Be afraid, be very afraid of the NZ game
the greatest performance by a South African side in the competition. But, then again, remember how they played against the Crusaders in Soweto a year later? That was in that oh-so-emotional semifinal that meant so much more than just rugby.
In those days we certainly had it over the rest in terms of physical impact and perhaps we had stolen a march in recognising the importance of field position and kicking to get it right. We were well organised as well, but I don’t think the rest of the competition, especially New Zealand, were overly traumatised. Impressed, yes, but not scared stiff.
I am scared stiff of New Zealand rugby at the moment and am almost tempted to miss watching the final today. I won’t, of course, because it promises to be a wonderful contest, but it will also be a tad depressing.
The level of skill and decisionmaking by the players of both the Hurricanes and the Highlanders is at a level that our sides, and the Aussies, cannot even approach.
Nothing sums this up better than the Highlanders pack. Go on, try and name all the players in it? Try and name one? Don’t cheat. They have that Pacific Islander Aussie at No 8 with the sore eye, and the dwarf lock with the beard. Can you name them? The rest of the eight are also mystery men. Not an All Black between them and yet look at the way they made that Waratahs pack, full of Test veterans, look inadequate if not pathetic last week.
The Highlanders dominated the line-outs with accurate, crisp throwing and clever organisation and movement. They don’t have a player close to two metres in height and yet, time and time again, Aaron Smith got fast, accurate ball and, in turn, his decision-making was spot-on.
They also harassed the opposition and poached their ball regularly. The scrummaging was com- pact and solid and the ability their pack has to play as a collective rather than a group of individuals looks deceptively easy, but it’s not. It is perhaps the best part of their whole game, believe it or not.
They are so organised in their support and attacking running that it is a thing of rare beauty. Look at the lines each forward runs in attack and defence and you can see the level of training they have done. It is so well planned and also so economical. The forwards can handle as well and all are good defenders.
Collectively, they are the best organised pack in the competition.
Behind the No 8, the High- landers are crammed full of running superstars whose play is orchestrated by the halves and Ben Smith at fullback.
Last week, the least heralded of them, Richard Buckman in the centre, scored a magnificent solo try. Phil Kearns was almost Skinstadian in his whingeing abut the referee but even he, deep down, knows that the Waratahs were hammered.
The Highlanders are truly a great side and obviously their team spirit and unselfishness are at an all-time high. They scare the hell out of me.
The terrifying thing is that today they start as total underdogs