Lock it in — duo raise benchmark

time as a practice for an afternoon session which is ramped up in terms of pace and intensity. Yes, they even train for their training sessions.

Watching and listening to Coetzee and loose forward Francois Louw this week at their base in Christchurch was to see and hear two men almost resigned to their fate.

They spoke eloquently, as Springboks coaches and players generally do about the game, and there was a conviction there to right some recent wrongs. But there was also general sense that they know the All Blacks are a long way ahead of them in every aspect.

The Boks are without 20 of their representatives from last year, whether through retirement or injury, and Coetzee himself brought up the gulf between the two nations in terms of experience and depth.

“If you look at our group from last year, from the 31, we have 11 remaining . . . that’s the reality,” Coetzee said. “We’re in that transition phase.

“If you look at the leadership and captaincy, for argument’s sake, just to compare South Africa with New Zealand, when Richie [ McCaw] stepped down it was seamless for Kieran Read to step into that position. They could have gone on to Sam Cane as well. When Jean de Villiers retired, also finished was Victor Matfield [ and] Fourie du Preez and Schalk [ Burger] is not available this year. Those are the core senior leaders we’ve had.

“We need experienced leaders to come through and that’s part of the building process. They’ve got the continuity and the experience. If you look at their three No 10s, I see they have brought in [ Lima] Sopoaga this week as well.

“Elton Jantjies is starting his sixth The last time the Springboks were able to dominate the All Blacks was 2009.

They were a better all- round side than the All Blacks back then, but the real areas of difference were their respective kicking games and their ability at lock.

The Boks had the world- class Victor Matfield in partnership with Bakkies Botha and were a supremely good combination. Matfield was brilliant in the air, strong around the park and good with the ball in his hands.

Botha was OK aerially, but excellent in the collisions where he made his sizeable presence felt. Those two made the Springboks the team they were in 2009.

The All Blacks, who went through that year with Brad Thorn partnered firstly with Isaac Ross then Tom Donnelly, were a long way behind.

The story could hardly be any different seven years on. The All Blacks, since losing three in a row to the Boks in 2009, have won 11 of their last 13 tests against South Africa. They have become the dominant force in the rivalry and, while they are a better all- round side than the Springboks, the real area of difference is their respective kicking games and their ability at lock.

The latter has become not so much an under- appreciated strength of the All Blacks, more an area that many now take for granted. That’s probably a compliment to the relentless excellence produced by Sam test, Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie are not available. That’s the difference, but no excuses, definitely not We have got the players and have trained well and hopefully we can execute the plan this weekend.”

Going by Coetzee’s comments, that plan does not appear to include expansive rugby, another sign the Boks may be content to hang in there against the All Blacks for as long as Whitelock and Brodie Retallick who have become the world’s premier locking combination.

They are a phenomenon, a partnership that offers everything and more that a locking duo should. They keep the All Blacks scrum rock steady and are part of a lineout that has become one of the best offensively and defensively.

They are mobile, vital ballcarriers, with Retallick, especially, taking the ball into contact more than 10 times in most tests, and they are both decision makers.

The icing on their cake comes in the way both are so good at offloading and making creative passes that enable the All Blacks to play a continuity game, the likes of which hasn’t really been seen before. And both can play 80 minutes, meaning the All Blacks don’t always need a third lock on the bench.

South Africa are pinning their hopes on the supremely athletic Eben Etzebeth and the injured but equally agile Lood de Jager.

They are hoping these two will develop the same breadth of skills and influence as Retallick and Whitelock.

But the Kiwi pair has the edge and there’s a bit of daylight between them. Etzebeth hasn’t developed as a ball carrier in the same way Retallick has and de Jager can’t match Whitelock’s accuracy in the air.

The benchmark set by Matfield and Botha has been raised by Retallick and Whitelock. they can and hope they get the rub of the green late in the game.

The Boks will probably go for a set frills. piece, Unfortunatelyterritory- basedfor them, .“game. the No All Blacks’ set- piece is up there with the best and kicking the ball will probably provide the in- form back three of Julian Savea, Ben Smith and Israel Dagg with more opportunities.

This may not end well for them. The perfect storm is set to rage on. Wellington continued their longstanding dominance over Bay of Plenty with a win at a windswept Westpac Stadium last night.

Wellington have dropped just five games to the Steamers since 1912 and never looked like losing after easing to a 17- 3 lead after playing into a stiff northerly in the first half.

Bay of Plenty botched their first chance to drive over from an attacking lineout five metres out which set the tone for an error- prone night.

Wellington opened the scoring from their first attack with a try to prop Reg Goodes from a wellorganised lineout drive.

Goodes was involved again in the next attacking play which led to a fine try to fullback Peter Umaga- Jensen after a smart kick- pass from Jackson Garden- Bachop.

The Steamers got on the board through a Luke Campbell penalty, after more good work from impressive No 8 Joe Tupe but the hosts were in again from the kickoff through winger Wes Goosen after a clean break by Garden- Bachop.

The Steamers finally crossed the tryline through winger Monty Ioane after 35 minutes but he was held up by a fine tackle from Goosen.

Wellington started the second spell with a second converted try to Goodes after nine phases to lead 24- 3.

Bay of Plenty fought back through a try to midfielder Terrence Hepetema from a clever kick from Dan Hollinshead, who converted to close the gap to 24- 10.

Bay of Plenty changed their front row, with Aidan Ross impressing, which lifted their intensity as they competed well in the last 20 minutes as the weather deteriorated.

Wellington had to defend for long periods in the second half but Bay of Plenty could not convert their improved performance into points. Wellington 24 ( Reg Goodes 2, Peter Umaga- Jensen, Wes Goosen tries; Jackson Garden- Bachop 2 cons) Bay of Plenty 10 ( Terrence Hepetema try; Dan Hollinshead con; Luke Campbell pen). HT: 17- 3

Allister Coetzee, South Africa coach