Captain49,914 posts
20 Nov 2016, 17:15
#1
20 Nov 2016, 17:15#1
This from the Guardian
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It was a fabulous match, exhausting to watch, even if the script of northern-hemisphere hammering versus New Zealand precision was familiar. But it was controversial too. The All Blacks were angry, with themselves no doubt, and their anger bounced dangerously along the edge of legality. They were penalised again and again, even more than in Chicago when their discipline was appalling. They were lucky to be shown just the two yellow cards. Jaco Peyper, the referee, presided over the maelstrom, with four players forced off within 25 minutes.
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There is everything you need to lnow about NZ rugby. Sure there are great skills and superb fitness. But NZ blasted Ireland yesterday. Assaulted them in some cases with brutal physicality. And Ireland were undone despite their courage.
That's how the Boks played in the past, with unmatched physicality. Yesterday we failed to contain an Italian pack. In part because we selected lightweights like Carr, Whteley and Mostert. In part because huge chaps like Kitshoff, Lomp and Alberts failed to fire.
The Boks hardly ever cop a yellow except for cynical offences these days....hardly ever for robust play. We can pass like a bunch of fairies but our strength has always been physicality. Lose that and we drop out of the top 5.


