How far they have come

The only thing, not even the right thing, the only thing to do is to put my hands together for the Boks. They have, in my mind ofcourse, come such a long way. They know exactly who they are, whether you like to watch them play or not, that's your issue, they know what they are about and execute it to pin point accuracy more often than not. 

The game on saturday was case in point, they bossed the breakdown pretty darn well, very smart and oftentimes with some street smarts, but they have been doing it so well and so fast that it is hard for officials to notice it real time, have a look at this example https://twitter.com/ek_rugby/status/1556234195650895873?s=24&t=zrg2iZgaU785o9d8cQXBoA now please don't mistake me raising this as sour grapes or anything of the sort, it is pretty darn clever play. I recall many a spectator being upset with a certain Richie McCaw because he sailed pretty close to the wind. But this is highlighting my point. Man Rassie, is something special, it's like he lives to find creative solutions. He has built a team with so much depth. I have just seen the team that has been put out now, a guy like Jessie Kriel is 3rd choice wing at the moment, that is some proper depth. Then they bring in Duane at no 8 like the All Blacks haven't been bullied enough. 

I know the Boks have their DNA in how they play but man i wish they would mix it up a little. You saw what Sir Am did with that crazy pass on saturday? Damian Willemse, that kid can play, so glad he is getting regular opportunities. Another thing that really pleases me is that other than me raising the point to make a point, not too many are speaking about the racial make up of the team, 15 of the 23 are a lighter shade of brown and no one is questioning the other 8 or the captain's ability or if or why he gets subbed. Mind you the ABs sub their captain Cane before the end of the game and i haven't seen much noise being made about that.

People are blowing up about the ABs and rightfully so, they have set the marker for the longest time. They are now in a tough spot where it seems as if they are redefining how they play and the world believes they are lost and i guess right now they are lost. But am i concerned, not so much. As i said in the Irish series, they were chowed from the get go, the Irish showed some intensity and they werent able to cope with it, but the yellow and the red didnt help their cause in the second test and in the third it was a bridge too far.

I saw some gains in the last test. Honestly never thought they would win it for most parts of the game, many all black tests when they are behind you always have that feeling that they have this, but not this game. Funny i told the guys i was with that they shouldnt have done the Kapa, not this game, they should have conserved their emotions by doing the Kamate and then go about their work. Haka takes a lot of energy I beleive :). Gives a lot too....when you are confident, right now, not so much, but what do i know? The Boks didnt bring anything unexpected. They did their set piece well, used their big men to drive them up the park. kicked where they had to and rained bombs on the All Blacks. Their (All Blacks) attack was blunt, been watching what they are doing with the behind the back pass, where the carrier pivots and faces 180 degrees behind them to pass to the next attacker, way behind the gain line, not sure what that is about but perhaps that is part of the new system they are trying to build, but with a rush defence they made no gains. where they did make gains is that the set pices were a lot better, scrums weren't as bad, a few penalised slips but also got one or 2 back too. Lineouts were also better, stole a lineout or 2 too. The turnovers and general play errors are the ones that need the most work and random discipline errors. Ref says stay and then you go, free get out of your 22 pass...brainless.

looking forward to the next game, do i think they will win, every chance to, but it starts between their ears, because i still believe they have the players, they just struggling with their style of play, but it will click, just hopefully sooner rather than later....

I missed the Aus v Arg game, because i am not in SA anymore and live game viewings are a bit of a mission, but should be better from this weekend.

Congrats on your win World Champs, hoping the world can start putting some respect to the Bok name because they deserve it. They have earned it. But i still hope WE chow you :)

#rugbychampionship #Springboks #allblacks #rugby