How New Zealand’s media reacted to All Blacks’ defeat to Springboks as departure of ‘inspirational captain’ and scrum woes identified as key reasons for loss
All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea and Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (inset).
Planet Rugby takes a look at how the New Zealand media reacted to the All Blacks’ defeat to the Springboks in the third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
After South Africa levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 courtesy of a 33-26 triumph in Cape Town last week, New Zealand were determined to turn the tables in their latest clash with their arch-rivals.
Although the All Blacks delivered another competitive performance, the Springboks showed why they are the world champions as they took control of proceedings midway through the second half before eventually clinching a 29-24 victory.
The All Blacks and Springboks now head to Baltimore where they will bring down the curtain on Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at the M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday and New Zealand’s rugby writers believe the loss of All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea to injury was a major turning point in the game.
“In a brutal third test between the world’s best teams, the All Blacks lost inspirational captain Ardie Savea – after he scored two tries – to a serious injury, possibly a broken arm, after 31 minutes and midfielder Quinn Tupaea limped off early in the second half,” wrote The New Zealand Herald‘s Liam Napier.
Savea’s departure proved costly
“Savea’s loss was a telling blow, despite his replacement Wallace Sititi’s impact with the ball.
“Casualties were inevitable at this stage of the series. It was that sort of match, too.
“Locked 12-all at the break after the All Blacks had the better of the first half, the Boks gradually asserted their power game to seize control.”
Napier also identified the Springboks’ scrum dominance and the All Blacks’ poor discipline as key reasons for their downfall.
“Unlike last week in Cape Town, where Angus Gardner allowed collapses to play on, Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli consistently punished the All Blacks scrum,” he added.
“Discipline also proved a major issue for the All Blacks as they became increasingly desperate and inaccurate, particularly at the breakdown.”
Stuff’s Richard Knowler also highlighted the negative impact which Savea’s departure had on the All Blacks’ overall performance.
“The All Blacks were 12-5 ahead when Savea reeled back in agony after Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx smacked into him in a breakdown in the 30th minute,” he wrote.
“Savea has made a significant impact by scoring two tries prior to his departure.
“If the officials had been consistent, his second five-pointer could have coincided with a yellow card to Springboks first-five Sasha Feinburg-Mngomezulu, as well as a penalty try, after he attempted to play the ball on the deck.
“After being more solid than spectacular during the three Nations Championship tests in July, Savea was one of the soldiers in an All Blacks forward pack determined to not allow the Springboks to bully them in the breakdowns.
‘Farewelling Savea was significant’
“While his replacement Wallace Sititi did all that was required of him, farewelling Savea was significant.
“His leadership, and experience at the back of a scrum that was in reverse gear, were sorely missed.”
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Knowler also pinpointed the All Blacks’ inability to neutralise the Boks at scrum-time as a major reason for their defeat.
“Rinse and repeat. When the Springboks monster reared its head in the scrums during the first test in Jo’burg, everyone who watched the All Blacks’ set-piece get decimated noted it still hadn’t prevented them scoring five tries and securing a memorable win,” he added.
“There’s no papering over the cracks when playing the Springboks, however.
“Unlike last weekend, when he switched his front rows at late notice, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus didn’t bother with any trickery in Soweto.
“There was no need. The Springboks won a handful of scrum penalties and remain the kings of this domain.
“The penalty try in the first half was testament to the shock and power their set-piece generates.”
READ MORE: All Blacks: Nine players to return to New Zealand ahead of final Greatest Rivalry series clash
