Former Springbok identifies charge-down as turning point in Ellis Park defeat

Former Springbok loose forward Warren Brosnihan believes Fabian Holland’s charge-down of Grant Williams’ kick was the pivotal moment that shifted Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park in favour of the All Blacks.

South Africa controlled large parts of the match, particularly during the opening 50 to 60 minutes, but failed to convert their pressure into points. The Springboks entered New Zealand’s 22-metre area 10 times, yet those visits produced an average of only 0.9 points.

Brosnihan said the result was disappointing for South Africa, although he felt there were clear areas for the team to improve as the series continues.

“The team that we’ve got, it’s disappointing, but listen, there’s stuff that they can work on and build. I mean, in that game, we were dominating it for the first 50, 60 minutes,” Brosnihan said.

The former loose forward told KickOff Rugby that South Africa had created the pressure required to trouble New Zealand but were unable to make their opportunities count.

“A big thing for me about rugby is creating pressure, applying pressure points onto your opposition. And South Africa did that. The difference is that we never took those opportunities. We had so many entries into the 22.

The All Blacks’ ability to withstand sustained pressure ultimately kept them in the contest. Brosnihan believes that resilience remains one of New Zealand’s defining strengths, particularly when they are forced to defend for long periods.

“It’s also about being able to save the moment and saving the situation. And that’s where New Zealand did it brilliantly. They were able to save that situation [and defend],” Brosnihan said.

“They were able to strip tackles with ripping the ball out, disrupt us when we got into their 22. And it allowed them to hang on in that game. And that’s where New Zealand are the best in the world at doing that.”

Brosnihan said New Zealand’s defensive work denied the Springboks the reward their attacking pressure deserved. The All Blacks were also more clinical when opportunities finally appeared at the other end of the field.

“When they get their moment to go and strike, they take it,” Brosnihan said.

For Brosnihan, the decisive sequence came when Holland charged down a kick from Grant Williams before going on to score. He described the incident as the point at which the momentum and belief in the match changed.

“That Fabian Holland moment when he charged down the kick [from Grant Williams] and went on to score, I think, was a pivotal moment in that entire game.

And that’s where the whole game switches on that.”

The Springboks will have the chance to respond when the two teams meet again in Cape Town on Saturday in the second Test of the Greatest Rivalry series.

Kick-off is scheduled for 17:10.