The disappointment of the Ellis Park loss may still be with us, but if you look at the progress the Springboks made during this year’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship, there is no doubt that they have moved forward.
The Boks of 2013 have come into their own as a team, grafting out their own culture and playing style, and saying goodbye to the conservative tag that haunted them in 2012.
They showed enterprise, passion and power as they set themselves apart from the chasing pack and for a moment, they looked like they could match the All Blacks, but the exuberance of chasing the championship title and a few soft moments tainted a season that should be remembered for all the right reasons rather than the final loss.
To put it bluntly, when the Boks entered the 2013 Rugby Championship there were questionmarks about their pedigree. They had racked up wins over Italy, Scotland and Samoa but their own fans remained unimpressed.
The moves they had taken forward were discounted. They had to prove it against the bigger teams in the competition.
Now that the dust has settled and the cold light of day shines on their achievements, this Springbok team is firmly on an upward curve.
They still have areas to work on, but the progress shown this year overshadows the negative nature of their past, and they have adopted an excitement that we have rarely seen in the conservative teams of the past.
But the cold facts are also hard. The All Blacks remain peerless at the moment. There is daylight between them and the Boks, but there is also daylight between the Boks and the rest of the chasing pack.(Absolute rubbish we have moved ahead of the abs and only need to fix a few things and the scorebaord will reflect this - dominated possession, territory and try scoring opportunities - shot ourselves in the foot - should have won comfortably)
The Boks' performance in the season must be seen in this light. They are now quite clearly the second-best side in the world. What they do from here will determine how Meyer’s men carve their own legacy.
The romp over Argentina proved that when all the pieces come together, a Bok attack plan can be a beautiful thing.
Had it not been for the defensive lapses at Ellis Park, the Boks would have started and finished the Rugby Championship as possibly the most exciting attack in the world, and the statistics back them up. (Our defence is usually excellent so thsi can easily be fixed)
For all they did on attack – and here Brisbane was possibly the highlight of the championship, the disciplinary lows of Auckland (WHAT!!! crtazy comment), the disappointment of Mendoza and the defensive lapses of Ellis Park give the team reminders that they simply aren’t there yet.
Mountains of work may have been done, but mountains remain if they want to get to number one.
THE SET PIECES
Possibly the biggest improvement this year has been in the breakdown, where co-opting Scottish flanker Richie Gray was a genius move. The Scotsman fits into the Bok culture like a hand in a glove, and his sense of humour and unique outlook on the game has raised the bar within the team.
Like most areas, this season has been marked by a determination to be the best in all areas. The breakdown was a problem against Scotland. It has been a nightmare in the past for Bok teams, but this year the team turned it into an asset.
Richie (Mcceat) and Michael Hooper didn’t dominate as they did in the past, and the Boks led the turnover count in the competition, with Bismarck du Plessis on top of the log with the most turnovers.
The scrums returned an unbelievable 100% statistic for the year, and while the Boks may have conceded the odd penalty, they took to the new scrum laws like ducks to water.
Argentina’s powerful scrum was neutralised, Australia's was demolished and New Zealand's struggled. The starting line-up pack was helped by a strong second shove when the replacements came on, and barring a few interesting refereeing calls, they dominated almost every game they played in.
There may be some concern with depth, especially at tighthead, but scrum coach Pieter de Villiers can be a happy man for what the team has done.
Lineouts were a strange and complex area this year for the Boks. While they still won over 90% of their lineouts, there is no doubt this area regressed somewhat.
An over-realiance on front ball to Eben Etzebeth saw him win almost 80% of the lineout ball, with Juandre Kruger disappointing somewhat in Mendoza and Ellis Park.
Flip van der Merwe stepped up to provide physicality, but it was apparent that the Boks lost something on competing ball, and despite the stat, the All Black lock pairing shaded them in both clashes. It wouldn’t be surprising if this is a key area for the November tour.(Du Toit will solve that issue)
ATTACK
Attacking play was possibly the best aspect of the Bok game-plan.
For a side that supposedly plays just kick and chase, the addition of an attacking aspect made them a lot more dangerous.
Willie le Roux’s arrival on the wing complemented Zane Kirchner's solidity at fullback and Morne Steyn’s kicking game.
The Cheetahs wing was allowed to roam and come into play whenever needed and it spiced up the attack somewhat. Le Roux may have some defensive frailties to take care of, but he brings an energy that the Boks need.
You just have to look at the Championship stats to get the picture. The Boks scored 23 tries in their six games, and averaged a massive 33.8 points per game ( I wonder if u muncher realises thsi and ou maaaike as well?).
They led the ball carries stat for all teams, and metres made on attack (447.8), as well as linebreaks in the competition (7.8 average linebreaks across the competition).
They also scored four tries against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, and had their defence worked a bit better on the day, they may well have claimed the title.
(AND YET THE NUTTER THINKS WE ARE WELL BEHIND THE ABS! WHY DOES HE MAKE THSI ABSURD ERROR IN LOGIC - for one simle reason. If he says the thinks the boks are better he will be called a whinger etc etc ect bwahahahahaha)
DISCIPLINE
Despite the obvious problem in Auckland, and the disciplinary issues that have plagued Springbok teams over the years (The ref bias that has resulted in the team been blown out the game!!!!), the Boks averaged the fewest penalties per team in the competition.
At an average of 8.4 penalties per game, they are well within the targets set by Meyer, and if they can continue this they will start to change the perception of South African teams.
Contrast this to the 12.8 penalties conceded by the Wallabies and the 12 average by the All Blacks and the strides taken in discipline should be applauded.
DEFENCE
At 85%, success in the tackle is only marginally less than that of the All Blacks (88%), but it is when the tackles are missed that is the problem. The Boks missed way too many at Ellis Park and allowed tries when they shouldn’t have.(Absolutely and this will be fixed as we are excellent defenders!!!!)
Defence is an area which often suffers when attack flourishes and while it is overlooked if a team is winning, the Boks still need to be able to tighten up when needed.
Some players have questionmarks over them in this respect and it will be interesting to see what the Bok management does in this regard.
Either way, if you’re only as good as your last game, then defensively the Boks have a lot of work to do.
MOMENTS OF GLORY
Finally, here is a thought or two about their performances in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship – feel free to comment with your moment in the comments section.
MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP: SA v NZ, Ellis Park
Possibly one of the best five games of all time. Yes, the Boks lost but what a spectacle.
BEST SPRINGBOK PERFORMANCE: v Australia, Brisbane
There were so many questions going into the Brisbane game that the Boks answered with glee. Four tries, a magnificent performance and to do it at a hoodoo ground made it all the more special.
TRY OF THE TOURNAMENT: Zane Kirchner v Australia, Newlands
Off turnover ball, a beautiful pass from Fourie du Preez found Jean de Villiers, who sent a perfect ball to JJ Engelbrecht. Engelbrecht drew the defender and sent Kirchner away. The little step to flatfoot Israel Folau was the icing on the cake. A superb try that deserved applause.
FORWARD OF THE TOURNAMENT: Eben Etzebeth (Agree)
Bismarck du Plessis’ Auckland cards were costly, but he had an amazing tournament. Etzebeth was the colossus in the lineout, the pillar of strength and the player who performed in every single game. Exceptional to think he is still so young.
BACKLINE PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT: Jean de Villiers (Agree)
Captain Fantastic, De Villiers is in sublime form and has led by example. His try at Ellis Park was testament to the great form he is in, and he continues to defy age in playing some amazing rugby
The Boks are superiour to new zealand and this will beshown in 2014 as i ahve long predictted.Always remeber Beeno's seminal piece - The wring is on the wall.
How anybody including this confused author can think the wee abs are better is a mystery.
Keep giving us fair refs and the abs will revert to the traditional spot as second to the the Boks.
