Magic moment: Centres prove Boks have X factor

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In the next instalment of a series looking at memorable moments from 2021, MARIETTE ADAMS remembers the incredible skill of Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am in the lead-up to Damian de Allende’s try against the All Blacks.

The Springboks followed their 2019 Rugby Championship and World Cup triumphs by claiming a thrilling 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town.

However, plenty of coverage from the UK media corps had been far from complimentary about how the Springboks went about winning their titles, criticising the team’s kick-oriented, forwards-based approach.

“It’s easy to see the All Blacks as the sport’s saviour against the muscular conservatism of the Springboks; I hate to see how they are stripping the international game back to its barest essential,” former B&I Lions and England flyhalf Stuart Barnes wrote in a column.

Clive Woodward went a step further by stating that the Boks will kill Test rugby: “I looked on in horror last weekend at the sheer poverty and boredom from the South Africa team. Rugby was not – and is not – meant to be played like that and it should worry everyone involved in the sport that rugby is going down that route. It will be dead in five years if it does.”

When the focus shifted to the Rugby Championship, New Zealanders joined the Bok-bashing brigade, with even All Blacks head coach Ian Foster telling the world that watching South Africa had “put him to sleep”.

New Zealand-based rugby writer Mark Reason said the All Blacks must save Test rugby from the Boks: “Thanks heavens for the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby. Over in South Africa,  the Bore Boks’ method allows for no expansion and that’s a problem. It’s killing the game.”

Fast forward to the first Rugby Championship fixture between the two sides, and the Springboks came within two minutes of beating the ‘saviours’ of Test rugby with both sides scoring just one try each. It took a late penalty from Jordie Barrett to see off the Boks and hand New Zealand a 19-17 victory.

If that resilient performance didn’t quieten their critics, the Boks produced another stunning display against the same opposition a week later to claim a thrilling 31-29 victory and silence their naysayers in the best way possible.

Wanting to dictate the pace of the game, the All Blacks made their intention clear by running the ball from deep in the early stages, forcing the Springboks to make tackle after after tackle. When South Africa finally had an attacking lineout, they recycled possession well to get over the gainline, but two phases in, Akira Ioane tackled Siya Kolisi and with the Boks reacting a little late at the breakdown, Ardie Savea pounced and brilliantly turned the ball over.

With the Springbok defence not yet set, New Zealand scrumhalf Brad Weber sent the ball wide as they looked to launch a counter-attack from inside the 22. Spotting that they had an overlap on the left, David Havili – who was at first receiver – threw a floated skip pass to Codie Taylor, but the hooker dropped the ball in centre field making a costly mistake. In trying to reclaim possession, Taylor and flyhalf Beauden Barrett collided and that was the only opening Am needed.

No sooner had the Bok centre secured possession on the ground when he was back on his feet to run at the disjointed New Zealand defence. With three defenders homing in on him, Am instinctively executed the most perfect behind-the-back, no-look flick to wing Sbu Nkosi, who in return cleverly delayed his final pass to De Allende by a fraction to draw in the last defender. When the ball eventually came to De Allende, he took it in his stride and slid in to score a scintillating opening try.

A try so good and clinically executed by the ‘Bore Boks’, that one New Zealand commentator said: “It’s the razzle dazzle we never expected from the Springboks, but there it is. What a try from the Bokke.”

What a try indeed.

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