Sunday, October 7, 2012

All Blacks 32 Springboks 16

The AB's finished the southern hemisphere championship in good style, even though they didnt need to win this last match against the Bok's.
My impression of the last few games is how nicely they've shown they havent missed Sonny Bill.
Ma'a Nonu has excelled as in his usual line breaker capacity, with his distribution, and scoring the odd try.
The other Hurricane's cast-off, Andrew Hore has also had a great tournament, showing he's far from past it too.
Its a great backline that goes even better when Dan Carter's in it, not that Aaron Cruden's any slug.
We've worried that we'd miss Brad Thorn as the tight strongman, but the series has shown Retallick, Whitelock, and Romano are up for any opposition.
Exciting to read Thorn might sign up for the Highlanders next year, will make a great pack with Hore in there as well.
Have to mention Justin Marshall's emergence as a commentator of some credibility and, well, downright enjoyability. He says in his Dompost column of yesterday, its the AB's rigorous pursuit of excellence that makes them seem at once, so unsure but sublime, and so without standout individuality but so collectively brilliant.
I'm sure this is the legacy of Sir Graham I thought I gleaned from his book, supremely fit, skilled, game-planned, psyched, and ever pursuing excellence.

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