Pack as mean as ever
26 May 2006
Springbok forward coach Gert Smal says the days of the mean Bok packs are not a thing of the past.
With the avalanche of injuries that has disrupted the Springbok camp in Bloemfontein, especially in the tight five, concern was growing that the Bok pack would be a little lightweight for next month’s games.
“Yes, the injuries have not been ideal, but the days of the mean pack are coming back,” Smal told keo.co.za. “I don’t believe we have a problem in that department.”
“There is enough experience despite the injuries and some of the guys will recover in time from the minor injuries,” said Smal.
The former Stormers mentor added that specialist coach Balie Swart had brought a cutting edge to the camp. “Balie is really adding plenty to our preparation. As a former prop he knows the finer detail of scrumming and his wealth of experience has been hugely beneficial to the guys.”
Smal pointed out that Swart was the only former Bok prop from the past 10 years to have gone into coaching. He also cut his teeth in New Zealand and with the Sharks. “He brings all of that to the party and I’m sure we will see the effect in the next few games,” he said.
Also, the new Enforcer scrum machine, was providing the Boks with a more thorough workout than conventional machines. “It is adjustable and that flexibility helps us to work on different aspects of scrumming. We can look at feet, leg, body positions and work on the hit at different heights instead of having a machine that accommodates just one level.”
The latest list of tight five injuries: Bakkies Botha (Achilles), BJ Botha (neck), CJ van der Linde (leg), Danie Coetzee (foot), Eddie Andrews (shoulder), Gurthro Steenkamp (wrist), Os du Randt (knee), John Smit (groin), Hanyani Shimange (lower limb). Andrews and Shimange though are expected to recover in time for the World XV match on June 3.
By Andrew Hollely, in Bloemfontein
41 Comments
26 May 2006, 06:11 am
What does he mean by “mean pack”?
Will those big Bully boys poke their toungues out and call Dan Carter names as he strips the ball off them in the tri-nations??
26 May 2006, 06:45 am
ricane
i doubt it if jacques cronje will be in the starting line-up for the boks; therefore, no
26 May 2006, 06:51 am
i see skinstad is in town for wp benefit match for corne krige. maybe they convince him to re-join….
26 May 2006, 06:51 am
ricane, sounds like my kids, ‘Dad, hes mean to me’, ‘No I’m not, you mean!’
26 May 2006, 06:52 am
Why pale_toe, weepee not kak genoeg?
26 May 2006, 06:55 am
naah koos, just thought i’d try and stir things a bit this morning.
26 May 2006, 06:59 am
Skinstad quote: “Despite having taken a self imposed sabbatical from the professional game for the last two years, I am very excited about returning to Cape Town and running out at Newlands again in the Blue and White hoops.”
self imposed sabbatical? funny man.
26 May 2006, 07:01 am
Did the guys say yesterday he is only 29? Not sure I am ready for a return of the tongue!
26 May 2006, 07:05 am
yeah, i think he is. don’t worry, he won’t come back, will probably right his knee off in the wp game.
some other guys coming:
“…Hottie Louw (slot), Pietie Ferreira (losvoorspeler) en Braam van Straaten (losskakel) is die ander gewese Streeptruie wat saam met Krige teen die wêreldsterre sal speel.”
26 May 2006, 07:10 am
I see Selborne Boome is going to play for WP this Currie Cup season!
Could be a good acquisition.
26 May 2006, 07:14 am
Booby will be back in green and gold in the next 2 years you hears it first here.
26 May 2006, 07:18 am
Not sure who Booby is so he? may well, as for Bobby, not a chance!
26 May 2006, 07:19 am
Oh yes Booby or better known as Bobby willbe back
26 May 2006, 07:21 am
Always thought he was a bit of a ***…!
26 May 2006, 07:28 am
Bobby/Booby = Flash in the pan!
26 May 2006, 07:31 am
If we go back or, rather, keep holding onto the priority of having a “mean pack” we are going to fall further and further behind. Dominion over domination is more important in the modern game. Many have written about this here. It appears Gert Smal is trying to revive the past, as opposed to creating new futures. I am concerned about this.
26 May 2006, 07:45 am
Samglazer
While a side like the Ausies may agree with you, I doubt whether the Pohms will agree…
26 May 2006, 08:29 am
Small like Coetsee, has a lot to answer for, in the poor performance of the team.
26 May 2006, 08:34 am
the bulls really dominated the crusaders this year. yawn…bring back a winning pack rather.
26 May 2006, 08:49 am
Nah the Poms front row style of play is what we need to get right. (they havent got it right since 2003)
Make no mistake a big hit, a big tackle a big scrum can always turn momentum in a game.
lets not become like the Aussies and have someone faine injury to have uncontested scrums.
26 May 2006, 09:07 am
yearite! Whatever….. Stop talking, Small, and start producing. You can only judge with facts dude, and the pack hasn’t played anybody yet.
26 May 2006, 09:31 am
A mean pack doesnt help you a bit if they are a losing pack.Just look at the Bulls.You can be mean as hell but if your decision making and skills are lacking youre nothing.Doesnt help to laugh at your opponets at scrum time only to see them out score you on the day!Gert Small has to start delivering!
26 May 2006, 09:33 am
welshbok – They played France at the end of last year and you know what they say: Youre only as good as your last game!We lost that game.
26 May 2006, 09:58 am
With our weight advantage we need to learn to out scrum our opponents.
The aussies were quite smart in taking away that advantage with their so deemed ‘illegal’ tactics.
Us and the ABs are in favor of making the scrum a contest.
I think the recent demise of the Bulls pack is largely thanks to the poor fitness and toning of the players.
Give our guys some rest and gym time and we will see those Boks destroying their counterparts again.
Its a well known fact that months of constantly playing matches weakens you and slows you down.
Bring on the WC, we will be ready for anyone.
26 May 2006, 10:08 am
Why fly Classens from the UK if he was injured, total waste of money.
26 May 2006, 10:12 am
i reckon this injury streak, is a just a red herring. just rest the players if thats your goal jake. come on
26 May 2006, 10:26 am
Spokie
Do you really believe you are just as good as your last game? I am asking not stirring. People always say that but i mean if the saders win every match in the round robin and loose to the force in the last round but still top the log and go through to the semis, are the really a worst team than the force then? Or if the allblacks win every game but lose to france in their final match and France lose to Scotland, England or Wales etc. Are France a better team than the AB then? I mean. on the day anything can happen in those 80 minutes but you should judge the season in total, at least thats what i think. You’re opinion?
26 May 2006, 10:29 am
ricane, no he means they will moon carter as well.
26 May 2006, 12:13 pm
Suparugby its easy to say that, but if oyu look deeper inot the game its not the whole truth.
i mean that French game we lost, they never won it, we threw it away.
Boks in the second half looked the far better side
26 May 2006, 13:54 pm
1.Olo Brown
2.Keith Woods
3.Os du Randt
4.Willie John McBride
5.Colin Meads
6.Willie ‘O’
7.Michael Jones
8.Buck Shelford
There’s a mean pack!!!
26 May 2006, 14:16 pm
very very mean CSI, except Os is a pussycat, very fair player, still when Os lines up a tackle, the only tackler that could compete was Willy O. Real pile driver tackles.
26 May 2006, 14:38 pm
Keith Wood? You must be kidding me?
26 May 2006, 15:46 pm
Also, Os is a loosehead
26 May 2006, 15:58 pm
os is an oxhead
26 May 2006, 16:35 pm
35
26 May 2006, 16:46 pm
I think after the stormers performance in the super 14 this season the less said by Gert Smal the better.
26 May 2006, 22:34 pm
CSI; that’s nothing on my mean pack which would have those boys quivering in fear….
1. JOHN HOPOATE
2. ditto
3. etc !!
27 May 2006, 03:34 am
Ricane,
Your front row would turn most men to jelly.
Not however the English. They would pay good money for the thrill.
27 May 2006, 03:42 am
My mean Pack,
1-Richard Loe.
2-Danial Dubrucca.
3-Johan LeRoux.
4-Justin Harrison
5-Martin Johnston
6-Troy Flavel
7-George Smith
8-Jerry Collins.
27 May 2006, 10:18 am
Ricane
haha, u got me there mate, I like it.
27 May 2006, 10:20 am
Cane
Your front row would literally tear any front row to bits, thru using hands, feet or teeth.
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