Post-Mortem: Boks/All Blacks Game

Firstly the All Blacks were the better team. 

Beauden Barrat was once again a match-winning game-breaker.  

The referee calls were right, maybe a few 50/50 calls against Boks, and scrums were confusing- but certainly no significant errors compared to the average in test matches. 

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Looking back at the game, it is hard to pinpoint what went wrong specifically. The Boks were in with a shout 15 minutes from time, but things fell apart again... 

Overall, I would say that Faff DeKlerk was the Achilles heel for the Boks.  His passing was unacceptable, and Herschelle Jantjies must be pushing for a starting position. 

The first thing that strikes out is that the rush defence is not as good against counter-attacks. It was looking in-penetrable on All Black possession, but it has been exposed on counter-attacks. Especially when a one on one tackle is missed.

Following on from this defensive weakness, why does Faff use these repetitive box kicks. Most of us could probably do better box kicks than Faff. It is just handing over possession. It is clearly part of the game plan, but why have someone that cant do box kicks implement this...

The number of basic unforced errors by Boks was unacceptable. The knockdowns were a joke in bad taste. We pay good money to watch these matches, to have some clowns that can't even juggle one ball. Frankly, unacceptable regardless of the weather.

Pollard was average to poor, and at times looked like a forward. Willie Leroux was average, but I am starting to think Kolbe should be at 15, as he is better under the high ball, and also more capable of launching counter-attacks from the back. 

Malcolm Marx is a shadow of his former self. Would probably be better to start Bongi. 

Flab Malherbe was useless, and why is he starting ahead of Nykana, who now unfortunately appears to be out of the world cup. Kolisi was ok for his time on the field, but the Boks certainly looked better with another fetcher in Francios Louw. 

Duane Vermuelen was average by his own standards. 

Marx is burnt out I guess

Yep, he's another Leeutjie that spent every Xmas in Japan.

Maybe start Herschelle Jantjies, and cu t out these pathetic up and under's. Could the Boks have already peaked for the 4 Nations...

Is it better to have Flou as another specialist fetcher starting, and Kolisi off the bench..

SB

The fact that Louw is even in the squad is a major problem - he is over-the-hill and useless.  He was even worse than Kolisi when he came on and did squat of value in the game when he came on.

Malherbe was not useless as you stated.  He made as many tackles as Etzebeth made and was a hell of a lot better than Mostert in defense,  He also was solid in scrums and gave away nothing in that department of the game.

I think the weak link in the game was Mostert at lock and Kolisi, as well as Am.   Pollard was cu t out and Faf's box kicking was poorly executed.