The Springboks wrapped up a 3-1 series win over the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday, which was also the eighth win out of the last 10 for South Africa over their arch-rivals.
It was a result that saw the Springboks once again open up a bit of a buffer at the top of the World Rugby rankings, but the competitive nature of the series did also show the progress New Zealand have made.
In the aftermath of Rugby’s Greatest Rugby rivalry series, All Blacks assistant coach Neil Barnes went so far as to suggest ‘luck’ and referee decisions had proved to be key difference makers.
“We get two penalties against us at the start of the game for a brake foot (at the scrum), which no one really gives a s**t about, but the referees are concentrating on,” Barnes told Newstalk ZB.
“And when you look at the video, both teams have done exactly the same thing at the same time. There’s two penalties against us.
“So, I guess at the end of the day, there’s a perception there that (the Springboks) are the dominant team, but at the moment they’re getting the rub of the green.
“When that changes, we’ll have a fair go.”
Sour grapes from All Blacks after being outplayed by Springboks?
The entire series was filled with various bits of verbal warfare and examples of the coaches using the media to send messages to the match officials.
And despite the comments from the All Blacks’ assistant coach, there is no doubt that the Springboks were deserving series victors.
“We’ve got to be in a position where we can actually control the game for longer with the speed of it to fatigue them more,” Barnes added.
“Every time they keep getting penalties for bugger all and get to slow the game down, it brings them back into it. The more I reflect, the more I know we’re seriously close to them,” he said.
“Probably just not getting the rub of the green or getting a lot of luck in close moments at the moment.”
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixtures and results
