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, 23:57 pm
no richie, no collins annd possibly pyscological scarring….
add to that no jack, and various other absentees..
an all black team is never going to be weak, but this one definately isn’t the strongest it could be
30 Jun 2008, 23:57 pm
And forgive me my spelling errors. Its just so phucking cold here. Can only imagine what the Boks must be feeling, being further down south!
30 Jun 2008, 23:58 pm
#849 BokiNZ: Binz – everyone gets good and bad calls – i really don’t see any conspiracies. They all do their best, and it usually works out about even across the 80 minutes.
30 Jun 2008, 23:58 pm
#845 Seven:
Yep young man I do check most our games out, seen them come and go, through the good times and the bad, and I have to tell you the last 8 years – Streauli and White were for me the most dismal worst of the last 40 – even worse than Viljoen who at least tried to play some rugby, but really since Mallet we haven’t played rugby apart from 2 months at the WC in 2007 – otherwise 2000 – 2007 I’m happy to forget practically all of it – worst period in Bok rugby history ever – in spite of our lucky packet hullabaloo win.
30 Jun 2008, 23:59 pm
#848 SodaJoe: its going to be huge and a win would be great….
i sense that feeling you have…
1 Jul 2008, 00:00 am
#851 Seven: And we could say we have a new coach, new gameplan, guys who haven’t played ELV’s, etc, etc.
Aargh *** it.
Lets just play.
#852 BokiNZ: Spelling errors. the cold really affects those 2 fingers huh? No excuses beyond Vodak my friend. And anyway you’re in great company.
1 Jul 2008, 00:04 am
#854 skopskiet: Mallet was brilliant…biggest loss to South African rugby.
However get over yourself about Jake White…he set out objectives, and ultimately achieved the so desired throphy! also winning a try nations on the back of what strauli stuffed up!
If you believe Jake was that bad, you actually just an idiot.
1 Jul 2008, 00:05 am
#853 SodaJoe: Who’s talking about conspiracies? Just that1 side almost always feel aggrieved at the end of it. Would be a pity if it came down to that. Esp after all the hype!
1 Jul 2008, 00:07 am
#850 SodaJoe: Sersant Skopskiet. You did such a great job, we think that you would do well as an attack dog on Robbie Deans as well. This expanded role necessitates that you now ignore the “tongue biting cobra” and focus, focus, focus on the enemy – the kiwi & the wallabie. Cobras are out . Wingless birds and hopping dogs are in. Mooi loop and congratulations once again.
We are proud of you. It was a very big penny.
1 Jul 2008, 00:08 am
#858 BokiNZ: aye
1 Jul 2008, 00:10 am
#856 SodaJoe: i’m afraid your right about the elvs, the coach and gameplan…
no one has played under these elvs…
but i think Peter De Villiers realises what it takes to win this test much…lets see his team and see how far he is willing to back some players….
he has my backing till other wise,
1 Jul 2008, 00:11 am
#861 Seven: When do they announce the team? Thursday as usual? It will be interesting.
1 Jul 2008, 00:16 am
Ok guys – tot siens.
1 Jul 2008, 00:18 am
#863 SodaJoe: Cheers!
1 Jul 2008, 00:19 am
#859 SodaJoe: Nevermind skoppie. He’s guitar has realy only have 1 string. Amazing to hear the noise, sometimes it does resembles music, he can mustre out of that 1 string. Hey skoppie!
1 Jul 2008, 00:20 am
#857 Seven:
I know he was that bad – results do not lie.
Anyway you continue in your wishful belief, I’ll continue in my open eyed knowledge.
1 Jul 2008, 00:22 am
He’s =his. beginning to doubt if its the cold or just the consecutive late nites! Eish! Anyway guys, you know what? I’ll be in Wellington watching it unfold right in front of my own eyes! Isn’t that great! I SAID, ISN’T THAT GREAT!! YOOHOO!
1 Jul 2008, 00:25 am
#867 BokiNZ: Lucky FISH!!!!!
1 Jul 2008, 00:32 am
#859 SodaJoe:
#865 BokiNZ:
Different strokes for otherwise folks around here, those that focus on the enemy never see the moat in their own eye, like those that proclaim ‘no Irishmen would make my team’ and then get soundly beaten by the very same Irishmen that wouldn’t be making your team.
So by all means study your enemy, but focus on yourself, on your very own weaknesses and on how to improve and do better, you see I’m pretty much the opposite of most you so called ‘patriots’, I look for 100% honesty and integrity, if I notice a whole bang shoot cloud of suspicious smokescreen hogwash, like they tried feeding us since 1999, without them producing the results – that matter – like beating NZ home AND away – I’ll rip that bullsh’t smokescreen cloud and call it just as I see it, crappy useless coaching and all.
Liars can perhaps succeed in fooling part of the people part of the time, maybe even fool most of the people most of the time, but definitely can’t fool all the people ALL of the time – I think it was Abraham Lincoln said that – attributing to my friend Bob once again.
1 Jul 2008, 00:32 am
Anyway, before I forget. Congratz Simon on this thread. In light of the claims I made the other day, this is the kinda stuff that we would like to see all the time. Not those opinion pieces we get most of the time. You’ve actualy went out and did some research. Wow! Although the authenticity of it is yet to be determined!
Sorry, couldn’t resist! Hope I’m not in too deepa pile of … down at Keo HQ.
1 Jul 2008, 00:35 am
#868 AB: Great heh! Its also my b/day on Saturday. So, here’s to the Boks giving me the best b/day present ever!
1 Jul 2008, 00:39 am
#871 BokiNZ: I have noted your bday and will convey the appropriate wishes here on Keo before the match! Are you going to blog before you go to the stadium?
1 Jul 2008, 00:40 am
#869 skopskiet: Its funny you should say that. I recall you condoning what the Keo writers did on the PR article. Looking for 100% honesty and all. And here I was thinking you were the real deal! See you making it up as you go- like the rest of us!
1 Jul 2008, 00:44 am
Ain’t no blindness quite as blind as the one eyed egotist – one thing I can say for Jake – and I’m almost certain he himself might second me on this – it was he poor hard done by ego trampled coach himself that got taught the lessons of his life through his 4 years of coaching hell – It was he in fact that was the biggest recipient out of all the anguished gnashing of teeth and crumpling of ego’s, he was hardly the benefactor at all, in fact it was he that was doing all the learning, and the rest of us had to sit and watch and suffer all along whilst he ardently was hauled over the coals taken kicking and screaming through his growing pains, and painfully eradicating and nullifying his over sized blind egotism.
In the final analysis it may have all been worth it, for him that is, pity the rest of us had to suffer through it so.
1 Jul 2008, 00:45 am
#872 AB: Nah. I’ll be leaving on Friday morning. Its about 7hrs drive from here. Man, I can’t wait! Like I always say, great things in history has happened on the 05 July. Me being born, amongst other things. Not!!!
One thing for sure tho. We gonna rewrite history come Saturday
1 Jul 2008, 00:50 am
#873 BokiNZ:
Nothing to condone or witch hunt about Bokinz, really to me I hardly need to care where the material originates that comes on here, its just like any old news, BBC, CNN, Keo, Rugbyheaven, 365, whats the diffs who gets the scoop out first, long as we get to gnash our teeth over it and gulp it down like the scavengers we are, who cares who threw the bone out first.
1 Jul 2008, 00:50 am
#875 BokiNZ: In that case may those wishes for yourself and the Boks come true! Looking forward to your input in times to come!
1 Jul 2008, 00:54 am
OK guys Im outa here enjoy!
1 Jul 2008, 01:00 am
#878 AB: Night AB – it is pretty late I reckon – maybe time to tune out too
1 Jul 2008, 01:02 am
#876 skopskiet: Don’t want to start the whole thing all over again but even though I’m in 100% agreement with what you say, the difference is claiming it as your own without recognition to the original author. As journo’s, I thought, that was/is unethical! And not using the said article in its entirety as well but snippets to maximise the use. I don’t know skoppie, somehow it doesn’t feel right.
#877 AB: Thx AB. Will try and soak up all the atmosphere to report back on Sunday. Esp if we win! Freelance for Keo, so to speak!
1 Jul 2008, 01:07 am
#878 AB: Cheers AB. Nice chatting! You might wanna change your nick, if you not an AB fan of course, otherwise its pretty confusing.
1 Jul 2008, 03:10 am
Hey look, South Africa should win at least 1 (possibly both) of the 2 games here in New Zealand, and you should win your home game. You have (apart from your scrum) a very strong team over here. The best line-out pairing in the world and (whoever you might choose) some of the best loose forwards in the world as well. I think that we have chosen the best players available here in New Zealand. But our line-out has been barely adequate and our loose forwards are just finding their combinations. Our scrum will be strong, and the ELVs will enable us to take advantage of the 5 meter gap to the opposition defensive line. If our forwards can get us enough front-foot ball, our backs might see us through. All of this year’s games will be tough, with less than 10 points difference at the end. Really looking forward to them all…
1 Jul 2008, 03:10 am
Hello all
1 Jul 2008, 03:25 am
#883 We lost to the Scots cos its cold: BigHit? Is that you?
1 Jul 2008, 03:55 am
hey Bok
1 Jul 2008, 03:57 am
Hey Keo start a new thread this one with 800 plus posts is too slow
1 Jul 2008, 04:01 am
#866 skopskiet: I said in the beginning that PdV does not have too difficult a act to follow, i hope he can achieve better results, it will be nice to beat the ABs regularly , yes even in NZ.
Since you have such a big data base of Jakes achievements and failures lets take the PdV era in small steps. We start at the beginning , its a 4 year project.
Jakes 1st Year-Summary Total
Played 13
Wins 9 69.20%
Losses 4 30.80%
Draws 0 -
1 Jul 2008, 04:07 am
juslike this page is slow…
AB team to play on sat:
1. Tony Woodcock 2. Andrew Hore 3. Greg Somerville 4.Brad Thorn 5. Ali Willliams 6. Adam Thomson 7 Rodney So’oialo (c) 8. Jerome Kaino 9. Andy Ellis 10.Dan Carter 11. Rudi Wulf 12. Ma’a Nonu 13. Conrad Smith 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu 15. Mils Muliaina.
Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu 17. Neemia Tialata 18. Anthony Boric 19. Sione Lauaki 20. To be named 21. Stephen Donald 22. Leon MacDonald.
1 Jul 2008, 04:10 am
and so tialata is benched!
find it strange that kaino is in the team despite getting DUI on thursday evening last week. perhaps the jimmy cowan incident has allowed the nzru to sweep kaino’s trouble under the black carpet.
im not suprised about tialata dropping onto bench. i am a bit suprised with wulf’s inclusion over tuitevake.
1 Jul 2008, 04:11 am
What a load of ****, AB’s are going to smash you guys but I admit that its your best shot yet.
1 Jul 2008, 04:30 am
howzit saussie
you expecting a blowout win for AB’s then?i just cant see it happening.
im expecting the wallabies to come very close for their away game in nz, and will win in their home game against nz. deans is shaping things up nicely now.
1 Jul 2008, 04:36 am
AB’s are having a few off field misdemeanors of late. Perhaps I’m old school… But of what significance is it to Rugby? Seriously guys if you or I were done for DUI, Assault, Slander, etc… of what significance is it to our occupation other than a few hours of work time taken up appearing before a magistrate.
I am not condoning the off field incidents but come on.
1 Jul 2008, 04:41 am
Yesterday I stated that Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino and Sione Lauaki should all be stood down for the next game due to recent brushes with the law.
Stew Wilson amongst others is now campaigning for Jimmy Cowan to be sacked. It is still to be decided if Jimmy Cowan will be named on the All Black bench. I read the incident report today and Cowan was not arrested for fighting but for threatening a lead bouncer after he took acception to his comments (which may have also been a threat). Cowan was taunted by locals and had objects thrown at him before the incident.
Given what the arrest was for I think that Jimmy should be stood down for about 5 games. Drunk driving Jerome Kaino should also be stood down for 5 games. Drunk driving passenger Sione Lauaki should be stod down for 1 game.
I don’t know why the GH or the NZRU had not already set the president by standing players down for miss conduct. Stew Wilson is an idioit for wanting Cowan’s All Black contarct torn up. He has decided that drink driving (which kills people) is not an offence while a fighting incident (Cowan’s first offence) and threatening someone should end someones career
Kaino and Lauaki have both been named in the side to meet the Boks. What message are the NZRU and GH trying to send here! Maybe Kaino will only lose his contract if he ends up killing someone!
Looking at the All Black team Mils Mulianina has been named at full back ahead of MacDonald. IMO this is an awful decision as MacDonald is in excellent form and we sacrifice more of our kicking game which we already lose by playing the inform Nonu at 12.
We do have some good news that Ali and Brad combo are fit.
I have no problem with the So’oialo and Thomson 7 and 6 combo but I wish they could have had game time doing this before the Boks.
At the end of the day I would not pay to sit in the stadium and watch Graham Henry’s drunk driving verdict run around the field. I will watch from home. It is tough being an All Blacks supporter these days as Graham Henry and the NZRU look at stripping more dignity from the side
1 Jul 2008, 04:43 am
#892 RugbyRulz:
it affects team culture for sure. in a sporting context the guys are very reliant on each other to uphold their culture, and from another angle their is the role model pressure.
for guys who represent their country on an international level, goes for boks, wallabies and AB’s the room for ‘error’ is minute. its just not right to allow criminals to represent their country. obviously this all applies if the parties are found guilty.
i think its pathetic all this slapping with wet bus ticket discipline. in nz herald today there is a recent list of AB off field antics that have come under public eye. luaki, howlet, sivivatu, mils, rodders, hore, cowan x2, nonu, masoe-umaga….add in the tupoki and parkinson BS.
1 Jul 2008, 04:48 am
#893 church – like chch but pronounceable:
I would like to add that the conduct of members of the public taunting players is terrible. New Zealand’s population is beginning to include more and more idiots.
I can imagine idiots taunting a public figure just because they recognise him and don’t know how to respond. It is called a limited range of behaviour and it is a symtom of a lack of intelligence.
I am not saying Cowan isn’t wrong but I would love to see some of the idiots that threw things draged into court based on CCT footage.
1 Jul 2008, 04:51 am
#893 church – like chch but pronounceable:
Seriously m8 the PC police are alive and well.
Old ways will die hard but they will die. Facing up to societal problems will take time and binning old schooled heads isn’t the way to go. Fu*k if that be the way bring back corporal punishment (it doesnt work that way).
NZRU is finally dragging itself into currency through adopting education programming of youngsters. We all know (well smart ones do) that we are on show 24/7. One does not expect the average sportsman (most are not that well educated) to know what society expects. The boozy culture pervading hard played sport is fading (and so it should) but hey! Sportsmen/women are real people too and prone to human frailties.
1 Jul 2008, 04:51 am
#893 church – like chch but pronounceable:
i think your suspensions would be suitable. cowan’s trouble seems to be that his temper under the influence has put him into situations where the cops have had to be called in to either protect him from further damage, or protect him from making damage. sounds like he hasnt done too much wrong, compared to drunk driving which is totally unacceptable!
btw Stu wilson is a complete tw@t.
am glad that ali is fit to play. think the decision to play mils ahead of panadol is that henry will be looking to use his bench to try accelerate the game again in the last 20minutes, much the same way the ABs beat the boks in durban.
1 Jul 2008, 04:58 am
#895 church – like chch but pronounceable: So its the immigrants then? OK. Cowan knows he’s in the spotlight and should therefore think before he act. Especialy considering his earlier misdemeanor. End of story!
1 Jul 2008, 05:02 am
#898 BokiNZ:
bokinz, i know church’s comment initially ruffled my feathers too, but i think its clear that its not immigrants being referred to hear.
anyway,,,how many immigrants live down otago region?
1 Jul 2008, 05:07 am
cant remember details, but not long ago there was an all black who was involved in a drink drive accident where someone was killed and police were charging or were going to charge the current or ex AB.
who was it? faintly recall it being eric rush? but i could be horribly wrong!
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