Enjoy the history-making Springboks v All Blacks – at least for 7 days
The 16-point Springboks winning differential versus the All Blacks is the biggest in the professional era and one point shy of the biggest ever in 1928. Enjoy it Boks supporters – at least for the next seven days, writes Mark Keohane.
For those who still doubt it, we can play rugby in this country. We have won three World Cups in two less tournament appearances than New Zealand.
We have also beaten the All Blacks 38 times in our history of 102 Tests. Four have been drawn. Advantage New Zealand, because over time, they have undoubtedly been the best.
But on Saturday night the Boks were the best by some margin. Enjoy it. Celebrate it and just say ‘Yes’.
It doesn’t mean the Boks win the Rugby Championship. It doesn’t mean the Boks win the World Cup in 2023, but right now, it is just plain lekker for Bok supporters.
All week my narrative was one of respect for the black jersey, the heroics in that black jersey and the history of the black jersey. My narrative was also that these All Blacks in South Africa are imposters to that legacy and wouldn’t be fit to tie the laces of some of those giants in black.
#RSAvNZL – @mark_keohane
and @Zels77 are confident that the @Springboks will get the win
against the @AllBlacks in Nelspruit today.What is your prediction?pic.twitter.com/FuJDrlOO5D
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) August 6, 2022
On Saturday night, it was vindication of this belief as the Boks crushed the All Blacks 26-10. It could have been closer to a 30-point differential but the respect the boys in green have for those in black kept it reasonable.
There was only one side in this contest – and only winner. It will be the same a week from now.
New Zealand’s rugby bosses, as much as they hate to admit their mistakes, will fire Ian Foster, install Scott Robertson and the contest will be on again.
But right now, it just feels so good to be so much better.
This was the Boks best performance since their 2019 RWC final win against England in Japan.
Have a lekker weekend and simply applaud the boys in green and gold who did it, and did it so comfortably.
Lukanyo Am was the giant among the Bok backs, while up front Siya Kolisi saves his best for Test rugby and the Boks forwards, as a back five unit, worked as effectively as the front five.
The Boks were more fluid in attack than they were against Wales, but most significantly they were more controlled and composed as a collective than what we saw in the three Tests against Wales.
The Rugby Championship was a lift in intensity from the July internationals and be guaranteed that it will only get more intense a week from now at Emirates Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
READ MARK KEOHANE IN SUNDAY’S SUNDAY TIMES – KEO UNCUT
