What is the enduring image of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series? The Springboks put the exclamation mark on their status as World Cup favourites by wrapping up the series 3-1 with victory in Baltimore on Saturday, but in months and years to come where will the mind immediately go when reflecting on this epic? The reality is that after four Tests of remarkable intensity – a brutal reminder of the levels required to compete with the two biggest beasts in the world game – there are plenty.
But it is hard to look beyond the 65th minute of the third Test in Soweto, when the Boks’ tank rumbled over from 20 metres. Malcolm Marx was awarded the try and there would be no more deserving recipient of a player of the series award. The beauty of series such as these is that narratives build as they go.
RGR’s pitted South African thunder against All Black lightning, and Marx’s rumble was devastating. The third Test was soon wrapped up, South Africa had taken a 2-1 lead with the Baltimore Test to play and New Zealand’s spirit was finally broken. Before the series started, we wondered if South Africa might take the All Blacks on at their own game – but after losing the first Test in Johannesburg the Boks narrowed their focus and bulldozed their way back, showcasing their unrivalled power and their dominant set piece.
For there was a series within a series, and the Springboks dare not lose the best-of-three contest on South African soil. In the Land of the Free, in the city that gave us the Star-Spangled Banner, they proceeded to cast the shackles off and demonstrate they can play a bit too. It was evident after all of 20 seconds when Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu sparked a running move when receiving kick-off, and it was clear given South Africa’s willingness to offload throughout.
The 43-28 scoreline flattered South Africa a touch, but New Zealand were out on their feet by the end. So what hope do the chasing pack have in denying South Africa a third successive World Cup? It is true to say the Boks are an ageing side – the backup hooker turns 40 this month – and Rassie Erasmus has a challenge managing everyone through to Australia.
That said, he has unearthed a few more gems with the scrum-half Morné van den Berg named player of the match in Baltimore while Cameron Hanekom has produced some monstrous cameos from the bench. New Zealand’s 33-16 victory in the opening Test in Johannesburg gives hope, but there are very few teams who possess the All Blacks’ handling skills, their ability to strike on the counter. Dave Rennie’s side will head home, lick their wounds and reflect on a series with plenty of positives given how much trouble they were able to give South Africa.
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