Attacking ails show no plan
19 Jul 2010
GRANT BALL writes that the Springbok backs’ failings and breakdown woes stem from an impotent attacking game.
Why did South Africa have the best players in the world during the Super 14, and only a few weeks later look out of their league on the international stage? Have the players’ abilities waned? The short answer is no, but the problem comes from the Boks’ one-dimensional attacking game.
The Boks’ kick-chase approach is still a valuable tactic if executed properly, but their major flaw is they look inept once they have possession in good areas of the field. Morne Steyn, Wynand Olivier, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana’s form have all been questioned, but why did they look so dangerous in the blue jerseys of the Stormers and Bulls, but look a shadow of those attacking forces now?
In the green and gold, those players clearly haven’t been given a plan of how they want to break down defences. The All Blacks aren’t all of a sudden superior physical specimens to the South Africans, it’s the clever way Graham Henry and co have used what they have at their disposal. The Kiwi brains are outplaying the Boks, who are over-reliant on their brawn.
It’s clear the Boks want to to play for territory, which is still the correct route under the new law interpretations. But once they have attacking options, they look clueless, and this can’t be blamed solely on the players.
Dick Muir has been a proponent of ‘heads up rugby’, but with little attacking structure under his control, the talented Bok backs haven’t been able excel. The Boks’ forward runners also aren’t dominating the collisions and handing their backs a decent platform to attack from, but this too can be blamed on the predictable nature of the attack. There is little subtlety or variety in the form of dummy runners, a la the 2007 World Cup. There the big Boks were running one-on-one at defenders, but now the Boks are facing a line of defenders who don’t need to guess where the ball is going.
All the All Blacks require is to man up in the physicality stakes, which they have done, and because they know where the ball is headed, the Boks are easily repelled as the Blacks can defend offensively. With a little imagination from the Boks (for example Danie Rossouw’s try where Ricky Januarie had options in Jean de Villiers and outside backs off the lineout), the Boks showed how difficult they could be to stop. Rossouw crashing over was a rare case of a Bok heavy dominating the collision. The reason for it: the improved attack.
Peter de Villiers has predictably blamed the officiating of the breakdowns as a cause for concern. While there may be some merit in that argument after Alain Rolland’s handling of the tackle area, the Boks would be better served looking at their own inadequacies rather than whining.
Just one example of the Boks’ own attacking failings is Mils’ Muliaina’s first half try. The Boks’ predictable forward runners halted, the ball was flung out to Steyn who shovelled on to an isolated Fourie. The rest of the Bok backs didn’t know the plan, the ball turned over, and the result was five points 75m down field.
The disconcerting point is why hasn’t the Boks’ attacking game evolved since 2007? Just look at Dublin last year as another apt example. It’s fair to say the Boks have at best stagnated, at worst, regressed.
The players can’t be blamed here. While De Villiers and Muir have talked a wonderful game in terms of the Boks’ attack, they haven’t once produced anything post-2007 to make their opponents worry.
By Grant Ball
120 Comments
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19 Jul 2010, 10:30 am
@Die_Valk(Die_Valk)-92: i was just abt to put tht up myself
19 Jul 2010, 10:31 am
@Ian(Ian)-100: I get the impression SA back coaches think centres are for solely for bashing it up, they never play a 2nd 5/8th system. They’re behind the game imo.
19 Jul 2010, 10:36 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-102: There is a big difference between passing the ball and distributing it.
We pass the ball, but don’t distribute it.
19 Jul 2010, 10:39 am
while it doesnt come as a surprise when the boks dont perform against the blacks for calls for coaching heads to be rolled
i think we should take a cue from wot Graham Henry did
Last year, every1 was calling for his head as well
that was sad
he re-grouped and came back. the way the Keoites were carrying on abt that last years All Blacks being a weak team we should have pummeled ..COME ON
Since when do you hear of a WEAK All Blacks team? this same team has thumped us with better tactics
19 Jul 2010, 10:42 am
the thing is tactically we were found wanting. WAY wanting and we need to crucify the coaching stuff for tht…including Piet Snor
If we dont, they wont learn
All those though saying tht they are out of they’re depth and all that..PLEASE. THIS SAME COACHING STAFF HUMILIATED THE aLL bLACKS LAST YEAR AND they’re counterparts WERENT FIRED.
So lets calm the F.cuk down
Can anyone answer this though…whats been the fundamental change in startegy from the All Blacks 2009 and All Blacks 2010?
19 Jul 2010, 10:43 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-26:
Mate dont assume anything you read on Keo or local papers about being a generalisation of Bok supporters…
Common how old are you?
What you read in paper and on Keo is all MEDIA HYPED **** to target more viewers and make a profit financially..
19 Jul 2010, 10:43 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-79: Pity about Bekker. Yes I hope it’s not the start of more to come. The reason I say Kanko is that against the Aussies he may just be the player for the job, but yes, I’m a big Potgieter fan, and he’s got all the skills to play at 8. He actually fits that role better than 7 in many ways, being an busy, intelligent player who doesn’t shy away from contact. Louw looks tired though, maybe he needs a rest. He’s played more minutes in the Super 14 than anyone in the springbok squad at loose forward this year, and seems to be showing it.
I think PDV will simply swop Aplon for JDV at 14, with the rest remaining the same, but I really hope he bring Ruan in to start. This will go a long way to providing some more of the quick ball that Willie rightfully identifies as key to success…
19 Jul 2010, 10:51 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-107: From your lips to the rugby gods ears!!!! as soon as Pienaar came on we were miles and miles better, i highly doubt that was a coincidence.
19 Jul 2010, 10:54 am
@schnoggs(schnoggs)-69: Just a couple of comments mate:
1. To add to your previous list of reasons for the Boks’ poor performance:
a. Fatigue should not be a factor at this stage of the season. I would rather ascribe their lacklustre performance to a lack of conditioning.
2. You are as good as your last game. Selecting Smit based on his previous achievements is absolutely ridiculous. My grandmother can compose a team playing against Fiji – even when she is on a manic episode.
I am not saying Smit should be sacked – he should be managed better. Get the guy into shape. You cannot play with passengers in the team – not against the Southern Hemisphere teams.
19 Jul 2010, 10:56 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-108: Yes, on the odd occasion that we got front foot ball in the drive upfield Ricky started his slow down and directing traffic thing and killed the momentum. Ruan has a sense of urgency about his play that will make a big difference. Let’s hope PDV moves on from Ricky now like he did with Earl.
19 Jul 2010, 11:14 am
Muir is the weakness, look what he did for the lions.
19 Jul 2010, 11:15 am
@willievz(willievz)-103: Very good point. If you look at the Sharks game on Saturday, you will see a backline that understands something about distribution. Meyer was good because he straightened the line and created space and options for his outside backs and in my humble opinion Dumond was even better. LAMBIE WAS SUPERB – he exhibited skills that cannot be taught. How people can compare him to that fool Frans Steyn is beyond me.
I have hope for backline play in SA after watching the Sharks. It was not just about individuals trying to do things with the ball – it was about intelligence and putting people in space. The Sharks are my least favourite team, but if this is how they are going to play, they will quickly climb the ranks.
19 Jul 2010, 11:52 am
Lambie was fantastic! But cant agree to you opinion on Frans Steyn.
19 Jul 2010, 11:58 am
Smit is certainly not having stint by any stretch of the imagination, and as agreed by most people here, should be sent for some re-conditioning…along with big Vic to get a rest.
Bissie should be returning Augustish…so, that will resolve the problem to some extent (please, no one can be seirous about giving Gary Botha another chance, not should Tiaan L wear the Bok jesrsey…same as with Schalk Brits). We are having a bad run, but we will have the last laugh come next year WC. This serves as a good test to assess where we are without some influential buggers in our team. Bissie, Heinz Brussouw, Juan Smith, FDP, JPP and Frans Steyn.
19 Jul 2010, 12:00 pm
great stint
19 Jul 2010, 13:56 pm
The Abs looked at stats and metres gained by Janaurie(more like December too me) and line breaks, since Rugby is a numbers game, knew they could commit more players to the ruck cos Janaurie would not be fast enough to attack around the fringes where the gaps were!
As soon as a faster player Pienaar came on the Abs game had to be a defensive and they changed strategy straight away allowing more space for Steyn to run onto the ball as defenders hung back to defend the holes januarie could not squeeze through!
It was instananeous as if a huge hamburger got lifted off the boks!
There are a few more passengers than get be ejected to make the Bok masjien fly again
19 Jul 2010, 19:57 pm
Another absolute BS piece of journalism. All this stuff from KEO about “SA stop moaning”!!! What about lets have some decent reporting…Keo calls for new back 3, inside center, scrummie and maybe new loose fwds. Are you serious? It doesn’t matter who you put there if you don’t have the ball. Rugger is a very simple game. If you don’t have the numbers and you don’t have the right body position you will get nailed. Body position? Yes that little piece of advice you were taught at school. Look at how Kiwis, who man to man are lighter than all Bok fwds and in case of Hooker, big Kev gives away nearly 15 Kgs to Smittie, still stop us DEAD at maul time, drive over us at breakdown (NOT 1 article on here about absolute domination at BREAKDOWN – UnF@#$*&believable) have numbers at breakdown, gang tackle our runners, counter ruck, body position when attacking, sealing off Bok ball defensively etc. Yet all this talk of drop this guy, new FB here, game plan this etc etc.
Now meesage for Grant Ball who wrote this article. It is abslutely nuts how you guys standard are dropping. Geez this is the best rugger site out there but recently beginning to feel you guys are rushing out pieces with zero analysis. For example, you speak of the Bok game plan or lack thereof and then cite your example as follows:
“Just one example of the Boks’ own attacking failings is Mils’ Muliaina’s first half try. The Boks’ predictable forward runners halted, the ball was flung out to Steyn who shovelled on to an isolated Fourie. The rest of the Bok backs didn’t know the plan, the ball turned over, and the result was five points 75m down field”.
No Grant, this particular incident happens at approximately 11 mins and 13 seconds into the game. Fourie running at diagonal angle (as he did the whole of S14) is tackled by Nonu with Smith going in to turn over ball. Habana is right there and is first Bok player in, followed by Morne Steyn, Januarie is now wobbling up to ruck with Oliver on his shoulder. So on ground is now only Fourie with Smith trying to steal, Habana and Steyn. 3 Boks 1 AB. There is no ISOLATION and lack of Bok plan knowledge you speak of. Crumbs the guys has 4 Bok players on his crack. Nonu is now standing up next to Oliver and Mealamu is just on fringe defending any snipe. The ball comes off Steyn knee as it is quickly recycled. But Januarie decides to kick it ahead instead of Picking up. NOTE JANUARIE KICKS AHEAD FAST RECYLED BALL. It bounces backwards off Mealamu’s body and into hands of Weepu. (Who by the way also has a gut the size of Januaries) We all know the stroy from there. Infact Kiwi commentators (Marchall I believe) observe something along lines as follows: “That play highlights difference between 1 halfback that wants to kick the ball (Januarie – in fact it was a hack fwd) and another who wants to keep ball in hand (Weepu).
I mean the examples of this type of inaccuracy are abundant and you can have a field day analysing their comments.
Also reference to some players in Blue not becoming bad overnight and weren’t in S14. Yes they were, but unfortunately their flwas were covered. As good as Stormers were, they butchered many many try scoring opportunities. Habana as talented as he is has horrible hands and passing skills. This is nothing new. Strong as a robbers dog and fast as a flach but handling skills no. Fourie has developed this diagonal run over past season which again is schoolboy stuff. IMO, Januarie is HUGE problem as is our front row, not just in scrum, but open play too. Oliver is off key but wouldn’t put De Villiers there either as has been off colour for over a season. Morne Steyn cannot be blamed. He is only is 2nd season and hasn’t much go forward ball. Despite contrary, I think Zane Kirchner has been excellent.
So comon guys lets get some good journalism going here please and stop just taking pot shots. Let’s see your THOROUGH analysis and input.
Finally to all the P Divvie beaters who accused him of window dressing side lines circus show. Don’t want to now hear an effen bleep about him being sacked now, because according to you guys it was players, Dickie Muir and Gary Gold who ran the show not him. So therefore he cannot be responsible for this.
Finally again, lets not fall in mass hysteria, as we discredit our opponents, who in my opinion haven’t been given enough credit. It is always about how poor we were, never about how good they were. They, Henry and Co. have shut up alot of folks, including Kiwis Super coaches, former players and their journos, not to mention making KEO look like an absolute clown with regards to his statement about Kiwi rugger in the sh*tter. HEHEHE. Well done AB’s and well done Henry and co. You guys played a simple brand of rugger, with nasty intensity, are extremely well drilled, accurate and direct. WELL DONE. Now please go back to being KAK!!!!
19 Jul 2010, 20:03 pm
Shouldn’t Muir’s season with Lions tell us something about the way our defense is going?
20 Jul 2010, 03:31 am
Kick-chase works as long as your opponents aren’t skilful enough to counter-attack. But, if they DO have the skills and the nous to counter-attack, you’re kicking away your possession and feeding straight into their strengths.
But the Boks have pooh-poohed the attacking game for decades, trusting their nostrum that defence wins matches, not attack.
They’ve leaked EIGHT tries in two tests against a team that knows more than just a bit about attacking. The ABs defence isn’t too shabby either, letting in only two tries in two full tests.
So, where do the Springboks have any advantage left at all? Place-kicking? Well, their deadliest and longest place kicker is sitting in France, so that cant be it.
20 Jul 2010, 03:35 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-119: That is why australia will probably beat the boks as well, no other gameplan and no mindset to change to another style of rugby now that they have been found out.
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