Johan Ackermann: Kwagga the king … and Kolbe, Kriel not far behind

What a game, definitely worthy of being the final, wow! It was so tense and on the line until the last second; you cannot ask for more from a rugby match. It had it all.

We knew it was going to be a titanic battle, but that? Wild, wild, wild!

Well done to every Bok, every single man contributed, but for me it was again the impact made by Kwagga Smith that won us the match.

He made two key plays at the breakdown that put the Boks on course for their victory. The one penalty win at the ruck ultimately led to Eben Etzebeth scoring his try and the other led to Handre Pollard slotting a 52-metre penalty. That’s 10 points from Kwagga’s hard work on the ground. He’s just a phenomenal rugby player.

Kolbe and Kriel

Then, Cheslin Kolbe. That charge down of Thomas Ramos’ conversion kick was huge. As it happened I said to the people watching the game with me that it would prove the difference. And it did. But what an overall performance by the little wing; he ran back hard and showed so much composure in such a tight game.

And Jesse Kriel was outstanding. He put in a great kick for Kolbe’s try, but it was his defensive reads that were just brilliant. In those last moments when France were on the attack, it was he who applied the pressure on the French players, as he did throughout the game.

I also thought the Boks’ scrum was excellent at times; it got the team out of trouble on a few occasions, while the varied kicking was among the best I’ve seen from the Boks. It led to the tries scored by Arendse and De Allende. The Boks definitely won the aerial battle.

Decisions

What also stood out for me was the way the Boks never panicked. They were under huge pressure at times, but they stayed calm and made some good decisions. And so much credit needs to go to the leaders for opting for a quick-tap rather than kicking to the line for a lineout or at goal, for three points.
They backed themselves and they got the seven-pointer thanks to Etzebeth’s great try. It was a big turning point.

It is job done, and now for the semi-finals.

The good thing is there don’t appear to be any serious injuries.

The reality is out of the four semi-finalists the Boks are the team who’re really in form and they’ll rate their chances now of going all the way at the World Cup. Of course they still have to get past England, and what a game that will be, but I think we’re heading to a Boks versus All Blacks final.

The biggest mental test is over; that was getting past France. Now the Boks can focus on the physical game and it really is now in their hands.

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