Classy substitutes proved decisive for the All Blacks in Durban, writes Keo in the Independent Group Newspapers.
The All Blacks emphasised the importance of a world-class reserves bench to condemn the Springboks to a painful defeat.
Keven Mealamu, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister and Leon Macdonald all made an immediate difference to a test match that was crass viewing, but for the connoisseur this crassness would have been a picture of beauty.
After the run-on XV’s had brutally battered each other for an hour, New Zealand won the match in the last quarter because they had the classier impact players.
The Boks led 21-12 with 15 minutes to play, but nine points was an inflated buffer courtesy of Butch James’s intercept try. At that stage the Boks were probably a three-point better side, but New Zealand coach Graham Henry knew he could introduce players capable of scoring 15-20 points in as many minutes.
Jake White couldn’t.
The Boks, on this particular Saturday, did not have the man-power to counter New Zealand’s impact players. Injury had depleted the Boks in the build-up to this test and perhaps a Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana and Fourie du Preez would have made a difference because it would have allowed Ruan Pienaar and Danie Rossouw to strike with fresh legs in the last quarter.
Who knows?
What we do know is that the All Blacks can win away from home when Dan Carter does not play well. Carter, the best flyhalf produced in the professional era, has battled for form this season and it did not get any better for him in Durban.
His decision-making was poor and he took great exception to James’s defence, some of it legal, some of it not. The physical attention upset Carter and his game suffered because of it. Fortunately for New Zealand they have two world class inside centres in Aaron Mauger and McAlister. When Carter doesn’t go well, one of Mauger or McAlister invariably takes up the challenge.
The All Blacks, in the last three years, have matured. All Black teams have played better in South Africa and lost. This one can play a game of decidedly better quality than we saw on Saturday, but they will struggle to show greater ticker in defence, composure in scrambling back and physical intensity.
Jerry Collins and Richie McCaw were colossal for the All Blacks, while Schalk Burger was massive for the Boks.
It was billed as a dress rehearsal of the World Cup final in France. Some won’t be so sure as the Boks’ attacking limitations were again exposed, despite an abundance of possession in the first hour.
To beat the All Blacks, in Durban, in Christchurch and in Paris, it is accepted that the Boks have to maintain physical intensity in defence for 80 minutes. They know it and so do the All Blacks.
In Durban this intensity never went past 65 minutes. The last 15 minutes belonged to the All Blacks, who would have won more comfortably had Carter not missed three kicks that would have swung the momentum earlier.
Injured Bok captain John Smit’s presence at hooker and as leader was missed. That was one positive to take from the game because it showed up the folly of the constant criticism Smit has had to endure.
Sadly, though, Os du Randt is on one leg. White has invested so much faith in Du Randt being the cornerstone of his pack at the World Cup. But as they say in the bible, faith without works is dead, and the work in Du Randt’s legs are no longer there.
The All Blacks deserved a win that meant a lot to them. You only had to witness their elation at the final whistle. They struck the big psychological blow in Durban because what we got out of the game was the strength of the All Blacks and the weakness of the Boks.
The New Zealanders have balance to their attack and defence. The Boks don’t. And that is the brutal concession White will have to make if he has any chance of fixing it before Paris.
Mark Keohane - keo.co.za*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of this Blog
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