rugby: Master Class at Ellis Park

Finally. All the hype, all the expectation, all the discussion. Baited breath. A game lived up to its name. Not ruined by an act of stupidity from player or referee. Billed as the game of the year and it was all that. The South Africans wanting revenge for what they saw as a stolen victory in New Zealand must have been deemed at least equal favourites versus a travel weary All Blacks. Yet a New Zealand team that felt robbed of a respectable win weeks earlier, and excited, not intimidated, by the Ellis Park challenge. And we knew it was going to be brutal.

Everyone knew tthe Boks were going be at their physical best. The question was how much aggro, how much push and shove, how much biffo was going to be dished out. Either way it didn't worry this New Zealand team. They are the one team that can stand up to the Springbok intimidation test. All the talk about Ellis park and you just know that this All Black team revel in these situations. What you saw on Saturday was the result of 6 years of intelligent work by Graham Henry and Steve Hansen. A team that learnt to change games to take the ref out of the game, a team that has such self-confidence in themselves that no deficit is unreachable. This raw confidence coupled with a smarter and less legible game plan makes this AB team what they are today. The way they pick up their game as required shows they always have another gear. De Villiers try in the 58th minute threatened to completely derail the All Blacks. A 3 pointer to the Boks would have put them in the box seat, one hand on the trophy and in prime position to turn the screws. With their bonus point in the bag they could have resoughted to their traditional game and force New Zealand to counter but really 20 minutes was always going to be too long to hold out this NZ team. In effect 3 minutes was all they needed to wrap up the championship and have the Boks asking questions of themselves as to whether they were up to saving the game.

With whom do you start? Messam had clearly his best game in a black jersey. He didn't shy away and let the selectors know that Kaino can't just walk back in. He finally showed some real muscle but I still question his size and I'm sure that while the coaches were happy they still realize he can't impose himself on the game like his predecessor. And the added explosiveness when Luatua took the field was very noticeable, though granted, much of the hard work had been done. But I see Retallick as our enforcer and not Messam.

Savea has become the complete winger. His improved ability and confidence under the high ball has been evident over the season but now it's the deft little touches that are making the difference. His subtle move infield to create space for Read to skirt away for his try down the touchline was perfectly executed. There's a frightening gap between our best wingers and the rest. Now we just have to sort out that haircut.

The complete package

Aaron Cruden was sublime. Steady all day with Du Plessis and co rumbling down on him all game long til, face battle-scarred, leaving the field at the hour mark. Barrett on and imposing himself on the game immediately, first being run over the top of by a very impressive Bok captain and letting in 5 points before 3 minutes later bamboozling the same man and leaving 3 others clutching at air to claim the Rugby Championship with a bonus point try. Barrett finally stood up defensively, despite the miss on De Villiers that threatened to steal not only a victory but the whole Championship, making a handful of telling tackles with the team going backwards, including one spectacular on le Roux. But Cruden takes my man of the match. A Jack amongst giants.

A Jack amongst giants

Read continues to raise his game to yet another level. His wide ranging game, bearing down the outside channels receiving and distributing with all the class of an international centre is unmatched in today's game. We had Carter, we had McCaw,....now the mantle of World's Best has been passed on. A very different skill set to Zinzan but at this "early" part of his career already the best ever eightman?