With Saturday’s 32-29 win over the All Blacks, in Hamilton New Zealand, South African Rugby ran the table with it’s third triumph out of three tries: The Blue Bulls winning the Super 14, The Springboks winning the series against the touring British Lions, and now they have won their third Tri-Nations trophy.
It’s been a pretty good last few months for practitioners of the oval ball from the land of Nelson Mandela, Charlize Theron and Ladysmith Black Mazambo.
You can say what you want about South Africa not playing exciting, champagne-rugby, but after blitzing through the Wallabies and All Blacks in South Africa, beating the Wallabies in Perth, and the All Blacks in Hamilton-in what was the best game, by far in this edition of the 2009 Tri Nations, there is no doubt that at this moment, The Boks are the best team in the world, with the 2011 Rugby World Cup two years away.
Most teams would be happy with one good kicker, but the Boks, with François and Morné Steyn raining down penalties, drop goals and tactical bombs all over the pitch, it certainly gives the South Africans a dimension to their game that nobody else in the World has at this moment. Add to that, their dominance in the lineout, led by Victor Matfield, and Brussow digging up loose balls in the ruck like a Scottish Terrier looking for rats, the South Africans are far from being a one-trick pony.
Graham Henry, the All Blacks coach, should at least take heart in the ferocious fight back his All Blacks displayed after being way down in the second half, to not just make the match close, but to have the Boks on the back foot, and with time running out, super fly half Dan Carter almost cashed in on a second cross field kick. (McCaw did a wonderful job converting the first one into a try)-but his second kick sailed JUST out of bounds into touch, leading Welsh Referee Nigel Owens to blow his whistle, giving the Springboks a hard-fought, well-earned win.
A lot can change in two years, with retirements and injuries, but for the moment, the Boks are the team to beat.
Recent Comments