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Handling errors pose All Black questions as unlucky Springboks run out of steam

The All Blacks may be heading for rugby's Tri-Nations title, but their victory over South Africa suggests there's still a lot of work to be done before the World Cup

by Scott Donaldson on 16 July 2007

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Pedrie Wannenburg: Unfortunate to be sin-binned (Gettyimages.com)

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The All Blacks may have won by 33-6, but the scoreline was the only thing that flattered them in Saturday's Tri-Nations clash with South Africa. An increasing amount of handling errors, a lack of cohesion in the backs with plenty of lateral ball movement and poor passing gives the New Zealanders plenty to work on.

The second-string Springboks defended stoutly, putting pressure on the All Blacks and it could have been so much closer had flanker Pedrie Wannenburg not been sin-binned for a similar offence to one that All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw was merely penalised for. The Springboks again ran out of steam in the final ten minutes after the period of only 14 men took its toll.

It is amazing how a top-level team like the All Blacks can make an average of 15 handling errors per game. Is this a result of their high-risk offloading game or poor catching technique? The other feature for the first 69 minutes of this game was the static backline play, with Isaiah Toeava often guilty of cramping his outside backs for space. These dangerous ball runners were negated easily because of the constant lateral running and passing behind their team-mates which so often occurred. These skills should be second nature to players at this level.

'It is amazing how a top-level team like the All Blacks can make an average of 15 handling errors per game. Is this a result of their high-risk offloading game or poor catching technique?'

After this game I watched some National Rugby League action and there was so much more room for attackers and plenty of tries on offer. The passing of the ball into space and the running angles are beautiful in League, though the rules do give them more room to do so. The scrums in Rugby League are little more than a means of restarting play and mean the ball is in play far longer than in Union at the moment. The sooner the new Union rules come into place the better as far as I am concerned.

This lack of ability from the All Blacks to penetrate a second-tier Springboks is concerning. They only really cut loose at the very end and many would argue this only occurred with the help of the sin-binning of Wannenburg. The penalties were even and surely this means that both Wannenburg and McCaw deserved the same punishment from the referee for identical infringements. I personally think Wannenburg was hard done by.

While the All Blacks struggled in attack, they were only going to concede penalty kicks as the Springboks never really threatened to score a try. The All Blacks made a multitude of line breaks, but just couldn't put the plucky Sout Africans away. The Springboks on offence did have the ability to score penalties although it was often from halfway as they didn't have the same territory domination of the All Blacks.

Personally I was impressed by the impact of Nick Evans and Brendan Leonard. They have had few opportunities in recent times and Evans should've came off the bench in Melbourne when the All Blacks lost to Australia. He is an amazing player and would surely start for any other country either at first five-eighth or fullback. He hasn't played fullback since 2004, but this is the string to his bow which makes him such a valuable player for the All Blacks.

In summary, Wannenburg was unlucky to be sin-binned and this undoubtedly cost the Springboks plenty. I still believe that despite this and the mounting handling and passing errors, the All Blacks would have won but not by so many, as the Springboks never really threatened to score any tries themselves.

Comments (4)

by John Christie on July 16, 2007

The AB machine will come right! When those passes stick and the timing improves - some team is going to get a hiding. I sincerely hope it is Australia - due to their boasting :)

by Agnetha on July 16, 2007

Were both captains not warned of slowing the ball down at the moment of Richie's penalty? Is it not rule that when the ref has to "warn" the team at fault again he may reach for his yellow card? Just a question of interest. PS! I hope that it is Australia as well - to get that hiding that is. Good looking out John :)

by Tui Tumeke on July 17, 2007

Yes there were dropped ball, and passing errors, but does this speak more of the All Blacks inability to finish off opportunities or the Boks ability to spoil rather than create for themselves. I for one believe that the Boks succeeded in reducing the ABs options by racing up out wide (more often than not offside a la Breyton Paulse) and forcing the ABs to either kick for territory or turn the ball inside to the forwards. Not a bad ploy when you consider the ABs strengths are mobility, use of quick ball and exploiting unsettled defences. This enabled the Boks to play to their strengths, and limit the ABs natural game. Any thoughts of an open expansive game went out the window when Hougaard was named the 10. That’s what makes the AB v Wallabies decider all the more intriguing. Two teams prepared to play an open expansive game.

by John christie on July 17, 2007

The thing about the AB attack seems to be that once the attack gets momentum the whole team can be phenomenal -so maybe we'll see the attack vary ie start a little deeper using the the full backs and wingers (I believe the AB's are holding back here)? or maybe start more from the half back breaking through (they're all chosen for it) then if the opposition mid field backs are up close the AB backs will go straight through them and have a clear advantage in support.