Belief integral to Bok win
rugby365.com columnist Grant Ball says the Springboks are making it a welcome habit of winning close games, just like great sides of the recent past.
Although Peter de Villiers won’t acknowledge it, the Boks were fortunate to seal a victory against Wales. Both sides benefitted from some slices of luck and some refereeing calls that were missed (that’s the nature of the game), but again it was the Welsh who were left ruing what could have been.
Wales dominated most of the match and looked the more dangerous unit, while the Boks only produced a five-minute patch in the second half where they resembled a decent attacking side. Wales adapted to the new law interpretations and tried to keep ball in hand as they knew they would be able to place the Bok defensive line under pressure, while the Boks again favoured their kick/chase and one-pass strategy on attack.
All the stats favour Wales as they controlled possession (they made 180 runs compared to 93 by the Boks) and only kicked 31 percent of their possession compared to 38 percent by the visitors. Tellingly, Wales kept the ball for 10 or more phases on five occasions, while the Boks could only manage that once.
Despite Wales’ dominance and the lacklustre Bok display, the scoreboard still reads 29-25 to the Boks and the record books won’t tell the story that Wales were unlucky. The only stat that counts is the scoreline.
The Welsh media will lament the loss and say what should have been if there was any justice from the rugby gods, just like the British and Irish press did after the second Lions Test last year. The Welsh have blamed referee Steve Walsh, but those two internationals highlight the key characteristics of this Bok side and exposed what’s lacking from the Dragons – the belief to clinch the result.
Under Peter de Villiers the Boks have regressed or stagnated, at best, and have failed to deliver on the Bok coach’s promise to play a more attacking game – many stats show they’re now more defensive-minded than they were from 2004-2007 – but the core leadership group of players refuse to lie down. Tests such as this one in Cardiff and Loftus last year, highlight how the players have the belief and confidence to win in almost any situation, due to the familiarity of being together for an extended period and having claimed most trophies there are to win (the only notable omission on Victor Matfield’s CV is winning the Grand Slam).
The Wallabies of the early part of this decade also made a habit of breaking New Zealand hearts. The World Cup-holders beat the All Blacks 24-23 in Wellington via the last-act penalty kick from John Eales, and did it again a year later when Toutai Kefu scored in the final minute. Stirling Mortlock also did it to the Boks in 2000, when his last minute penalty inflicted a loss on the Boks.
The Boks also “robbed” the All Blacks in 1998, where they trailed 23-5 with just 12 minutes remaining, but late tries saw them steal the win by one point.
The current crop of Boks have that poise necessary to seal close games. While Bok supporters will take whatever wins come their way after a dire last 12 months, they will rightly question when they will get that complete, convincing performance, and not scratchy wins such as Saturday’s. With the greatest players in the world they would’ve hoped the Boks would dominate world rugby over an extended period, but unfortunately from a South African perspective, that hasn’t happened despite their ability win the tight ones.
Grant Ball writes for rugbyxv.co.za
