag on the ear and its ready for milking.
9 Oct 2011, 12:36 pm
@jeest(jeest)-10:
“” In the end, when your team makes 50 tackles and the other team makes 150, there is no reason your team shouldn’t win unless the opposition defence is unbelievable….well guess what – it was”".
These are the words of man deeply disappointed.
But one who is fair and reasoned.
9 Oct 2011, 12:36 pm
@RL(RL)-54:
I hope you do as well…….oh wait, my apologies
9 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-58: lol he is going to find you as well, if he finds me i will tazer him, but it was funny ET can make a person feel that way at times.
9 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@cane(cane)-59: @Hurricane(Hurricane)-60:
We have taken a lot out of the Ozzies. You should be grateful to us. They must be knackered…
9 Oct 2011, 12:40 pm
a) The ruck and the interpretation of the ruck has always been rugby unions achiles heel and so will it always be. But according to the laws as they stand right now surely the first question a ref must ask himself as a ruck is forming is have they tacklers given the tackled player the opportunity to place the ball. Bryce Lawrence was not asking that question tonight. Aussies took advantage of it. One incident in particular stood out where the ball got ripped off schalk under the poles with Lawrence standing no more than 2m away with a clear view. Two aussies tackled him. He went to ground. Neither released him and ball was immediately ripped by one of the tacklers. That was a clear penalty and cause for a yellow card given the situation.
b) We still should have won and blaming the ref is pointless. We dont have enough creativity with ball in hand and we were not clinical enough in finishing either. We also might look back and wonder why we didnt make more use of the drop goal. Once it became evident Aussies were not going to get penalised at defensive rucks (which was apparent very early on) we should have realised drop goals were going to be needed.
9 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@RL(RL)-54:
Whatever RL.
Barnsey owes us one and he knows it.
8)
If it hurts Bro,
It’s because you love them Boks.
Nothing is free,
Not even love.
The hurt you feel is the price of love.
But you will not stop loving them, will you,
so in the end love always wins.
9 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
End of the day too many has-beens were selected for RWC duty.
Spies is kak, Plod is kak, JPP is kak, Habana is kak, FdP has been kak all year, Burger is kak … all of these fat boys got a free ride to RWC and did fokol right when it mattered … better players were left behind for these has-been schmucks.
9 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@RL(RL)-65:
I was believing everything until you mentioned Burger is k a k…
9 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-60: Barnes is competent, unlike your Bryce
9 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
I thought the ref was poor but consistent and the losing team was always going to complain!
Fortunately its the boks!
Kobus you can be patriotic and tell your boys how much you love them at OR Tambo!
9 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-66: believe it.
9 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-62:
“We have taken a lot out of the Ozzies.”
Yeah Right.
You have just given them the belief that they are bullet proof.
8)
9 Oct 2011, 12:47 pm
@cane(cane)-64:
Yip Nothing is free in this universe not even love that is the absolute truth of everything
and in this vale of tears Karma always has the last laugh .. always without fail..
9 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
Whatever happens, one of NZ or Aus will exit the tournament next weekend.
I’m also beginning to think that maybe Wales can go all the way…French too inconsistent; if they win next week they will come unstuck at the next hurdle
So Wales should be the danger team on the one stream
Kiwis are cheating and Aussies have been crushed today. If Wales lose then of course they will look back and say ‘ our only loss was against the Boks’
9 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
Players like Sadie, Taute, Goosen and Vermaak were robbed of the chance to play in the RWC … fat boys booked their spots in 2009 ffs … it is true.
9 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
Cheers all…
Good luck to all the teams in the semi-finals. May the best team win…
9 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-68: your first try was a direct result of a hands in the ruck steal.. and the second time it happened was on your own try line.. hands in the ruck steal.. or else it was sure try to Boks on your try line … and you got away with murder both times.. and both times the one to lose the ball in the ruck was Burger..
IRB better clean up this mess because hands in ruck are STILL a no no illegitimate ball and a PENALTY against the transgressor .. or so it was until yesterday…
9 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-68:
Congrats Wally.
A MAGNIFICENT AND STOIC PERFORMANCE BY THE WALLABIES.
Against all odds.
Against every stat but ONE.
We have one hell of match to look forward to next weekend.
8)
9 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
A big thing for this game is Deans learned that cooper needs barnes as security for his mental yips.
As fitzpatric said…he is worried as the wallabies won with cooper being rubbish and now the combo of barnes and cooper being found…next week is worrying!
9 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@cane(cane)-76: If the ref is fair Wallabies gonna win..
If he’s up Paddy O.B’s backside which is far more likely the case then AB’s will squeak it…
9 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-77: Nice one Wallabie. Well done to your boys. wish it was us, but it’s not. That’s life.
9 Oct 2011, 12:55 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-72:
“Aussies have been crushed today…..”
I do not share your view on this matter.
Ozzies will have self belief after today.
9 Oct 2011, 12:56 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-75:
When pocock got to the tackle there was no ruck…in fact the ball should have come out when he got there if it were not for holding onto the ball by the boks.
First penalty conversion for the boks should not have been…there were enough wallabies to effect a turnover if the boks were not holding…it was not only until a wallaby came steaming through that bryce opened his eyes…that should have been a walla penalty.
9 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
Boks lost the game – plain and simple – we had all the chances and didn’t take them.
Would have preferred to lose to the Blackness rather than the Convicts.
9 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-79:
Thanks bud…it was heart attack stuff.
Thanks for being sporting…your boys beat everywhere other than in the breakdown and scorboard.
9 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-78:
8)
Whatever Skoppie.
This is a great WC. Anything and everthing is possible from here on in.
Bring it on……!!!!
9 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@Ig(Ig)-82: Hey bud, long time no see. I gather the wifey is keeping you busy with gardening and handyman chores.
9 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-83: That’s our second heart attack in 3 weeks. My doc is not happy.
9 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@cane(cane)-80:
I meant they were crushed on the park today.
I dont care what they draw from today’s encounter; the ABs will anyway not be in a position to emulate the Boks.
Only the Boks can dominate them like that.
Bryce effected that but watch how this backfires next week.
9 Oct 2011, 13:01 pm
@cane(cane)-76:
Thanks…it is going to be a cracker of a game.
9 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
Well, the upside is that all those Bok stars can come home now and face the wrath of the Lions in the semis and finals of the CC. I’m tired of this “weakened competition” rubbish. It’s knock-out time now. Four teams start with a clean sheet. I dare the glory boys to load theirs with returning superstars.
9 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
Is this the get out jail card for the wallabies!
9 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@Ig(Ig)-82:
Hello Ignacious.
8)
9 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
Wallabies will beat the ABs next week.
Then Wallabies will lose against France or Wales
9 Oct 2011, 13:05 pm
@cane(cane)-91: Hey cane, I hope your thief was watching what Pocock did. We’ll see next week if two wrongs can make a right.
9 Oct 2011, 13:06 pm
@katman – that’s another whole story
Oi – Cane – you best faaaaark up those Convicts next week.
You well brew?
9 Oct 2011, 13:06 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-81:
Burger set it back both times.. no daylight .. and ball pops up on your side.. was hands in ruck both times.. once on our try line and once on yours.. and the hands were yellow hands not green ones..
How about the high tackle on Louw by both Horwill and your other bloke.. , Bryce gives you the turnover .. should have been Boks penalty right there.. and game might have been sealed… cos it was 10-9 at that point.
Pocock had a good game no question but another ref would have blown it a whole lot differently
SH contested games should get NH refs or at least totally unbiased ones .. this Oke Lawrence is in Paddy O’B's back pocket and they both know if Boks got to semi’s AB’s may not get to the final…
We got done .. sure I accept it pans that way and that how the cookie crumbles in tight affairs.. A French or Welsh or Irish ref would have blown Pocock off those balls far quicker than this Yellow bellied sympathizer did.
Burger should NOT have gone to ground in front of his poles and tried to set a loose ruck, should have gone to FH and into touch, but that ball had NO business popping back on your side because it was deliberate hands in ruck.. same as it was against same Burger right on your try line second half..
9 Oct 2011, 13:06 pm
@Sheriff(Lawman)-87:
We shall ALL wait and see.
Plenty of great rugby still to come.
9 Oct 2011, 13:08 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-87: The fact i feel kind of bitter about the win backs up your argument. There is a small part of me that didnt want the wallabies to win tonight becuase the other team purely and simply deserved it more.
9 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@Ig(Ig)-94: I get the feeling all the Saffa’s now want the AB’s to beat the wallabies next week?
Since when did this alliance occur?
9 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
Of course if the Wallabies beat the ABs next week, it will be really something.
Not so much for the team, but for Deans.
He has been on the receiving end from ABs so it will be unbelievable if his team can pull that off. Now he knows they can, Reds beating Crusaders is in effect that. so again he knows they can
I would love for that to happen as it would undo all the hard work and planning by Paddy and others.
Deans was a hurt and almost bitter man when overlooked by selectors 4 years ago, but he went about his business with great character and dignity.
AB coach selectors would have felt justified in selecting Ted over the last 3 years, but if Deans can pull of this one it will be immense.
And you know what Deans would say afterwards looking almost sad: ‘We have just beaten the best team in the world, I think we should give these young guys credit’
9 Oct 2011, 13:13 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-95: Burger is a bonehead, and there are some here who say he had a good match, ignoring his poor skill in securing ground ball … only in the Cape is he considered a great player.
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