White sticks with forward strength
6 Jul 2006
The traditional power of the South African forwards will once again be the focal point of this year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations.
The Springboks have often relied on their pack to get them on the front foot, and for all his tactical innovation, coach Jake White seems reluctant to focus on the backs as a potential strong point.
Assistant coach Allister Coetzee told Jacques van der Westhuyzen of The Star that this is a concern, but it would take time to move away from the forward-oriented game.
“There is always this debate surrounding backs playing according to pure structure versus the off-the-cuff stuff, but the secret is finding the balance between the two,” said Coetzee.
“The important thing to remember is that the backs have to play in a specific structure, a pre-determined plan, because that gives them security. But having said that, we do have to focus more on the off-the-cuff play, where players sum up the situation and play as they see it.
“Doing this, though, requires communication and vision among the backs, but unfortunately we’ve had a few injuries recently which has meant we’ve been playing with a new midfield and different wings.”
South Africa were without centres Jean de Villiers and Jacques Fourie for the France Test, and Breyton Paulse also watched this game from the sidelines. Fourie and Paulse will travel to Australasia, but Bryan Habana, who was injured late in the first half against France, will remain behind with De Villiers.
The opportunity is there for youngsters like Akona Ndungane and JP Pietersen, who may find themselves in the starting line-up against Australia on July 15. The only question is whether their strengths, namely running from deep, will be utilised.
Although the Boks will miss Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger, they have an established forward unit with a lot of experience. White knows this better than anybody, and given his fondness for experience in the Test arena, the forwards will be the primary focus on attack.
“We’re going to play the way that’s worked for us before and we’ll simply tweak the other areas,” said Coetzee.
The backline may seem to be low on White’s list of priorities. However, two training sessions held on Wednesday were closed to the media, which could mean that the Springbok coach has a few surprises for the Aussies in Brisbane.
149 Comments
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6 Jul 2006, 15:07 pm
I eat the chicken.
6 Jul 2006, 15:10 pm
Coetzee are saying more and more to the press then Jake, I think Jake is on his way to RFU after the 3N.
Last in 3N this year,
Lose in quaters next year.
Back to square 1 like 2003!!!
6 Jul 2006, 15:11 pm
91 Cab
Hope you can keep the blood pressure under control.
Half the muppits regularly call for Jake’s head. you get half assed suggestions that a or b or c would just step in.
Keo clearly said on his 702 interview at 12:55 that the PC 14 (not SARU) that control and screwed up the coaching. He’d claimed he had always maintained give the guy an extension, performance bound. He also was absolutely clear in the possibility tha SA could face Jake as an opposition coach in EOYT against the Poms.
It galls me that 14 morons, 9 of whom have a bankrupt business, who have not achieved any great S14 wins with the same staff, have the temerity to put out that ***** reply. Equally clear, the same princesses of business ethics will decide at RWC + 30 days what was successful.
They don’t believe in him and Keo’s predication that JW will jack it in before the EOYT is as likely right as not. The only comfort is that Keo’s bones don’t have a brilliant track record.
Clearly Jake does not confide in Keo, but it was obvious that there was no loyalty being offered from the games ultimate controllers.
Keo, how about explaining to your 702 listeners that the PC 14 re stuffing the game up rather than just SARU?
6 Jul 2006, 15:11 pm
Skim eats the ****
6 Jul 2006, 15:12 pm
AB handbad ad
http://blogs.smh.com.au/newsblog/archives//005128.html
6 Jul 2006, 15:13 pm
Valkie,
Jy’s darem maar ‘n poepol.
6 Jul 2006, 15:14 pm
“Nobody in Rugby should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like
Norman Einstein.” – Jono Gibbs – Chiefs
“I’m going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.” – Rodney
So’ialo – Hurricanes – on University
“You guys line up alphabetically by height.” And “You guys pair up in
groups of three, then line up in a circle.” – Colin Cooper – Hurricanes
head coach
Chris Masoe (Hurricanes) on whether he had visited the Pyramids during
His visit to Egypt: “I can’t really remember the names of the clubs that
we went
to.”
“He’s a guy who gets up at six o’clock in the morning regardless of what
time it is.” – Colin Cooper on Paul Tito
Kevin Senio (Auckland), on Night Rugby vs Day Games
“It’s basically the same, just darker.”
David Nosafora (Auckland) talking about Troy Flavell
“I told him, ‘Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?’ He
said, ‘David, I don’t know and I don’t care.’
David Holwell (Hurricanes) when asked about the
upcoming season: “I want to reach for 150 or 200 points this season,
whichever comes first.”
“Andy Ellis – the 21 year old, who turned 22 a few
weeks ago”(Murray Mexted)
“Colin has done a bit of mental arithmetic with a
calculator.” (Ma Nonu)
“He scored that try after only 22 seconds – totally
against the run of play.” (Murray Mexted)
“We actually got the winning try three minutes from
the end but then they scored.” (Phil Waugh Warratah)
“I’ve never had major knee surgery on any other part
of my body.” (Jerry Collins)
“That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one
before it which was identical.” (Tony Brown)
“I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and
father.” (Tana Umaga)
“Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby -
but none of them serious.” (Doc Mayhew)
“If history repeats itself, I should think we can
expect the same thing again.”(Anton Oliver)
“I would not say he (Rico Gear) is the best left
winger in the Super 14, but there are none better.” (Murray Mexted)
“I never comment on referees and I’m not going to
break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.” (Ewan McKenzie)
Murray Deaker: “Have you ever thought of writing your autobiography?”
Tana Umaga: “On what ?”
“Well, either side could win it, or it could be a
draw.”(Murray Mexted)
“Strangely, in slow motion replay, the ball seemed
to hang in the air for even longer.”(Murray Mexted)
6 Jul 2006, 15:15 pm
Skimmie, chill ou grote.
Ek ruk maar net ‘n biejtie jou hoender.
6 Jul 2006, 15:15 pm
Like we haven’t heard that one before valkie.
(107)
man, you’re a real genuis yourself……
6 Jul 2006, 15:16 pm
An absolute Norman Einstein…
6 Jul 2006, 15:17 pm
Gecko,
That’s excellent dude, can you download it?
6 Jul 2006, 15:17 pm
sarky,
actually thats my last rant on the matter, each time i think don’t get drawn into it, but this is just so stupid.
and yes the 14 VP’s seem to be absolute morons. there’s something wrong.
pity the details of the contract extension are not made public and compared to other international coaches and then we can all decide properly whether it is unreasonable. If so, fair enough.
6 Jul 2006, 15:17 pm
gecko, that vid is f*cking funny – how do you download it?
6 Jul 2006, 15:20 pm
Jake should confide in me.
I’ll set him straight about Brits, watson, Ndugane(both, not just the one), and his whole starting line-up.
6 Jul 2006, 15:23 pm
valkie, lol….
6 Jul 2006, 15:23 pm
How do you guys watch the clip? I get there, see the heading but no clip! What am i doing wrong?
6 Jul 2006, 15:24 pm
Go read Dan Nicholl’s “interview” with JW on iafrica.com – hillarious!
6 Jul 2006, 15:25 pm
It’s cause youre such an idiot supa……
6 Jul 2006, 15:25 pm
Supa, just click on play & wait for it to start, might take a while depending on what internet you use.
6 Jul 2006, 15:26 pm
druk die groen knoppie
6 Jul 2006, 15:26 pm
skim
I refer you to Valkies comment at 104
6 Jul 2006, 15:27 pm
Thank you supa. I also think 104 was in extremely bad taste.
6 Jul 2006, 15:28 pm
valkie
I dont even get a play button! I’ll just keep on trying, thanx.
6 Jul 2006, 15:28 pm
On va uvver hand Darren…
6 Jul 2006, 15:30 pm
valkie
Under the heading “handbag haka video” is that where the clip is ,because i just have a blank spot?
6 Jul 2006, 15:32 pm
Valkie,
that interview is hillarious but also sadly extremely true.
6 Jul 2006, 15:33 pm
Supa, yes its supposed to show directly under the heading.
Ask Ig if you keep struggling as he is our inhouse IT genius on Keo
6 Jul 2006, 15:34 pm
Interesting…
8 July: NZ robs OZ in dying minutes.
15 July: OZ beats SA by more than 10 (vd Westhuyzen out injured).
22 July: SA sneaks it against NZ (Russell at 10)… history is made!!
29 July: OZ-NZ draw (loads of injuries to key players on both sides)
5 August: SA beats OZ by more than 10 (more injuries)
19 August: NZ beats OZ by more than 10 (OZ: wheels are coming off again!!)
26 August: SA smash NZ to record victory at Loftus!!! 53-8
2 September: NZ beats SA by less than 10… Mafokeng tribe burns down Rustenburg Stadium… again! Give big games back to Durban
9 September: SA beats OZ by less than 10 (Gregan retires, White gets contract ’till 2009)
Log: NZ 18, SA 16, OZ 9
6 Jul 2006, 15:36 pm
Predawn,
what are you trying to say?
6 Jul 2006, 15:37 pm
Just a fantasy prediction I found.
6 Jul 2006, 15:38 pm
that you need to eat more chicken
6 Jul 2006, 15:42 pm
you just can’t get enough of a good thing.
6 Jul 2006, 15:45 pm
Predawn you give NZ to much credit.
they will come unstuck this Tri Nations.
Aus and SA to do the JOB.
6 Jul 2006, 15:46 pm
What are you smoking?
6 Jul 2006, 15:48 pm
I see Oz and the Sheep admirers going neck and neck. Oz to be the surprise winners and Azania to come in a close third.
6 Jul 2006, 16:05 pm
I found this in a place that will remain unnamed.
It’s quite funny.
”
15 July
SA vs Aus, Brisbane
Jake White unveils a radical new strategy for the Tri-Nations opener against Australia. Given the Boks’ prowess at scoring from turnover ball and total inability to score from first/second/third-phase play, he plays to his strenghts. It’s a brilliant plan. Every time the boks get first-phase ball, they pass it straight to a rather surprised Aussie. Bakkies and Os then nail the poor *******, Schalk recycles the ball, someone-anyone- gives it to Bryan, and he scores.
Amongst mutters of ‘bugger’ and ‘bloody hell’ the boks win 52-3.
“
6 Jul 2006, 16:14 pm
Skim, I thought that was what we were doing, except we were kicking it to them instead of passing! Great new strategy.
6 Jul 2006, 16:20 pm
Oh for the good old days when I could flame throw at will.
Now it’s just Jake Jake Jake Jake Jake.
Nothing to flame throw at!
6 Jul 2006, 16:23 pm
lol skim
6 Jul 2006, 16:24 pm
the boks should win the 3N with Fourie showing why he is the best centre in world rugby.
6 Jul 2006, 16:24 pm
Fourie he eat the chicken.
6 Jul 2006, 16:27 pm
Big Bok forwards – what, like we had against France? And no backline – again, like we had against France?
Sad days coming …..
John Cowper – Detroit
6 Jul 2006, 16:28 pm
Are you Eminem in disguise?
6 Jul 2006, 17:32 pm
man i dont wanna know whats gonna happen to the boks this yr i see doom and gloom
6 Jul 2006, 18:06 pm
Since I doubt JW intentionally revealed his gameplan to the opposition, I treat the article as a disinformation at best or misunderstanding on the side of the writer, possibly both.
Like Mallett advocated 6 years ago his “ball in hand” rugby style shift while in reality it was just ‘more of the same’
It remains a concern that excessive talks from JW before the tests.
6 Jul 2006, 19:17 pm
Hahahahahha what forward strengh? Our pack of dinosaurs was smashed by a lighter Frogs pack. Just think of what Carl Hayman is gonna to to the poor front row.
7 Jul 2006, 04:12 am
we are gonna get smashed. we never dominate the all blacks up front, at most we get parity, and then the aussies have a much heavier pack this season. they will be very tough to contain too.
jake you are under estimating the super powers of rugby. how can you honestly go into a game praying that you get fwd dominance so that you backs can get front foot ball. this is a setup for disaster. what has happened to common sense?
get a backline, and select your best!
7 Jul 2006, 07:18 am
if you’ve got it use it. Plain and simple.
8 Jul 2006, 01:52 am
Jaque Fourie poor man’s stirling mortlock
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