Wallabies and All Blacks Will Rip the Boks to Pieces | Thebigtip

The Reds and Blues today showed us - as they always do - how rugby is meant to be played. While semi-finals are quite wrongfully thought of as games that need to be played with a tight, kicking approach, the teams from Queensland and Auckland showed us that this attitude is totally outdated as the two teams put on one of the most entertaining games of the year. Both teams were running from inside their own 22's and the ball was continuously spread out wide to the wings in an outing packed with wonderful attack.

One just needs to compare Quade Cooper with Morne Steyn, who will most probably (and quite pathetically) wear the Springbok number 10 jersey in this year's World Cup.

Cooper showed one of the greatest displays of individual brilliance ever seen on a rugby field as he beat tackles and threw a miracle (albeit dodgy) pass to send Ben Tapuai in for a try after 29 minutes. I would like to personally guarantee you, dear reader, that Morne Steyn would have kicked a pointless up and under, giving the other team possession.

 However, the Australian and New Zealand teams have made a point to keep the ball in hand and it has proven effective in their quest for Super Rugby glory. 

The South African strategy of "pick-and-go" with over-rated and over-weight forwards or crash ball with a centre incapable of passing (Wynand Olivier...cough cough...) is outdated and has no place in the modern game - and don't even get me started on up-and-unders and box-kicks.

The Stormers are the best South African team this year because when they run, they spread it wide and unleash guys like Aplon. Wingers at the other provinces have to be content with a couple of touches per game.

Apart from Genia's uncharacteristic, frequent box-kicking, the Reds played rugby just about exactly how it should be played. If Saia Fainga'a had any throwing capabilities whatsoever, there could have been even more points.

Quade Cooper was an absolute genius with every touch of the ball. Always looking to create something and not aimlessly kicking possession away - Quade Cooper is without doubt the World's in-form fly-half.

We hardly saw that many pick-and-go's, and on the few times we did, an error generally occurred. But they mostly kept this out of their game and let the backs do the running. The Blues constantly spread the ball out to Rockococo and, later on, Ranger. The Reds gave lots of ball to Digby Ioane and Rod Davies, who were absolutely sublime.

If we see South Africa vs Australia or South Africa vs New Zealand, the Boks will play their pathetic brand of ultra-conservative rugby while the likes of Nonu, Williams, O'Connor and Cooper run circles around them.

 The Boks will continue this fruitless tactic because, as Peter de Villiers and John Smit have constantly shown us, they lack common sense. Watching the Blues and Reds today just made me wonder how it's possible for anyone to support South African rugby, when teams from Australia and New Zealand are constantly making the Springboks look stupid with their fast-paced play.

I don't understand how someone would want to watch 80 minutes of box-kicking and up-and-unders as opposed to absolute magic from guys like Cooper and Ranger. One thing is for sure; my money will be nowhere near the Springboks when they take on the Wallabies or the All Blacks.