Best Boks vs New Zealand I: Wiese Shines On Dark Day

Jasper Wiese’s tour de force was in vain as the Springboks crashed to a 33-16 loss to the All Blacks in the opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

After a week of peak mind games from both management teams, words gave way to action when the biggest match of the year – and first traditional tour Test between the arch-rivals in three decades – kicked off.

As expected, it was the sheer power and brute force of the Boks against the skillful efficiency of the Kiwis.

The hosts landed the big hits from the get-go, force-feeding the visitors a bitter cocktail of barnstorming carries – including replacement Andre Esterhuizen steamrolling Josh Moorby to score South Africa’s first try – bone-crushing tackles, and scrum dominance.

The All Blacks countered with a superior conversion rate, cashing in both of their scoring opportunities in the first half. Both were scored by their wingers, Will Jordan and Moorby, and both were created by phenomenal passes, the first a bullet ball by Cam Roigard, and the second an outstanding offload by Tupou Vaa’i.

The first of two massive scrum penalties saw Cheslin Kolbe, the surprise place-kicker, slot a third successful kick at goal to edge the Boks ahead 13-12, which it remained going into the break.

The Boks had dominated the second quarter but failed to make it count on the scoreboard because of a mix of costly mistakes in the red zone and gutsy All Blacks defence, which included a try-saving intervention from Jordie Barrett on Malcolm Marx.

Given the state of affairs, Ardie Savea and company looked in for a tough second half, but in a cruel twist of fate for the double world champions and their supporters, it was the Boks who endured a nightmare second 40. Their only points of the period, a third Kolbe three-pointer, came in the 47th minute following another overwhelming scrum.

It was all downhill from there for the men in Green and Gold, who may have flexed their muscles, but they lacked the requisite finishing touches. All the big moments were won by the All Blacks, whose grit was matched by their opportunism and striking ability.

The New Zealanders ran in three second-half tries through Fabien Holland, Luke Jacobson and Man of the Match Jordan to romp to an emphatic victory against a wasteful Bok side who finished the game with 13 men after replacements Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were yellow-carded in quick succession.

Our top three Springbok standouts were:

Jasper Wiese

In the press conference following the Boks’ 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires a fortnight ago, Rassie Erasmus congratulated Cameron Hanekom on his Man of the Match award but stressed that Wiese was his clear first-choice No. 8.

On Saturday, Wiese showed why as the shining light on a disastrously dark day for South Africa. The older of the two Wiese brothers is the quintessential Bok eighthman – a brute of a man who runs hard and straight in a merciless manner.

The 30-year-old was a runaway freight train whose post-contact metres (around the 50 range) were unheard of. For many Bok supporters, watching a behemoth wreak havoc is as beautiful as a nifty back stepping a defender (more on that later), and Wiese’s carrying on the night was like something out of a video game.

He was wickedly physical in defence, as well, and also won a breakdown penalty early on. For what he put his body through, it’s a shame how things turned out.

Cheslin Kolbe

Like one of those little Swiss Army knives you can carry in your pocket, the Boks’ pre-eminent pocket rocket did it all.

Known for his unpredictability, Erasmus sprung a surprise on the night by opting for Kolbe as the goal-kicker ahead of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and the winger delivered for coach and country, nailing all four of his kicks (three penalties and a conversion) for 11 points.

Excellent in open play as well, he left Jacobson for dead with his dancing shoes, retained two Bok bombs in the air, and forced a turnover with a dominant hit on Ruben Love. It was a big blow for the Boks when he limped off in the 58th minute.

Ox Nche

Back from a two-month injury-enforced absence, Nche returned with a vengeance.

“The Cake Boss” had clearly worked up an appetite during his time on the sidelines as he sank his teeth into the Kiwis in the set pieces and in open play.

The first heavyweight punch he threw came in the form of a huge hit on opposite number Ethan de Groot, while he almost broke Damian McKenzie in half later on.

Along with Marx and Wilco Louw (who was also dominant but conceded two penalties in general play), the explosive loosehead took the All Blacks to a dark place in the scrums, winning a couple of penalties in the process, before signing off with a memorable carry in the 45th minute.