'That was a statement': Kiwi says sorry to South Africans
SPOTLIGHT: Former Crusaders scrumhalf Bryn Hall admitted that he got it wrong by underestimating the Springboks ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Pretoria last weekend.
There was a huge spotlight on the Boks’ decision to split their squad for the opening two rounds of the tournament with an experienced group of players leaving for New Zealand a few days ahead of the Wallabies Test.
A lot of fans and pundits were predicting a tricky and tough outing for Jacques Nienaber’s side with a number of players getting a rare opportunity to show their worth and some unfamiliar combinations.
However, the Springboks smashed Eddie Jones’ side 43-12, which raised some eyebrows.
The panel on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod were part of the chorus predicting a much tighter encounter at Loftus Versfeld.
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“I probably actually want to apologise to our South African viewers,” said Hall.
“For me personally, I didn’t think they were going to be that dominant.
“The variety of the way they scored is something that I enjoyed. We know that they are going to be able to go to set-piece dominance, they got a line-out maul try which is going to be their stock-standard play. They did the front peel which is something that’s obviously a bit of variety.
“And I think even [Kurt-Lee] Arendse’s third try, they just folded around the corner, quick ball and then they saw an opportunity, a two on one, [Lukhanyo] Am puts him away.
“Then I think it was in the 75th minute, [Pieter-Steph] Du Toit’s try. That was just kind of a statement for me, they just beat them into submission. They just went around the corner, in the 22 area, big men, going in low, going around the corner and Du Toit just pops it over, just like that.”
Former All Black hooker James Parsons was also surprised by what he saw in Pretoria.
“I don’t want to use the word ‘B team’, but it was guys getting an opportunity,” said Parsons.
“Maybe it is because they are not in Super Rugby, I am not watching these players regularly as I once was, but man they have got some depth.
“It is kind of scary.
“Last week, we were sort of waxing lyrical about France and Ireland, but they [Boks] put out a side full of opportunity and you are giving your big dogs a week over here.”
Additional source: @RugbyPass
