“Tell you what. If Garcès didn't have a reason to be biased against the Springboks, he sure does now. "As jy dom is, moet jy kak. Idiots.” – Alex Tarr on Twitter referring to South Africans demanding that Garcès be Volume 19, Number 40 stopped from referencing South Africa vs Wales. 25 October 2019 Register to receive your own free weekly newsletter at www.rugbyrsa.co.za RWC: Springboks March into the Semifinals Prior to the game, some pundits were saying that "The host country applied such concerted pressure Japan was lucky to have made the World Cup quarter- that lesser teams would have wilted, but the try Japan finals and that they would be hammered by South desperately needed was denied by a dark green wall Africa. But quite frankly, that’s just bullshit probably that would not fracture.” founded on the sour grapes that found their way into the mouths of Irish and Scottish rugby fans. In his five talking points following the match, Sport24's Herman Mostert writes: “Japan looked The way they played, Japan thoroughly deserved dangerous at times in the first half, but eventually ran their place in the quarter-final and they gave a really out of puff against a staunch Springbok defence.” good account of themselves. Indeed, the Springboks However, what both reporters fail to mention is that led by a slender margin (5-3) at half-time because the South Africa butchered several opportunities in the Japanese attacked like demons and when called on first half, something that coach Rassie Erasmus the defend, tackled with the same intensity. blamed on nerves. But they simply weren’t able to break-down the Maybe, but we have a feeling that so much emphasis highly effective Springbok defensive pattern. And, as has gone into defence that the players have become was inevitable, the huge effort took its toll, allowing rusty on attack. But Rob Houwing blames Willie le South Africa to run away with it in the end (26-3). Roux,: “Boks in semi: Can they risk wonky Willie?” Perhaps The Guardian’s Paul Rees captured it best when he wrote in his match report: “It took South Africa, who won the Championship last summer, an hour to subdue the side who had defeated Ireland and Scotland to finish unbeaten at the head of their pool. “After conceding an early try when their attempt to hide their flyhalf, Yu Tamura, on the blindside of a Springboks scrum was detected by the scrum-half, Faf de Klerk, who wasted no time in firing a pass to Makazole Mapimpi on the left wing, they rallied. KEY TOPICS IN THIS NEWSLETTER RWC2019 Preview: Springboks vs Wales Strong Blitzbok Team for Chester Sevens How the All Blacks Beat the Springboks PRO14: Cheetahs Must Box Smart in Europe Consistency Remains Rassie’s Watchword The Complicated World of Scrum Defence Page 1 RWC2019: And Then There Were Four RWC2019 Preview: Springboks vs Wales We covered the quarter-final involving the Looking ahead to the coming weekend, there are two Springboks on page one so we’ll look at the other semi-finals to consider: England vs New Zealand on matches here. It began with one that nobody in this Saturday; and South Africa vs Wales on Sunday. newsroom wanted to watch: Australia vs England. Naturally, we’re focused on the second of those. Obviously, we can tell you what happened – the whingers beat the convicts 40-16 – but not how it Looking at the history (35 matches over more than happened. However, we did find a blow-by-blow 100 years), the first match between South Africa and match report – in the unlikely event that you’re Wales was in 1906 and Springboks reigned supreme actually interested in the detail. until a draw in Cardiff in 1970. But it was only in 1999 that Wales chalked up their first win. The second game on Saturday was Ireland vs New Zealand. That began with an Aaron Smith double, followed by tries for Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor. At the start of the final quarter, Matt Todd crossed to put the result beyond doubt and the score at 34-0. With only pride left to play for, Ireland chipped in with two converted tries – but not without response. Final score: 46-14. The curtain-raiser to the Springbok game on Sunday was France vs Wales. Much analysis beforehand focused on the French and wondering which team would turn up on the day. We didn’t have long to wait as they struck twice in the first ten minutes to The two sides have only met once at a World Cup: lead 12-0. Wales pulled one back but the French four years ago in a quarter-final stage won by the struck again to lead 19-10 at the break. Boks 23-19. The four matches since then were all won by Wales. Early in the second half, a red card ended the French challenge. At that point, France hadn’t added to their One of those four matches (Cardiff, 2017) was half-time tally and nor did they as Wales crept back officiated by the same person handling the semifinal to win 20-19 against the now 14-man French outfit. on Sunday: Jérôme Garcès. Social media erupted when the officials were announced and with good The best (amd most succinct) analysis we saw on reason, as we indicated weeks ago by highlighting an social media was from Darren Smith: “France were article by Sports24’s Garrin Lambley, which detaied awesome, Wales one-dimensional. But for the the Boks' shocking record under the French referee. stupidity of their red card, this was France’s game for the taking. They’d done the hard yards. #RWC2019“ Since then, the Springboks have added another to the loss column after losing to the All Blacks in their opening fixture at this World Cup. The record under Garcès now reads: played 15; won four; lost 11. WalesOnline Rugby reported earlier this week that angry South Africans are demanding that Jerome Garces be stopped from refereeing the semifinal. We liked the response of Alex Tarr on Twitter: “Tell you what. If Garces didn't have a reason to be biased against the Springboks, he sure does now. "As jy dom is, moet jy kak. Idiots.” Page 2 Page 3 How the All Blacks Beat the Springboks Consistency Remains Rassie’s Watchword In the world of sport, there are analysts and there are South African rugby fans are a weird lot: whether the Analysts. Those in the former category are a dime a Springboks win or lose, they always want to make dozen but the good ones, are priceless because they changes to the team for the next match. And those unpack the game at a level so deep that most fans changes are usually informed only by preferences aren’t even aware that it exists. inherited from the crazy provincialism of a bygone era. One of our favourites in this latter category – both for his unique insight into the game and the irreverent manner of his delivery via a YouTube channel – is Squidge Rugby. The timing this week is fortuitous because the Squidge [we don’t know his name – Ed] is Welsh and the Springboks face Wales on Sunday. But don’t be fooled by the title: yes, it is, eventually, about how the All Blacks beat the Springboks in Yokohama but in the process of getting there he examines the play of both sides, generally, and what Lions supporters [and most intelligent people – Ed] they seem to be trying to do. As such, it’s a foretaste will want Lions players while fans from Pretoria of what we can expect in the probable final next would be advocating Blue Bulls players. This week, week. Capetonian Zelim Nel insisted that three Western In this episode, Sqidge’s analysis of Springbok rugby Province players be brought in (or shifted) to cover under Rassie Erasmus comes to some rather startling holes he sees in the current strategy. – and fascinating – conclusions about what Whatever the coach does, it’s never good enough. instructions coach is giving to his players. There are also charges doing the rounds on social There’s a lot to digest in the video (which is just media calling Springbok rugby “boring”. I kid you under 11 minutes long) but two of the things that not. The Yellow Cap Tweeted a link to a piece this stood out for us were, firstly, that they play week headlined with a pointed question: “Do the differently in different parts of the field, and Springboks Need Some Spice?” secondly, the Boks have a license to play for short I’ll leave you to find out the answer to that question periods when they’re between the two 22m lines. by reading the short analysis. It’s highly informative But, if, after five – and its always five – phases of and ends with statistics that may surprise you if you play, nothing has worked out, they fall back on a think the Springbok game plan is boring or contestable box kick. ineffective. Do yourself a favour. Take the ten-odd minutes Take the current situation. It’s a World Cup and needed to watch it and do so. You’ll thank us South Africa are through to the semifinals, facing afterwards. Wales this Sunday. But from the outset it was clear that Rassie had his game plans and strategies worked out based on 23 of the players he took to Japan. The others were there largely to provide cover for injury or to be used when he felt a need to rest key players.