Champagne flows for vintage display by superb All Blacks
THERE is no argument and there are no excuses. The All Blacks are the best rugby team in the world, with the 2013 vintage arguably the best ever to have played the game.
Their 38-27 victory over the Springboks carried New Zealand to a clean sweep of the Rugby Championship crown and also improved their record at Ellis Park to four wins in 12 outings.
It was New Zealand’s 50th test win over the Springboks and their ninth straight win this season. It also opened the gap at the top of the world rankings.
They keep improving and finding players to plug seemingly unpluggable gaps. Flyhalf is a case in point where Dan Carter’s injury allowed Aaron Cruden to start and Beauden Barrett to make a huge impact off the bench.
Meanwhile, flank Liam Messam has risen to the point where he is playing better than the seemingly irreplaceable Jerome Kaino.
Right wing Ben Smith has already ensured that Corey Jane is forgotten after a record eight tries in the championship, while lock Brodie Retallick has filled Brad Thorne’s boots and more. And there is still more talent coming through while old warhorses such as Ma’a Nonu, Kieran Read and Conrad Smith appear to be improving.
Special mention has to be made of captain Richie McCaw. Before Saturday, he had never played a test at Ellis Park and by rights he should not have been out there at all. He now has a Bok scalp at Ellis Park to add to his collection.
The victory was achieved despite the home team attacking like few Bok teams in history and breaching the All Black line four times.
Coach Steve Hansen summed it up: “This was the best victory because the game was so special and both teams played so well. When you get a game like that the team that wins is the one that deserved it. We were that team today.”