Steyn scores his 1st test try

The 2nd test between the Springboks and the All Blacks began as one of landmarks and later, became one of records. John Smit became the most capped international captain of all time. Jean De Villiers and Brian Habana celebrated their 50th test caps. Mills Muliaina became the 4th most capped All Black of all time, tied with Tana Umaga. Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha became the most experienced 2nd row combination ever, with 49 tests together.

The records came in with Morne Steyn 1st breaking Jannie De Beer’s personal record against the All Blacks of 22 points in a sigle test. He then went on to break Andrew Mertens record of 29 points in a single Tri Nations test.

I have to admit, I was on the fence before the game as to whether the Springboks could pull of a second win in a row against the ‘mighty’ All Blacks. Boy was I pleasantly surprised with the resulting ass whipping handed out by the Springboks.

The All Blacks may not have been their best on the day, committing error after error, but lets not take anything away from the ‘Green Machine’. The Springboks where clinical in their suffocation of the All Black game. They chased up kicks with determination and skill, squeezing the life out of the usually brilliant All Black counter attack.

Aside from Morne Steyn’s incredible personal tally of  31 points, any number of Springboks could have been up for the man of the match title:

• Francois Steyn was solid at the back, his kicking out of hand punishing the All Black back three.
• Heinrich Brussow schooled Ritche McCaw for a second week in a row.
• Bismark Du Plessis continued to win turnovers.
• The Beast showed us his incredible strength in staying on his feet at the tackle.
• Pierre Spies performed well from the back of the scrum even when under pressure.
• JP Pietersen chased kicks with determination.
• Jaque Fourie keeps showing why he is arguably the best #13 in the world.
• Fourie Du Preez continues to be the central cog in the ‘Green Machine’.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the All Blacks either. I was having a look at the stats from the game. My mates over at Green and Gold Rugby, THE Aussie rugby blog, introduced me to a website called rugbystats.com.au. Go check it out, they deliver quite an in depth analysis of the match stats, allowing you to choose how you’d like it broken down. Even though Ritchie McCaw was shown up at the breakdown by the new kid on the block, Brussow, he still made a monumental 18 tackles, the most in the test. Sivivatu through his poor decision making and butter fingers managed to gain 80m through running with the ball and managed to offload 5 times in the tackle.

The All Black lineout is broken, someone needs to fix it.

Key Moments:

1st Half:

• 1st min: Stephen Donald fields a Frans Steyn bomb, knocking on in the tackle after Jaque Fourie catches him man and ball.
• 1st min: JP Pietersen just can’t manage to gather the cross kick.
• 2nd min: Jimmy Cowan’s clearance kick is charged down by Fourie Du Preez. Stephen Donald is forced to dot the ball.
• 3rd min: The Springboks lose the ball forward at the ruck. A scrum is awarded to the All Blacks.
• 4th min: The Springboks put pressure on the All Black scrum.
• 4th min: Morne Steyn hoists up a bomb, Mills Muliaina fields the kick he is tackled by JP Pietersen, who shows brilliant timing to catch him man and ball. A penalty is awarded to SA resulting in 3 points.
• 6th min: The Springboks are penalised for sealing the ball in the ruck, resulting in 3 points to the All Blacks.
• 11th min: Jaque Fourie just doesn’t manage to gather the cross kick from Morne Steyn.
• 11th min: McCaw fields the quick throw in, starting a movement that takes the All Blacks 80m up field, moving through the hands and resulting in Ross’ try.
• 14th min: McCaw blatantly plays the ball on the wrong side of the ruck resulting in 3 points to the Springboks. 
• 16th min: Donald misses the catch off the restart, JP Pietersen hacks the ball through resulting in a foot race between him and Rokocoko, who manages to get back in time. The ball is passed to Nonu, who is caught behind his own line, having to dot.
• 17th min: Jerome Kaino is warned for not binding at the scrum, resulting in a penalty and a subsequent 3 points to the Springboks.
• 28th min: JP Pietersen is sin binned for a reaction high tackle on Jimmy Cowan. (Who should thank the academy for his award winning performance)
• 30th min: Morne Steyn’schip kick doesn’t find touch. The All Blacks are caught a tad too casual with the possession.
• 31st min: Both teams put together a great passage of play. The All Blacks start becoming a bit desperate at the breakdown.
• 31st min: Isaac Ross blatantly plays the ball from an offside position, resulting in 3 points and a yellow card.
• 37th min: The ball pops out the side of the All Black scrum. Fourie Du Preez picks up and passes to Morne Steyn, who shows some good footwork to go over for his 1st international try.
• 41st min: Pierre Spies strips the ball off Muliaina in the tackle. Frans Steyn punts down field andthe chase is on. Conrad Smith gathers and passes to Sivivatu, who knocks the ball on. So’oialo picks the ball up from offsides, preventing a possible Springbok try, which should have resulted in a yellow card. 3 Points go the way of the Springboks.

2nd Half:

• 41st min: Sivivatu passes the ball straight into touch.
• 42nd min: Jaque Fourie intercepts a poor pass, the Springboks take the ball up and Bismark is taken into touch.
• 44th min: Juan Smith loses the ball 5m from the line. The All Blacks win a short arm penalty from the resulting scrum.
• 45th min: Weepu makes a terrible clearance as the All Blacks continue to put themselves under immense pressure.
• 48th min: The Springboks take the ball through 10 phases. Morne Steyn’s dropgoal attempt hits the post and Muliaina clears well.
• 50th min: The All Blacks counter attack well from their own 22m line. Bakkies Botha is sin bined for an early tackle/offsides, whichever (I thought Smith knocked on)
• 56th min: Brad Thorn is caught with his hands in te ruck resulting in 3 points to the Springboks.
• 61st min: Brian Habana tackles Muliaina man and ball.
• 62nd min: Luke McAllister goals a 54m penalty after taking the field.
• 64th min: Kevin Mealamu is caught with his hands in the ruck resulting in 3 points to the Springboks.
• 68th min: Bismark is penalised for clearing So’oialo off the ruck
• 73rd min: All Blacks are penalised for turning the scrum, 3 points to the Springboks.
• 78th min: January tackles Weepu, turning the ball over.
• 79th min: Weepu loses the ball forward at the ruck.
• 80th min: Brussow wins a penalty at the breakdown, Morne Steyn misses his 1st attempt at goal.

Here are the highlight, enjoy!