Last night’s victory over the team we most love to beat will be remembered for a long time.
We did not really expect any great cricket in the series, but yesterday’s match was an outstanding example of just how competitive South Africans and Australians really are.
In the past we earned the “right” to be called chokers, but last night, a team containing many new players put that one to bed. We will lose again, that is the nature of sport, but hopefully never again because we failed to believe in ourselves.
I thought Bobby was a bit optimistic last week when he predicted a 4-1 victory in the series for South Africa.
Following last night’s performance, I think he was rather pessimistic.
Springbok Revival?
The biggest challenge for a team facing the All Blacks is not so much the planning and training, as is getting the mindset right.
This week, Flo Louw and Jean de Villiers alluded to this in interviews, and one has to agree with their thinking.
If you are convinced before the match that you are going to lose, it is virtually impossible to go out there to prove yourself wrong. It is far easier, and much more motivational, to work hard to prove yourself right.
Die Springbokspan is nog nie aangekondig nie, maar daar sal beslis veranderinge wees. Hopelik sal dit tot die minimum beperk word om kontinuïteit te verseker, en op verlede naweek se momentum voort te bou.
As Damien de Allende wel gekies word, hoop ek hy snoer my mond. Tot dan sal ek bly glo dat Rohan Janse van Rensburg die man in die binnebaan moet wees.
In a radio interview in New Zealand, views were expressed that TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett would form the half back pairing with Kerr-Barlow on the bench.
Oi, how I wish we were that lucky to call on such reserves.
Another report from NZ reads:
The All Blacks are enjoying the fact they are in Durban, where they have not played since falling 31-19 to the Boks in 2009, a time where the Springboks were dominant and defeated them three times in one season on the way to the Tri Nations. Kieran Read (off the bench), Jerome Kaino and Owen Franks played in that match, and will not have forgotten.
Ongelukkig kan mens maar min moed kry hieruit, want daardie Bokspan is nie vandag s’n nie.
Kenners meen dat reën dalk ‘n gelykmaker kan wees. Enigeen wat al in Kiwiland was, sal jou kan verseker dat die All Blacks meer tuis in die reën is as in die son. Dit kan eerder teen die Bokke se wankelrige hanteerwek tel, as wat dit die All Blacks gaan benadeel.
Dan is daar natuurlik die aansporing vir die Kiwi’s om die eerste groot nasie te word om 18 wedstryde op ‘n streep te wen. Dit, saam met die nuus oor Aaron Smith, is die twee groot geselspunte in Nieu-Zeeland.
As mens in gedagte hou dat die All Blacks nie net liggaamlik nie, maar ook geestelik die res van die wêreld ver voor is, dan sal hierdie uitdaging nie ‘n struikelblok wees nie.
Inteendeel.
Maar ek sal maar Saterdag weer my truitjie trots dra, die skeidsregter uitskel, en nabetragting hou langs my vuurtjie, met ‘n glasie van die beste rooi medisyne hier uit my eie tuisland totdat die rump net mooi medium-rare is. Dalk ook ‘n stukkie hoender vir slaai, en ‘n braaibroodjie of twee.
My hond is baie lief vir slaai.
Soos Frank Sinatra gesing het: “They can’t take that away from me.”
Engelse vertaling van dir Haka – “Bloody Hell mguys – look at those ferocious monsters over there – Fl3exyour biceps, and forearma; and stamp your feet – it might scare them off – Stick out your tongues like naughty kids, and brace yourselves, if this does not work”