All Blacks fumble chance to take lead

All Blacks v Springboks

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Reuters Zoom

Jaque Fourie of South Africa scores a try.

Springboks overpower All Blacks

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Playing at 1400m above sea level can make a player's lungs burn, his legs turn to rubber and his head spin.

Operating in such conditions with a snarling pack of Springboks forwards determined to jump on anything within a 5m radius of the ball adds to the misery, but the All Blacks knew there was little point in blaming the altitude or short turnaround following last weekend's win as an excuse for their 28-19 defeat at Vodacom Park yesterday morning.

Although the New Zealanders could have still salvaged a win having trailed 17-3 early in the second half they clawed their way back to within four points that result would not have been a fair reflection of their performance.

The All Blacks lineout struggled against a monstrous line-up of Springboks in Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies, the scrum was dusty at times, they were unable to gain any ascendancy at the breakdown, and, most surprisingly, they were unable to replicate the previous weekend's clinical effort of taking the high ball in the air.

Unlike the Springboks, who were content to stick to a conservative game plan of keeping the ball close to their pack or kicking downfield, the All Blacks tried to move the ball but were often unable to gather any momentum because they were often penalised at the rucks, lost the ball in the tackle or handling and passing let them down.

Had first five-eighth Ruan Pienaar not missed three penalties and a conversion before he was replaced at halftime, this could have been a rout.

That the All Blacks were able to fight back to 16-20 midway through the second spell at a time when many teams would start to fade as effects of the altitude and the jet lag began to take their toll is a testament to their fortitude but, tellingly, it was the fumbles and wild passes that eventually cost them.

Having advanced downfield to put themselves in an attacking position, they dithered at a ruck and when replacement halfback Piri Weepu eventually decided to pass the ball he tossed a dud to replacement lock Jason Eaton who lost the ball and it was hacked downfield by Pierre Spies.

From there the match was lost; Weepu raced back to re-gather and promptly fired another fizzer this time to Richie McCaw who had no show of grabbing the ball and Juan Smith hoovered up the ball before firing it to Jaque Fourie had dived over in the corner.

The 37,081-strong crowd, most of them Free Staters who had spent the afternoon tanking themselves up on beer and tucker from their braais, went beserk.

Now changes will have to be made for the second Tri-Nations test in Durban.

Halfback Brendon Leonard will not survive the cull; the Waikato man has battled to rediscover his form from the Super 14 and his loose passing will mean Jimmy Cowan or Weepu should start next weekend.

Weepu, too, would have been disappointed with his errors that led to Fourie's try and question marks remain over No8 Rodney So'oialo who is battling to regain the form of previous seasons after his layoff following the Hurricanes' Super 14 semifinal. Kieran Read could be a shot to start in Durban.

Battle fatigue is also likely to be taken into consideration when coach Graham Henry considers his stating side and rake Andrew Hore may be switched with Keven Mealamu.

The Springboks' forwards were outstanding, their driving mauls having the All Blacks flummoxed and the pick of the bunch were rake Bismark du Plessis and foraging flanker Heinrich Brussow. Halfback Fourie du Preez's tactical kicking and leadership ensured he was the best of the backs and the relative anonymity of left wing Bryan Habana confirms just how conservative the Boks were.