Mike Greenaway: Match for purists in a clash of styles

Opinion

In Afrikaans, the surname Steyn is about as common as the name Smith in English.

Yet in a quirk of Springbok history, it took over 100 years for the first Steyn to play for the Springboks - Francois in 2006. Now the Boks have two of them, and the pair are making up for lost time, adding test rugby glory to a family name that goes back to the fiery President Marthinus Steyn, who led the Free State Republic against the British Empire in the Boer War.

It was Morne Steyn at first five-eighths who broke records in Durban at the weekend with his clean sweep of the Springboks' points, but just as telling was fullback Francois Steyn's siege-gun boot that put so much pressure on the New Zealanders with his booming touch finders and up-and-unders.

The trio of the Steyns and halfback Fourie du Preez spearheaded an immaculate kicking strategy that contrasted markedly with an All Blacks commitment to adventurous rugby that at times bordered on the suicidal. Where the Boks cut out risk and stuck to structure, the visitors were attempting to cut their suit according to their cloth - there were no accomplished kickers in a backline relying heavily upon the usual strike runners. But the Springbok kicking was so well-executed, and their chasers so efficient, that the All Blacks' commitment to their counter-attacking game plan contributed to their downfall.

Time and again the Kiwi runners from the deep were caught in possession and conceded kickable penalties.

The final deficit of 12 points suggested a comprehensive defeat in the end, but for the 45,000 present, this was as enthralling a contest as rugby purists could hope for - a clash of styles, yet little between the sides on the scoreboard for three quarters of the match until the Boks' slow poison took its fatal toll.

The All Blacks' eagerness to use the ball grew as their supply of quality possession dwindled. Dominated in the set pieces, they tried to make the best possible use of their scraps.

The Springbok lineout was imperious, their scrumming not far behind but perhaps the biggest improvement in this Bok team from last year is their ability to win ball on the ground.

The diminutive openside flanker Heinrich Brussouw has added an exciting new dimension to his team, and the 23-year-old newcomer fought an exceptional battle at the breakdowns.

Before this match, Springbok captain John Smit had voiced concern that the fanfare about personal milestones - Smit becoming the most-experienced captain in test rugby history (60 caps as captain out of a total of 86) and Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers earning their 50th caps - would be distractions, but this proved to be as complete a Springbok team performance in the professional era as any can recall.