Scintillating spell shows how dangerous ABs can be
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper has a winner’s medal of every trophy on offer in the country, including the CAF Champions League. But most of those medals mean nothing to him, he didn’t earn them. He was at the right place at the right time, being part of a winning team but not contributing anything. His first real winner’s medal was the Nedbank Cup he won with Free State Stars last year. He was a vital cog of the Ea Lla Koto machinery that produced a remarkable fairy-tale run.
He could be a part of another fairy tale should he lead the Lions of the North to glory in what would be the club’s first major title. Ngobeni hasn’t been beaten in the MTN8. His three clean sheets helped Highlands’ shy attack get to the final, having scored just one goal. In a battle that will be between United’s attack and Highlands’ defence, Ngobeni will be a key player.
The winner of that contest will lift the MTN8 and get R8 million while the loser will get the same amount of money as the teams that were knocked out in the first round. For Ngobeni and Gabuza, a good performance will go a long way in repaying the faith and the love they have finally been given. ALL Black coach Steve Hansen’s plan to win their third successive World Cup has started to bear fruit with a scintillating spell of precision rugby at pace when they scored 28 points in 10 minutes against Canada yesterday.
The All Blacks, who had led 28-0 at halftime, blasted the North Americans off the Oita Stadium pitch in the 10 minutes after the break when they scored four converted tries on the way to a 63-0 bonus-point victory.
Such was the level of skill execution as backs and forwards created space through clever passing and running lines as Rieko Ioane, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell and Brad Weber all scored, there were signs that a 100point victory was on the cards.
“After halftime we played well, good controlled footy and played with speed but also didn’t look for silly offloads,” Hansen told reporters after the nine-try demolition that moved them to nine points in Pool B.
“We played with control and with speed which is what we were after (and) we have come away with some confidence that what we’re trying to do is starting to grow and build.
“We’ve just got to put that first 20 minutes in the second half and turn that into 80 minutes and if we can do that then we won’t be too far away.”
Canada coach Kingsley Jones was also impressed with the way in which the All Blacks were able to just flick a switch and play at a level that his side could not match despite their best efforts.
“The basic facts are the speed, the accuracy and the power that the All Blacks could generate, sometimes you (just have to) admire,” Jones said. “Some of their execution was incredible.
“They’re a fantastic team and it’s a great test for our players. They were outstanding.”
While overall pleased with the performance, Hansen was also happy that several of his players like prop Atu Moli, who played the full 80 minutes, and centres Sonny Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue had got some solid game time under their belts.
Williams was especially influential, creating havoc in the Canadian defence while a clever kick set up Beauden Barrett’s try and he provided the final pass for Ioane to score.
“He played really well tonight, he’s got a kicking game, I think he’s done that kick about four times and we’ve scored four times from it,” Hansen said.
“He’s been working hard, and he’s injury free and we’re starting to see the old Sonny.”
BRUNEL PRAISES HIS FRENCH SUBSTITUTES
FRANCE coach Jacques
Brunel lamented an error-strewn display as his team made heavy weather of the United States in a humid Fukuoka at the Rugby World Cup yesterday, but praised his bench for changing the game and securing a bonus point.
Having needed a drop-goal from substitute flyhalf Camille Lopez to edge past Argentina in the first Pool C clash, the French this time relied on scrumhalf Baptiste Serin who came off the bench and helped avert disaster in the 33-9 win against the Eagles. With a third penalty bringing the US to within three points of the French score 15 minutes from time, Serin set up a try to Gael Fickou to relieve the pressure and then scored one of his own as Les Bleus at last hit top gear against their wearying opponents.
“The players coming off the bench changed the match. They gave the team speed and activated the match. That really worked well,” he told reporters. | Reuters