Resilience pays off for All Blacks
It wasn’t a vintage All Blacks performance. Don’t even try to state otherwise. Yet, somehow, they still managed to prevent themselves sliding down the cliff and into oblivion against the Springboks yesterday.
Behind 30-13 after Handre Pollard had converted Cheslin Kolbe’s try in front of a parochial South Africa crowd, the All Blacks had just 20 minutes to execute their great escape.
Tick, tick, tick. And they did it. It still seems difficult to believe the All Blacks won this test 32-30. Preventing themselves from becoming the first All Blacks team to lose consecutive tests to the Springboks since 2009 seemed improbable after Kolbe brushed the ball against the white line in a desperate dive.
Everything was stacked against the All Blacks. As if copping body shots from the Springboks wasn’t bad enough, they were adding to their own misfortune by making too many mistakes.
The Springboks had only to glance at their supporters to inspire themselves to secure a famous win.
Yet it was the All Blacks who finished fastest, blazing down the home straight as if it was they, not their opponents, who were being cheered on by their countrymen and women. And they did it at altitude, their fitness and mental resilience pushing them through the invisible barriers that threatened to suck them into a hole of despair. Tries to Rieko Ioane, Scott Barrett and Ardie Savea, with Richie Mo’unga slotting two conversions, followed.
Replacement openside flanker Savea, required to fill in for the injured Sam Cane three minutes before halftime, used superb technique to level the scores by scoring near a ruck in the final minute, and Mo’unga didn’t miss with the handy conversion to secure the victory.
The rise and rise of Mo’unga cannot be ignored. Starting first five-eighth Beauden Barrett continues to mystify and frustrate. His brilliance was not on show in this fixture. Barrett was unable to use his acceleration to punch through the organised and aggressive Springboks’ defence, his crosskicks didn’t work and some of his punting didn’t amount to much.
At least his goalkicking was precise, succeeding with two penalties in the first half.
Something had to change. The survival package involved Mo’unga taking the field in the 51st minute, with Barrett shifting to fullback and Ben Smith moving to the right wing.
With Mo’unga adding more energy from the playmaker’s spot, Barrett was able to contribute with his pace in defence.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen got value out of his bench, replacing props Owen Franks and Karl Tu’inukuafe early in the second spell, but it was surprising he left halfback TJ Perenara on the bench until the 70th minute.
Perenara was all fizz and vitality, probing for gaps, arrowing out accurate passes and sending out the message that the All Blacks were still in the fight. Following his arrival Barrett and Savea scored close to rucks, the yappy halfback offering encouragement from close range.
So that was that. The Springboks were sunk by an All Blacks team without key players such as lock Brodie Retallick, hooker Dane Coles, blindside flanker Liam Squire and loosehead prop Joe Moody. Young centre Jack Goodhue was a late withdrawal because of illness.
That is some serious firepower to have sitting at home or in the stands.
Yet the All Blacks still mowed down the Boks when it mattered. Right on the final bell. Ben Smith 6.5.
Didn’t see many of his trademark breaks from the back. Good under the high ball. Shifted to right wing in 51st minute to allow Beauden Barrett to drop to the back.
Waisake Naholo 6
Replaced in 51st minute. Didn’t burn the house down on attack. Good tackle on opposite Aphiwe Dyantyi to snuff out a dangerous attack in first half.
Ryan Crotty 7
Solid. Midfield reshuffle required him to duck in a spot when Anton Lienert-brown came on.
Sonny Bill Williams 4
Rarely sighted on attack, game plan didn’t suit a player who likes to run direct. Made nine tackles. Retired on the 60th-minute mark.
Rieko Ioane 6.5
Quiet in first half. Got busier as the game ground on, scored a try. 21st try in 20th test.
Beauden Barrett 5
Was shifted to fullback in 51st minute. Crosskicks didn’t work and rarely threatened with the ball on attack. Long pass to Rieko
Ioane in 66th minute – in front of the sticks – was ruled forward and put team under pressure.
Aaron Smith 6.5
Nervous start, caught at base of scrum and gave away penalty for tackling opponent on the deck. Got an important try in 54th minute. Replaced in 70th minute.
Kieran Read 7
Good captaincy, kept the team composed to the end. Won’t have enjoyed having Malcolm Marx steal the ball from in a ruck early in second spell.
Sam Cane 6
Forced to retire with a head knock in 35th minute after ruck collision. Won a ruck penalty off Boks fullback Willie le Roux.
Shannon Frizell 6
Made 10 tackles. Replaced in 46th minute as Patrick Tuipulotu was added to power up the tight five, and Scott Barrett moved to side of scrum.
Scott Barrett 7.5
Got a try with five minutes left on the clock, excellent lineout steal in
42nd minute. Conceded silly penalty with sloppy ruck cleanout early. Switched to blindside early in second spell.
Sam Whitelock 7
Made 10 tackles. Not spectacular but that’s not his job. Kept grafting.
Owen Franks 6
Replaced in 46th minute. Did all that was required.
Codie Taylor 7.5
Made the vital run that set up try for Aaron Smith. Busy around the park as usual. Replaced in 70th minute.
Karl Tu’inukuafe 5
Off in 46th minute. Solid.
RESERVES:
Nathan Harris 5
On in 70th minute. Blew a vital lineout throw a minute later, chucking it too far and over Sam Whitelock’s head.
Tim Perry 5
On in the 46th minute. Missed vital tackle on Siya Kolisi that led to try to Damian de Allende Had to leave for HIA in 70th minute, back in 78th minute.
Ofa Tuungafasi 6
Came on in the 46th minute. Grabbed a turnover from a ruck in the 69th minute.
Patrick Tuipulotu 5.5
Came on in the 46th minute. Bumbled an inside pass, but kept bustling away.
Ardie Savea 8
On in the 35th minute for the injured Sam Cane. Scored the vital try from a pick and go in the 79th minute to level the scores. Also executed a vital turnover a minute earlier to put ABS in attacking position.
TJ Perenara 7
On in 70th minute, and added vigour and clarity to attack. Made a difference when it was badly needed.
Richie Mo’unga 8.5
Slotted the handy conversion that won the game, moments prior to the fulltime hooter sounding. Added some much needed spark when he came on in the 51st minute. Calm enough to overcome nerves when he missed touch with first defensive clearance.
Anton Lienert-brown 6
Came on for SBW mid-way through second half. ALB solid at centre.
By RICHARD KNOWLER