Seven steps to glory
30 Jun 2008
The Springboks have not won a Test in New Zealand since 1998. Former Springbok mental coach Henning Gericke explains how Peter de Villiers can achieve what Jake White couldn’t.
White may have a World Cup winner’s medal, but the former Springbok coach has something missing from his impressive CV – his side never beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.
In 2004, White’s first year in charge, the Boks came agonisingly close to claiming what would have been a shock victory in Christchurch. With 30 seconds to go, they led 21-18, having scored three tries to nil. But a botched line-out call 5m out from the Springbok tryline led to an All Blacks scrum from which winger Doug Howlett slid over in the right-hand corner.
In 2005, the Boks arrived at the House of Pain in Dunedin needing a win to clinch their second consecutive Tri-Nations title. With six minutes to go, they lead 27-24, only for All Blacks hooker Kevin Mealamu to be driven over from a line-out for the match-winning try.
The Boks were never going to make it third time lucky for White in New Zealand last year, after the coach opted to rest almost all of his first-choice players ahead of the World Cup. While the second-stringers put up a good fight and trailed 12-6 with 20 minutes to go, three All Blacks tries in the final 10 minutes resulted in a 27-point thrashing.
Former Springbok mental coach Henning Gericke was a key member of White’s management team during that time, and it still grates him that the Boks never won in 2004 or 2005. He believes that while they were mentally prepared for the task, they didn’t have the experience or self belief that the finished product, which won the World Cup, had.
‘I honestly believe that the Boks can win one Test, if not two, in New Zealand this year,’ says Gericke. ‘They just need to focus on these seven points …’
1. HAVE A NO-RESPECT MENTALITY
‘Springbok teams are guilty of putting the All Blacks on a pedestal and believing they are unbeatable. Don’t get me wrong, they are a great team, but we’ve shown them too much respect over the years. We now need to change our underdog mentality into a world champion mentality. We mustn’t listen to all the talk that we haven’t won there since 1998 or that we have never won a Test in Dunedin. We are the world champions and we should believe in ourselves.’
2. AIM TO DOMINATE
‘If your enemy responds to you, you are strong; if you respond to them, you are weak. The Boks must arrive in New Zealand, with the intention of dominating the opposition.’
3. PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS
‘The Boks must do what they do best. The All Blacks don’t like to be tackled hard and confronted physically. New Zealanders throw 50-50 passes in the Super 14 because there’s space, but in Tests you can close that space down and put them under pressure. Playing a physical game doesn’t mean you are playing boring, one-dimensional rugby. It means you are playing clever rugby and giving yourself the best possible chance to win.’
4. HAVE SEVERAL LEADERS
‘The more the unyielding the challenge, the more flexible your leadership has must be. In 2004 and 2005, [captain] John Smit was the only real leader in the team. The Bok side of 2008 will have quite a few leaders, and that could make a big difference. Jean de Villiers was an excellent captain for the Stormers this year, while Juan Smith did a good job with the Cheetahs. Victor Matfield captained the Bulls to the Super 14 title last year. The All Blacks, meanwhile, don’t have many strong leaders, which is why I believe they lost to France in the World Cup last year.’
5. BECOME A FAMILY
‘You need to create an inner circle that creates positive energy. If you have a family environment, you will be able to handle outside pressures because you are so tight-knit. However, it may take time for De Villiers to create the kind of family vibe that we had under Jake. Look at what happened to the Bulls when Heyneke Meyer and a couple of key players left. That family structure was broken to some extent.’
6. SEE OPPORTUNITIES, NOT OBSTACLES
‘When you are in New Zealand, you must really want to be there. Embrace the people, the culture and even the weather. Go out and explore the country. If you have a negative mindset about how terrible a place it is, your game will suffer.’
7. HAVE BIG MATCH TEMPERAMENT
‘When you play the All Blacks in New Zealand, the games are going to be close more often that not. You’re going to find yourself in a situation where there are just three or four points in it with a few minutes to go. Your players have to be able to stay mentally strong and close out the game, which is what the Boks didn’t do in 2004 and 2005.’
What Peter de Villiers says:
ON THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
‘It goes without saying that playing the All Blacks anywhere is one of the toughest tests in the game, but in New Zealand it becomes even tougher. New Zealand have been the most successful rugby country in the world over the last decade, with the exception of their World Cup performances. They are true rugby thinkers and they play with supreme confidence at home, resulting in an attitude that does not contemplate defeat when on home soil. I’m not surprised at all that we have struggled there since 1998, but it should be remembered how close the Boks came to victories in 2004 and 2005.’
ON MENTAL PREPARATION
‘We will leave this country with our minds focused on the first Test [in Wellington] and the first Test only. There’s no use planning and getting worked up about the novelty of two Tests in New Zealand. The reality is one Test is played after the next, so I will prepare the squad for the first Test only. When it’s completed, we’ll reassess and then prepare for the second Test [in Dunedin].’
ON WHETHER HE WILL VALUE EXPERIENCE OVER YOUTH
‘I trust all South African rugby players, and will pick the side I feel has the best chance of winning. That doesn’t just go for the New Zealand Tests. Whoever I name in my 22 for any Test, regardless if they have one cap or 100, will have my full faith and backing.’
ON WHETHER HE’LL BE HAPPY TO WIN JUST ONE OF THE TWO TESTS
‘I am not a loser. I will never be satisfied if we lose.’
By Simon Borchardt, in SA Rugby magazine
928 Comments
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30 Jun 2008, 16:59 pm
#698 Valkman: Don’t think our Navy could reach their shores. Or our AIR-FARCE for that matter. Hey Comrade Dube , this is the shotest runway I have evah lended on. Yes Comrade Sipho , but a most definitely the Widest
30 Jun 2008, 16:59 pm
#688 poppa69: yes an element of truth, and seeing there are 103 on the extended periodic table, that gives you just less then 1 % of possible truth to your statement. Fact.
30 Jun 2008, 16:59 pm
the boks might go down early on, but they will stick to the task and come out trumps with the great AB coach being given an unfair send-off by the kiwi faithful, i saw it written in my toilet bowl entrails.
30 Jun 2008, 16:59 pm
#700 Valkman:
Jy moet teen die tyd al tril-ogie wees van al die geblog?
30 Jun 2008, 17:00 pm
#694 cab: thats your opinion , and your entitled to it…just wonder how you can make that judgement…didnt that same team lost the first game to the AB’s that year in the 3N’s?? and that was practically the same side ???? …before you became like the Eng and French and devalued test rugby by sending weaker teams ?????
30 Jun 2008, 17:01 pm
Wel, moer my met ‘n impact socket, dit het gewerk!
30 Jun 2008, 17:02 pm
#674 zeitgeist:
Firstly, when it comes to making excuses we gladly acknowledge that Sth Africa have won every World Championship home and away since eternity. For every Suzi there has been a refereeing-conspiracy x 10.
Like it or not, this SA team has not 1 excuse available pre-Test. All your best players available. Great preparation. An accepted coach unhindered by that other great excuse, ‘transformation’.
Secondly, know a trap when you see one ! The Kiwis know this AB team is eminently beatable. But they also know theyre still good enough to do the business. So what theyre doing is beating you with your own stick. All this incessant ‘choker’ banter only ramps up the pressure on SA because it infers that the Boks do not have similar psychological flaws. All the talk of SA winning a ‘Mickey Mouse RWC’ because they didnt face Aus/NZ/Fr would only be proven right if they cant beat a team who are a seriously-depleted version of the choker-ABs.
So you want respect ? We know they can talk’the’talk. Lets see you walk.
In the hearts and minds of NZers, they go in to this Test with very little pressure. If the Bokke lose, after all the banter that has gone before it, well they will laughed at all the way to Dunedin. And watch the banter get bitter.
30 Jun 2008, 17:03 pm
#692 poppa69: Instead of whining about our record in New Zealand over the last decade, we acknowledge that there is no tougher assignment in world rugby, face up to the challenge and do our best to put it right. We came close a few times, (closer than you ever came to winning the WC except maybe for 1995) and justifiably feel confident that now is the time to get the ****** off our backs. The All Blacks can feel very proud of their home record, just as we are very proud of winning 2 world cups. We took everything that was thrown our way and came out on top. Trust me, nothing would have made us happier than to win the World Cup by beating the All Blacks, on this occasion though your team wasn`t up to the task. That`s how it goes, man. Stop being so bitter about it.
30 Jun 2008, 17:04 pm
‘night children!
i’m outta here!
30 Jun 2008, 17:05 pm
#705 poppa69: shame poppa69 you really scraping now. I admire you. BlackP has deserted you. You the only AB flying the colours here. And even though your facts are hopelessly wrong, you persist. I admire that!
Tell me where can I go to take on some NZ supporters? What is the best NZ rugby posting spot? Anybody?
30 Jun 2008, 17:05 pm
#705 poppa69:
yes, it was unfortunate that SA rested players on the tour down-under but there was a RWC a few weeks away, rather than adopting the kiwi and oz approach in performing squad rotation and resting players over the intervening years, White chose a different tactic in knowing his best and resting them for those weeks prior to the RWC, in hindsight he was proved spot on as were most of his other decisions. many others are still left scratching their heads.
30 Jun 2008, 17:06 pm
#699 poppa69: Our key players have played non stop since the world cup. players can get overexposed and jaded, just as henry`s rotation policy left your players undercooked going into the WC.
30 Jun 2008, 17:08 pm
#698 Valkman:
tune my grof ek skaaf jou glad
30 Jun 2008, 17:09 pm
#705 poppa69: cheers poppa, i`m afraid it`s beer o clock for me. you make some valid points but your emotion skews the delivery somewhat. let`s see what happens on saturday shall we?
30 Jun 2008, 17:09 pm
#713 Fern:
30 Jun 2008, 17:11 pm
#709 asha1:
Take care asha
30 Jun 2008, 17:12 pm
#711 cab:
I like the way you have made Whites sheer cowardice instead in to a moment of coaching genius. Fact is he didnt select a full squad because he was worried about the psychological damage another defeat would do prior to the RWC.
Who says the ABs have a monoploy on choking ? The squad sent to NZ in 2007 was about 2 rungs below choking, it showed the spine of a jellyfish.
30 Jun 2008, 17:13 pm
#707 BlackPanther:
“Like it or not, this SA team has not 1 excuse available pre-Test. All your best players available. Great preparation. An accepted coach unhindered by that other great excuse, ‘transformation’.” slow your row bro – read my post 615 before you say that. No excuses, but facts.
further “The Kiwis know this AB team is eminently beatable. But they also know theyre still good enough to do the business. So what theyre doing is beating you with your own stick.” Your logic is non-sequeter, talking to someone about this might be a good idea.
Unfortunately you may be right, the banter may get bitter – but I hope not, for both sides.
#706 Valkman: Hehehe, welgedaan boet
30 Jun 2008, 17:14 pm
#714 sondebok: have one for me ……. good luck for this weekend, no matter the result I am looking forward to 2 titanic games, of which whoever wins will deserve it……
30 Jun 2008, 17:15 pm
#708 sondebok: lovely post
30 Jun 2008, 17:16 pm
Right I am going to the pub. This discussion is the equivalent of a one armed rowing a dinghy
30 Jun 2008, 17:17 pm
#717 BlackPanther:
so do I, but of course where did he learn about resting players from, well look no further than Henry whp pulled 20 players out of the S14. another defeat would have mattered little, since JW had already beaten the ABs 3 times, he knew the boks could do it, what he did not want was to see Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, FdP or Victor Matfield injured.
i said nothing about choking, but if the cap fits.
30 Jun 2008, 17:17 pm
#717 BlackPanther: The secret to success is to choose your battles wisely. Pre WC games 2007 weren’t that important
30 Jun 2008, 17:18 pm
#721 pauld:
Cheers pauld!
30 Jun 2008, 17:18 pm
#719 poppa69: Gr8, beneath the banter, I think we all are. Both teams have a lot to lose, both teams have everything to prove by winning, IMHO
30 Jun 2008, 17:19 pm
#664 crazy ******:
No problem Crazy!!
Gotta run now.
Catch up some other time.
30 Jun 2008, 17:20 pm
cheers pauld – you may find pub discussions do the same though!
30 Jun 2008, 17:22 pm
#723 FrenklyMuDeah:
true, sounds like something out of sun tzu.
man who pick battle wisely go on win war.
i believe the boks will win cos they have more spririt when it comes down to it.
we shall see on saturday what happens.
over&out.
30 Jun 2008, 17:23 pm
#725 zeitgeist: yes, and heaven help the supporters of the losing side lol….. wont the banter be even more interesting next week lmao…
30 Jun 2008, 17:23 pm
Home brew time
30 Jun 2008, 17:24 pm
#728 cab: dont be discounting the kiwis spirit……it could come back to bite you …
30 Jun 2008, 17:25 pm
#731 poppa69:
no no, SA as the underdog will never ever surrender, i think the boks bite is worse than their bok, beware…have the tissues ready.
30 Jun 2008, 17:28 pm
#732 cab: underdogs ??? hows that , we have just gone full circle….WChamps, No.1 Ranked side…… cmon, the AB’s for the first time in a long time should not be favourites ?? how can they be ??? someone justify it sensibly please ….
30 Jun 2008, 17:30 pm
#733 poppa69:
i agree with you its crazy, but the bookies have told us SA dont have a hope in hell, that sort of disrespect will fire the boys up to end…disgraceful.
30 Jun 2008, 17:33 pm
#733 poppa69:
If you are a random sample of the average Kiwi right now, then the anxiety levels are considerably higher than what I can appreciate right now
30 Jun 2008, 17:34 pm
#735 Sheriff: Im not average Sheriff, Im unique lol….no higher than they are before a WC quaterfinal with an Englishman as a ref lol
30 Jun 2008, 17:38 pm
#735 Sheriff:
Go Sheriff and his stats – random sample
How are the crime stats Sheriff? Must be well down now that McCaw’s in jail!
30 Jun 2008, 17:41 pm
#737 Dust/Fume:
Actually, most of them werent crime per se. More line traffic infringements, like wrong side of the centre (read offside) line …
30 Jun 2008, 17:42 pm
#736 poppa69:
Never blame another for your misfortune.
By doing so, you are reconfirming that party’s superiority to you.
Take ownership. Do what the “iwi” did with those forests over there..
30 Jun 2008, 17:42 pm
#738 Dust/Fume:
Actually, most of them werent crime per se. More LIKE traffic infringements, like wrong side of the centre (read offside) line …
30 Jun 2008, 17:44 pm
#737 Dust/Fume:
Yeah, the unthinkable happened, every Kiwi’s nightmare – McCaw getting injured before, wait for it, 2 tests against the Boks.
No doubt it will have an adverse impact on inflation targeting …
30 Jun 2008, 17:45 pm
This one’s for OCO:
“Chess is game played according to rules. Can you chest at chess?”
(Philosophy III paper at Oxford)
30 Jun 2008, 17:47 pm
And this one’s for Richie, poppa69
“Rugby is a game played according to rules. Can you chest at rugby?”
30 Jun 2008, 17:48 pm
SORRY
“Rugby is a game played according to rules. Can you cheat at rugby?”
30 Jun 2008, 17:49 pm
#620 rangerman: sorry Rangerman, just noticed this post….and yes regardless of the result , I agree….
30 Jun 2008, 17:52 pm
#745 poppa69:
poppa69 I asked you that specifically, because it seems not to matter to you whether the 6 is offside or the 9 is onside
(You do know that McCaw would be a ’6′ in South Africa?)
30 Jun 2008, 17:52 pm
Sheriff’®s alternative 7 steps to glory:
1. Take no sh*t
2. Tackle them to pieces
3. Scrum them to pieces
4. Run hard into space
5. Finish off every half a chance
6. Secure you’re own lineout ball and steal plenty of theirs
7. Above all, win…yes win at all cost
30 Jun 2008, 17:53 pm
Lets just smack these chokers good..stuff all this mental sh*t
30 Jun 2008, 17:53 pm
#739 Sheriff: oh that wasnt laying the blame , believe me you will know when I am blaming someone….my point was I am always nervous when we play the bokke….. isnt it normal when you face your greatest foe ??
30 Jun 2008, 17:53 pm
Later mates, well maybe then …
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