Statistically speaking Jake …
16 Jul 2006
Jake White throws out statistics at every press conference to reinforce whatever position it is he wants to sell on the day. Invariably, few challenge them. We’ve given him a few to suck on.
Here are a few statistics he can think about in the next few days in New Zealand so that he does not further embarrass himself at press conferences.
Before I start let’s get one thing out of the way. Joe van Niekerk was 100 percent accurate in his story about a 100 dollar bounty on George Smith’s dreadlock. It happened in the 2002 Tri Nations test, played at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Boks, under Rudolf Straeuli, lost 38-27.
I know it to be true because I was standing in the changeroom, in the huddle, when De Wet Barry took the dreadlock out of his pocket to claim the bounty prize.
That off my chest, let’s get down to some statistics that White may want to suck on.
1. Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Joe van Niekerk, Victor Matfield, Eddie Andrews, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt, Fourie du Preez, Jacques Cronje and CJ van der Linde played for the Boks in the 23-19 Tri Nations win against the Wallabies in Durban to secure the title in 2004. They were all on the field in the 49-0 defeat two years later in Brisbane. So much for being patient and building for a World Cup. To use the example of England’s 76-0 defeat in Brisbane in 1998 is outrageous. England, the following year got pumped by South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final, and won the World Cup only five years after that defeat. Six players from that tour played in the World Cup squad of 30. That should put that one to bed.
2. White’s away win record against the top four teams (New Zealand, England, France and Australia) is one win in eight starts. His home record is six from eight. His overall record against his main opposition at the World Cup is seven from 16, which is less than 50 percent.
3. White’s Boks have lost their last four games against the top four, beaten by the All Blacks in Dunedin, the French in Paris, the French in Cape Town and the Wallabies in Brisbane.
4. In those four tests White’s Boks have leaked 17 tries and scored six.
5. In White’s last three tests in 2006 the Boks have conceded 12 tries and scored two.
6. To allege the Boks had set-piece dominance against Australia in Brisbane is preposterous. Australia fed the scrum 15 times and the Boks 11, with the Boks first attacking scrum feed coming in the 47th minute.
7. In the lineouts it was no better. Aus had 16 lineout throws to SA’s 12 and both teams lost one against the throw, with the two hookers culpable of a scew throw each. Three of Australia’s tries came from lineout movements. Where’s the SA dominance?
8. Van der Linde was rightfully pinned twice for scrumming in and collapsing the bind. And the scrum that so upset the Boks, in the 14th minute, was because of an early engage and drive. Nothing to cry about. It happens all the time to every team.
9. Os du Randt has 60-plus test caps, John Smit has 50-plus, Victor Matfield is closing in on 50, Joe van Niekerk if 40-plus, Jaco van der Westhuyzen has close to 30, Jacque Fourie in the mid 20s, Breyton Paulse close to 60, Percy Montgomery has 76 … this was a bloody experienced Bok test team. This was not a bunch of youngsters, ala Clive Woodward’s 1998 squad, sent on a tour to hell, when a 20 year-old (read Jonny Wilkinson) ultimately comes good. Montgomery, Du Randt and Paulse are pensioners in terms of experience.
10. To use White’s own words when he said Australia would be under severe pressure. ‘You lose two in a row and it is hard to get out of that spiral’. Well Jake, you’ve now lost the two in a row, so I can only assume you are in that spiral you warned Australia about.
109 Comments
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17 Jul 2006, 11:12 am
i am not going to dispute all those stats, but some of them are blatantly untrue.
Firstly, the only part of our game that was good on saturday, was our scrum (when we had a fullpack and not a player in the sinbin). In one scrum the aussie pack actually was running backward. Point no 8 is blantantly untrue and the first decision from Honiss which lead to the 1st try was terrible. CJ had a fantastic game as did Fourie. It is not possible to collapse a maul while going forward (just as Skinstad joked on Sky). Its impossible.
We lost because the assies were allowed to get 65% of possession. If the oz backs even get their hand on 50% possession, most sides are stuffed. Our handling was absymal and we retained nothing. Our tackling was atrocious and non-existant. aside from that everything that could have gone wrong did. I’ve never seen such a disastrous game. Terrible.
We can pull it back, but as White says you need to pick players that are wiling to lay their bodies on the line, if that means Watson, fine.
17 Jul 2006, 11:13 am
we need to be realistic … the major changes will come when JW gets back to SA … so expect the Lukes and ruan’s to get a run then …
I am not convinced about Ruan at all … his a talented allrounder … jack of all trades master of none …
17 Jul 2006, 11:18 am
All the SA Commentators appeal to logic and not what was seen… I think the replays were clear Cj collapsed or pull down the scrum or maybe a victim of a bright young prop…
If we were so dominant in the scrums we now realise how winning the scrum only gives you an edge in SA … Having played in the front row for a lighter development side … white times would revel in their pack play and we would use are hback wheeling and turning scrums to create gaps in their defence and when they were 50 points down they would wonder what the F*ck went wrong …
17 Jul 2006, 11:20 am
acqarius,
is it logical to pull down a scrum when going forward? why would you do it? this is cutting edge logic.
17 Jul 2006, 11:32 am
Keo you contradict yourself every week make up your mind about something and stick to it!
17 Jul 2006, 11:38 am
Om nou die coach te laat gaan is selfmoord. Ons kan uit die gemors kom as Jake sy volle samewerking gee nou dat hy besluit het om nie oorsee te gaan nie. Wie gaan ons kry om hom te vervang so kort voor die wereld beker ? Rassie , Pieter en Meyer as hulle al drie kan saam werk. Maar dit sal nooit gebeur nie. Wie gaan Jake nou vervang ?
17 Jul 2006, 13:10 pm
Cab, it is indeed illogical to collapse a scrum when you are going forward. it is even more illogical (and f*%king stupid) to do it when the ref is standing on your side of the scrum. but that is exactly what the replay suggested CJ did. just becuase its the most stupid thing to do doesnt make it impossible to do it. when you consider how stupid our players are i think it is fairly consistent with their general approach to rugby.
lets stop kicking balls away, pick players based on their skill levels and not the fact they weigh 120 kgs and are 6ft 4 and they becnpress more than the next guy. its all just extremely stupid.
17 Jul 2006, 13:26 pm
I usually read all the comments posted and chuckle to myself at all the different views. Everyone loved JW when he took over and we finally managed to beat the ABs. This was a big step forward. Then it was the 3N title. Another step forward. Since then insted of being adventurous he has gone back into his shell and played one dimentional boring rugby, trying at all cost to eak out a victory every time the Boks play. Oh how the flood gates have opened. I stood by JW but surely the time has come for a young inovative coach not afraid to try something new! Bring on Rassie!
17 Jul 2006, 14:33 pm
Hey guy’s, I’ve been quiet for a while but Sat’s game was a disgrace.
White has made many mistakes but I think his biggest mistake is not choosing a ‘home’ and ‘away’ team. For example we know that the Sharks and Stormers generally travel better than the Lions, Cheetahs and Bulls. So why not have an ‘away’ team that is generally choosen from Sharks and Stormers players and a home team that is chosen from Lions, Cheetahs and Bulls players.
As for getting in a new coach, I like the idea of having Rassie and **** as the coaches with Mallett as the ‘Godfather’ … now there is a thought!
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