‘Boks can expect different Blacks’
7 Jul 2010
Robbie Kempson says the All Blacks won’t adopt a helter skelter approach like they did last year against the Springboks.
The Kiwis’ tactical naivete in the first encounter between the sides astounded many pundits, as they opted to run from all positions on the field in an attempt to not make contact as often as possible and avoid the Boks strengths, such as the lineout. The visitors were expected to be more pragmatic in Durban, but again they followed the Bloem template – without any success.
With Dan Carter back for the final hit-out of the year in Hamilton, the Blacks varied their game better, but their faltering lineout cost them in the opening half especially.
Former Bok prop Kempson believes the Kiwis would have learnt their lessons and will play a much smarter game this time around. The Stormers and Bulls – who make up the majority of the Bok squad – had unprecedented success against the New Zealand sides in this year’s Super 14, the former winning all five of their games, while the Bulls lost just one out of six against Kiwi opposition.
That loss came against the Blues, when the Aucklanders realised they had to play the Bulls at their own game, and they physically matched the South Africans at the collisions. Conversely, the Crusaders believed they had the blueprint to down South African opposition, but in the semi-final it backfired as they only served to put themselves under pressure by running from deep.
Even though this year’s law interpretations favour sides keeping ball in hand in their own territory and All Blacks wing Cory Jane says they’ll counter-attack as much as possible under the Boks’ aerial attack, Kempson feels the hosts won’t try loosen up the match from the outset.
‘The All Blacks know they’ll have to take on the confrontations first,’ Kempson told keo.co.za. ‘They’re known for swinging the ball wide, but they won’t do it from the start. The only way to beat the Boks is to confront them up front initially.’
The battle for gain-line supremacy is aided by who gets front foot ball at the set-pieces. Graham Henry lamented his side’s poor showing at the scrum against Wales, while the Boks hold a mental advantage over the Blacks at the lineout due to last year’s dismantling of the set-piece by Victor Matfield.
‘I don’t think the Bok scrum will dominate, as many people think,’ said Kempson. ‘Our front row isn’t at their best yet and is still one of the weaker parts of our game because we don’t have continuity in that aspect. Both sides would assume the scrums will be 50-50 and we’ll have to wait and see what happens there as you can’t read too much into what the All Blacks did against Wales.
‘The All Black lineout has improved, but no one compares to Victor. We should dominate them there, and our loosies will also edge it.
‘Overall, that battle up front is key, but in both sides’ cases, they’re not as strong as they’d want to be.’
The Boks have a brilliant opportunity to strike another blow to the Kiwi psyche in Auckland, but Kempson doesn’t foresee the Boks repeating last year’s feat of defeating the Blacks three times.
‘I don’t think we’ll win both Tests there,’ he said. ‘We have the best squad South Africa’s assembled and what they’ve achieved is tremendous, but we won’t repeat last year’s results. Especially with the amount of pride at stake on the All Blacks’ part.
‘It’s always tough in New Zealand, especially the first Test. As Richie McCaw’s said, they’re ranked the No 1 side in the world and no one’s given them much credit for it. They’ll really be up for the challenge.’
By Grant Ball
84 Comments
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7 Jul 2010, 09:42 am
7 – Scott Higginbotham (Reds):
After the way he played, and outsprinted two backs for a stunning try, we had to find place for him and Schalk Burger currently owns the No.6 jersey.
7 Jul 2010, 09:52 am
When I first saw the headline I thought, “oh no, not more quota regulations”.
7 Jul 2010, 09:58 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-46: eish, what can i say? It’s flattering but not when the impostor is a harebrained imbecile.
7 Jul 2010, 10:09 am
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-47:
Great question, as a nutritionist, I have seen energy expenditure of the typical Eskimo, and the majority of their energy is spent on conserving body heat.
If you would like to read a very insightful article regarding the Eskumo’s energy expenditure and increased metabolic rate:
***.physiology.org/cgi/pdf_extract/33/2/184" rel="nofollow">
7 Jul 2010, 10:14 am
@RaGe_X(RaGe_X)-54: The link doesn’t appear to work. But thanks anyway.
What about the Scandinavians? They’re very tall, and also live in a cold climate.
7 Jul 2010, 10:15 am
Apparently my link contains a racist word… ROFL
j a p
(the irony is inconceivable)
7 Jul 2010, 10:17 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-51: I read today that their thinking of making Scotty a Centre, now that would be interesting
7 Jul 2010, 10:18 am
Climate/Environment certainly plays as big a part in your physical make-up as diet.
Easier for your body to heat shorter limbs. And if I’m not mistaken muscles generate more heat.
7 Jul 2010, 10:18 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-44: When de Jongh came up against a good defending 12, he did look ordinary. WO is not renowned for his sidestep, and that is something you’re looking for at 12. I never said he killed JdJ, but he was not as flamboyant as in the rest of the tourny. If you read previous posts of mine, you will see that I actually want JdJ to start in the no12 jersey, with WO or JdV as his understudy. Please dont take my “fair enough” comment out of context…..
7 Jul 2010, 10:26 am
WO is a S14 and currie cup player and not our answer for the boks. Juan dj definitely the future. However, I would start Jdv for his experience. He won’t play badly against the Blacks. Juan dj on the bench. This would allow for Aplon to be played on the wing. Think it will be very tough to win in NZ. Blacks are a different team to last year, especially with Carter finding form. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, its going one hell of a difficult game to win.
7 Jul 2010, 10:26 am
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-58: Yes, but the whole “genetic” thing is in my opinion very valid. West Africans (and their decendants) typically make the best sprinters, eastern Africans typically make good distance athletes etc. Islanders look like bodybuilders etc. The Dutch are tall. Politicians are self serving….And blond long haired inside centres are disapointing at international level.
7 Jul 2010, 10:28 am
Without FDP and Frans Steyn in the starting lineup, I agree with Kempson.
7 Jul 2010, 10:29 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-61: Absolutely.
Although the Islanders (non pro-athletes) carry a lot of body fat.
7 Jul 2010, 10:29 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-59: It’s hard to tell after the short time that he played IMO. But I think WO has always stepped up at Super 14 level, and seldom done so at international level, so therefore JDJ should get his chance now.
7 Jul 2010, 10:31 am
@ploos(ploos)-60: If we start with JdV, we are taking away a very good opportunity for JdJ to gain “Big Match Temprament” He needs the gametime more than JdV does. If we put faith in JdJ NOW – and he can bulk up in the off season, we will have the best no12 in the WC11.
7 Jul 2010, 10:31 am
@racheltjiedebeer(racheltjiedebeer)-63: Yes, especially the women. Very scary! Also very prone to heart disease in middle age (according to Dr Atkins)
7 Jul 2010, 10:34 am
This is gonna be a tough game. I think we need to revert more to the old JW style of play in order to win this one – let Steyn keep pinning them back and then just keep it amongst the forwards once in their 22, that’s definitely where we have the edge for this one.
Pitty about no Bakkies, we’ll have to keep an eye on Thorn their enforcer and keep him at bay, but otherwise I can see no reason why we shouldn’t take them.
7 Jul 2010, 10:49 am
@UnbeataBULL(UnbeataBULL)-65:I do agree with you. However, would be best to play Jdv, his experience will count against the Blacks midfield. Don’t think its the right game to start JDJ though. Use him from the bench first. Playing Jdv on the wing is crazy, we need pace on the outside against Jane and Joe.
7 Jul 2010, 11:06 am
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-67: that is not jake white’s style of play, last night i watched a ’97 tri-nations match at Eden Park with Carel du Plessis as coach. Joost @ 9, Jannie de Beer @ 10, Honiball @ 12 & percy @ 13.
De Beer kicked 99% of the front-foot ball presented to him, even Mexted & Nisbett commented on how hadn’t run anything!
The gameplan only changed when Lem took over @ flyhalf and he started stringing switch-passes to release Percy which led to Slaptjips’ try!
The kicking game/ “structure” is
not a jake white invention.
7 Jul 2010, 11:18 am
BJ Botha on Twitter: “These journalists in NZ are unbelievable, they asked our media liaison officer which “Tribe” Gio Aplon is from, he couldn’t stop laughing!”
7 Jul 2010, 11:22 am
Beware the hurting All Blacks. They’re going to be a lot better than people are expecting. Its possible the Boks are in for a serious beating in NZ this time round.
SA peaked last year. These things go in cycles. NZ will rise fast this year and will peak in 2011 around WC time.
7 Jul 2010, 11:22 am
@ transformation; at this stage we cant be saying Wynand is being set up for failure. he must put up with the demands of leading the midfield in NZ. He’s played enough rugby to warrant a test start. I think it’s a god decision to start with him because if we do not and Juan gains some level of momentum then we might never really know what Wynand is capable of at this level. Let him play.
@Glazer; How big is Gordon D’arcy? Juan’s size is not an issue. I’m sure you dont want an immobile Pieter Muller like center. Wynand is big enough and not very big compared with Juan. Wynand makes his tackles and that’s what Juan should continue doing.
7 Jul 2010, 11:33 am
@siener(kriek)-70:He’s from the Tryscorin Tribe!
7 Jul 2010, 11:44 am
@madvillain(madvillain)-72: that post was said tongue in cheek mate
it’s been said ad nauseum that wynand has been the form 12 of the last couple super rugby seasons, so i see no reason why he shouldn’t excel at the highest level.
7 Jul 2010, 11:46 am
@madvillain(madvillain)-72:
I would think that after something like 28 tests, we know exactly “what Wynand is capable of at this level.”
PdV is going to make a BIG mistake if he starts with this guy on Saturday.
7 Jul 2010, 11:53 am
we need WO to nullify Nonu! finish & klaar
7 Jul 2010, 12:03 pm
@Tisme(Tisme)-76:
He wasn’t there last year and Nonu was not much of a factor.
Why is WO needed THIS year to nullify Nonu? Is he the only centre that can tackle him?
7 Jul 2010, 12:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-69:
I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a JW invention but it was certainly a game plan he adopted for the most of his tenure as Springbok coach.
That is how we stayed competitive against the All Blacks in those times when others were crushed. We just pinned them back with deep kicks so that when their inevtiable line breaks came our cover defence could get to them before they reached the tryline.
7 Jul 2010, 12:10 pm
@nama1(nama1)-77: We had JdV whom is not known for his defence, the size of Nonu is a factor, soften him up for 50min & unlease JdJ…. and it seems that JdV has fallen a bit out of favour with pdivvie
7 Jul 2010, 12:43 pm
@Tisme(Tisme)-79:
But surely he can’t just be there to tackle the **** out of Nonu.
He hasn’t shown that he can create anything for the players on his outside in all the test matches that he played.
Wasn’t he also the weak link on defence against the French?
In any case, if PdV selects him I will back him to do well on Saturday. In the meantime however, I will hope that PdV doesn’t make that mistake. It will cost us the test match, I’m afraid.
7 Jul 2010, 14:08 pm
Kempston annoyed me when he played for the Boks and now he annoys me with his viewpoints.
How is it that he seems to know so much about what the All Blacks will do? Numpty!
7 Jul 2010, 16:20 pm
I have to say that our backline is not a settled one at the moment, and altough PDV is experimenting I cant help but feel that its going to cost us on sat.Pitty because we will definitely handle them up front.Hope Im wrong though!
7 Jul 2010, 16:27 pm
@Yetirat(Yetirat)-78: these are your words “This is gonna be a tough game. I think we need to revert more to the old JW style of play in order to win this one”
9 Jul 2010, 05:36 am
And different they will be, the boks won’t know what hit them
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