The Springboks had the All Blacks on the ropes at Ellis Park before a crucial scrum penalty transformed the opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane believes the decisive moment came midway through the second half, when the Boks had won three successive scrum penalties 5m from the All Blacks’ tryline and appeared poised to turn their overwhelming set-piece dominance into points.
“One scrum call changed the complexion of a Test match in which the All Blacks looked buried,” he writes.
South Africa opted for another scrum, but a lengthy delay while Eben Etzebeth changed his boots stalled their momentum. This time the penalty went New Zealand’s way, allowing the visitors to escape their own 22, gain field position and wrestle control of the contest from the Boks.
ALSO: ‘Clever’ All Blacks tactic caught Boks off-guard
Keohane says the Boks’ problem was not a lack of power but their failure to translate it into points. They entered the All Blacks’ 22 on 12 occasions yet managed only one try, with several opportunities squandered through handling errors.
“The Boks brought the power but they did not have any precision. The latter was in abundance among these brave All Blacks.”
Instead of fading at altitude, the All Blacks grew stronger. Ardie Savea, Cam Roigard and Will Jordan were influential as New Zealand dominated the final quarter 21-0, while the Boks finished with 13 men and suffered a 33-16 defeat.
MORE: Proud Rennie wary of Bok response
For Keohane, New Zealand’s hand speed, game management and resilience ultimately prevailed in the much-hyped clash of contrasting styles.
“People, we have a Test series on our hands,” he writes. “Buckle in. It is going to get even more brutal than at Ellis Park and even more beautiful for the purist.”
FULL COLUMN
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post One scrum turned the Test appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks had the All Blacks on the ropes at Ellis Park before a crucial scrum penalty transformed the opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, writes @mark_keohane
The post One scrum turned the Test appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
