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Brenden Nel - SuperSport
Johannesburg - You could see the smile on his face widen when the question was finally asked. There was no doubt that Wallaby coach Robbie Deans had been waiting for the opportunity.
When it finally came, Deans was more than happy to front up and give all those rugby fans across South Africa and Australia the best news they will hear for a long time: The All Blacks are not streets ahead of everyone else.
While New Zealand may have won the Tri-Nations with a game to spare after a clean sweep at home and victories in Australia and South Africa, making them odds-on favourites for next year’s World Cup, they haven’t exactly left the Boks, or the Wallabies for that matter, quaking in fear at their form.
The Boks will have taken many positives out of their performance at FNB Stadium in Soweto a week ago, while the Wallabies, who still have a return date with the All Blacks, believe the Kiwis have shown their hand rather early ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Deans was adamant that both his Wallabies and the Springboks had definitely not played to their potential, and this, rather than an awesome shift in form for the Kiwis, was the biggest factor on the Tri-Nations scene at the moment.
“They are clearly not that far ahead but they are ahead,” Deans said when asked about the All Blacks.
“The Springboks showed that last weekend that the All Blacks are capable of being beaten. The All Blacks are brimming with confidence and thanks to that they get the rub of the green.”
Deans admitted the difference was perhaps that the All Blacks were more “streetsmart” than the other two teams, and went further to say they “played” the referees well to get the most advantage out of the game situation.
“They seizing on those moments in the game and turning opportunities into points. But they’re not that far ahead. The margins are tight, they are fine. Clearly us and South Africa are chasing but if you go back a year, the All Blacks didn’t win a single game against the Boks. That’s how tough the margins are,” he explained.
“The All Blacks are streetsmart and they’ve had the advantage of continuity. They’re injury free and have a playing group that is experienced. They’re clever in the way they play the referee and the way they combine.
“You’d have to say off the back of last year that there wouldn’t have been too many who would have picked the 3-0 response to last season.”
Deans’s final word on the matter was possibly the most heartening for both the Boks and Wallaby supporters, as he believes it can easily be turned around in a year.
“I wouldn’t be reading too much into the future other than possibly the response.”
Johannesburg - You could see the smile on his face widen when the question was finally asked. There was no doubt that Wallaby coach Robbie Deans had been waiting for the opportunity.
When it finally came, Deans was more than happy to front up and give all those rugby fans across South Africa and Australia the best news they will hear for a long time: The All Blacks are not streets ahead of everyone else.
While New Zealand may have won the Tri-Nations with a game to spare after a clean sweep at home and victories in Australia and South Africa, making them odds-on favourites for next year’s World Cup, they haven’t exactly left the Boks, or the Wallabies for that matter, quaking in fear at their form.
The Boks will have taken many positives out of their performance at FNB Stadium in Soweto a week ago, while the Wallabies, who still have a return date with the All Blacks, believe the Kiwis have shown their hand rather early ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Deans was adamant that both his Wallabies and the Springboks had definitely not played to their potential, and this, rather than an awesome shift in form for the Kiwis, was the biggest factor on the Tri-Nations scene at the moment.
“They are clearly not that far ahead but they are ahead,” Deans said when asked about the All Blacks.
“The Springboks showed that last weekend that the All Blacks are capable of being beaten. The All Blacks are brimming with confidence and thanks to that they get the rub of the green.”
Deans admitted the difference was perhaps that the All Blacks were more “streetsmart” than the other two teams, and went further to say they “played” the referees well to get the most advantage out of the game situation.
“They seizing on those moments in the game and turning opportunities into points. But they’re not that far ahead. The margins are tight, they are fine. Clearly us and South Africa are chasing but if you go back a year, the All Blacks didn’t win a single game against the Boks. That’s how tough the margins are,” he explained.
“The All Blacks are streetsmart and they’ve had the advantage of continuity. They’re injury free and have a playing group that is experienced. They’re clever in the way they play the referee and the way they combine.
“You’d have to say off the back of last year that there wouldn’t have been too many who would have picked the 3-0 response to last season.”
Deans’s final word on the matter was possibly the most heartening for both the Boks and Wallaby supporters, as he believes it can easily be turned around in a year.
“I wouldn’t be reading too much into the future other than possibly the response.”
