Catch up on highlights from South Africa's second Test win over England in Bloemfontein, which sealed the series at 2-0 ahead of the final match in Cape Town. The Springboks started badly yet again, but came from behind to win the match.
They move up to fifth in the world rankings, while England drop from fourth to sixth.
More to follow
Watch Supersport's 31 minute post match show
I'm not*
No question altitude plays a part, one of the reasons why Bloem is a tough venue.
Just hold on for a day or two, world rugby might issue an apology to Shields and inform him.the try should have stood. Then England fans can sit back and relax!
I thought the SA player came from the previous ruck but didn't get to his feet before playing the ball. If I could find the video I think it would be fairly clear cut, as the law is clear cut itself.
Thought the SA player was part of the tackling team? No ruck formed? I don't know is honest answer but would like to hear the experts comments.
I suppose the argument follows on with "what was your aTtitude like after that?"
I can imagine what mine would be like... But then again, I'm an international rugby player..(yet)
Anyone care to explain why the Brad Shield's non-try was given as a knock on, rather than a penalty try? I can't find any replay for it, but I am sure the SA player who knocked it out of his hands had not got back to his feet following the ruck;
https://laws.worldrugby.org/?law=13
A player on the ground without the ball is out of the game and must:
Allow opponents who are not on the ground to play or gain possession of the ball.
Not play the ball.
Not tackle or attempt to tackle an opponent.
Sanction: Penalty.
As I said, I can't find any video of the incident so could be wrong, but if someone can find it, that would be interesting.
Altitude is a surprisingly big factor. While I am no world class athlete (yet somewhere near my prime), I recently spent 6 weeks in the frozen mountains at between 1600-2800m doing heavy building work. 150kg at sea level feels like 300kg after a few reps at altitude.
Firstly, congratulations to South Africa for winning the series, was fully deserved...
But HOLY FUCK that was frustrating to watch as an England fan. It baffles me how we can look like the All Blacks in the first 15 mins and then go to sort of penalties that Mako and Hughes gave away. It seems the second the other team gets a bit of momentum, we collapse. How many times did we just hand South Africa field position and momentum with needless penalties and errors?
I can't see us winning the next test, I'm hoping once this series is done the summer off will effectively be the equivalent of hitting the "reset" button and they'll come back refreshed physically and mentally.
Sort of feel this last match was a case of "more of the same". Some good attacking play, some silly indiscipline, and frankly a tough venue to play at.
But, of this there is no doubt, England are getting walloped at the breakdown. And there doesn't seem to be a plan to deal with it. Scotland proved you can target the breakdown all day, and get at England. Every other team picks their moment to put pressure on England, and they get their way. I don't know if it a personnel or management problem at its core, but it's been bad for quite a while now.
or - just kick your kicks?
On plain view is an England side that can score well worked, objectively good tries. That is in their arsenal. Why then are they not backing that up with more points from the boot of what is a very accomplished goal kicker? Because that's what Ireland do, and that's what SA just did. Go into the oppositions half, put pressure on and come away with something; create pressure on the scoreboard - build on and consolidate a lead. Money shot every time doesn't win test matches.
I think fatigue and *altitude* may have caused England problems, but attitude is also another big issue at the moment. I didn't see more than a few minutes at the end of the match and then the post match stuff, but Ben Youngs was "uncharacteristically rude" (to be honest I didn't find him rude, just rather offhand) - I don't know Youngs, or his character, but if those that know him say it was unlike him, then it suggests an attitude issue either with himself, or within the squad/camp - either the losses are getting to them, or their attitude is contributing to the losses - or both.
I hear after the match Marler and Farrell were involved in some exchanges with A fan, or some fans (?) again, is that their attitude contributing to the loss, or the loss contributing to their attitude - either way, not good to be having a spat with the fans - regardless of how obnoxious the fan(s) possibly was.
It seems to me that England really turned things around after their world cup, but almost because of the wins that followed on from that tournament being such a contrast, they seemed to adopt an "unbeatable attitude". Before the 6N there was talk of how it was all going to come down to that final game against Ireland.. maybe it was just the media, but come on, there are 4 other world class teams waiting to take the England scalp before the Irish got their turn. Italy perhaps the least likely but they still need to be beaten!
I think Eddie Jones probably needs to stick around - he might be the best guy to tweak what he's already done.
Actually, on the anti media front, I saw the interview with Eddie Jones afterwards and it got me thinking those were very stabby sorts of questions... he handled them very well!
Best comment I have seen is that England have been pretty average since Woodward quit in 2003, saying that he couldn't coach the England team with the clubs having so much power.
Look at Ireland. Joey Carberry is being made to leave Leinster by the IRFU so he can get game time instead of fighting against Sexton, so that when Sexton retires, Carberry can just slot in.
There are 22 AP games a year and the Anglo-Welsh on top. With the exception of maybe the team that gets relegated, there are no easy games in the AP.
In the era of professional rugby, the two unions with the highest revenues, England and France, have both punched below their belt. Every other tier one nation has the domestic game played in the interests of the international game. This doesn't just impact game time and players being overplayed or rested. This allows for tactics/calls/combinations/ethos etc to all be aligned, so when a player puts on their international jersey, although its a big occasion and honour, its just a bit more business as usual.
Either attitude or altitude, probably both