Kirchner’s loss crunching blow
10 Mar 2008
Zane Kirchner’s suspension has robbed the Bulls of one of their most potent attacking weapons.
To start raving about the performance of the Bulls, and their backline is particular, after a victory over a distinctly average Lions side would be premature. But with their Springboks restored to the starting line-up they did prove that they will be competitive in this campaign.
Their backline, under the tutelage of Pieter Rossouw, has been heavily criticised in recent weeks for their inability to craft scoring opportunities or convert the few they did. But against the Lions they showed innovation and creativity that had been sorely lacking in the first three rounds.
The balance looked good, with Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane and Kirchner providing the heavy fire, Morne Steyn’s superb distribution skills and penchant for attacking space complimenting Wynand Olivier’s direct style well, while the old firm halfback combination of Fourie du Preez and Derick Hougaard operated efficiently.
But Kirchner, who has proved to be an excellent signing for the Bulls, will watch the Reds and Chiefs games from the comfort of his lounge couch after a reckless spear tackle on Dusty Noble earned him an unwelcome two week break – forcing the Bulls into a backline overhaul.
Hot-headed centre JP Nel is available for selection after serving a one week suspension for the same offence, and is likely to be rushed back for the Reds in Brisbane this weekend. Had Kirchner been available Nel should have been made to play off the wood, given the promise that the backs showed.
This will force Morne Steyn to fullback, a position he has played before for the Bulls, but one that certainly doesn’t maximise his strengths. The Bulls simply have no other option outside of the recently recruited Tiger Mangweni, who hasn’t played any Super Rugby this season but who also hasn’t been included in their tour party.
Continuity in selection, coaches will tell you, is key to success. And while Nel has been part of successful Bulls’ sides in the last three seasons it has become clear that his bash em’ up approach doesn’t serve the Bulls’ cause to play with a creative flair, while his persistent ill-discipline has made him a liability in tight games.
The Bulls, with a new look midfield and 10-12 axis, looked considerably more dangerous than they have throughout the tournament. Steyn adds a tactical kicking threat to their arsenal, meaning the Bulls could look to any one of Du Preez, Hougaard or Steyn to gain them field position – which will be central to their game plan on tour.
Kirchner loss could be a defining moment in the Bulls’ campaign. The fullback’s attacking inclination, rock solid defence and rocket powered boot has made him invaluable and only Bryan Habana possesses a greater game-breaking ability.
After getting some momentum Rossouw now starts from scratch once more. He will have his work cut out trying to ignite this backline into anything resembling a unit who could pose a four-try threat to opposition over the next month.
By Ryan Vrede
58 Comments
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10 Mar 2008, 10:48 am
Who wrote the article?
I would rather say its crunching for Zanes CV, he will now forever be targetted as a dirty , malicious, bonehead Bul by everyone outside the Bulls camp.
10 Mar 2008, 10:54 am
Sorry guys cant agree with the guys that somehow justifies spear or dangerous tackling.
The fact that it happened, or was less policied 20 or 30 years ago did not make it right 20 or 30 years ago, it meant we got it wrong 20 or 30 years ago.
I loved tackling more than scoring tries in rugby, and there was no better feeling than tackling the **** out of a player especially when you get up, even help him up (I did that a lot) and give him a little smile knowing you crunched the kak out of him – an he knows it too…
I loved the brutalness of rugby and the best was having a beer after the game and you acknowledging to a player he got one over you, or tackled the kak out of you or he doing the same – it makes the second league game so much more intense…
IN a spear tackle situation however, you have your leagues removed from you, carrying a ball most of the time to, you have no way to protect yourself coming down and rely on the tackler to do that, which is quite difficult for him to given momentum, weight, etc.
You can definately tackle the **** out of a player without having to spear him, or lift him over the horizontal, and most of all, it can be coached which is why I think we fall short, or guys are almost never coached to tackle correctly or coached technique in tackling to be effective.
Somehow, especially South Africans, we believe we are born with the ‘skill’ to tackle, where in fact, you should spend as much time on tackling skills drills as you do on passing, stepping, ghosting, sliding, kicking, etc.
In fact, these stats we see every game on team A making x tackles, missing y – is very misleading.
A tackle or bringing a player down is useless if it is not effective, and about 70% of tackles are ineffective. Effective tackling includes amongst other things, stopping players behind the gain-line, effecting a turn-over, putting his support players out of position or off-side and a dozen other things depending where and when the tackle takes place and if it is of first phase or multi-phase possession or plays.
Speaking to a tackling expert, you will learn that there are about 5 different types of tackles (depends on who you speak to), all of which is supposed to effect something if done correctly and all of which is only effective – size, player position, field position, phased possession etc all plays a role on effectiveness.
When you however perform a tackle that costs you a penalty, or even a card, it is like doing a Demas on the goal-line on your way to scoring a try.
Effective tackling is as important as effective attacking play, something that enjoys a lot of comments on this site, but surprisingly is not put in the same light.
And no, South Africans are actually poor defenders. So even we “won the World Cup on defense” according to most it is not what I am trying to post here, because we are poor at defending.
10 Mar 2008, 10:56 am
Refs and citings are inconsistant to say the least, but the rules stay the same.
These players are so called pro’s and should act as such.
Show me another job where you can make the same stupid errors every week and still keep your job.
The problem is these guys live the dream and are so far removed from the real world it’s scary, kids earning masses of money for playing a game.
If it’s their job they should do it right and stop looking for excuses.
10 Mar 2008, 10:57 am
Blimey…
“your leagues removed from you” should read “your legs removed from underneath you”…
Time for a beer…
10 Mar 2008, 11:02 am
i’m a true blue bulls fan, but if guys get the chop for speartackles, good riddance to them,
a bit of consistency would be a breath of fresh air, though..
10 Mar 2008, 11:08 am
Sorry Superbul but you are so wrong about the speartackle. If you lift someone up and dump them headfirst into the ground, even if you are not driving them into the ground you should be carded.
If the player keeps the ball, as he is supposed to do in tackles, he will be head first into the turf, which can lead to an injured neck or head. If he lets the ball go and he stops his fall with his hands, he will either hurt his wrists, elbows, collarbone or shoulders. Ask any cyclist/skateboarder where they get their most injuries and they will tell you that it is when they try and stop their fall with their hands.
The bulls played brilliant rugby on satday (and i am a stormers fan) to defend their man-down red card, but it was a dirty, stupid and senseless act by a player that deserved to be red carded for mixing two yellow card offences up into one.
The spear tackle should merit a yellow or red every time.
And Freaking boots and all must stop bleating about it while they have a speartackle in thier opening credits! If Naas wants to moan about it they should remove that bit of the credits.
10 Mar 2008, 11:44 am
Thank **** the Stormpies was not one of those clever teams that Hoops talk about. I can stomach any loss except to them. Hell I’d even support England before I support the briesies.
Btw, the Lions is definately an average team, but streets ahead of the lad(d)ies vannie Kaap. They are on a high after beating a reds team that most Varsity 2nd teams could beat.
As for dirty players, all teams have them. look at Fieta Conradie and Burger.
10 Mar 2008, 15:57 pm
Where is Ters Losper? He was also signed from GW, he played for Namibia in the WC
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