How the Boks
It turns out that the All Blacks don’t live on another planet. They haven’t got a Tardis. Like the rest of creeping humanity, they are subject to the stresses of time. Take time away from great players such as Beauden Barrett and they make mistakes.
Or to look at the acronym Tardis in a different order. Sport depends on space and relative dimensions in time. As the great footballer Johan Cruyff said: ‘‘It’s about distances.’’ Where’s your team-mate in relation to you? How much time have you got? How near is the defence?
The teams that have been successful against the All Blacks in the previous two years are those that have cut down their time and space. It is no coincidence that Ireland and the British and Irish Lions had the same defence coach. The rush defence continues to cause New Zealand problems.
In an exclusive column for Stuff last week, South African Brendan Venter shrewdly identified three areas where South Africa needed to concentrate in order to have a chance. Make your kicks contestable, play more off 9 so that you don’t turn over possession and prepare an accurate defence at the set pieces.
South Africa did all these things well in Wellington, but there was another factor, perhaps the most important at all. They rushed the ball carrier. Faf du Klerk was the first missile. He rushed Beauden Barrett off the first scrum of the match, he scragged Jordie Barrett behind the gain line, he was always after Aaron Smith.
The rest of the Boks took their cue. Captain Siya Kolisi was part of a big tackle that drove Ryan Crotty back in the opening minutes. Handre Pollard monstered Jordie Barrett and South Africa lost something in defence when Damian Allende had to leave the pitch in the second half, forcing Pollard to move to second-five.
The hits kept coming. Yes the All Blacks scored an early try when Beauden picked up a pass superbly and flicked it up for Jordie. But it was a bonus try. South African centre Lukhanyo Am had been off for ice treatment and, having rushed back onto the pitch, had not properly picked up his defensive cues when Jordie went through the hole.
It didn’t faze South Africa. Jesse Kriel jammed in very well from his wing position and they kept making hits. And New Zealand started making mistakes. Sam Cane lost the ball having a peek at the tackle to come, Kieran Read lost possession in the tackle, the forward replacements coughed up the ball.
We saw the same effect of relentless physical pressure in New Zealand’s loss to England at netball. The New Zealand shooters were pilloried, but they never had a moment’s respite. The England defence contested every shot. They hadn’t played together before, but Geva Mentor was named man of the match and her partner Layla Guscoth was not far behind.
‘‘Her athletic ability is incredible,’’ said Mentor.