LYNN MCCONNELL
25 JUL 2015 GETTY IMAGES
'A variation on an old song', was coach Steve Hansen's
description of the lineout move that produced a match-winning try for captain
Richie McCaw in the 27-20 Investec Rugby Championship win over South Africa in
Johannesburg on Saturday.
The try, scored with seven minutes of the game remaining, had seen the All Blacks open up a gap in the middle of their lineout through which McCaw poured to score.
"We practised it all week…and it was good enough to get the job done," Hansen told SKYSport.
He had been proud of the 'ticker' the players showed, but he wasn't happy with parts of the game but mental fortitude in the second half got the side over the line.
South Africa were the No.2 team in the world, a good team, and for long periods of the game they dominated New Zealand, Hansen said.
The last few games between the sides had been massive and if they were both good enough to get past the quarter-finals they could meet in a World Cup semi-final which would be another big game, he said.
"Our blokes showed a lot of fortitude. At halftime at 10-10 we didn't deserve to be in the game. Frankly we played poorly, we got dominated but they came out in the second half and really showed a lot of character and started to put things together and scored some nice tries.
"That's what you get when you believe in yourself I guess," he said.
Hansen said the side were still a little rusty. Some new material had been introduced to the game plan but that wasn't quite right and was reflected in the first-half turnovers.
"We were worrying about the second job rather than the first. We'll tidy that up and improve a lot," he said.
Lima Sopoaga had rewarded the faith of the selectors, he had kicked goals when he needed to.
"He'll grow arms and legs out of the performance and we're in a tough situation – we've got four very good five-eighths and another one injured so we'll have to make some tough decisions," he said.
Captain Richie McCaw said he called rank when the winning lineout move was discussed earlier in the week.
But the side had struggled during the first half when beaten to the punch in the contact area. However, they worked their way back into the game and after some vital moments on defence they had survived and then secured points when they escaped South Africa's hold.
"We hadn't been down their end for a long time and you just have to feel what is happening during the game. We defended for a while then we got back down the other end and you put them under pressure that can be the turning so that was what happened," he said.
"What a wonderful place to play against the old foe in South Africa, that's the way Test footie is meant to be so [I'm] just pleased to have a good memory from today," he said.
McCaw was impressed with debutant Lima Sopoaga. He kept his cool under pressure, especially during the first half, and he looked like he had been playing for a while, he said.
Sopoaga said it had been unbelievable to run out onto such a great stadium amid a sea of green [supporters] and all there was in support was his team-mates.
"It was just so awesome and I can't be happier right now and yeah, pretty stoked for the lads," he said.
While he had been naturally nervous ahead of the game, he was also excited by the opportunity and all he had done was his job, and he had the support of the side all through the week ahead of the game.
"It's a tough place to come, but when you win you always remember these moments for the rest of your life," he said.
"We knew it was going to take an 80-minute performance and slowly we just had to break them down and break them down and eventually we got the win."
The try, scored with seven minutes of the game remaining, had seen the All Blacks open up a gap in the middle of their lineout through which McCaw poured to score.
"We practised it all week…and it was good enough to get the job done," Hansen told SKYSport.
He had been proud of the 'ticker' the players showed, but he wasn't happy with parts of the game but mental fortitude in the second half got the side over the line.
South Africa were the No.2 team in the world, a good team, and for long periods of the game they dominated New Zealand, Hansen said.
The last few games between the sides had been massive and if they were both good enough to get past the quarter-finals they could meet in a World Cup semi-final which would be another big game, he said.
"Our blokes showed a lot of fortitude. At halftime at 10-10 we didn't deserve to be in the game. Frankly we played poorly, we got dominated but they came out in the second half and really showed a lot of character and started to put things together and scored some nice tries.
"That's what you get when you believe in yourself I guess," he said.
Hansen said the side were still a little rusty. Some new material had been introduced to the game plan but that wasn't quite right and was reflected in the first-half turnovers.
"We were worrying about the second job rather than the first. We'll tidy that up and improve a lot," he said.
Lima Sopoaga had rewarded the faith of the selectors, he had kicked goals when he needed to.
"He'll grow arms and legs out of the performance and we're in a tough situation – we've got four very good five-eighths and another one injured so we'll have to make some tough decisions," he said.
Captain Richie McCaw said he called rank when the winning lineout move was discussed earlier in the week.
But the side had struggled during the first half when beaten to the punch in the contact area. However, they worked their way back into the game and after some vital moments on defence they had survived and then secured points when they escaped South Africa's hold.
"We hadn't been down their end for a long time and you just have to feel what is happening during the game. We defended for a while then we got back down the other end and you put them under pressure that can be the turning so that was what happened," he said.
"What a wonderful place to play against the old foe in South Africa, that's the way Test footie is meant to be so [I'm] just pleased to have a good memory from today," he said.
McCaw was impressed with debutant Lima Sopoaga. He kept his cool under pressure, especially during the first half, and he looked like he had been playing for a while, he said.
Sopoaga said it had been unbelievable to run out onto such a great stadium amid a sea of green [supporters] and all there was in support was his team-mates.
"It was just so awesome and I can't be happier right now and yeah, pretty stoked for the lads," he said.
While he had been naturally nervous ahead of the game, he was also excited by the opportunity and all he had done was his job, and he had the support of the side all through the week ahead of the game.
"It's a tough place to come, but when you win you always remember these moments for the rest of your life," he said.
"We knew it was going to take an 80-minute performance and slowly we just had to break them down and break them down and eventually we got the win."
