New Zealand 29-15 South Africa
The worst performance of the day was that of the Referee - sport24.com
JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park
The spectacularly abysmal officiating by French referee Romain Poite destroyed what promised to be one of the great contests.
Can a team be too physically dominant? The Boks may have conceded an early try when All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read barrelled over from close range, but they were by and large the more physical team. At times it was a case of men versus boys, such was the Boks' superiority at the collisions and breakdowns. They also gave the All Blacks scrum a hiding during the initial stages.
Bismarck du Plessis should have been cheered for his tackle on Dan Carter in the 17th minute. Carter had received a hospital pass from his scrumhalf, Aaron Smith, and Du Plessis had lined him up and absolutely flattened him.
It was a fantastic tackle that unfortunately saw Carter leaving the field with a shoulder injury - But unfortunately Poite reached for his pocket and gave Du Plessis his marching orders, citing no arms in the tackle.
It also saw the 47,362-sellout crowd baying for the Springbok's blood as he (DC) trudged to the sideline... - ire.co.ie
It was a shocking call. It looked a good tackle live, and when the big screen at the stadium showed the replay, it was evident that Du Plessis had indeed used his arms as well as his shoulders.
Poite's decision was based on an overwhelming reaction from the partisan New Zealanders in the stands. The crowd wanted Du Plessis off, and Poite obliged. It was gutless, and one would think that Poite will have a lot to answer for when fronting his bosses next week.
The All Blacks scored seven points in the big man's absence. The Boks missed Du Plessis's set-piece presence as well as his muscle at the breakdown. The unstructured contest during this period certainly suited the physically inferior All Blacks.
When Du Plessis returned to the field, the Boks began to regain control. They looked good when they kept the ball and built through the phases. Du Plessis was the Boks' best player, and the Bok loose forwards also ensured that the visitors continued to win the battle at the gainline.
Jean de Villiers read the situation well when he instructed Morné Steyn to kick a penalty to touch. The Boks won the lineout, set the maul, and it was fitting that Du Plessis was the man to finish.
The Boks went to the break trailing 17-10, and yet you got the sense that the momentum was with the visitors. If they could continue to slow down the ball and unleash their powerful runners, the All Blacks would battle to remain in the game.
Poite once again put paid to those ambitions with another farcical call. Du Plessis went into a contact leading with the arm, and when his elbow slipped and hit Liam Messam in the throat, it seemed a genuine accident.
Poite thought otherwise, and proceeded to show Du Plessis a second yellow, and then ultimately a red. He may as well have held up a cardboard sign that read 'Game Over'.
"The All Blacks are already hard to play when you're fifteen, then fourteen ..." JEAN DE VILLIERS
Du Plessis left the field in the 43rd minute, and with him went the Boks' chances of victory. With only 14 men, the Boks were unable to implement their structures and build the pressure. Their priorities quickly shifted from winning the game to keeping the scoreline respectable.
Referees must be brave enough to dish out yellow and red cards, but they have to be warranted. I've never been one to suggest a referee should keep his cards in his pocket for the sake of the contest. If a player deserves to be ejected, show him a card.
As far as refereeing performances go, this one was twice a failure. It robbed the Boks of any chance of ending their 76-year drought at Eden Park, and it also robbed the fans at the stadium and the millions watching around the world of what would have been an absorbing contest between the two best sides on the planet.
The Boks gave everything in the remaining 37 minutes, but they were never going to keep the All Blacks back. They were guilty of some basic errors during this period, but there needs to be an appreciation for the fact that they were operating with 14 men.
Predictably, they tired as the game progressed and the All Blacks piled on the points.
We will have to wait until the next contest at Eden Park to see if this Bok side is good enough to end a long-standing losing streak. The Boks may have won or lost on Saturday, but we will never know, thanks to Poite.
The referee succumbed to the pressure and made a couple of game-ending decisions. They are mistakes that should not go unpunished.
Poite has a lot to answer for.
Rugby Championship standings
New Zealand P4 W4 D0 L0 BP 2 Pts 18
South Africa P4 W3 D0 L1 BP 2 Pts 14
Australia P4 W1 D0 L3 BP 0 Pts 4
Argentina P4 W0 D0 L4 BP 2 Pts 2
Sources:
JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park - www.sarugbymagazine.co.za
www.sport24.com
BBC Sport
www.rte.ie
