Giteau: Bench gives the boost
28 Aug 2008
Wallaby play-maker Matt Giteau has lauded the efforts of his team’s bench in winning them tight matches.
Robbie Deans has astutely used his substitutes throughout the Tri-Nations, replacing his players with purpose and an intended plan. The result has been thorough performances for the full 80 minutes, which is crucial under the ELVs as fatigue kicks in.
Giteau noted how training is done with this intent in mind. “One of our biggest strengths is the impact our bench has been giving to the team – we’ve got a squad of 30. The whole squad trains and everyone gets an opportunity to train in their position. And everyone gets equal time in their positions,” Giteau told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I think that certainly has a positive effect when the interchange players come on. They feel comfortable in their roles. They just go out and want to play good football, and that’s what they’ve been doing.
“Previously in a lot of teams, you’d probably focus on the starting XV, making sure they get enough time in their positions. But now everyone is getting that equal time and equal opportunity, and that is certainly paying dividends for us,” said Giteau.
This fresh approach to training has left the players rejuvenated in the middle of a long season. This is in contrast to Bok coach Peter De Villiers’s comments where he blamed the team’s results on them being “flat”. Deans is obviously getting the best out of his players and Giteau says he is not feeling the effects of a lengthy season.
“You can’t speak for the opposition, but where we’re at, we’re all feeling fresh. It is a tough and intense competition. But I think we’ve got the balance right, and the guys do feel fresh. They are looking forward to training, and looking forward to games. I haven’t experienced that flatness.”
Meanwhile, Deans has delayed the naming of his team as he awaits the outcome of Rocky Elsom’s appeal against a one-week ban. The Australian team will be announced at four this afternoon.
10 Comments
28 Aug 2008, 07:44 am
Bench dragon
28 Aug 2008, 08:08 am
It must be nice to have a coach with a plan! Did anybody hear the interview with snor on 702 or jacaranda this morning? Snor is clueless. He was trying explaining his game plan??? Basically he admits he does not really have a game plan. The players must just go out and play and make up there game plan as they go along.
28 Aug 2008, 08:13 am
Hmmm , verskonings verskonings , SA rugby is vol verskonings en dit vir Wereld Kampione. Tyd dat hulle rugby begin speel en minder praat. Rugby is profesioneel indien hulle vergeet het. Dis hulle job waarvoor hulle groot geld kry. Almal moet hulle koppe skoon kry en verantwoordelikheid aanvaar. Kom nou bokke , kry rigting en wen die laaste game vir ons. Wys die Aussies ons is nog nie afgeskryf nie.
28 Aug 2008, 08:13 am
#2 Sonito: that’s a sad indictment on the whole SARU, because at the point of interviewing PdVf or the coach’s appointment, they should have been fully investigating his intended style of play and game plan intentions, that’s what an international coach is appointed on, so chances are, it’s not just his fault. The board is entitled to take responsibility for lack of performance as well.
28 Aug 2008, 08:15 am
#2 Sonito: Good thing I didn’t here it. I might have choked on my breakfast from laughter.
What is Snor actually coaching the Boks. Sounds like they might as well play without him. Some tennis players have had success without a coach so being coachless sounds like a option for the Boks.
28 Aug 2008, 08:26 am
#5 It is just a game: #4 Old Griquas 14 in Sydney:
You have to have some sort idea of how you going to breakdown the oppostion you cant expect the players to just make things up as they go along. The players cant just wing it and thats exactly what they doing at the moement.
28 Aug 2008, 08:35 am
#6 Sonito: agreed. That’s patently obvious from their matches to date. No offence plan, and a scrambling defence. I do believe that the situation has been worsened for PdV because of the loss of Smit – I don’t believe Matfield is comfortable with the captaincy, and it is affecting his game, so on-field leadership is sadly lacking, and, as I’ve said here before, a noticeable failure in the basics of catch, pass and back-up. The number of fundamental errors in the bok game at the moment is at an unacceptable schoolboy level.
28 Aug 2008, 09:06 am
#2 Sonito: Sounds like that book “Thriving in Chaos” where the author noted a number of companies that literally thrived in an environment of freedom of expression, fluidity, flexibility and chaos. The irony is that the majority of those businesses are out of business today.
28 Aug 2008, 09:52 am
Strange style of management. Jakes names a job he would like and Hoskins calls a meeting to discuss his proposal. Sounds very ad hoc to me.
28 Aug 2008, 10:08 am
Haha can someone please tell me what this dragon story is about?
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