“FROM A SOUTH African perspective it wasn’t inspiring or particularly pleasing on the eye.”
While we in Ireland lauded Joe Schmidt and his side for an excellent performance last night in Dublin, the analysis from the home of the Springboks has been understandably negative so far.
Writing for SARugbyMag.co.za, experienced rugby journalist Mark Keohane is complimentary towards the home team in a piece entitled ‘Awful night for the Boks’.
“First up, compliments to the Irish,” writes Keohane. “They were good, without being outstanding. But on this particular night, good was still enough to secure a fourth win in Dublin from the last six Springbok visits.
“Ireland were the better side on attack and in defence and they were the more intelligent in playing field position, territory and in playing the game in the right areas.
Keohane then cuts into South Africa for their shortcomings.
“They failed to hold onto the ball, did not impose themselves in the contact areas and emphatically lost the tactical battle. Jean de Villiers and the core of the match 23 were underdone in terms of not having had a game since the last-minute win against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
“De Villiers in the buildup described this as the Springboks’ most important game of the year. In that context, it was then their darkest Saturday in the year.”
Paul O’Connell and Robbie Henshaw combine to win possession from Marcel Coetzee. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Writing for the same publication, Jon Cardinelli argued against the selection of Johnny Sexton as man of the match. His piece bemoaned the lack of composure from South Africa’s halfbacks, Francois Hougaard and Handré Pollard.
“I was surprised to see that Jonny Sexton won the official Man of the Match award,” writes Cardinelli in an article headlined ‘Halfback horror brings Boks low.’
In contrast to the coverage of Ireland’s performance on home soil, Cardinelli felt that the Boks had been beaten by an “ordinary” side.
“The performance served up at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday was one of the worst of the 2014 season,” says Cardinelli. “Physical intent, defensive organisation, tactical intelligence, decision-making … the Boks were found wanting in all departments.
“And against whom? A second-rate Ireland missing the bulk of their first-choice players. Heyneke Meyer may try to spin this as a wake-up call, as a valuable lesson a year out from the World Cup. But if this contest was to be viewed in isolation, one would have to say that Ireland were ordinary, and the Boks were just plain awful.”