Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: All Blacks too strong for Springboks in Cape Town

Sunday, August 17, 2008

All Blacks too strong for Springboks in Cape Town

The All Blacks kept South Africa scoreless for only the fourth time in 75 meetings by beating them 19-0 in Cape Town’s Tri Nations test on Saturday. They were led brilliantly by powerhouse flanker Richie McCaw, who stood out as a true leader and one of the players of the match with his overall performance.

New Zealand weathered the Springbok’s strong start, and nullified the home ground advantage by soaking up the pressure and keeping themselves ahead after an early try by Conrad Smith. McCaw’s deft kick ahead was yet another mark of the man’s class, as Smith dived over and somehow managed to dot down.

Flyhalf Dan Carter miraculously missed five of seven attempted kicks at goal, possibly never seen before by Carter at this level. It didn’t matter though, as the men in green failed to take advantage of that and use their chances to put points on the board.

The All Blacks defence was heroic, once again led by McCaw, who was seen putting in numerous hard tackles and winning turnover ball on the ground, showing precisely how slow the Springboks were at the breakdown.

The game sat at 5-0 for the whole of the first half, as Carter continued to let South Africa off the hook by skewing kicks in a rare display of poor goal kicking. The rest of his play was up to normal standard though, with his moment of brilliance with 14 minutes left in the match putting the visitors well ahead.

The grounding of the ball from Carter, after the neat little jink, showed what a superb player he can be with ball in hand.

With five minutes left, Francois Steyn and Jean De Villiers combined to hand All Black hooker Kevin Mealamu an absolute gift, as the pressure to create something out of nothing resulted in them tossing Mealamu the ball, for one of the easier tries he’ll score in his career.

Percy Montgomery’s 100th Test match for his country was meant to be an occasion to celebrate for the home side, but looking leaderless and frustrated, the errors and subsequent failure to get on the board cost them.

The All Black’s composure and determined defence on the other hand, was probably the difference between the two sides in the end. That, and king Richie, who has once again shown what an incredibly classy player and captain he truly is.

The All Black now sit at the top of the table with 14 points, while the Springboks remain in last place with five.

PLEASE NOTE: This video has been removed by Mediazone, who own the rights to the footage and no longer allow us to use it. Apologies from our side.

Time: 10:06
Note: Is ten minutes too long for highlights? Spot on, or bandwidth killer? Let us know please.

Messy, scrappy, low scoring, but Abs got the win. 10mins is good although a few more try replays would be good.

By Unknown, at August 17, 2008 12:33 pm
10 minutes is perfect. But a few more minutes won't hurt too =)

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 12:37 pm
For a games as bad as that... 10 is plenty!

By Unknown, at August 17, 2008 12:41 pm
10 minute highlights show all the best plays from the best players.

Awesome!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:13 pm
Ref was shitter than shit and actually killed the game and he was wearing and All black fern on his breast.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:20 pm
Australian refs are about as useful a hole in the head. Also the Springboks looked about as interested as agressive as wet farts

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:23 pm
Thanks for the highlights, you can make 'em as long as you like. Sure it was a bit scrappy but lots of intensity and action. And anybody who's watched the last two AB tests and still says McCaw is over-rated just doesn't know a thing about rugby union football. And no surprise to see Butch James trying to stomp McCaw's head in full view. I've had a lot of respect for SA sides over the years but this current lot needs to quit the cheap stuff, their football would be the better for it.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:23 pm
McCaw spends the majority of the game on the floor and the AB's were lying all over the ball, using spoiling tactics to slow the ball down. Its like the ref could only see green or something. The game was spoilt by the ref.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:36 pm
I dont mind a few min longer!
Low scoring indeed but the speed of the game was great! nice win for the all blacks!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 1:44 pm
If you can make 10 mins of highlights then why the hell not!?

Oh, and what were the croud booing at 3.58?? Just bad play in general or somthing else?????

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:01 pm
far too many 'anonymous' comment posters here. sort it out guys.

Nz deserved that one and were good for their margin. i watched the whole game andthe ref wasn't good but anyone accusing him of bias is talking rubbish. The ABs were just better at the breakdown and certainly weren't 'lying all over the ball' as anonymous said. the dominance of rucks brought penalties against the boks not refereeing bias. if anything the ref was very lenient on burger for handling on the deck and james was lucky he didn't get seen trying to ruck richie's face. both could have been yellow cards.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:15 pm
the ref wasnt biased, i would be very surprised if any refs in any sport deliberately tried to give another team an advantage they just wont do that sort of thing unless they are really currupt. however NZ always get away with things at the breakdown. McCaw never roles away from tackles, yet the ref never gives anything because he seems to blend in, even newcomers to the sport can spot the likes of schalk being very unsly and lying on the ball. the refs arent biased, hes just a brilliant cheat. secondly watch the way he treats the ref, never argues and always seems to be joking with him, unlike matfield who was going mental about every decision. no matter how professional the ref, he probably liked McCaw and his attitude and was less likely to punish him. amazing really that you never see him get punished, considering his behaviour at the breakdown, he does slow the ball down and does anything he can, but he often makes it look like its not deliberate, basically hes just sly, whereas schalk isnt.
with him in the team i dont think NZ will lose too many games, although once he is gone they wont be the force they are at the mo. there really isnt that much back row talent in NZ, not on his level anyway. once he has gone, somervilles left and the scrum is weakened, the forwards will struggle against teams like SA.
NZ deserve to fail just because of graham henry's appalling management, he has ridiculous pools of talent in areas such as the wing and plays kahui there, a centre who even in that position is average. SACK HENRY NOW OR THE BORING RUGBY WILL NEVER END!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:33 pm
im sorry but in the first half i seriosuly thought the ref was on drugs! McCaw and So'iolo getting away with absolute murder as per!

5/6 penalties conceded by the boks were long arm penalties (deliberate offsides and hands in the ruck) meanwhile down the other end NZ conceded only short arm penalties for doing the exact same thing! its horse shit.

ref had a shocker.. i think sanzar needs to get some french refs in to do the job cause they dont take shit from the McCaw's, George Smith's etc

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:35 pm
Great moment after 9.10 straight after meealamu scores, Jimmy Cowan's left hanging likea nervous schoolboy. Conrad Smith is quality!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:40 pm
10 Mins is good, as long as possible. Especially for the away legs of the Tri Nations and S14 in NZ. i.e. the early morning kick off times here in SA.

Pieter de Villiers' days are numbered! Just filling the time until Rassie Erasmus is ready.

Go Bokke!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:48 pm
10 minutes is good, what was with the abs scrum half he must have been going into the contact area way to much south africa will be kicking themselves after that last try

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:49 pm
I agree with Felix - if you're going to give your opinion and expect a response or answer to a question then use a name otherwise things get confusing.

The booing at 3.58 was probably Kahui running into Habana's line deliberately when he was chasing.
Either that or So'aiolo kneeing Matfield in the back which happened earlier in the passage of play. Neither were picked up.

Goddard is a bit of a tool. I don't blame him for the loss by any means but he was terrible yesterday.

Ten mins is good. Always nice to watch the best bits again the day after, even if the best bits were all from NZ. Sigh. :(

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 2:57 pm
Caucau's number 1 fan should stick to calling into to late night talkback for his/her rants. Kahui is the man, watch more games and you might get a clue.

Scrappy but awesome game, would have sucked to be on the receiving end of that tho. The Boks got dominated at the breakdown. Rest assured that George Smith will be licking his lips.

By olwaka, at August 17, 2008 3:45 pm
Ali williams =D=D so funny

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 3:59 pm
mikeyb, how exactly is kahui the man? please explain because your 12 wannabe surfer language doesnt really explain things. iv watched him play for the chiefs all season and was shocked they even considered him at centre, let alone out of position. hes had one decent game this year, against the average england touring side, and except for that he has shown nothing to suggest he is as good as the other potential wingers in NZ. hosea gear, vainikolo and even masaga are far more creative and dangerous, they deserve to start getting recognition. they wont though under henry's regime which relies on picking sturdy players and wont take a risk with young creative talent, but o well they will pay for it soon

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 4:55 pm
10 minutes is fine

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 5:09 pm
10 min is good. Other angles and slow motions for tries would be appreciated.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 5:15 pm
can someone explain the booing please?
... Carter with a lovely try, great skill to get it over the line facing the wrong way!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 6:05 pm
for a great game like this ten minutes look like a short video!!!
Although Bokke I recognise it as one of the best games I`ve seen in my whole life...

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 6:47 pm
i thought you werent allowed slit your throat at the end of the kapa o pango...yet ali williams does it graphically lol

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 6:48 pm
great physicallity if a little scrappy, brilliant to see Mccaw in world beating form. 10 minutes is great, maybe some more try replays? Anyone know when joe rocks is back, because kahui just isnt up to standard.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 7:11 pm
Where to start?

Everyone who says the game was crap, okay it may be your opinion, but look at the tactical genius and technical expertise by the teams. The All Blacks play by flair and the Boks by muscle.

The ref my have been out of his game but he wasn't too bad. This comment may be biased because I'm a very strong AB supporter, but most people who thought he was biased towards NZ are Boks supporters.

McCaw and some other All Blacks maybe got away with some cheating but so do the Boks, Burger is of the same calibre, maybe even higher. Look back to the other SA games and look at all the off-ball cheap shots they get up to. And all the people who complain about the not rolling away in the rucks, ever tried doing that with two tight-fives lying on you? McCaw and Burger etc. are always at the bottom of rucks if they are in them.

Last but not least to caucau's no.1 fan: Once McCaw leaves the AB's that'll be in about seven years seeing he's in his mid-twenties(25/26). by that time the now 19-year old little brother of Daniel Braid, Luke Braid will be Richie's age. He is a top-class player in the making. By that time he would have had enough game time and may even have taken the number 2 flanker role anyway. Watch one of New Zealand under 20's World Cup matches and you'll agree. His mind is exactly the same.
And towards the Kahui comment, I agree on taking a specialist wing like Masaga or Vianikolo, however Kahui has the potential to develop into a class 13. Sivivatu by the way is going through a dry spell too.

Go All Blacks! Stand in Black!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 7:58 pm
cheesekiwi,
ye i heard about Braid he is supposed to be a real talent, but McCaw's boots are gonna be pretty big ones to fill. he may well become another McCaw but you cant call it a positive situation if NZ are relying on a 19 year old kid. secondly theres no guarantee McCaw will spend his entire career in NZ. he may well take a sabbatical but you cant assume he will stay in NZ.

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 8:39 pm
10 minutes is a great length.

Could Matfield have looked like more of a whiny little girl in that game?? Maybe he's learned a little too much from his new coach...I'll say Goddard had a bad game, but the Boks were lucky not to be carded 2-3 times

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 8:39 pm
vainikolo, masaga and gear should all have been given a shot above wulf. though overall i think tuitavake deserves to be in with a shout too with 63 runs and 44 tackles bust in the super 14 compared with a record of 84/38 for hosea gear, 79/53 for fetu'u vainikolo, 61/49 for lelia masaga and 47/21 for rudi wulf. masaga does miss more tackles though.

mccaw is a talisman and the best 7 ever to play the game. he's 28 on new years eve this year and will be fine for the next world cup. after that there's plenty of talent coming through luke braid has been nominated for the International Rugby Board's Junior Player of the Year title this year and is 7 years younger than mccaw so would be in his prime if mccaw retires for the all blacks aged 32. also look out for victor vito who is a similar age

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 9:03 pm
okay caucau, if mccaw goes overseas which is unlikely - if anything he take a sabbatical like carter and not miss any all black games. if he gets injured then DANIEL braid is a quality deputy. he played really well against the Aussies in sydney before lauaki came on and buggered up everything he touched

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 9:15 pm
what im trying to get at is that McCaw is in such a class of his own that he cant be replaced. no player in the world has such an effect on the team as he does. the only other two flankers that ever really get considered as world class are burger and smith, both of who dont carry the same aura or leadership abilities. say McCaw stays for his entire career in NZ or takes the sabbatical, hes such an unbelievable player that if he doesnt play through injury or whatever the void left is so big it becomes a weakness. if burger doesnt play for SA then other quality guys can step up, i dont see the same being applicable to NZ, thats all. whenever he plays, NZ seem to function, if he doesnt play or gets injured, they lose a leader and a player who completely ruins the forward game of the opposition like no other.
also agreed about tuitavake, he definately deserves a look in over kahui and wulf, would also like to see him at centre with nonu as he plays centre for the blues. the nonu partnership may not be as intelligent as the one with smith, but i wouldnt like to be the guy in charge of defending those two!
with gear and vainikolo on the other wings, they would destroy all opposition, just probably considered a few tries, but still would be great entertainment!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 11:16 pm
what im trying to get at is that McCaw is in such a class of his own that he cant be replaced. no player in the world has such an effect on the team as he does. the only other two flankers that ever really get considered as world class are burger and smith, both of who dont carry the same aura or leadership abilities. say McCaw stays for his entire career in NZ or takes the sabbatical, hes such an unbelievable player that if he doesnt play through injury or whatever the void left is so big it becomes a weakness. if burger doesnt play for SA then other quality guys can step up, i dont see the same being applicable to NZ, thats all. whenever he plays, NZ seem to function, if he doesnt play or gets injured, they lose a leader and a player who completely ruins the forward game of the opposition like no other.
also agreed about tuitavake, he definately deserves a look in over kahui and wulf, would also like to see him at centre with nonu as he plays centre for the blues. the nonu partnership may not be as intelligent as the one with smith, but i wouldnt like to be the guy in charge of defending those two!
with gear and vainikolo on the other wings, they would destroy all opposition, just probably considered a few tries, but still would be great entertainment!

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 11:16 pm
10mins is great. shame that the key points of the match r not show in detail. Smiths try and the ball grounding and was Habanna in touch? McCaw wud hav got a gud stamping uder the old laws because his whole body was in the way and in full view, shame the laws have changed. Gud game though

By Anonymous, at August 17, 2008 11:31 pm
as an all blacks supporter i thought south africa were picked on by the ref. It was obvious richie was an influence in this, don't really want to see a game like that again!!! hopefully the ref next time is not as biased as this one!!!

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 12:21 am
The boks had their moments, but they always fucked it up before scoring.. The ABs had a fantastic match.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 1:16 am
I'm the above poster

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 1:19 am
Snorrrrre.. another cracking ELV inspired super exciting flowing game of rugby.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:29 am
@martin-offload: McCaw was on his back off to the side of the ball with his body trapped under the ruck but you think it's then OK to stomp his head. New laws or old I think that's rubbish.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 3:40 am
World Champions going down to the All Blacks 19-0 is unbelievable but damn what a game. I have to agree about the ref he was pretty shocking but Springboks didn't help themselves kicking the ball away and dropping it all over the show

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 5:20 am
i think the ref was great - he controlled the breakdown well. The boks just tried to be too dodgey - he controlled the breakdown extremely well - so much so when he threatened Shaclk Burger after he committed his 2nd offense the ref told Matfield thats your teams last chance - the next one will be yellow - guess what you didnt see anymore dodgy breakdown play by the boks after that.

Check out Jimmy C at 09:11 - he has no one to high five. Loooooser - lol
(jokes)

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 5:57 am
Couple of comments to incense the crowd:
(a) every breakdown, without fail, the Bok loosies would dive over the ball (particularly Juan Smith and Schalke Burger), giving the referee no option but to penalise the springboks. Compare and contrast that with McCaw and Soialo (sp?), who managed to stay on their feet at every breakdown, with their hands over the ball;
(b) there were around 4 occasions where the Boks probably should have scored a try, all of which were spoiled, not by bodies on the ball, or slowing down of the ball, but by bad options and handling errors;
(c) Butch James is a criminal who, for SA's own good, ought to be kicked off the team;
(d) PJ de Villiers made two key changes (Montogomery for Jantjes and du Preez for Januarie), supposedly to aid in the inevitable kicking battle, and both of whom kicked terribly IMO, and made a number of key handling errors;
(e) the crowd were booing after Kahui appeared to deviate from his line when running back to the kick, thereby blocking off Habana. They only showed one replay during the game, which was inconclusive.
(f) While I have maximum respect for big Vic Matfield, he did seem to whine all game to the referee,and out himself out of favour for me, and also crucially the referee, while Richie McCaw twice corrected the referee's calls. Victor Matfield has been nothing like the legend of last year's 3-N.
S

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 7:00 am
agree with breakaway, martin-offload - you're full of sh*t mate.

also agree that if the SA reckon the Allblack back row are the only ones ever slowing the ball down they are blinkered. burger and smith wouldn't be in the team if they didn't do the same - it's international rugby FFS!

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 9:30 am
it should suck to be a bok today :D

KA ITE KA ITE KA MAORI! EEEEEE!!!!!!!!

By Don, at August 18, 2008 10:11 am
Oh by the way, did they do the Kapa O Pango with the neck slicing? :D :p

By Don, at August 18, 2008 10:14 am
@ caucau's no1 fan: Luke Braid will be in his prime by the time McCaw will retire, and the young crop in the game now will be more experienced and have more leaders. The AB's are going through a phase of regrouping for the next 2 years orso. By the way people don't forget old Joe Roks, who is recovering and is clearly breaking the line and scoring tries under the new ELV's. Other wing I suppose should go to Masaga, Vainikolo's time isn't yet there I reckon.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 11:21 am
Ref was shocking. I think a school ref would have been better. As a NZ fan, I really think that this match was stolen by NZ. SA cant compare against 16 men. (Team plus ref). Remember the prank at Christchurch it think, where a NZ guy walked arount with a board saying McCaw is a cheat. That is 100% true. I am sorry to say about my team but NZ did not deserve this. McChaw broke away from scrums (stopped one try) before the ball was out. Lying over the ball, not coming in trough the gate ect. If he would have stucked to the rules he would'nt even have made the team. He's cheating was of playing let him look like a wonderful rugby player. I would like the see the All Blacks beat the Boks fair and square.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 12:27 pm
The highlights are great. I might suggest you even include more than just highlights, like a review even. The whole haka, goals, etc.

Well done!

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 12:37 pm
i was supporting the AB's and am glad they won, but it isnt a victory really.. because the referee give everythgin he could to NZ he may aswell have put one of their jerseys on, terrible. with a decent ref i think this game couldve been a bit more exciting and SA couldve atleast put some points if not won

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 12:53 pm
ali williams must love making a knob out of himself during the haka
its funny, and embarassing

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 12:57 pm
Rugbydump, please can you add some clips in about poor refs in you clips? I would love to see the reaction on it. Especially with matches like these where the confusion runs so high. I saw 8 different mistakes the ref did not see. Would love to see in on Rugbydump

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 1:58 pm
why does ali williams always sucks when he performs the haka? he looks like a clown, but not scary or something...

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:07 pm
9.13 jimmy cowan denied a handshake. friday funnies maybe?

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:09 pm
@ kabous and jordan: give it a rest, you don't have to beat yourselves over the head with guilt at having beaten the Boks. All loose forwards worth their place have to push the envelope of the law, the great ones just do it better than the merely good ones. No one stole this test, one team played better than the other one and the score reflects that. Live with it.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:14 pm
Kabous: if you are going to pose as a New Zealander its probably best that you pick a slightly less South African-sounding name. You might also want to get your tenses, verbs and pronouns correct (correcting typos might also help). Shh, but New Zealand is principally an English speaking country...

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:41 pm
First of all I am a South-African but a NZ in heart. Was born in NZ but raised in SA. To be honest going back to NZ end of the year.

BRAKEAWAY, this is not how a test is won. "The Allblack was not too strong against the Boks in Cape Town". What do you think will the reaction be if we won fair and square? Or do you think we would have won after all? I dont like to cheat to win. If a ref from France or Engeland would have blown it would have been a different ball game. NZ is still my team afterall, but we dont get the repect we deserve by cheat to win. Credit for the boks for allways being the blacksheep when it comes to 50/50's from the refs. And what is wrong with Ali Williams? He looks like a idiot. Dan also missing 4 penalty kicks nobody said anything about that.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:49 pm
I am born in NZ, speaking Afrikaans so mind my spelling an nouns and shit. Mom coms from NZ. Actually a little better than Anonymous.

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 2:51 pm
What cheating?

Just thought i'd put my 2 cents in what with all the cheating claims being bandied about. I've analysed the 10min highlight reel and commented on the following rucks which may seem contentious to some.

Ahem...

0:44 - Burger makes the tackle, falls to ground with the tackled player but no attempt at rolling away - doesn't affect the recycled ball.

0:51 - ABs take the ball up, Juan Smith comes in over the top & off his feet but ABs there in numbers to drive and remove his threat.

1:58 - SA on attack, quick phases and ball spread to Jacobs who gets
isloated trying to score - So'oialo + 3 ABs players there to turn him
over. No SA players there means no ruck is formed yet which is why the ref doesn't call for tackler to roll away.

2:16 - Burger takes the ball up, is tackled by Sommerville low and Kaino over the top. Kaino stays on his feet and strips the ball from Burger, turnover ABs.

3:07 - Juan Smith tackles Conrad Smith, gets to his feet and along with Beast attempt to steal the ball. Woodcock is also there to contest the ball meaning a ruck has formed, no hands allowed. All players fall off their feet and the ball is available to the ABs.

4:07 - Kaino makes thumping tackle on Habana - Juan Smith leaves his feet over the top to assure the ball is secure - Kaino the tackler rolls away - no call from the ref seeing as no ABs contest the ball.

4:16 - Butch James attacks the line and is sandwiched and held off the
ground by Woodcock and Kaino creating a maul. Boks must move forward or lose the ball - ABs create slight forward momentum and the maul goes to ground where James must now release - he doesn't and the ABs receive a free kick.

4:41 - JdV attempts to counter attack and is tackled by Smith and Nonu who immediately get to their feet and contest the ball. Burger then arrives and hits the ruck going off his feet. Smith is upended back into the ruck by Montgomery blocking Du Preez's chance at getting the ball away - they complain that he is lying over the ball - Ref ignores their pleas quite rightly. Hore joins the ruck on his feet and snaffles the ball before Burger, still lying on the ground blatantly smacks the ball away in frustration. Penalty ABs.

5:06 - Montgomery hits the line and is tackled by Smith. In a flash McCaw is there on his feet contesting the ball. James flys in over the top and when Boks players realise the danger they try and remove his threat. They do well as McCaw loses control of the ball and rolls away with his arms held out to show the ref - the Boks pile in to make sure they recycle
possession with James sneaking a boot to McCaws head just for good
measure.

6:07 - Ball spills loose in a ruck - JdV pounces on it where Weepu and
Hore are there to contest on there feet - ball is doesn't come out due to JdV not releasing and the ref signals advantage ABs - ball shifted wide and Afoa just fails to score. Ref assumes advantage over.

9:11 - ABs score and Jimmy Cowan is left hanging with no one giving him a high 5....hahaha.

10:06 - McCaw has the last say knocking the ball to ground to diffuse any Bokke hopes of improving on their 0, Nil or blank score...whatever you want to call it.

Obvious message for aspiring players: STAY ON YOUR FEET!

Peace out :D

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 3:46 pm
I'd like to have the kicks

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 3:52 pm
In the words of Highveld's Whackhead Simpson:

I are wearing a jean-pant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNJVMJH5OhI

By Cheyanquí, at August 18, 2008 6:20 pm
Am I the only one who misses mauls? I like that part of the game, and the ELVs have completely erased them. Will you still be allowed to pull them down in the autumn internationals?

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 7:13 pm
the ref had a shocker!!!! hope he loses his job for that piece of shit job he did on saturday... or maybe go back to his holiday house in NZ

By Anonymous, at August 18, 2008 11:47 pm
Hi Kabous: pushing the laws to their limits is not cheating otherwise the game would never get past a set piece or breakdown without a penalty. All top players in all sports have to work right at the edge and you can bet that all the SA loosies were living on the edge too, they just didn't do it as well in this game. If you watch the full game there are plenty of shots of SA forwards diving straight across the tops of rucks unpenalised because by the time they got up the ABs usually had won the ball anyway. People keep saying that McCaw cheats but when you look carefully at the incidents most of the time it's clear he doesn't. I'm not saying he never transgresses but even the short clip here shows him driving into a ruck and finding himself hovering over the ball which he could easily have killed (many players would've just flopped on it) and although he's still on his feet he leaves it and is quickly caught under the ruck. Read Nesianrugby's excellent post.

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 2:04 am
Chris g: I forgot to mention that I miss mauls too, despite the fact that the Poms' temporary mastery of them (along with a great goalkicker) pretty much won them a World Cup. I'd like to think that any changes in the laws could be tweaked to make the occasional rolling maul a useful proposition for teams, even if only as a surprise option.

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 2:15 am
@ Nesianrugby and Breakaway -
Amen

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 3:45 am
10 minute videos = great.

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 6:48 am
Kabous: No worries mate. I didn't mean to have a crack at your English. I was just inquiring as to the legitimacy of your claim to a disinterested viewpoint.

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 10:55 am
I don't think there can be any doubt that the ref's out of sorts blowing was a factor in this game...however this was not what lost the game for S.A...

Matfield is NOT a captain for starters and has no diplomacy which might have changed the ref but the biggest factor in S.A inability to shine with so much talent is the coaching regime change and how dramatically different a style of play the Boks are playing under Peter deVilliers.

I welcome his dedication to attack and how he is trying to change our mindset in line with more running rugby instead of the grinding tight game of past but he is actually in effect showing himself up as an utterly incompetent coach in the process…by thinking we can play 7’s style in a 15 man game and win…

It was a heart breaking day on Sat for us saffas because we let ourselves down. Even though I’m pretty sure that most NZers who watched the game agree the ref was below par NZ still deserved to win because they played to their strengths and what is hurting us Bok fans is that in truth we know we played directly to the NZ strengths and into their hands.

PdV is a f#cking idiot if he does not sort out our breakdown play and collision area which has been none existent from the first game in his charge. Both Wales and Italy have out rucked us under his charge and NZ and Oz have literally mocked us.

Peter…you can’t attack and run without the ball can you moron???????????????????????????????????

By durrie, at August 19, 2008 2:56 pm
funny reading these comments of late - when NZers made a fuss about wayne barnes in the RWC QF people said they were sore losers and laughed them all the way back home. He wasn't solely to blame of course but a number of major and inconsistent calls were missed after watching the game myself to see what all the bleating was about

Hearing the number of poor reffing claims coming out of the Bokke camp and supporters mouths now just proves how bias and unobjective people are when its their team that gets stuffed.

nesianrugby's fantastic analysis of the 10min highlight video shows the difference between people who actually understand the intricacies of the game and its laws and those who just cry because they "feel" like the ref just isnt on their side. Now while the video doesn't show every ruck/breakdown it gives a very good overview of how the ref has officiated the entire match as this is what the video depicts from the kickoff to fulltime.

If anyone crying foul can point to one AB indiscretion in the 10min vid in contrary to nesianrugby's analysis I'd love to read it...

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 4:32 pm
Kahui should be centre..Masaga on the wing..!

who was the AB 22..?looked like sivivatu but had an affro...

and 10 = brilliant

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 5:26 pm
Kahui should be centre..Masaga on the wing..!

who was the AB 22..?looked like sivivatu but had an affro...

and 10 = brilliant

By Anonymous, at August 19, 2008 5:26 pm
10 minutes is great... it's the only opportunity I get to see any of these games.

By Disco, at August 19, 2008 7:22 pm