It is only a few hours before kick-off in the biggest Test Match of the Year for the Men in All Black… well, since last week, anyway.
Outside of my window, a couple of hours north of the Capital, it is raining wet, not men, with conditions in Wellington further south… literally, as they also have a steady breeze to cope with… No surprise there goes the stereotyping humourist!
After last weeks humiliation for the Springbok, what we believe will take place this Saturday night on the Rugby fields of Wellington, evokes images of gladiatorial men, pugilists and all, about to inflict mayhem on each other, as this night can not suffer a defeat for the Bokke, who will put life and limb on the line for this shot at rugbying redemption.
If such sounds too much for a rugby-head… you may be right.
Given the hype is about to end, as reality takes over, what will unfold on this night.
One would think the South Africans will leave the soft touch from last week to the masseurs, as their commitment levels head north. Matfield has talked this week about disrupting the All Black gameplan, given what they viewed last week in Auckland. What this means in practice is that the Boks will look to enforce their traditional play into dominance, giving the All Blacks, no time, no space, and therefore, no opportunity to execute, with the pressure creating errors and scoring opportunities for the voracious Bokke.
Therefore, it will be war at the breakdown, combined with a week’s renewal in the rushing defense, a return to normality in the line-out, parity in the scrums, while sending the ball into the night sky’s for any Ranger to carouse, these Boks will seek to put their international blow-torch onto and into the All Black Psyche. Given the conditions, matched with these ideas, this simplistic game-plan, would seem to further encourage the visitors onward.
What’s an All Black to-do?
Given the likelihood that the South African avatars will not turn up again this week, with the conditions that are making themselves far too at home, I would like to see the All Black brains trust adopt a more conservative game-plan. I would like to see Dan Carter kick for field position when in his own half regularly, and I would like to see us gain discernible dominance up front, before we pass the buck. This is not to say that we should not merely keep the ball up the jumper, and not use the ball if there are clear opportunities, but it is to say that we should allow these to come to us more than what we may do when conditions are like Eden-like, in Auckland, last week.
Will the All Blacks follow this blogging lead?
If history is to speak, there has been an intolerance for dissent with recent game-plans, with a belief that a given game-plan will prevail in the end. This has been discouraged by last season’s game-plan travails, with the coaches recently talking about playing too much rugby. Therefore, I think they will encourage the players to err on the side of wisdom, but how this outworks itself on the night, when this group of players, hardwired for attack, takeover, one can only pontificate, but Carter once again will be definitive in making reality, one way or the other!
The final result?
Although we put too much worth on one performance, if the All Blacks continue with their belligerent mindset to put their mark on the game, which is matched with their on-field execution, in light of the conditions, a scoreline of 19-12 OR 22-12 to the All Blacks would seem to reflect the conditions and context.
However, in saying this, I am happy if the All Blacks really turn it on!
What say you?
Until Next Time
iamjonnyking
P.S. Don’t forget the Ref. While last week’s was prone to Looney-Tunes moments… Lewis… Rolland has proved capable with both sides happy… for now. He should encourage positive play, which should suit the Blacks!
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