Ellis Park. The ultimate ABs bogey ground.

First topic message reminder :

Really looking forward to game tomorrow. It dont get much bigger than this for AB or SA fans.
Was somewhat surprised about what a stranglehold SA has had over ABs here.
ABs have a 37% win ratio. Or conversely SA have a 63% success rate since 1928.
3 wins for ABs in 11 games and one of those was in 1928!
On a personal note there are certain matches that stand out in my lifetme.

1. 1976. The first rugby tour of SA I can remember and i think the first with live coverage in NZ. AB loss 15-14.
Dont remember a whole lot about tour or game. Mainly that the grounds seemed like rock hard dust bowls (especially when compared with the muddy bogs I was playing on at the time as a child in dunedin!!) and why didnt Brian Williams or Sid Going not kick goals half as competently as Gerald Bosch!

2. 1992. The "Re-admission Game". AB win  27-24. Just to be playing SA again was almost unbelievable. It was a game that we AB fans thought may never come again. ABs fans saw it as the biggest compliment that SA wanted their first game to be against us at Ellis Park.
First time Id ever really seen a team affected by altitude. SA came back from 27-10 down to nearly win.

3. 1995. RWC Final. Cant/choose not to remember this game. I believe it ended in a certain amount of pain for me!

I could go on but....

I cant believe ABs havent played here since 2004.

Should be a cracker.
Lets hope game is remembered for all the right reasons.

woohoo...messam in. Open play are gonna get the boks in the end.

Well Tman SA half caught NZ out trying to run it back but Read gets the turn over and ball retention was great and a great blow before half time. SA are bringing the best out of NZ and showing they're not afraid with this tempo of rugby.

What a christmas cracker of a game so far

Shame. Kolisi is a poor replacement for Alberts.

That could be the game, as All Blacks pull another trick out of the hat! And it started from Mr Read's turnover. How often have we been saying "Read" during this championship eh!

One more boys one more:D 

The hype has lived up to it. Both sides are willing to attack and won't die wondering.

Will SA see them tighten up in the second half? One more try and NZ win the championship. Will that see SA go for the win and try to control the game looking to dominate in the set piece. Maybe they'll wait for the NZ fourth try or maybe they'll say let's just win the game and to hell with the championship. Going to be fascinating to see how the two sides come out at half time. I suspect NZ won't change anything and will be hoping the game continues to remain open. I suspect SA will not be so helter-skelter. I hope not.

Reads setup of Smiths try was special as well. Surprised that theres not so much physicality in the breakdowns as eden park. But look at messams try- only Morne Steyn on the side of the ruck to defend the try. Defence is costing the boks as much as anything with the last two tries.

I think that's more to do with the pace of the game Tman. At Eden Park the ball was wet and the conditions were slow. Here it's perfect for running rugby. It's a fast, hard ground so the gaps are there. The lungs are hurting and the fringe defence from both sides have been found wanting. That to me is put down to the pace of the game and that both sides are stretching the defensive line accordingly.

so 4 tries and thats that then!! just one more needed

amazing game

No it's not all mate. We don't want to win the championship and not the game. It's about winning every game. That's the expectation I was talking about.

Frenetic start and great burst from Kolisi. SA not giving up their attacking intent so good on them.  

Is this what it felt like watching Thriller in Manilla or Rumble in the Jungle?

This game is genuinely phenomenal. Both teams are really going for it, it is all or nothing for both sides!

Willie Le Roux is world class in my opinion. He has such class.

surely the game plan was to get the 4 tries, then go for the win!

Wow, what a ding dong battle

The commentators are having orgasms left right and centre

penalty try maybe!!

high tackle!!

Best game of rugby I have watched this year!

What. A. Game

mystiroakey wrote:The commentators are having orgasms left right and centre

 

Fair to Owens for keeping up with that passage of play

Biltong must be so pumped right now!

Nigel Owens about to have a heart attack. This is absolutely legendary! Whoever wins this doesn't matter. Both sides are playing incredible rugby. Attack, defence. Everything!

Unbelievable game. Wheres my pills! ha ha.fdp off...geez

bdp i mean...

Glad NZ got a yellow, it shows Nige was true to his word and it shows they're not invulnerable to card's. Unbelievable game. There's so much class on either side.

Great defence to hold out SA. Counting down minutes with a man off. Keep this score and the extra man should lift NZ.

Not sure those subs were well timed...

now thats how you play with 14 men!

Or better still score with a man down. Did Nonu score?

Looks short to me. Amazing defence.

I think it was held up. Initially, I thought it was a try. That's some unbelievable work from Kolisi if it's ruled as held up.

Game just gets bettr and better

OH man, Nige is a hero. Must be a lot of Saffa's and Kiwi's about to have a heart attack!

Good reffing. Gave his opinion and then sought the opinion of TMO. Monsieur Poite take heed.

NZ showing they want to win the game. Who cares about the four try bonus point. Good on them. Right decision. They have a man down so get points.

They should let this game go on till the death! the winner has to get 15 clear

This is an absolute cracker.

Crazy lineout call and the captain gets a try when he had no right to. Poor from NZ and McCaw will lay down the law. 4 tries from SA. NZ need to respond.

This afternoon is one of the few times I've been happy in life.

SA could actually do this now!! take the win and the championship..

Argggg

take a bow SA...do not revert to type from here...20 to go...barret does it again...slam dunk!

BARRETT:D 

Ta-ra SA. I feel your pain.

Barrett makes up for a poor tackle at the other end. SA make an error and NZ capitalise. This game has more swings and roundabouts than all the McPlayGrounds in the world. God I love this game!!!!!!

Wahey, great try Barrett!! Good strength.

Something unbelievable could be about to happen...

Who cares about the championship. It's win or lose this game now. Nobody wants to come away from this jewel of a game as the loser and frankly neither side will. This has been the greatest game I've had the privilege of watching.

team sheet! could we have a brand new controversy! geeeeez

Points deduction coming up if that is the truth. Typo is not a resonable excuse.

Franks could be off...