Rugby: All Blacks, Springboks to bring contrasting styles to test

A game of rugby is made up of many different things. Steve Hepburn looks at three areas where tomorrow night's test will be won or lost.

KICKING
It is a bit like saying Mitt Romney is a tad to the right, but the Springboks will obviously kick the ball.

Many, many times.

That was the game favoured by coach Heyneke Meyer at the Bulls and he has brought that policy with him into the Springbok camp.

Under a covered roof, with a five-eighth like Morne Steyn, the Boks are going to take to the air. Their kick chase is always effective, so the likes of Israel Dagg and Cory Jane will get plenty of attention.

In the black jersey, this is a big game for Aaron Cruden. Better known as a runner than a kicker, his skills with the boot will be put to the test.

He will not kick much - that is not his style - but when he does it needs to be accurate and precise.

Dagg can also be called upon to help clear the All Black tryline, for in his bag of tools is a booming boot.

SCRAMBLING DEFENCE
The Stormers have been the masters at defending in Super 15 and their enveloping system has been taken up by the men in green.

The ability to keep their line intact will be vitally important for the Boks under the roof, and their ability to play well starts, and sometimes finishes, with some bruising defence.

The All Blacks have stiffened their defensive resolve in the past few games, including keeping the Wallabies scoreless at Eden Park last month.

They need to continue to do this against a Springbok side which will bring plenty of physicality to the match.

MATCHWINNERS
The All Blacks have always had gamebreakers in their side, and the 2012 edition is no different.

Out wide, the likes of Julian Savea, Jane and Dagg can cut up many sides with their tremendous attacking abilities.

They can create chances from nothing, and with a guaranteed firm track at Forsyth Barr Stadium should very much look for a profitable 80 minutes.

The Springboks also have some matchwinners, although in something of a different mode.

Winger Bryan Habana can sniff a chance from a thousand metres away.

He is a man who always pops up when he is needed, either making intercepts or 5m out from the line. Frans Steyn can also do the unexpected, especially with dropped goals from more than 50m out.

The rest of the Springbok backline has that tradesman look about it and tends to rely on brawn, rather than brain.

 Interesting comment about relying on not having a brain at the end. 

shark,

I dont think there was anything we didnt know or have discussed so far on here. But I do agree I have to ask where this thoughts were? Maybe it was 'fat fingers' and it should have been we need more brain!

The undercover ground would be interesting and will at least take away or minimise handling errors that are usually high with test matches played in NZ due to the wind, rain and night time conditions.

I doubt kicks from Morne nd Francois wiill be enough to keep us in the game as the AB's are try scoring machines. However, we showed last week that we are capable of getting ahead but sadly also losing a healthy lead.  

Maintaing intensity and the keeping our Boks in the right head space for the 80 minutes will bee our biggest challenge. Argentina showed that us that for 65 minutes how to hold the AB's at bay. But once they scored it was pretty much all over and thats why I we must stay the course for 80 minutes as the AB's are capable of putting 14 points on you in 5  minutes.

My biggest concern going on Saturday night will be our ability to handle the pace with the team selected. We hope that the AB's continue their fumbing so that we ca create opportunities from them as I doubt we have enough firepwoer outwide or enough muscle upfront to create enough try scoring opportunities - Much like the Argies who though contained the Ab's never really threatened in anyway or looked at all to win the game.

"Under a covered roof, with a five-eighth like Morne Steyn, the Boks are going to take to the air. Their kick chase is always effective, so the likes of Israel Dagg and Cory Jane will get plenty of attention."

IMO that kicking game of the Boks will be their death blow. dagg, as savea and jane will have their fill of attacking rugby if the Boks continue with their bafana bafana impersonations.

2009 and the kicking game of du preez and steyn ushered in a new focus for the ABs, a need to improve our efficency under the highball and thye All Blacks did this by hiring former AFL player and coach mick byrnes.
thos who dont about AFL, its australias No1 sport played on an oval field, the size of a cricket ground. the basic fundamentals of AFL are kick and catch so they are well versed at them, even more so then both rugby codes.
mick byrnes has been rehired by the All Blacks for 2012, so the kick return from our boys is going to mean, and i mean take no prisoners mean (fingers crossed, lolz).

im hoping for an easy win to the All Blacks, but theres no such thing against the BOks, even wiht the contrastin styles they play, which IMO favours the All Blacks.