The build-up to this colossal Tri-Nations fixture should have been indicative of what was to follow, as reverberations were coming out of Africa that this was no ordinary Test Match, and in light of the two-zip Test results in New Zealand, something would have to be done.

However, it was only as Test-Match-time drew nearer, when comparisons from those on the ground were being made to a certain ‘painful’ Rugby World Cup Final, that this started to dawn.

South of Africa, desperate for rugby redemption, saw this fixture as their great rugby hope.

Surprisingly, this Sunday morning would dawn black in our New Zealand corner of the globe, and over the coming hours, things were about to get even darker and more glorious, as one Captain, one Ma’a, and the child of Israel, would turn out the South African lights, leaving Smit with only an opponent’s boot with which to remember a century of Internationals.

As 94,000 individuals packed into a Soccer Stadium were beamed into our world, it became transparently clear for all to see and sense that what was about to unfold would put the “Test” into a “Match,” and we would love it!

Sitting down in front of a computer monitor, on a Monday afternoon, it is hard not to view this international through the context of the final five minutes. Whilst it is true that what transpired throughout the seventy-five minutes leading up to this time allowed the All Blacks to finish what they had started, it is also true that what was ultimately definitive on the scoreboard was played out in red time [insert: black time], when the All Blacks extinguished the Bokke defense, after first extinguishing their physical reserves.

Hands-up who was worried with five minutes to go, and the Blacks behind by 5?

While the players have spoken of their belief that they would eventually break the Bokke wall down, with only some five minutes to go, the clock was ticking.  However, such an All Black belief underscores a relentlessness about this present edition, which is most exemplified by their Captain, Our Captain, Richie McCaw… McCawesomeness.  Richie had already, long ago, moved his game to another level, with this now matched by his Captain’s influence, where he is able to exert his will on proceedings, at his choosing, with two moments standing tall.

Exhibit A has the Boks, early on in the 2nd half, after Dan ‘He’s Still Our Man’ Carter had his kick charged down, red-hot on attack. In what will be a painful reality for the Bokke to recall, McCaw literally snatched their 7-pointer, right out of the jaws of an All Black defeat. I mean, they HAD to score, thereby driving a knife into the heart and psyche of the All Blacks, just after half-time, while putting an accelerant into the atmosphere of the Bokke player and fan, all desperate for victory.

However, McCaw is the ultimate hallucinogenic for the opposition dreaming of victory, only to be forced to stare into the vision of defeat [a.k.a. McCaw]. Yes, McCaw would be duly penalised, but the Bokke attack had been defeated, a precursor to an event at the other end of the field, at the other end of the half.

While Richie McCaw is definitely inside the opposition’s head, if only it was limited to their grey matter, they may be able to cope, but McCaw performs in real-time, in colour, and in person, forcing the opposition into a fetal position of failure!

While in Exhibit A, it is McCaw who taketh away, in Exhibit B, while Cory Jane giveth the final pass, it was Richie McCaw who taketh it away, making the white try-line the land of our dreaming, while simultaneously, turning this into a Bokke nightmare, to never forget. I don’t know about you, but when Cory Jane threw that final pass, I did wonder who the blue blazes was out there, hanging loose.

Earlier in the evening, we were given a portent of things to come, as ‘Woodcock the winger’ decided to fly on the outside, seeking to score against another international team, other than the Wobblies. Therefore, when ‘the Jane’ flung the pass out-wide, we should not have been surprised who was ready to make this pass pay.  After putting the hammer down… Yes, that was his hammer… McCaw made his way to the try-line, and after putting his body into a landing gear position, he would touch down… just!

Who was still sitting down at this point?  Liar 😉

While those not wearing All Black will want to focus on the very “flat” pass leading up to this moment, one can also point to Francois Hougaard’s ‘epic fail’ of a Hollywood that Nigel Owen bought [not even worth a hire], costing the All Blacks three valuable points, when HE ran into the Roks of Josevata. Yes, McCaw’s moment was worth two more points, thereby locking the scores, however, if the All Blacks had still been in debit, what unfolded subsequently with the son of Israel, turned any question marks into an exclamation!… All Blacks 29 Springboks 22!

All Blacks 3 Zip over the Boks in 2010… and…

Tri-Nations Champions in 2010… CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MEN IN BLACK FROM BACKINGBLACK

Surprisingly [Insert: Photo of tongue-in-cheek], the South Africans, desperate to win something, decided to steal something back off Richie, and gave the Man of the Match award to Schalk Burger, who did have a strong outing.

Nevertheless, there is really only one word to describe this individual and this match… McCawesomeness 

The All Blacks, playing in historic Soweto, and very sadly so, finished the Tri-Nations off [in reality] the way they started… comprehensively, and by scoring tries.

At a time when the opposition should have been getting stronger, as they were playing at Altitude and at home, it was our Men in Black who scored 12 points in the final 5, proving that they are the team, both physically and mentally, who are on top of the World of the Union, fully deserving their Number One World Ranking, and in Bob Dwyer’s words, “True Champions.”

While reading this piece may prove as exhausting as a 3am start, I trust both are worth it, not forgetting that this victory was also the All Blacks 1000th.

In a wait there’s more moment, this was also a special day for Dan Carter, with his third penalty on the 29th minute bringing his Test Points Scoring tally, to a world record, 1,113, succeeding ‘he’s still practicing,’ Johnny Wilkinson… Congratulations Dan, We Love Your Work!

Now, Members of the BackingBlack Blackness… What Say You?

We need you to share your thoughts, perspectives, emotion, and conclusions with your rugby family!

If you are not sure what to say, how about this… Please describe what you were doing, what you were thinking, even what you were saying as the clock ticked perilously close to 80… Describe your reaction when Richie scored… and finally, when the one man tribe of Israel put his hand in the air, waving it like he really did care, sealing the Stunner from Soweto.

We look forward to reading your words…

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking