Please don't let that be my last game....

Game 1 of the 2010 Tri Nations Series got underway on the weekend, with what looked as if it was set to be a strong start from the Springboks, who charged down an early clearance kick by the All Black #9, Jimmy Cowan.

Just moments later though, things fell apart, when Springbok lock, Bakkies Botha, still angry at the fact that Cowan had held him back after the charge down, had an absolute brain explosion, and headbutted Cowan after the tackle.

The incident was missed by the referee, as well as his assistants, but the cameras caught Bakkies red handed, and the screens around the stadium showed it over and over again.

Later, the citing commissioner handed out a, deserved, 9 week ban to the Springbok lock, who will not be allowed to play any rugby until September.

Botha was, just minutes later, without warning, in what can only be described as the referee trying to make up for missing the headbutt, yellow carded for slowing down the All Black ball, 5m out from his own line

From that moment on, it seemed as if the Springboks were at 6′s and 7′s, confused, and somewhat afraid to get stuck in.
The All Blacks dominated every facet of the match. cutting the Springbok inside centre (#12) channel a number of times, where, as predicted, Wynand Olivier struggled to defend.

In fact, the All Blacks dominated the Springboks in every facet of play, except for the high amount of unforced errors by the All Blacks, which they will surely correct by the next match up.

Most shocking of all, the amount of missed tackles by the Springboks, 30 missed out of 128 made, giving the Springboks are dismal 23.5% miss rate.

The Highlights will tell the rest of the tale.

My two cents worth:

• Although Bakkies Botha was an idiot, and deserves the consequent ban, for him to have been yellow carded, after the fact, for a first infringement, was utter bullshit. That is not how refereeing works. It undermines the whole point of having a referee on the field. The All Blacks were guilty of the exact same infringement, minutes later, yet only received a penalty. If not consistency then what do we have?
• The Springboks were dismal. Hopefully they will regroup and realise that nothing is relative until tested in the Tri Nations, the true yard stick.
• Dick Muir needs to be fired with immediate effect. He proved in the Super 14, with the Lions, that he can’t coach if his life depended on it. The Springbok backline were almost non existent on the night, making it seem as if the All Blacks had 3 extra players on the outside.
• Which brings me to this point: Jean De Villiers may not be playing well, but you can’t judge his game from the wing. He is a #12 through and through. He is not a wing, he is not as quick as an international wing, nor does he turn like a wing should. He is a centre, a quality one, play him at #12, and then make a judgement.
• Which sort of brings me to this point: Jean De Villiers has been a defensive general for the Springboks in the past. Although Jaque Fourie has been superb in Super 14, one cannot have your defense organised from as far out as #13 in international rugby, and Wynand Olivier clearly can’t hack it in that role.
• The Springbok loose trio, and their forwards in general, were dominated by the All blacks on the day. I don’t however think it’s time to ring any alarm bells. This should pick up by the next outing.
• The All Blacks, although good on the day, should not read too much into this game. They were made to look much better by a, bad on the day, Springbok outfit.
• The Springbok coaching staff need to get their heads out of their asses, fast. Especially regarding the substitutions. What a joke. Enough is enough now!
• When a player who fulfills the role of the enforcer/fetcher etc. is yellow carded, they should be replaced directly thereafter, as they cannot further fulfill their role in that game, for fear of a subsequent red card. Simple really!

All Blacks VS Springboks 2010 Tri Nations: Game 1 – 10 July 2010 [WRNRugbyNews]

Substitutions:

All Blacks:

• 54:24 Min (Cowan off, Weepuon)
• 58:27 Min (Rokocoko off, Kahui on)
• 63:52 Min (O.Franks off, B.Franks on)
• 71:58 Min (Donnelly off, Whitelock on)
• 71:58 Min (Kaino off, Messam on)
• 78:35 Min (Mealamu off, Flynn on)

Springboks:

• 51:38 Min (Bakkies Botha off, Bekker on)
• 51:38 Min (Louw off, Rossouw on)
• 58:27 Min (du Plessis off, BJ Botha on)
• 70:18 Min (Steyn off, James on)
• 71:58 Min (Olivier off, Aplon on)
• 71:58 Min (Smit off, Ralepelle on)
• 78:35 Min (Januarie off, Pienaar on)

Scorecard:

All Blacks:

• Tries: Smith (19th min), Nonu (35th min), Read (57th min), Woodcock (80th min)
• Conversions: 3/4 (75%) Carter (3)
• Penalties: Carter (2)

Springboks:

• Penalties: Steyn (4)