All Blacks – praag.org

Sprinboks invincible except for All Blacks

Jean de Villiers in the Springbok jersey

by Barnaby Chesterman

South Africa ended a long, hard season with a bruising victory over France in Paris on Saturday and in so doing reaffirmed the difference between the top two in the world and the rest.

Only one team have beaten the Springboks in 2013 and, barring an unlikely upset in Dublin later on Sunday, New Zealand will record the first ever 100 percent calendar year in the professional era.

While there is no doubt that the world champions, beaten only once in the last two years — a stunning 38-21 defeat to England at Twickenham last November — are the best team in the world, South Africa underlined at the Stade de France that they are clearly the best of the rest.

Although the 19-10 scoreline in Paris was relatively close, it did not tell the full story of a masterful display from South Africa.

Twice they were denied adding to JP Pietersen’s second-minute try by the video review system and, although the French did score through Yoann Huget right at the end of the first period, it came from a rare turnover offered up by the Boks deep in their own 22.

Otherwise they largely controlled territory, if not as much possession, and put such a huge amount of pressure on France deep down in the Les Bleus half that fly-half Remi Tales’s kicking appeared ineffectual.

By contrast Boks fly-half Morne Steyn, and particularly the excellent full-back Willie Le Roux, showed measured tactical nous in keeping France pinned down in their own half with a range of deep, long clearances, perfectly weighted up-and-unders and even a few cunning dinks over the fast approaching backline.

One excellent grubber from Le Roux deserved more than to see Francois Louw beaten to the end zone touch-down by a sliding, scrambling Huget.

In truth, France were really holding on to such a close result rather than knocking on the door and threatening to snatch a victory.

It means that this year South Africa have beaten Australia, Argentina and Scotland at home and away, turned over Six Nations champions Wales, earnt victory against France and defeated Samoa and Italy to boot.

If it wasn’t for the mighty All Blacks, this would possibly be hailed as one of the best South African teams of all time.

Captain Jean de Villiers alluded as much to that when he pointed out just how impressive their recent form has been.

Including last year’s November tests — when they beat Ireland and England, as well as Scotland — South Africa have beaten all of the rest of the top 11 teams in the world at least once in the last year — except New Zealand of course.

“We’re very happy with the last 12 months, if you take the end of the last year as well, that’s 13 (wins) from 15,” said De Villiers.

“It makes it results-wise one of the best years South African rugby’s had in a very long time.”

While the All Blacks’ dazzling brilliance is there for all to admire, it is easy to overlook just how talented the Boks are.

As well as their traditional strengths of power and commitment, and an impenetrable wall of defence, they also have creativity brimming through the side, with pace to spare on the flanks in Pietersen and former world player of the year Bryan Habana.

It was in the rucks and at the breakdown that France found them most effective, though.

“They were more solid than us in the rucks where they managed quite a few turnovers,” said France captain Thierry Dusautoir.

The question now for South Africa, is how to take that next step up and challenge New Zealand for the number one spot.

And that’s a conundrum that De Villiers says they are working on.

“For us (beating France) is not the end of the year, it’s just another step in our journey towards where we want to be and where we’re going.” he said. – AFP

Red card struck from Bismarck’s record

A red card against Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis in a weekend rugby test between South Africa and New Zealand has been removed from his record.

“The judicial officer found that the decision made by referee Romain Poite to issue a yellow card as a result of the tackle by Du Plessis on Dan Carter was wrong, as it was within the laws of the game,” Southern hemisphere rugby body Sanzar said on Monday.

“No further sanction was imposed on the player. However, the second yellow card remains on his record for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.”

Du Plessis received a yellow card in the 17th minute of the Rugby Championship match in Auckland on Saturday, for what proved to be a perfectly legitimate tackle on New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter.

Poite ignored the advice of the Television Match Official (TMO) and deemed his tackle to have been high and without arms.

The International Rugby Board admitted in a statement on Sunday that Poite had made the wrong decision in carding Du Plessis for the tackle.

“Just as players and coaches make mistakes, the decision was an unfortunate case of human error by the match officials who, having reviewed the match, fully recognise and accept that they made a mistake in the application of the law,” the IRB said.

“All match official performances are thoroughly reviewed and assessed by the IRB and are considered when appointments are made for future test matches.”

Du Plessis copped a second yellow card in the 42nd minute for elbowing flanker Liam Messam in the throat, which resulted in a red card.

Judicial officer Terry Willis removed the red card from Du Plessis’ disciplinary record following a judicial hearing on Monday.

Gerrie Swart appeared at the hearing — which was originally scheduled for Tuesday — on behalf of Du Plessis, via teleconference.

“Submissions were made on behalf of the player and the video footage was reviewed,” Sanzar said. – Sapa

Rugby: All Blacks crush Springboks in controversial test

Brodie Retallick is congratulated on his try by All Blacks teammate Liam Messam. Picture: Phil Walter

The All Blacks took the outright lead in the Rugby Championship here Saturday when they comprehensively beat South Africa 29-15 in a bitter contest between the heavyweights of world rugby.

In a match marred by a red card for Springboks hooker Bismarck du Plessis, the All Blacks also picked up a bonus point with their overwhelming victory over the previously unbeaten South Africans.

The All Blacks finished with only 13-men with two yellow cards in the final 10 minutes when captain Kieran Read was dismissed for a lineout foul and Ma’a Nonu was sent from the field for a shoulder charge.

The Springboks came to New Zealand confident they could shatter their Eden Park hoodoo, where they have not won since 1937.

Instead they were outplayed by pace on attack and the staunch defence by the All Blacks who scored four tries to the visitors’ two.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said du Plessis may have been “unlucky” with his first yellow card but overall he had no complaints about the refereeing.

“In an intense battle like that your going to get moments,” he said.

“You don’t like seeing it but it happens and you pay the price for being ill disciplined. We paid it twice.”

The Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer refused to blame the cards for the loss and said he had no excuses.

“The ref is always right,” he said.

“If you start making excuses for your team then they start to make excuses. There were a lot of things that weren’t good enough even when we had 15 men on the field.”

The intensely physical battle erupted into an all-in brawl in the 15th minute when All Blacks playmaker Dan Carter was bowled in a shoulder charge by du Plessis.

It took referee Romain Poite a full minute to restore order, and when the dust settled the injured Carter was out of the game and du Plessis received 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Du Plessis received his second yellow, and subsequent red card, in the first minute of the second half when he elbowed Liam Messam in the throat.

In between the cards, the All Blacks lost fullback Israel Dagg with an ankle injury and Sam Cane spent 20 minutes receiving medical treatment for a head wound.

When Carter went down the All Blacks led 7-3 and by the time du Plessis returned to the field they were 14-3 ahead and on their way to extending their unbeaten run at Eden Park to 32 (31 wins, one draw) dating back to 1994.

The All Blacks also overtook France for the most Test wins, moving to 383, and also extended their records for the most test points (13,242) and most Test tries (1,726).

The All Blacks kicked off with the breeze behind them and punished South Africa early when Nonu latched on to a misdirected Bryan Habana clearing kick.

The All Blacks centre’s return kick forced a lineout in the corner from where Read drove over for his first try.

Morne Steyn landed a penalty for the Springboks before the punch up, then when the All Blacks had a one-man advantage they struck again with their second try.

Replacement fly-half Beauden Barrett carved through the Springboks backline on a 55-metre run and lock Brodie Retallick finished off the move when he crashed over by the posts.

Du Plessis returned to the field to briefly restore his place in the South African good books when he scored from a lineout drive.

Steyn kicked the conversion and Barrett landed a penalty for the All Blacks who took a 17-10 lead into the break.

The second half had barely started when du Plessis was sent from the field and when the All Blacks went a player up they immediately struck again.

Read crossed for his second try when he stormed through an attempted tackle by Janie du Plessis, Bismarck’s brother, and Barrett’s conversion lifted the All Blacks to 24-10.

Cane scored the bonus point try in the 67th minute before South Africa came back with a late try to replacement back Pat Lambie. – AFP

After win over Australia, Heyneke Meyer still cautious

mike-harris-try — Australia's Mike Harris, left, scores a try as Springbok Andries Bekker, center, attempts a tackle

Coach Heyneke Meyer says South Africa must become more clinical finishers if they hope to beat New Zealand in Soweto next weekend.

The Springboks and the All Blacks square up at the 90,000-capacity Soccer City stadium where late tries by flanker Richie McCaw and full-back Israel Dagg saw the visitors snatch a 29-22 victory two years ago.

South Africa will enter the final-round Rugby Championship clash with their confidence boosted by a five-try 31-8 victory over Australia at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria Saturday.

Right wing Bryan Habana scored three tries and full-back Zane Kirchner and flanker Francois Louw one each as a fired-up Springbok pack set the platform for a convincing first success against the Wallabies in six attempts.

But Meyer was not getting carried away after the Springboks ended a dismal run in which a lucky draw away to Argentina was followed by losses in Australia and New Zealand.

“We have high standards and should have scored three more tries against the Wallabies,” said the coach who transformed the Northern Bulls into southern hemisphere provincial juggernauts and also worked with the Leicester Tigers.

“It is great to come home and win and we have not beaten Australia for some time, but we have to start taking those opportunities,” he told a Loftus media conference.

“While we want to score tries again next week, we are aware of the challenge of playing the world champions. New Zealand are a very settled side and a number of players have been part of their defensive system for ages.

“They are the world champions and one of the reasons for that is their defence. It is going to be really difficult to create and score against them,” stressed Meyer.

“We will need to be more patient with ball in hand and more tactically astute. If we get scoring chances, we will need to make them count. We are hoping that all South Africans get behind us.”

There is cause for Springbok optimism as they could have beaten New Zealand in Dunedin this month instead of losing 21-11 had seven kicks at goals not been fluffed, and endless possession squandered through mindless field kicking.

That defeat led Meyer to drop long-time fly-half Morne Steyn and 20-year-old replacement Johan Goosen recovered from a couple of early missed penalty attempts in his first Test start to regularly bring the backline into play.

Centre Jaco Taute also did well on debut after Francois Steyn withdrew with an ankle injury and flank Francois Louw from English club Bath was the pick of a Springbok pack that impressed in the set piece and loose exchanges.

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Australia lost so many players to injury — centre Adam Ashley-Cooper was the most serious with concussion — that they ran out of replacements and played the last eight minutes a man short.

Full-back Berrick Barnes, centre Pat McCabe and prop Benn Robinson were other first half casualties and No 8 Radike Samo quit during the second half with wrist and shoulder problems.

“We are going to have to bring some players across from Australia which will be challenging because we have already delved so deep into our resources and there are a couple who will not have visas organised,” said coach Robbie Deans.

Australia face Argentina at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario eight hours after the Springboks and All Blacks come face to face in a potential Championship highlight. – AFP