Was very happy with the game - very enjoyable. Unfortunately missed it live as I was tramping and partying, but watching it when I got back was very pleasing.
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[2013 TRC] South Africa vs. New Zealand in Johannesburg (05/10/2013)
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London_Italian
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The Ab's performance in this game has made me truly realise just how good they are. Outstanding!
yarmolinsky
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I may not have heard the on field conversation correctly but it seems to me that JdV should be given massive plaudits for how he dealt with the AB team sheet stuff up! He could have turned it into a big deal (which in some respects it is) but instead, it appeared to me that he just told the ref that his team were happy to move on. On top of that I thought JdV was one of the best players on the field. SA should be very proud of their leader. A world class player and genuine leader! Was also very sad to see Habana go off. He pretty much single handedly broke the game open (in SAs favour) at the beginning there and one has to wonder if things would have been different had he not left the field due to injury? Another truly world class player!
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pretty astonishing , last two seasons 21 wins 1 loss 1 draw, and the one loss was after the squad was struck down with illness mid week at the end of a long season.
The really impressive thing is that victories in big games are not down to McCaw and Carter most of the time unlike 2004-05 -> 2010-11 era
we have a great crop of players in a very good space in terms of ability and experience. A group that has really been developed over time since 2008-2009
Whitelock, Retalick, Read, Owen Franks, Dagg, Savea, Ben Smith, Messam, Cruden, Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, Luke Romano
This lot sit just below the premier experienced players
McCaw, Carter, Conrad Smith, Nonu, Woodcock, Hore, Mealamu
Really good depth, and doesn't seem to rely on any particular individuals too much - no better example of that than the fact the AB's have had 5 different players at first 5 because of injuries and have not really missed a beat.
The really impressive thing is that victories in big games are not down to McCaw and Carter most of the time unlike 2004-05 -> 2010-11 era
we have a great crop of players in a very good space in terms of ability and experience. A group that has really been developed over time since 2008-2009
Whitelock, Retalick, Read, Owen Franks, Dagg, Savea, Ben Smith, Messam, Cruden, Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, Luke Romano
This lot sit just below the premier experienced players
McCaw, Carter, Conrad Smith, Nonu, Woodcock, Hore, Mealamu
Really good depth, and doesn't seem to rely on any particular individuals too much - no better example of that than the fact the AB's have had 5 different players at first 5 because of injuries and have not really missed a beat.
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Think it's about time Read bumps up into the 2nd list.
27 years old, 57 test caps, captain when McCaw's out, and more importantly, arguably the best player in the world at the moment!
FlukeArtist
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Yeah good on him, but seriously what difference does it make in the end?
It's not like NZ weren't allowed to pick Coles or Mealamu.
SA & JdV did the only sensible/honourable thing. They would look rather petty if they tried to take it further.
I honestly cannot believe the amount of time and focus people are putting on such an insignificant (and pathetic) issue.
Shouldn't the focus be on the game?
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Well it really depends on which way you look at it (from a purist rugby point of view or from a technical/legal standpoint). Yes, the ABs could have picked Coles or Mealamu, but Shand signed off on a team sheet without Coles on it so technically Coles was not allowed to play. Anyway, that was not my point, and I'm not making a big deal out of it (I don't really think anyone is to be honest). Rather, I'm just pointing out that JdV deserves some credit for the way he handled it.
Yeah props to JDV. Had it been the other way around, I don't think i'd have felt different either - was not a big deal. Not like they're trying to deceive anybody (e.g. Patriots with their "injury reports").
The way he smashed in for his try was both heartbreaking and awesome.
The way he smashed in for his try was both heartbreaking and awesome.
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Ben Smith has had a great season and again played very well yesterday, but he is not, and will never be, faster than Habana.
RWC2011Fan
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Moment of the match. 
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I was pretty cshocked when that happened!Moment of the match.
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ABs2011
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I was pretty cshocked when that happened!
It was pretty funny - biggest dude in the ABs (I think) getting bowled over by the guy on the field most criticized for his inability to attack...I think it will take a while for Retalick to live that one down to be honest. The boys will give him a bit of grief I suspect!! :lol:
In his defense though it looked to me like he got this head in a funny position and as a result backed off as soon as contact was made....
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yeah a forearm to the side of the head tends to make it hard to complete a tackle. Not steyns fault, Retalick just got his head in a bad position.
first5eight
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One of the best games of rugby I have ever seen. It was proper edge of the seat stuff with constant lead changes and some truly amazing tries. The skill from both teams was top notch.
After the game it made me wonder why don't SA play like that normally? They looked quite dangerous when they actually had a go and it must be abunditly clear that that's the only way they will catch up to, and possibly beat the ABs. In saying that, if they couldn't beat us at their fortress where we had only won 3 times, without Carter and Franks, where and when will they beat us?? I think we are going to continue to be the best in the world for a long, long time, regardless of the outcome of a certain 4 yearly tournament.
After the game it made me wonder why don't SA play like that normally? They looked quite dangerous when they actually had a go and it must be abunditly clear that that's the only way they will catch up to, and possibly beat the ABs. In saying that, if they couldn't beat us at their fortress where we had only won 3 times, without Carter and Franks, where and when will they beat us?? I think we are going to continue to be the best in the world for a long, long time, regardless of the outcome of a certain 4 yearly tournament.
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and Habanna never has had and never will have a step like Ben Smith
Ben Smith definitely is not slow or slow compared to top tier wingers.
almost impossible to tell relative speeds of players in a rugby game.
Generally acceleration is more important that actual speed anyway
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Yup, I think that is a good example of what happens when people are a little biased towards players. There is no way Ben Smith is faster (or even close to being on par) than Habana! He has had a phenomenal year though!!
first5eight
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So would Barrett be faster than Le Roux being that he caught him from behind?
Barrett was faster than Le Roux at that moment in the game. At that stage Barrett had been on for about 25 mins, where-as Le Roux had played almost 80-mins of rugby. What I'm saying is that it very difficult to judge who is faster that who in a rugby game as it often depends on the situation. Personally I would probably back Barrett in a straight sprint over Le Roux (all things being equal), as Barrett is very quick for a 10!
Just a couple more quick thoughts on the game:
- It is hard to think of a better lock on the planet than Sam Whitelock. Etzebeth is an outstanding young talent too, and will certainly be among the top few locks in the world when he gets more experience (if he is not there already).
- Messam has his best game in black for me. Kaino certainly has his work cutout to get that 6 jersey back!
- Read is the best player on the planet (and has been for the last 2 seasons.....)
- Vermeulen was outstanding (again) at 8. I really wonder why it took so long for him to be given a Boks jersey (as he has been the best 8 in South Africa for at least 3 years in my opinion). Kolisi impressed me from the bench.
- Cruden was ok, but Barrett was outstanding.
- JdV was outstanding, really leading by example. Engelbrecht impressed too - his swerve to beat Savea was a think of beauty.
- Conrad Smith showed how much he will be missed when he takes his sabbatical at he end of year. Does he ever make a mistake?
- Habana was electric while he was on the field. It is amazing to think many had written him off a couple of seasons ago.
- Le Roux brings another dimension to South Africa's attack. However he is a liability on defense - scrum.com have him making 0/5 tackles
- Savea and Ben Smith were again dangerous on the wing, with Smith ruling air once again.
- Dagg showed some signs of life at fullback with ball in hand, and he was rock solid at the back.
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