Brainy Boks have no match
10 Jun 2010
While France have come to South Africa with a physical reputation, they’ll struggle to match the Springboks for tactical intelligence.
Over the past year, South Africa has dominated world rugby. They’ve dished out their characteristic brand of belligerence, but behind the brawn has been an intelligence that’s separated them from the usual contenders.
Their superior kicking game was credited for a Tri-Nations victory in 2009, an aspect that was prominent in the Bulls’ back-to-back Super 14 titles. They’ve adjusted to the new breakdown interpretations, in some cases to the point where they’re able to counter them on defence, and have ridden that momentum into the 2010 Test season.
Former Bok prop Cobus Visagie has noted the evolution and said supporters shouldn’t be too worried about Saturday’s Test against France. Having played much of his rugby in the northern hemisphere for English club Saracens, he’s well aware of the France’s physicality, but at the same time he believes the Boks have no tactical match.
‘They played well in the second half against Wales, combining a good kicking game with direct rugby. That is how they beat the Welsh, and I suspect that is how they’ll beat the French this Saturday,’ Visagie told keo.co.za.
And yet, the stats suggest there’s no need to be confident. The Boks haven’t beaten France since 2005 and were badly beaten at the breakdown in the most recent match in Toulouse.
Visagie, however, feels the perception that the South Africa struggle against France is inaccurate and that a few poor results shouldn’t act as an inhibitor.
‘You look at the kind of rugby Clermont, Toulouse and Biarritz play, and you can understand why the national side enjoys that direct brand of rugby,’ Visagie said. ‘It’s what they’re used to and why they’ve enjoyed some success against the Boks in the past.
‘But I don’t think South Africa have struggled against France. Go back and look at those losses and you will note some important things like when the games were played and at what stage of South Africa’s evolution they were played.’
Referee Bryce Lawrence will determine the flow of the game at Newlands, and Visagie pointed out that an experienced Bok unit has what it takes to make the necessary adjustments.
‘The general way the game is going has favoured the South Africans. France have been the best northern hemisphere team in terms of adapting to the ELVs, but the Boks will have an advantage having excelled under the new law interpretations in the Super 14.
‘From what I’ve seen in the Super 14, the French can expect a Storming Bull at Newlands. The Boks are blessed with players who have the rugby knowledge to adjust to their necessary game plan. A lot will depend on how the ref calls the breakdown contest, but you’d back the Boks to adjust.
‘If the ref allows for a contest at the ruck, South Africa have the defence to withstand a counter-attack. If the ref is strict in his application of the interpretation and favours the attacking side going forward, then South Africa have the ball-carriers to make the momentum count.
‘I don’t think it matters who the Boks play. It’s more about getting what they do right.’
The French-based duo of Frans Steyn and Joe van Niekerk are no longer in the Bok picture, as coach Peter de Villiers believes their average showings in Cardiff are down to their extended exposure to the sub-standard Top 14. The France management team has since come out with a counter-statement, as they believe the Top 14 is as good as the Super 14.
Visagie, however, has sided with De Villiers on this point.
‘The quality of this past Super 14 was exceptional,’ he said, ‘and there’s been a lot more emphasis on forward play. The forwards have been criticised in the past, but we’ve seen how the dynamics have changed.
‘The forwards are crucial to the running and kicking game. In the Top 14, however, there’s a lot more senseless kicking than there is in the Super 14.’
One area where the Boks need to improve is at scrum time, as seen by the inconsistent showing in Cardiff. De Villiers blamed referee Alan Lewis for harbouring preconceived ideas about the Bok front row, and while Visagie agrees to an extent, he feels the South Africans must learn from that experience.
‘The ref was well prepared for the Boks last week, and I’m sure [Bok forwards coach] Gary Gold has been working with the guys to ensure they get the timing right and avoid the early engage.
‘Overall, I don’t think there are big problems with the scrum. John Smit is back in his preferred position of hooker, and when you comment on the return of CJ van der Linde and BJ Botha, you have to ask the question: “Who else is there?”
‘Gurthro Steenkamp has played well this season and really put the Stormers under pressure in the Super 14 final. He should do well this weekend.’
Visagie is employed as Saracens’ commercial director, but is also involved with the Springbok Supporters Club in the United Kingdom. He’s presently in Cape Town to see how the the South African arm of the club runs, and will take that information back to England.
‘It’s about continuing to build the brand of the Boks, a brand that has become synonymous with South Africa,’ he said. ‘There is a large South African community overseas that has got behind Saracens. We saw that when the Boks played Saracens in front of 40 000 people at Wembley last November.
‘I’m here to see how the Boktown is run, because we are hoping to provide the same services for South African supporters living abroad.’
By Jon Cardinelli
613 Comments
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11 Jun 2010, 01:13 am
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-598: it is such a great rivalry, been some epic battles and Im sure there will be many more.
Thats why I often have a look at rugby-talk.com, for the last month or so they have posted an article every tuesday night about the 1970s AB tour to SA, inclusive with pictures and excerpts from journalists books of the day… They really are a good read..
considering they first played each other in 1921 I believe, 9 tests is infinitely a small amount in almost 100 years of rivalry..
11 Jun 2010, 01:13 am
@cab(cab)-596:
Well, 29’500 minimum isn’t bad at all for a 22 year old with no other professional experience or training. To play the world’s most magnificent game, and getting paid to train, free physio and dietician thrown in….the works!
11 Jun 2010, 01:15 am
got to dash, work beckons…
11 Jun 2010, 01:16 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-601:
It is a possibility that by the time SA and NZ meet in the 2011 RWC in the semifinal, the deficit could be 4 (3 wins 2010, and 2 wins 2011 3N, seeing as ARG joins I beieve…)
11 Jun 2010, 01:16 am
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-604:
whoops…5
11 Jun 2010, 01:17 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-603:
Cheerio.
11 Jun 2010, 01:19 am
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-602:
i dont know the ins and outs of his package, but how the hell they lost a talent like mapoe is beyond me – i wonder brussow’s package is with all the rumours of his moving – compare that to mapoe’s.
11 Jun 2010, 01:26 am
@cab(cab)-607:
No, the minimum for a Super 14 player is 29’500. so Mapoe must be getting 35’000 now or something?
11 Jun 2010, 01:41 am
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-581:
I went an ‘poked myself in the eye’ on that thread, as you suggested.
Now, what were your instructions again ?
“And you said you thought they were poisoned. By a person. Not by the Joburg Hilton’s evening buffet.
On the Canes click into Gear thread.
Where you brought up Suzie.”.
Now Ive just read that entire thread.
1. nowhere do I “bring up Suzi”
2. nowhere do I say the “ABs were poisoned….by a person”.
Actually, YOU are the ONLY person who ‘brings up Suzi’ when at 336 YOU say
“Dodgy poison bearing waitresses in the finals.”
Yet again, attempting to put words in someones mouth in order to ‘prove’ one of your hairbrained theories.
The closest I got, seems to be:-
“A Semi & a Final. Both won in desperately close scorelines. Both clouded with corruption and controversy.”
The ‘corruption’ was in context of the Gold watch. Since WHEN do Presidents of National Rugby Boards offer anything to referees at postmatch functions ? Funnily, it seems widely accepted that this happened and, furthermore, that it was not right. But a Kiwi says it and, somehow, it means something entirely more sinister. Poppa summed it up perfectly at 551.
But let me see now. What did the ref say again ?
‘It was something I could have done without,’ Mr Bevan said. ‘It came out of the blue: I have no idea why he singled me out. It could be misconstrued, and if that is the case, it leaves a bitter taste”
I wonder what he meant by “could be misconstrued” then ?
The ‘controversy’ can mean a number of things, but clearly the stench of how the ABs became poisoned, intentionally or unintentionally. But to SOMEHOW twist THOSE words in to me saying
“they were posioned BY a person” and that “it was Suzi” ???
In fact, you may even be confusing me with Cane (Id be honoured). Because he didnt mention Suzi either.
Your not FIT to Count
because
YOU
are
a
F R A U D !
A counterfeiter mimics someone elses work as if their own. Perhaps you might like to try spending all your energy on words I DO say, instead of the ones you BELIEVE I did.
Once youve found where I “said” the above, come back and play. Like a good wee fella.
11 Jun 2010, 04:43 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-609:
Yaaawwwnnnn…………boring tosser!
11 Jun 2010, 09:18 am
@whatever(whatever)-610:
Given that your total output here, from the 1st day you showed up, has been strictly limited to short bursts of abuse and cussing I would respectfully suggest it is you that is “boring”.
Altho, some signs of maturity look like emanating from the teenagers bedroom amongst the porn mags and piles of tissues; atleast your abuse is in English these days.
11 Jun 2010, 10:37 am
@skopskiet(yliad)-588: Kick Shoot, its the hypocrisy… get off your high liberal horse…
BTW it makes my day when that SS prose flows…
11 Jun 2010, 23:57 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-581:
It will be almost 24 hrs since I answered your request. And, my, how strange – 1 minute you were right here, badgering me for answers to reveal all and suddenly
*poof*
youre gone ?!
But I dont understand it, you were SOOOOOOOO desperate to expose me as a ‘liar’. But it didnt work out so well because, instead, I exposed YOU as a
F R A U D !
And, y’know, I thought it might be that you were busy with the World Cup starting n’all, so I’ll give you some more time. But, should you fail to make an ever-humble appearance, I dont how much I can do to help when everyone else calls you a
C O W A R D !
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