Ben Smith's take on Springboks ahead of Eden Park showdown
OPINION: We keep getting told that the Springboks always win when it matters. And it doesn’t matter how; they just win. And who can argue with that?
From overcoming a 25-19 deficit against France at Stade de France in the quarterfinal, to overcoming an even bigger deficit in the semifinal against England, to beating a team down to 14 men for the majority of the Rugby World Cup final. They won them all by one point two years ago. They were crowned a team of destiny by the scribes.
Since then, they have been on a historic run, reaching new heights in 2024 with their first full Rugby Championship title and going 11-2 in the calendar year. They finally proved they could win outside of Rugby World Cups.
Last year, they came back from 17-27 against the All Blacks at Ellis Park to register a four-point win, 31-27. They completed the double in Cape Town over the All Blacks the next week. Their winning streak over New Zealand is now four in a row. Four in a row.
In 2023, they won two red-card contests, one at Twickenham and the main one at Stade de France. No one beats the Springboks with a man down, and few teams can do it with a full complement of players.
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We’ve learnt that it is in the Springboks’ DNA to win when it counts. If they lose, it was likely due to experimenting or a non-important Test match, like the opening game of the 2025 Rugby Championship.
The Boks wanted to please the fans with a new style and they knew they could afford to throw one game away. They came back the next week and took care of business when it mattered. The Wallabies’ loss wasn’t important. Not like the Eden Park Test, they are fully zoned in on that.
There’s not much else left to do now but go around the monopoly board and collect William Webb Ellis trophies every four years, but this is high on the list. The chance to end the fabled Eden Park winning streak held by the All Blacks. How good would that look on the Springboks’ CV.
And they will do it. Because it matters, and they have a mortgage on winning when it matters. They have destiny on their side, which aided them through the 2023 Rugby World Cup. They are practically a divine team. Just watch the Bongi Mbonambi try from last year. Only a blessing from the rugby Gods could have allowed that.
The experience of their double World Cup-winning side is a huge advantage. They’ve got Handre Pollard pulling the strings, a veteran No.10 who can do no wrong and can’t miss a kick. Get penalised anywhere in your half and it’s automatically three points to the Boks.
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Polly is talked about as the greatest 10 of all time now. He’s a game-managing genius. After their aerial catastrophe in Buenos Aires, Pollard will be licking his chops at the chance to bomb the All Blacks’ fumbling backfield.
The double World Cup-winning pack will go 6-2 or 7-1 and manhandle the All Black pack. Did you see how Pablo Matera just coasted past the All Blacks’ loosies from the scrum on Argentina’s second-half try?
Jasper Weise will be eating metres up before running directly over Damian McKenzie. Or Kwagga. Or Eskom. There’s plenty of options to choose from and any one of them can do it when a lock is playing on the blindside.
At the line-out, South Africa’s lock factory will dominate. You’ve got a Dutchman now? That’s cute. Etzebeth, De Jager, Mostert, Snyman, even Nortje. This is next-level aerial supremacy. Even Pieter-Steph du Toit can play lock if they need, such is the embarrassment of riches.
This is the greatest collection of forward talent the game has ever seen and the All Blacks are blessed to be in their presence and see it up close. When they are folding the black scrum in half, only then will they really appreciate it.
Out wide, the scrum cap mafia will run rings around washed Rieko and Sevu Reece. Kolbe and Arendse will be flipping a coin for who gets the No.14 jersey at Eden Park, because whoever does, will be having a big night. Ioane can’t jump, doesn’t want to catch the ball, and can’t catch either of these two. It’s a serious mismatch.
The most capped Springbok midfield of all-time picks itself. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel. While the All Blacks can’t even find one guy who can play 13 at international level. It’s another advantage to the Boks.
Set-piece, Boks. Goal kicking, Boks. Game management, Boks. Physicality, Boks. Everywhere you look, it’s advantage Boks.
Here’s a toast to the Springboks before making Eden Park history.
History?! What history? That k*k doesn’t matter.
@RugbyPass
