Another loss to the All Blacks in Townsville from a poor kicking game from the Boks.
The world champion Springboks stuck with their kicking game, despite being on a three-match losing streak.
It followed back-to-back losses to Australia, but Nienaber maintained their relentless kicking game was working even if it meant handing possession back to the opposition. However, the kicking game didn’t work and now the Springboks are on a 3 match losing streak.
Captain, Siya Kolisi gave us one of his stand out performances and lead by an example. Even as critics poured scorn on the Springboks’ dull tactics against the All Blacks, Jacques Nienaber remained unrepentant.
If Jordie Barrett hadn’t kicked a long-range penalty to give the All Blacks a 19-17 victory, Nienaber could have had a go at his detractors by saying the scoreboard was proof of why he must stick to his kick-heavy game plan.
But the Springboks lost. Not only that, they refuse to deviate from a strategy widely regarded as predictable, boring and a blight on the sport at international level.
The numbers tell the story: the Springboks kicked the ball 38 times to the All Blacks’ 18, while passing the pill just 65 times in comparison to the 141 transfers by the Kiwis.
While the reluctance to play an attacking game earned the Springboks a 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions in the Republic earlier this year, it has become its Achilles heel against the southern hemisphere heavyweights.
The sight of halfback de Klerk still kicking when the Springboks needed points in the dying minutes was confirmation they weren’t prepared to trust their backline.
The All Blacks won’t be fooling themselves. They know nothing will change for the re-match on the Gold Coast next weekend.
Hollywoodbets have the Kiwis as 1/4 favourites, the Springboks at 3/1 and if you feeling lucky a draw at 25/1.
My Goat Sports 