What does the Irish win over the ABs mean for us?

The Boks and NZ played very evenly two months ago. Both tests were decided in the last seconds and no team really dominated. South Africa’s power packs ( we virtually play 2 of them) had the wood on NZ. They had a hard time in the scrums and the Bok maul was a constant threat.

But despite the plethora of good ball, our backs couldn’t take advantage. So NZ via the brilliance of Barrett was able to live off scraps and come within one stupid decision of sweeping the series. It was an arm wrestle.

The matches against Oz weren’t. We were well beaten. Oz cleverly neutralized our pack with their athletic locks  and Kerevi dominated the midfield. Not much has been said about those losses, basically because we haven’t figured them out. The Aussie team touring the NH is a much easier challenge, showing just how thin their resources are. But with their best on the park they can live with the Boks.

Nor was the Irish/NZ match an arm wrestle. NZ was clearly outplayed in most facets of the game, except perhaps the scrums. Which is where the Boks would have done better. Our scrum currently is almost unstoppable. We would have put the wood the Ireland up front. And for most of history so would NZ.

SH teams beat NH teams via sheer physicality. That’s how we beat Wales and Scotland who were more dangerous ball in hand. In the end the fact that the Scottish tighthead imploded determined much of this game. The difference between our line speed in defence and that of Scotland was also stark. We had 5 metres of space, the Scottish centres got man and ball.

So for NZ something has changed. If they can’t beat the best NH teams up front things become less automatic, and the role of Barrett becomes pivotal. I don’t think Mo’unga is going to win those tests for them. Their centres also look sub par….but a Smith/Barrett combination may disguise that weakness. It’s going to be an interesting few years for NZ.

For South Africa….a Bok/Irish confrontation or a Bok/Oz confrontation remains much the same proposition. Destroy them up front. But to the degree teams like Ireland get closer to parity up front our bankruptcy in the backs except for turnover ball, will become an issue.

The annoying thing is it doesn’t have to be that way….we have big skilled backs who could use all that great ball with a bit of encouragement. We have a unique opportunity with this rare weak period in NZ rugby and no other side that has shown consistency at the top level, albeit Oz and Ireland have the capacity. 

So will we grow as a team and add simple things like the offload to our armory or is the plan to box kick our way through to the next WC? The risk of that safety first course is we meet a team like Oz who on the day can neutralize that game and there is no practiced alternative. Whereas with our quality of ball a competitive backline should be able to put the issue beyond doubt.

When we were in the doldrums a few years ago I made the point that a return to our traditional values of dominant  set pieces and a weaponised defence would turn around our fortunes. That’s happened under Harrassmiss…frankly it was easy . But if we don’t add to our skill set a unique opportunity to be the undisputed number one in rugby will be lost.

That’s the only thing it tells you? You have limited receptors Dave. 

Big Guy giving the Boks the good old eye test...

Improving attack involves forwards and backs. They are integrated and form the attacking shape. It's not as simple as a backline coach teaching passes etc, the entire shape and movement of the ball has to change. Personnel compounds the problem, but even that will only see a slight improvement. Nobody has gotten better under José; nobody is thriving. The José approach is enforced heavily scripted sequences to control where the ball goes. It's very predictable, very slow and clunky and coaches vision and puzzle-solving out of the players. Our best-attacking weapons don't just look unfit, they look mentally dulled. We have a long road ahead. 

I think it means we go back to number 1 in the world rankings. 

Of course one can always improve skills. However so often we see these highly touted attacking sides looking no better than the Boks and end up losing

Looking at Org's BS comments it's clear the oaf has no appreciation of what has been achieved. Nobody has got better and nobody has thrived says the hatter. Man even the Scots commentators were referring to the bomb squad. The loon can't see the wood from the trees. 

What has been achieved? A pocket created by double ranking points against minnows. That's the only reason the Boks are ranked first. Where about 5th/6th on form. Which is where we were right up until the All Blacks comfortably defeated us in the World Cup opener. The Boks are playing the worst rugby I have seen since 2002. As teams begin to find their rhythm after the covid disruption, we find ourselves looking even more antiquated. Even with the ref in their pocket, which was the decisive factor in the Lions series and ever present throughout the RC, they still can't truly impose themselves. We had inferior output to the abridged 2015 campaign, which tells you a lot. Our best, players such as Willie and Pollard and even Thor et al, are producing anemic numbers compared to the Coetzee years and further back. What we have here are two camps: The José Kult, and Bok fans. The José Kultists are working intensely, but sloppily, to weave a narrative that explains away the mediocrity. The same people who were crying about the 2010 All Blacks have ignored the ref bias and even push forward this nonsense that we are victims of poor and biased reffing - something which hasn't been a fact since 2012! These dullards have been knocked from pillar to post in every discussion because they consistently exhibit a shocking lack of knowledge of the technical side of the game, an inability to analyse play (as seen in my latest Xs and Os thread, where the Plastiks have scattered and cannot defend their chest beating). They shift the goal posts and avoid all facts. 

You yourself Her Sitsack, who has assumed the position of CEO of the Kak Pack, have copious amounts of egg dripping off your face; was it not you who said, for years I might add, that José was a rugby genius who would "get the backs going"? Yes it was. Well, how'd that go for you? We have not only the most kicking prone team in Bok history, but a consistently wonky kicking team. All of our kicks aside from some from Reinach, are inaccurate and solely reliant on winning penalties. How'd the Boks look once the Welsh were fielding those kicks? Pretty lost at see, but for has-been Frans. 

At every turn, you Kultists are obliterated. Have the good sense to stay down! Stick to what you are good at, whatever that may be. 

There you go Quisling ….there’s a proper analysis of our challenges, posted 9 months ago. Read and learn.

Attack coach is out of his depth, price of transformation

This is all fucking bullshit. The Block game is simple... kick and lineout, drag opponents into set pieces to bleed the clock and take time away from ball in play. Because the Blocks cannot compete in open play in attack or defence but in sett pieces they can win penalties and disupt the flow of the opposition and make the game a disjointed tussle. That's it right there. Occassionally a Marx or Kwagga does great at the breakdown, but you cannot rely on it happening. It's only every now and then. Wake the fuck up you dullards! 

It's a little wide open, but logically the best weigh up of all sides potential internationally is France...they will eventually win the next WC at home...they have been knocking on the door for some time ; 1987 in final, 2001 not sure, 1995, actually won technically in semi-final... ref got try wrong... later WC's got rid of AB's, in 2011 one point loss because of ref manipulation...it will be France's final 80 mins next year. Anyone for bets???

2001? Not fucking kidding... 1999 WallyRus. Arse kicked by Arsetralia. Blocks stand no chance of winning another world cup. So, it'll be a northern hemisphere side. The days of the south being the dominant force is fucking dead and buried! 

Rosie you dumb dope you would doubtless have given the Boks zero chance the three times the Boks won the RWC. 

Suck it up snowflake. Hahahahaha. 

#FeelSorry4ThirdWorldYarpiesWhoCan'tSucceed

We have already succeeded you hapless goofster! 

At what? 

The point really is that only 2 nations have got 3, and SA had one less bite at the cherry to compete because of politicians, ie 1987.

The time of France to win is simple, 1) Playing the best rugby and player by player best fit and complete side. 2) Home ground...we all know a good Les Bleus is hard to beat in Paris.

Scrumming, breakdown, defence and massively physical men doing it. It’s a hell of a challenge.

Since we went back to the basics under Harrassmiss and ditched the silly expansive notions we are 3 wins/3 losses and a draw against NZ…..169 to 163 points to NZ.

The ABs haven’t had one comfortable game against the Boks since we returned to the power game.

My concern has been that firstly this isn’t a great NZ team, but in truth they are still better than anybody else as we will see if the coaching change is made.

Secondly I see no reason why being great at scrumming, defence, the breakdown and tactical kicking should make it harder for us to be creative, ball in hand. If anything that should make it easier and we should be pursuing excellence across all facets.

But for those who discount the Boks….no team has fully answered the puzzle the Boks present, so neanderthal or not, the Bok strengths have to be countered and few teams have the capacity to do that. 

These Blocks are big fat slobs. Massively physical your decrepit old arse! Kick and keep play deepn in the opposition half and hope for a mistake you never forced because you are too dopey to read the field. Big fat blockheads torn apart on the line time and again. When I see the Blocks play I don't see them doing this to their opponents. They can't fucking do it. Big hero carries that get thumped back. Your coach resorts to supporting punch runners with up to two or three players. They need pods to work together to keep possession. When they klose this shape they look lost at sea. Often you see the Blocks are so unfit that they simply cannot keep that shape together so they start kicking even more. 

Boring.

hahahaha!!! Do I see a white flag?? I definitely see a white flag. The new flag of South Africa? Should be. XD

We will see how you guys go against the Wallabies.

Will you be as critical of their game plan if you lose to them?

Good luck. I think you're gonna need it.

When they klose(sic) this shape they look lost at sea….the irony.