The upcoming four-Test series between the Springboks and the All Blacks, set to unfold in South Africa and Baltimore, is poised to ignite the inaugural Greatest Rivalry tour. With both teams facing the possibility of an evenly split series, the discussions about how to resolve a potential draw have taken center stage. According to Yusuf Jackson, SA Rugby’s general manager of operations, a tiebreaker will ensure that the series crowns a definitive winner, reflecting the competitive spirit shared by both teams.
On the Boks Unpacked podcast, former Springboks Schalk Burger, Hanyani Shimange, and Jean de Villiers deliberated on the implications of a tied series. Shimange remarked, “It would be the greatest tour of all time if it gets down to two all.” However, Burger expressed concerns about the series potentially being decided by a kicking competition. “I thought these tours just end in a drawn series, doesn’t it? Like they’re going to have a tiebreaker, like a goal kick-off,” he said, reflecting a sentiment of uncertainty about such an outcome.
"Everyone agrees that we want a winner"
The notion of extra time or sudden death as potential tiebreakers is still under exploration. The infamous 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final comes to mind, where a match was decided by a kicking duel, a scenario De Villiers hopes to avoid. “It can’t be anything other than extra time because I’ve immediately thought of that semi-final Heineken Cup, Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers, and it came down to Martin Williams missing a kick from right in front,” he explained. This highlights the desire for a solution that extends play rather than relying on a skill not typically associated with all players.
In the event the series ends without a winner in extra time, De Villiers suggested that the All Blacks might deserve the win, considering the Springboks' home ground advantage in three of the four Tests. “Three games in South Africa, one in Baltimore, if it goes to 2-2, it’s almost like the victory needs to go to New Zealand because of the home ground advantage that South Africa gets,” he argued. This perspective, however, was met with light-hearted skepticism from his peers, with Shimange commenting, “You are feeling very kind today,” and Burger likening it to retaining the Ashes.
The dialogue among these seasoned players not only underscores the complexities of determining a series winner but also reflects their deep connection and understanding of the game’s finer nuances. As the series approaches, the rugby world waits with bated breath to see if this historic rivalry will indeed require a decisive tiebreaker, or if one team can claim outright victory before then.
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The upcoming four-Test series between the Springboks and the All Blacks, set to unfold in South Africa and Baltimore, is poised to ignite the inaugural Greatest Rivalry tour. With both teams facing the possibility of an evenly split series, the discussions about how to resolve a potential draw have taken center stage. According to Yusuf Jackson, SA Rugby’s general manager of operations, a tiebreaker will ensure that the series crowns a definitive winner, reflecting the competitive spirit shared by both teams.
On the Boks Unpacked podcast, former Springboks Schalk Burger, Hanyani Shimange, and Jean de Villiers deliberated on the implications of a tied series. Shimange remarked, “It would be the greatest tour of all time if it gets down to two all.” However, Burger expressed concerns about the series potentially being decided by a kicking competition. “I thought these tours just end in a drawn series, doesn’t it? Like they’re going to have a tiebreaker, like a goal kick-off,” he said, reflecting a sentiment of uncertainty about such an outcome.
"Everyone agrees that we want a winner"
The notion of extra time or sudden death as potential tiebreakers is still under exploration. The infamous 2009 Heineken Cup semi-final comes to mind, where a match was decided by a kicking duel, a scenario De Villiers hopes to avoid. “It can’t be anything other than extra time because I’ve immediately thought of that semi-final Heineken Cup, Cardiff Blues v Leicester Tigers, and it came down to Martin Williams missing a kick from right in front,” he explained. This highlights the desire for a solution that extends play rather than relying on a skill not typically associated with all players.
In the event the series ends without a winner in extra time, De Villiers suggested that the All Blacks might deserve the win, considering the Springboks' home ground advantage in three of the four Tests. “Three games in South Africa, one in Baltimore, if it goes to 2-2, it’s almost like the victory needs to go to New Zealand because of the home ground advantage that South Africa gets,” he argued. This perspective, however, was met with light-hearted skepticism from his peers, with Shimange commenting, “You are feeling very kind today,” and Burger likening it to retaining the Ashes.
The dialogue among these seasoned players not only underscores the complexities of determining a series winner but also reflects their deep connection and understanding of the game’s finer nuances. As the series approaches, the rugby world waits with bated breath to see if this historic rivalry will indeed require a decisive tiebreaker, or if one team can claim outright victory before then.