Stats are a poor way to judge rugby games

For those stat freaks it's a lesson well learnt...truth is often stranger than fiction....Bahahahahahahahahahaha.

There are just somethings that occur that confound but nothing beats pure guts and determination and playing with spirit and the love of the game...that's what happened today...it also proves there is very little wrong with the players...now they have self-belief...watch them grow...stuff Cosatu and the government, let Rassie do it his own way.

The interesting stat is the tackles made...SA 226, NZ 46.

ON ATTACK

TRIES

New Zealand - 6

South Africa - 5

METRES CARRIED

New Zealand - 633

South Africa - 245

CARRIES

New Zealand - 205

South Africa - 59

DEFENDERS BEATEN

New Zealand - 33

South Africa - 10

PASSES

New Zealand - 234

South Africa - 61

OFFLOADS

New Zealand - 17

South Africa - 3

POSSESSION

New Zealand - 75.3%

South Africa - 24.7%

ON DEFENCE

TACKLES

New Zealand - 46

South Africa - 226

OFFLOADS

New Zealand - 10

South Africa - 33

BREAKDOWN

RUCKS WON

New Zealand - 153

South Africa - 40

SET PLAY

SCRUMS WON

New Zealand - 13

South Africa - 7

LINEOUTS WON

New Zealand - 9

South Africa - 6

DISCIPLINE

PENALTIES CONCEDED

New Zealand - 3

South Africa - 10

YELLOW CARDS

New Zealand - 0

South Africa - 1

FINAL SCORE?

New Zealand - 34

South Africa - 36

That kind of stats is not necessarily related to the outcome.  I think there was only one of the stats that really had a major impact on the match outcome and those were the following:-

Tackles

Springboks     226

All Blacks         46

The  above  negated most of the positives favouring the AB's

Defence won this game, it was an immense effort. But we also have to be realistic and realize that with so little possession you're going to lose more than you win. The All Blacks won't gift us two soft tries and a bundle of failed conversions in every game.

Pakie there is still a problem with the loosies,   We need contests at breakdown points and there really was none.   We also need to bulk up the Tight 5.   Mostert had a massive defensive game, but I think he is too light as a lock,

The Springbok scrumming was faultless in the first half and there was a slight decrease in efficiency when the props were replaced,     However, there was no major control of the scrumming om either side,     

Sorry Seb I did not see your post before I posted the same