By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: All- Blacks.
Reporting from Cape Town: There was no mystery about what the Springboks wanted from the second Test in Cape Town. They wanted the All Blacks under pressure, they wanted the set piece to hurt, and they wanted the scoreboard to reflect the chances they created.
For long periods, it did.
South Africa beat New Zealand 33 -26 at a packed Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, levelling the four Test series at 1 -1 and reclaiming the world No 1 ranking. It was a bruising, frantic Test, played with the sort of intensity that makes this rivalry different from most.
And, in a curious reversal of the opening Test at Ellis Park, the All Blacks dominated many of the statistics but lost the match.
New Zealand carried 177 times to South Africa’s 106 and gained 456 metres to the Boks’ 296. They beat 44 defenders to South Africa’s 33 and made 132 post contact metres against 103.
Yet the most telling number was on the scoreboard. South Africa took their opportunities. New Zealand didn’t.
The Boks were also far more successful at the gainline, winning that contest 49 to 37, and that told the story of a side that had rediscovered its physical edge.
Rassie Erasmus, was up to his old tricks, making a genius tactical decision before kickoff, by changing his entire starting front row. Deon Fourie, days short of his 40th birthday, became the oldest Springbok to start a Test, while Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit were promoted and Malcolm Marx and Ox Nché moved to the bench.
Steenkamp and Fourie’s experience was replaced by the fresh power of Marx and Nché, who arrived in the 36th minute and immediately helped manufacture pressure. With the Boks attacking from a five metre scrum, Marx was brought on with the game still in its most unforgiving phase.
The result was two penalties and, eventually, Siya Kolisi crossing for a try. The Springboks were bullying New Zealand up front.
Their opening score had come inside two minutes, Jesse Kriel crashing over from a lineout maul. It was almost a statement of intent, This time there would be no attempt to outplay the All Blacks at their own game.
New Zealand, though, showed why they remain such a dangerous side.
Will Jordan was outstanding, beating seven defenders and gaining 102 metres, while Cam Roigard added 63 metres. Their first try, finished by Roigard after a brilliant Jordan break, was all speed and handling. Damian McKenzie’s try came from another slick attacking movement.
The All Blacks have an extraordinary skill set. That hasn’t changed. What changed was their accuracy.
“We were under the pump at times, but showed great courage. We created great opportunities, but South Africa were really good,” said New Zealand coach Dave Rennie.
He was also clear about where the match had slipped away. “It’s a game of inches. We lost some lineouts and the South Africans had penalties in areas that they converted into points.” That last sentence could almost serve as the match report.
Man of the Match, Cheslin Kolbe was immaculate from the kicking tee, landing all his attempts at goal as he scored 21 points. Every penalty mattered. Every time New Zealand crossed the line into Springbok territory, South Africa made the cost of an error painfully clear.
Kolbe’s kicking gave the Boks breathing room when the game threatened to become a New Zealand running exhibition. “It’s Test match rugby. You need to take every point that’s given to you and I think last week we didn’t capitalise on that,” Kolbe said.
“But to turn it around tonight, just credit to the boys for sticking to the plan and just taking the points on offer.”
Jesse Kriel was another major reason the Boks survived the late pressure. His try was important, but his defensive work was perhaps more significant. When the All Blacks began throwing everything at South Africa in the closing stages, Kriel was repeatedly in the right place.
World class defenders tend not to make much noise about it. Kriel simply kept making tackles.
Siya Kolisi’s influence was different. His try gave South Africa a crucial buffer before half time, but his presence did something else. After the disappointment of Johannesburg, the captain lifted the mood around the team and inside a stadium that had been waiting for a response.
By half time, the Boks led 24 -14. New Zealand kept coming.
Leroy Carter reduced the deficit in the second half and Ardie Savea crossed late to make it 33- 26. Suddenly the Boks were hanging on, with Lood de Jager yellow carded in the final minute.
The All Blacks had dominated possession and territory for stretches. They had run harder and further. Savea beat five defenders and made 48 metres. They had enough attacking quality to win the Test.
But they made fundamental errors at critical moments. “We were supposed to respond but we didn’t,” Carter admitted. “If we held onto the ball for two more phases, we would score more.”
Rennie felt the same. “If we had taken a couple of our first half opportunities, it may have been a different story. That is the frustration New Zealand will carry into Johannesburg.”
Ardie Savea put it more simply: “We lost the battle but have not lost the war.” He added ” We stuck in there, We fought, but we came up short. It’s a tough pill to swallow. We will regroup and go”
For South Africa, the victory was more than a correction of the 33- 16 defeat at Ellis Park. It was a reminder of their DNA. Power first. Pressure next. Take the points when they come.
The Boks created penalties through sustained pressure, executed far better inside the All Blacks’ 22 and made their set piece count. They weren’t perfect, but they were recognisable again.
And Cape Town responded.
Kolbe thanked the crowd afterwards, acknowledging the mood that had changed dramatically in the space of a week. “Last week we slipped one and we could just feel the mood this week from the South African fans,” he said. “Whenever we put on this jersey, we just want to do them proud.”
South Africa have now won seven of their eight Tests at DHL Stadium,as they move onto Soweto without Damien Willemse.
Rassie Erasmus confirmed that the fullback will miss next Saturday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks in Soweto through injury. “Damian Willemse? Yeah, he’s injured his hamstring, he’s out for next week,” Erasmus said after the match.
Rassie’s prediction before a ball was even kicked a few weeks ago that the team who is left standing after three or four weeks will win the series, may just come true. He is hardly ever wrong.
For the All Blacks, there has been plenty to admire, over the last two weeks and plenty to fix. Their attacking threat remains substantial. But against the Springboks, opportunities are rarely offered twice. New Zealand learned that the hard way in Cape Town.
South Africa did what champions are supposed to do when the moment arrived. They took theirs. Will they be able to do it again next week.
Springboks – Tries: Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi. Conversions: Cheslin Kolbe (3). Penalties: Kolbe (4).
All Blacks – Tries: Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter, Ardie Savea. Conversions: Ruben Love (3).