Boks hoping to maintain momentum

Boks hoping to maintain momentum

18 Jun 2010

Victor Matfield says the Boks’ performance without a few senior players against Italy is vital looking ahead to the Tri-Nations.

Italy may not be ranked inside the world’s top 10, but they’ll test the Boks in a couple of internationals in just the areas where they need to be. After the Boks’ first two wins of the season over Wales in Cardiff and Six Nations champions France, the senior players and coaching staff have been openly critical of their performances and the areas where they’re seeking improvement.

Peter de Villiers highlighted the side’s poor decision-making at times, while this week all the talk has been about the Bok set piece. New scrum doctor Os Du Randt has been with the side since last week, and he’ll earn his salary against an Italian scrum recognised as one of the best in the world.

‘There are a few little technical things we want to work on,’ said Matfield, the Bok captain. ‘We brought in a new saying last week that we want every aspect of our game to be at least 1 or 2% better, not just improving in one area by 100%. We’ve started the season well, but we want to get better every time we put on the Bok jersey.

‘It will be good to see how far we’ve come under Os at the scrums. We know what Italy will try do, I’ve played under Nick Mallett at the Barbarians last year. They’ll have a defensive game-plan, based on a lot of kicking. We weren’t good under the high ball last week, so that will be a big test.

‘They’ll also try keep the ball in the scrum to milk penalties.’

Matfield doesn’t foresee any problems with Schalk Burger’s late withdrawal due to injury. Burger didn’t train throughout the week, and De Villiers naming him in the starting team was more out of hope than anything else.

Francois Louw will replace Burger, and Matfield acknowledged how much respect Louw has gained from his team-mates over the last two weekends.

‘We’ve spent the whole week training with Francois because we expected Schalk to be out,’ said Matfield. ‘It would have been a bonus if he was passed fit, he’s class player, but Francois has been the team’s Man of the Match two weeks in a row.’

Louw will get another chance to cement his spot in the squad, while Potgieter also has that opportunity. With John Smit, BJ Botha, Danie Rossouw, Burger, Wynand Olivier and Jaque Fourie rested or injured, others also have a shot at proving themselves.

A defining feature of the international season so far has been the way the newcomers have stepped in and excelled, with competition for places driving the players to new levels at the same time as expanding the Bok depth.

‘A few guys will get their chance this week, and they know you only get one chance in this team,’ said Matfield. ‘There’s lots of pressure for positions, so guys may not get a second chance.’

One such player who will have an unnecessary amount of pressure on him is Butch James. De Villiers has openly criticised the level of the northern hemisphere leagues and the form Boks have returned from there in, and James will have to prove himself in an unfamiliar position of inside centre.

If James produces the same form he has done for Bath De Villiers won’t be able to ignore him, while Matfield also highlighted his influence off the pitch.

‘Butch has been great since he’s come back, really positive. Even that week in Wales where lots of things were going on around him, he still gave lots of input. He’s a senior guy in the squad, and he knows our game. He looked like a member of the coaching staff on the sidelines.’

By Grant Ball, in Witbank


100 Comments

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  • 51.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:02 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-47: Ask Joe Petersen. ;)

  • 52.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:04 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-51:

    hehehe…

  • 53.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:05 pm

    @World Cup(World Cup)-46: LOL yes, no chance really. I just like the safety factor at the back, I was never that confident in Percy’s ability to stop his man under pressure (last line of defence and all that). I remember discussing this very issue with Andy Marinos over a beer or 2 (before the last WC) and him telling me to not worry, Percy will be fine at the back, and we need Jaques at 13. Turns out he was right on both counts.

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-48: yes, he’s got a strong side step and great acceleration, I was wondering if he had any real pace beyond the first 20m. If he does he could be a great prospect at almost any position, barring 10 really. The thing about good scrumhalfs is that they are typically one of the best allround athletes and Ball players in the team. They know how to tackle guys bigger than them, the can accelerate very well, have great hands but sometime can’t convert the acceleration into decent outright pace. They are sometimes also a bit short, although Hougaard is tall enough to play anywhere in the backline.

  • 54.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:06 pm

    The Bulls are sitting on some seriously exciting new talent:

    W Kruger
    J Kruger
    Stegmann
    O Kruger
    F Hougaard
    F Brummer
    S Dippenaar
    R Snyman
    D Helberg
    G vd Heever

    :salivating:

  • 55.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:07 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-54:

    uhm, erm…”salivating” strictly in the sense of the rugby quality and spectacle of course…

  • 56.World Cup: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:08 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-53: Old Andy – I heard he organized the Stormers strike before the Highlanders semi-final. I hear what you say about Percy, believe me you are not alone. What about Shadow van den Heever on fullback.

  • 57.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:09 pm

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-51: That’s a bit unfair on Joe (he says swallowing the bait), it’s a dead in the water situation when caught like that. Just ask Curtly Beale. Juan De Jongh did the same thing to him in the semis and made him look flat footed, and we all know he’s a better player than that..

    But credit to him for taking the opportunity. Most good outside backs would have rounded Joe in that situation.

  • 58.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:09 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-54: Scott Higginbotham can outsprint 95% of that talent

  • 59.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:09 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-53:

    If you want an example of his pace:

    His first try in the Bulls vs Crusader S14 round 13.

    Rounded Sean Maitland and sprinted for the try.

    The thing about scrummies, is that they should be like middle distance athletes as they’ll be trooping up and down after the breakdowns. Example of what not to do:

    Ricky Januaaire.

  • 60.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:12 pm

    @Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-58:

    Scott Hickbottom was 7 meters offside MightyWhore.

    Watch the replay and you’ll see that when Genia kicked the ball, Scrote was over the halfway in 3 seconds.

    And to top it all off, both Dippies and WO were gaining on him at the ANGLE. Check it out man.

  • 61.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:12 pm

    @World Cup(World Cup)-56: I wouldn’t put Shadow anywhere near the fullback position until he improves his defence and kicking, but he has the physical size and pace to be really effective there. Haven’t seen him kick much (Fourie does such a good job of covering that role for the bulls) and he’s been shown up a bot on defence this year, but he definately has potential for the future….

  • 62.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:13 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-54: The Stormers have some great young talent coming through as well, it bodes well for a good rivallry for years to come.

  • 63.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:14 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-59: Is it just my imagination or is Ricky getting leaner by the match?

  • 64.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:15 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-60: I believed you until you said WO.

  • 65.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:16 pm

    stormertoy its your imagination …

  • 66.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:16 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-60: Admit it T.I.T face Dippies and Meisikind are Scroties whores :lol:

  • 67.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:17 pm

    @World Cup(World Cup)-56: Next time I see him I’ll ask him about that strike. See if I can get a reaction. Might jeopardise my chances of Newlands tickets in future though lol.

  • 68.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:18 pm

    I dont know why Dippies did not feature for the rest of the tournament cause meisikind was also outsprinted!

  • 69.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:19 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-65: Yeah i guess I asked for that one..

  • 70.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:19 pm

    @Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-66:

    THAT is non-factual and you cannot in any way,shape or form sunstantiate that!

    The assistant Aussie ref is Scrotes’ Ho.

  • 71.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:21 pm

    whi is T.I.T face Dippies?? – Juan de Jongh? ..or is he more of a acne face

  • 72.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:21 pm

    @Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-68:

    Dippies did feature 4 times more, most notably in the win over the Crusaders where he set up the ball that eventually went wide to Maku..

    No silly buggers now Hoerua

  • 73.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:22 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-71:

    Uhhh…that would be me.

  • 74.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:22 pm

    whi = who

  • 75.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:23 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-74: T.I.T = Jorrie Muller

  • 76.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:26 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-73: yeah something like “Bird brain” would be a little more apt really. I try not to go for the cheap insult right off the bat…

  • 77.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:26 pm

    damn Germany lost ….

  • 78.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:27 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-77: Yes, i was rooting for them too….

  • 79.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:28 pm

    So much for uber white supremacy!

  • 80.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:29 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-63:

    No, you have to observe the Buddhas belly at the end of the match when he no longer has the strength or the will power to suck it in any longer.

  • 81.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:30 pm

    @Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-58: Thats all you got? An offside try? Thats what you throw in our faces? No Super 14 winners in Oz? Tri-Nations? World Cup? Lean days huh?

  • 82.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:30 pm

    mighty … so what do you think of banana banana

  • 83.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:31 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-80: You know, for an out of shape oke he gets around fairly well….

  • 84.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:33 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-82: What must I think? They lost…Handsomely

  • 85.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:33 pm

    What do you think?

  • 86.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:35 pm

    mighty .. booth should’ve played

  • 87.gecko: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:37 pm

    Bafana’s game plan consists of so many back and square passes it is like having four David Batty’s in midfield.

  • 88.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:37 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-86: Booth is way to slow….i am suspecting slower than Dippies

  • 89.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:38 pm

    Bafana at this level is a joke!

  • 90.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:39 pm

    lol i agee gecko … strange gameplan for a brilliant coach .. only Brazil can play that kind of soccer ..they have the magic

  • 91.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:41 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-83:

    rolling doesn’t count.

  • 92.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:41 pm

    maybe they should get more Tukkies guys ..looking at the Bulls flyhalves, Steyn, Hougaard & Naas …all good kickers …. :-p

  • 93.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:43 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-83:

    But on amore serious note, he didn’t get around at all in the last 15 minutes against France and halfway through the Wales test. And I know it.

  • 94.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:43 pm

    @Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-88:

    I’ll take a slow Booth over Mokoena any day…

  • 95.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:43 pm

    @quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-92:

    Brummer
    Boshoff
    etc.

  • 96.quotas_sux: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:44 pm

    maybe get some white quotas in soccer?

  • 97.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:49 pm

    @mxhosa(mxhosa)-94: Mokoena at least have international experience

  • 98.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 15:57 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-93: Well none of us would have chosen him, but it looks like he’s there to stay, and he did better than i would have expected, so i’m prepared to give him some benefit, but I need to see him sharpening up in the conditioning dept. I mean, what an opportunity, you’d think he would be on atkins and be running non-stop to get back into trim condition….

  • 99.Partizan: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 21:51 pm

    So does Booth moron, played for the top Russian club for years

  • 100.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    18 Jun 2010, 23:15 pm

    triple digit post.

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