Springboks v All Blacks: Five takeaways as Rassie Erasmus’ tinkering pays off as South Africa rediscover their power game to level the series
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and an inset of Rassie Erasmus
Following the Springboks’ 33-26 victory over the All Blacks, here are our five takeaways from Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test match in Cape Town.
The top line
Rassie Erasmus’ men returned to type on a chilly Saturday evening in the Mother City, rediscovering their power game to batter the All Blacks up front and charge their way to victory, levelling the series at 1-1.
The Boks took a 10-point lead into half-time after Jesse Kriel opened the scoring in the opening minute of the match as the men in Green and Gold looked far more ruthless and accurate with ball in hand. The All Blacks’ response came through Cam Roigard, who finished off a stunning attacking move in the 15th minute.
Meanwhile, Cheslin Kolbe packed his kicking boots, having converted Kriel’s score, he added three points from the tee almost immediately after Roigard’s score. Damian de Allende followed his centre partner over the try-line in the 21st minute before Damian McKenzie hit back for New Zealand eight minutes later. However, it was the hosts who had the final say of the half as captain Siya Kolisi powered over from close range to give the Boks a 24-14 lead at the break.
South Africa were far more accurate in attack in that first half but relied on Kolbe’s right boot in the second as the winger nailed three penalties to see his side home, with Leroy Carter and Ardie Savea crossing the whitewash in the second half.
Springboks find ruthlessness through their power game
Seven days ago, an undercooked Springboks team produced an inaccurate and wasteful performance at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, but from the first minute in the Mother City, it was clear that today would be different.
After Jordie Barrett hooked his clearance into touch, the men in Green and Gold smelt blood and ruthlessly struck, forming a maul that gained over 10 metres, before bossing the gain-line on the ensuing carries, with Kriel finishing the job and Kolbe added the extras.
One entry into the 22, seven points scored; something that was foreign to this team just a week ago. However, a world champion team doesn’t become terrible after just one game, and that statement score so early in the match was a warning to the All Blacks of what was to come.
While the visitors eventually hit back through Roigard, the Boks’ response was rapid, with Kolbe dissecting the moments almost immediately, with De Allende adding his name to the scoresheet on 21 minutes in what was an almost perfect replica of his midfield partner’s.
In fact, all three of the Boks’ tries followed a similar theme: dominance in the set-piece -the first two being the lineout and maul, whilst the third was in the scrum – then they won the gain-line before delivering the final blow. It’s what we have come to expect from Erasmus’ charges and they did exactly that when it mattered.
After averaging less than a point per 22-metre entry in the first Test, the Boks finished with an average of four points from their six entries, a huge improvement which meant that they could lean on Kolbe to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Rassie Erasmus gets reward from changes
Erasmus spent the week tinkering with his team and left it until an hour before kick-off to tinker one final time with Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw benched for Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit, respectively. This came after he lost Handre Pollard to an injury he sustained on Wednesday, which meant Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was reinstated at fly-half while Kolbe was passed fit and replaced Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wing. All in all, the starting team that Erasmus named on Monday went through five changes before kick-off in Cape Town on Saturday.
However, the Springboks got real benefit from all the changes that were made from Test one to two. Ethan Hooker was sublime under the high ball, regularly winning the aerial battle against Will Jordan, while there was a stark improvement in the halfbacks. Cobus Reinach kicked superbly and was much more assured in his decision-making. He kept the All Blacks’ defence around the fringes of the ruck honest, and his service to Feinberg-Mngomezulu and the rest was accurate and decisive.
The benched front-rowers who became starters, including Fourie – who became the oldest-ever Springbok player – provided energy, quick ruck speed and positively impacted the 22-metre entry conversion. The Boks also benefitted hugely from Kolisi’s return, with the skipper carrying with real venom and was excellent for his 42-minute-odd cameo.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two Tests was Erasmus’ bench selections and the manner in which he was able to use them. He perfectly timed Marx and Nche’s introduction before half-time as the duo combined with Du Toit to earn the first penalty at scrum time in the game. They repacked the set-piece, gained dominance and an advantage which ultimately led to Kolisi’s try.
Springboks v All Blacks, LIVE BLOG: Relive our coverage of the Greatest Rivalry Test in Cape Town
Erasmus took the blame for erroneously putting Andre Esterhuizen on in the centres last week, causing a complete shuffle after Arendse’s injury, but this week, he got the timing and positions spot on, with Manie Libbok taking over at 10 when Damian Willemse couldn’t return from the sheds at half-time, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu switching to full-back.
The late introduction of the remaining subs meant the Boks’ defence was able to hold onto the lead despite the pressure the All Blacks managed to exert on them, with Cameron Hanekom coming up with the steal to seal the result.
All Blacks’ attack remains brutally effective
After being incredibly ruthless in attack in Johannesburg, Dave Rennie’s men were far more wasteful in Cape Town, averaging 2.8 points per entry into South Africa’s 22. Still, it was mightily impressive how the men in black were able to tear the Boks’ defence to shreds when it mattered.
New Zealand clearly targeted Kriel in the first half and got huge benefit from it, with Jordan skinning both Bok centres before sending Roigard over. McKenzie and Carter’s scores were equally breathtaking but the All Blacks’ biggest issues wasn’t the attack misfiring from far out but in close.
Far too often, they also overplayed their hand, forced the attack and conceded a penalty, which would have all been avoidable if they kicked instead.
Furthermore, it’s clear as day that when the Springboks have their best front-row on the park, the All Blacks simply don’t have answer. Rennie may have had a word with World Rugby about South Africa’s scrum tactics but once Nche and Marx were injected into the game, Angus Gardner’s arm was raised in South Africa’s favour time and time again.
Pieter-Steph du Toit breaks the curse
Pieter-Steph du Toit breaks new ground yet again as he becomes the first Springboks player to defeat the All Blacks in his 100th Test match, a feat Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Jean de Villiers and Damian de Allende failed to and unsurprisingly, he played a massive role in the victory.
He finished as the Springboks’ top tackler along with Eben Etzebeth, with the duo making 18 in total while he played his part in pressurising an All Blacks lineout that operated at 83% but seldom had clean attacking possession.
Du Toit has defied the odds again and again throughout his career and it was just reward that he celebrated the milestone in his hometown, against the All Blacks and with a victory.
The attention now turns to Soweto where the home-leg of the series will be decided. After another epic showdown between these two great rugby-playing nations, we can only expect much of the same.
READ MORE: SA Rugby take legal action over scam accusations after supporters left ‘ticketless’