The highly anticipated rugby test series between the Springboks and the All Blacks begins Saturday, and early analysis suggests the outcome could rest on the shoulders of the teams’ goalkickers. Both nations have assembled a trio of reliable boot‑men who have delivered crucial points in past contests.
For South Africa, the options include Handre Pollard, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and Mannie Libbok. The All Blacks can rely on Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie and veteran Beauden Barrett. Each has a record of delivering under pressure, and their accuracy may prove decisive in a series that historically has been decided by a few well‑timed kicks.
Historical moments where the boot mattered
Since the first series in 1921, several goalkickers have left an indelible mark on the rivalry. In the 1912‑13 tour, fullback Morkel, then 32, delivered a decisive drop goal in the second test at Eden Park, turning a 5‑5 deadlock into a 9‑5 South African win. The third test in Wellington ended 0‑0, with Morkel praised for his immaculate line kicks that helped the series finish drawn.
World War II veteran and prop Jan Geffin learned to kick barefoot while a prisoner of war. In the 1949 series, his record‑setting five penalties turned a 15‑11 loss into a South African victory after they trailed 11‑0. Geffin’s boot contributed 32 of South Africa’s 47 points, a performance still celebrated in the New Zealand Rugby Museum.
New Zealand’s Don Clarke, nicknamed “The Boot,” made a dramatic debut in the 1956 series. His early penalty in the third test at Christchurch set the tone, and two long‑range kicks in the final test at Eden Park helped the All Blacks secure their first series win over the Springboks.
In 1970, fullback Ian McCallum’s 65‑meter penalty gave South Africa a 14‑3 halftime lead in the decisive fourth test at Ellis Park. The points underpinned a 20‑17 victory, handing New Zealand its first series loss in a decade.
The 1981 “flour‑bomb” test at Eden Park saw All Black fullback Grant Hewson, despite early criticism, land a winning penalty in the 89th minute after a chaotic match marred by anti‑apartheid protests and flour bombs dropped from a low‑flying aircraft.
More recently, in the 1995 series, All Black Simon Culhane’s injury forced Jon Preston to step in. Preston’s clutch penalty in the final minutes helped New Zealand clinch a historic series win in South Africa, a moment remembered for the tears and pride it evoked.
What to watch this weekend
With both squads fielding experienced place‑kickers, the series will likely be a tight contest. Fans should keep an eye on the kicking meters, especially in close matches where a single penalty or conversion could swing the result. As the teams take the field, the age‑old adage that “the boot wins games” may once again prove true.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
