Boks floored by failure to adapt
19 Jul 2010
The Boks should know there are no finite laws at the breakdown except for the laws perceived by the matchday referee, says JON CARDINELLI.
After Saturday’s defeat in Wellington, Peter de Villiers said the Boks would need to cheat if they were going to keep up with the All Blacks’ questionable tactics. Captain John Smit had a go at opposite number, Richie McCaw, after the All Blacks No 7 infringed regularly in the Cake Tin Test. The pair were in an agreement that referee Alain Rolland could have punished the Kiwis to a greater degree.
De Villiers and Smit have short memories. Last June, the Boks were accused of illegal tactics. Ball-stealing specialist Heinrich Brussow was vilified by British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan for his tendency to ride the tackle or position himself on the wrong side of the ruck. And if I remember correctly, Brussow was hailed by his coaches and team-mates as a key player in not only that series, but in the subsequent Tri-Nations triumph as well.
According to the laws, which favoured defensive sides in 2009, McGeechan was in the wrong. Brussow’s technique and ability to push the envelope played into South Africa’s favour. The bottom line is that Brussow and his team-mates adapted better to the change in laws, and the same could be said of McCaw and the All Blacks in the 2010 Tri-Nations.
McCaw is always pushing the boundaries, but he only pushes as far as the referee will allow. In the modern game, teams prepare for the referee, and need to pick up his management style in the opening quarter and adapt accordingly. While the Bulls and Stormers adapted well in the Super 14, the Boks are behind the All Blacks in this respect.
Most referees have relaxed their stance on the new law interpretations at the breakdown. In the earlier stages of the Super 14, officials were merciless in their application of a law that prescribes forward momentum for the attacking team. Towards the end of that tournament and in the last two months of Test rugby, referees are no longer as strict on the defending team.
It’s something Eddie Jones predicted when the laws were first introduced. Jones told this website he expected good defending teams to adapt, but he also expected referees to relax their application of the law as the Sanzar tournament wore on.
It hasn’t helped South Africa’s cause to have two northern hemisphere referees in their first two Tri-Nations Tests, as Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland aren’t exactly clued up on the new interpretations. Lewis battled to keep up with the flow of play and missed a host of infringements in the first Test, while Rolland allowed the All Blacks to slow the ball in the second match in Wellington.
A good side, however, would have adapted to the referee’s style in the opening quarter, and this is where the Boks fell short. They committed too few players at the breakdown which allowed the likes of McCaw to get their mitts on the ball.
It’s not something that’s limited to the Tri-Nations, as John Mitchell admitted after the Lions 32-0 defeat to WP last Saturday. Province were lucky to get away with holding onto the ball-carrier, and in some instances competing on the deck for longer than is normally permitted. The Lions lost a lot of possession, as WP began to dominate as the match wore on.
Mitchell lamented his side’s failure to adapt to the referee’s management style rather than lament a poor refereeing performance. In a complicated sport where the application of complicated laws is subjective, you need to be able to adapt, and the sooner the Boks accept this fact, the better.
98 Comments
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19 Jul 2010, 11:41 am
PISSANT – I missed both game, was in the Costa Brava on Hols, how was Monre Steyn’s play? Is he the man to take the Boks to RWC2011? He as also played a heck of lot of rugby since the Lions tour!!
19 Jul 2010, 11:41 am
What do you guys think – should we consider returning to an outright rush-defense system?
The All Blacks looked vulnerable on the few occasions we executed it in the second half as we managed to shut down their space.
I feel that, on the drift defense, we are just allowing their inside backs an extra split second to make a distribution decision, and they are also well prepared for the collision with our defense (catching us off guard on our wrong shoulders).
19 Jul 2010, 11:43 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-51:
Nothing bad but nothing spectacular.
Very few opportunities to stamp his authority but would still not pick anyone ahead of him at 10.
19 Jul 2010, 11:43 am
@Papoose(papaown)-39: All of our senior guys were invisible on saturday!!
19 Jul 2010, 11:43 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-31: You right there brig, and the scary thing is i reckon PDivvy’s arrogance will stop him from admitting that he might need some help
19 Jul 2010, 11:43 am
South Afica are a team with over 700 test caps, we should have the experience to adapt play on the day according to the way the ref blows it.
John Smit, did not question or put any doubt in the ref’s mind about certain dubious decisions. The coaching staff also could have got a message out onto the field which evidently they did not do.
But, the bigger problem to me is our players just look tired and over played. If our key players do not get any decent rest soon they will all suffer from burn out and we will have a disastrous World Cup next year.
We also have to select our best players who are currently in form. Januarie is our weak link I don’t care what any body says!
19 Jul 2010, 11:44 am
@Atreides(Atreides)-7:
don’t forget de Villiers! He’s ideas are even worse!!
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-5:
Well, it’s easy to beat a defence that is poorly aligned and disorganized, whilst on the back foot. Nothing too spectacular.
19 Jul 2010, 11:46 am
@iceman(iceman)-56: I have a simple question for the Boks:
How hungry are they for 2010 success?
I think they are foucusing too much about 2011 already.
19 Jul 2010, 11:47 am
@willievz(willievz)-58:
I assure you there is no planning or foresight in this era of Boks.
19 Jul 2010, 11:57 am
@iceman(iceman)-56: 700 caps mean close to nothing when several of these “highly-capped” players regularly come off the bench with only 5 minutes left in the game to earn yet another “test cap”. A record ought to be kept of “test minutes” played.
19 Jul 2010, 12:01 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-59: based on what… another non-existent analysis
19 Jul 2010, 12:01 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-49:
19 Jul 2010, 12:02 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-57: Its “his” not “he’s”. What you effectively wrote is: “He is ideas are even worse”. Makes no sense.
19 Jul 2010, 12:02 pm
@Atreides(Atreides)-54: true
they were ALL disappointing
19 Jul 2010, 12:07 pm
PissAnt – Then i am afraid this is our Bok brainfart season. Us fans are just going to have to grin and bear this season!!
19 Jul 2010, 12:10 pm
S14 form can be very deceptive – its more about home ground advantage.
Bulls and Stormers played most of their big matches at home or in SA and predictably topped the log.
The odd loss on the road to a team like the Reds didn’t hurt their final positions.
Only one team in 15 years has won S14 away if I recall correctly.
The composition of the S14 final was never going to have great bearing on 3N given Bokke had to play 2 away in NZ.
I think SA might have been reading too much of their own press.
19 Jul 2010, 12:10 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-59: i agree with the article in theory, but its difficult when the ref says hands out its a ruck to one team and 3 phases later immediately blows for a penalty against the other.
I dont think the ab’s have changed their tactics that much either, especially at tackle time where tackler does not immediately release the tackled player, hence our slower ball. This is compounded by the fact that they have greater numbers at rucktime.
19 Jul 2010, 12:12 pm
@willievz(willievz)-58: Im willing to lose some ground this year for the sake of next year’s RWC, maybe the Boks CANT be the dominating force we want them to be, maybe they can be the team that wins when it counts, at the RWC
19 Jul 2010, 12:13 pm
@Qrest(Qrest)-66: Agreed. In addition, both teams also started their quest for glory on home soil. They took valuable momentum with them when they ventured across the Indian Ocean.
19 Jul 2010, 12:14 pm
@Qrest(Qrest)-66: stormers and bulls both played 5 games in australasia, each winning 4
19 Jul 2010, 12:17 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-68: That seems to be the sentiment of most supporters. But my question in turn to them would be – why do we need to sacrifice 2010 for 2011?
The two objectives are not mutually exclusive.
In fact, winning this years 3N should have been a top priority. I assume that the bulk of this squad will be rested during the 2011 3N, so this was their last opportunity to hunt down a Kiwi scalp on their turf before the global event kicked off.
19 Jul 2010, 12:17 pm
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, 12:18 pm
@mamma_lou(mamma_lou)-70: Bulls won 3. Lost against Blues and Reds.
19 Jul 2010, 12:19 pm
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, 12:20 pm
@willievz(willievz)-69: you guys are trying to undermine what these 2 teams have done this year and i cannot agree with you guys, you seem to forget how difficult it is to win overseas, both the Bulls and stormers are much better prepared than the Boks are right now, so it would be wrong to try and devalue the achievements of 2 very good teams just because the Boks aren’t doing as well in the 3N, the gist of this article is basically why cant the Bok coaches get the same out of the players as the S14 coaches do
19 Jul 2010, 12:25 pm
@willievz(willievz)-52: Old story again. The rush defense will only be a secure option if we have an 8 that covers behind the backline- one with a high workrate and work ethic and sound defensive organization and vision. We have the right guy there but he is sitting on the bench.
19 Jul 2010, 12:26 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-73: yeah sorry 3 not 4 for both
19 Jul 2010, 12:27 pm
@willievz(willievz)-58:
No team likes to loose, especially the manner in which the Boks have just lost the last two games!
I reckon they must be really hurting deep inside.
I believe they would have loved to have won back to back Tri-Nations for the first time but they just look too tired and flat!
It also does not help when we are selecting third and fourth choice players.
When Heindrich Brussouw, Bismarck Du Plessis, Juan Smith, Fourie Du Preez and Franscois Steyn make their return I also think we should see a big improvement in the team.
I would also like to see a few other players like Gerhard van der Heever, Deon Stegman, Peter Grant, Meyer Bosman, Jano Vermaak, Joe Pietersen and Duanne Vermeulem added to the squad to add some new blood but also to see how the go at test level before the W.C. next year.
19 Jul 2010, 12:28 pm
@willievz(willievz)-52: This has become our little pet subject.
I am a very big supporter of the rush defense, or at least a variation on the theme. The following are my reasons:
a. Tackles are made behind their advantage line which means their forwards have to turn around to join rucks and ours are on the front foot automatically
b. It takes away much of the decision makers’ time and space.
c. It is easier to make direction adjustments to counter the opponent’s attempted side steps or scissor movements in their backline when you are on the front foot.
d. Don’t ask me why, but it is much easier to read the opponents’ attacking movements when you are on the front foot.
What the rush defense will demand of us:
a. A scrumhalf and openside flank to cover the space behind the defensive line
b. A no 8 who reads the game and can position himself to receive kicks into space.
c. Tremendous trust in among team mates and confidence in the system.
I saw a couple of occasions on Saturday where Wynand Olivier was employing the drift defense and Mossie and Steyn rushed up, leaving a huge hole for Nonu to attack. Olivier tackled him most of the time, but only after the former had crossed the advantage line and the ensuing ruck gave them quick ball from which to attack.
I think the team is caught between two systems. My conclusion is that there is not agreement regarding the system that should be used.
The rush defense will work for us if we have a deadly defender at no 7, a fast and intelligent no 9, and a naturally talented no 8 who has the strength to carry the ball up should he be found isolated after fielding a kick. We have none of the above
19 Jul 2010, 12:32 pm
@willievz(willievz)-71: i just dont think the Boks have the mental strength to go into any tournament as the favorites, thats why i say we might just be expecting too much from them, they will win when it counts. Lets not talk like we are out of the 3N running, we lost 2 away games, granted to win the 3N you must pick up points away but it doesnt mean we are out of it just yet.
19 Jul 2010, 12:33 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-75: My issue is not with the losses, it is how we lost and how we reacted to critical decisions situations on the field.
Usually, one can sense the mood in the camp by reading the media and keeping your ear on the ground.
In hindsight, I think the Bok management clearly forgot how difficult it is to win away from home.
One could sense their and the players’ easygoing approach in the pre-tournament buildup via media statements and the selection policies in the June tests. Those same comments got reiterated on this very site by supporters.
Goodness, there were even talks about resting certain players in the home leg after we return from Australia!!
The team certainly had their humble pied served to them and their were no kiwifruit for dessert. Currently I observe a frustrated and unmotivated bunch of players.
They’ve fallen off their horses, and while it is certainly time to get back up, maybe they should reconsider the horse.
19 Jul 2010, 12:36 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-74: they’ve basically stopped us from playing by disrupting our lineout, slowing our ruck ball, put our scrum under pressure. Their attack came mostly from turnover. So in a nutshell they are doing to us this year what we did to them last year
19 Jul 2010, 12:38 pm
The springboks were poor in every aspect , defence was poor. As soon as ruan piennaar came on the whole game changed if it wasnt for the poor defence and the ref being very lenient to the all blacks during that period I think we were better than them, When Piennaar came on. Everyone says we look tired the all blacks would look tired if janurie was there scrummie, all he does is kick the effing possesion away and takes so long on attack that there defence can line up and tackle the c**p out of us.
As soon as Pienaar came on we crossed the advantage line for the first time.
I honestly think Januarie is the cancer that needs to be cut.
19 Jul 2010, 12:39 pm
@catleya(catleya)-76: Granted, but the nr8 is not currently performing that role in a drift defense!
Granted the opposition does not cleverly use chips and grubbers, a nr8 can arguably get away with fewer sweeping under the rush defense.
19 Jul 2010, 12:45 pm
@GI POT(GI POT)-79: Yes, excellent analysis there.
The primary way that rushing up will tweak our defense is in the way the opensider needs to defend. Under the rush-defense, the opensider do not need to hunt down the nr10 as viciously, allowing both him and the nr8 to cover the defensive line behind the backline.
Louw gave Carter too much space in these tests as he is not the quickest opensider. This was even more complicated by Louw’s unwillingness to perform the first tackle as he is scavenging deck ball that results from his peers’ tackles.
19 Jul 2010, 12:46 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-60:
I totally agree with you there are certain players who get handed test caps week after week who don’t deserve it! It’s a joke!
But still there are some very experienced players in the Springbok team who should by now know what to do if the ref is not blowing the game that they are accustomed to.
Play the rules to what you see on the day!
19 Jul 2010, 12:47 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-80: Yep.
A complacent mindset is the classic Achilles heel of South African sport.
19 Jul 2010, 13:00 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-13:
I agree 100% with your 9 – 15. This will inject some serious pace into the Bok backline which was badly needed against the AB’s
19 Jul 2010, 13:10 pm
@willievz(willievz)-85: I think all three our loose forwards were very confused – not necessarily with what their respective roles will be, but on how to play under a defensive system that they are not familiar with.
19 Jul 2010, 13:35 pm
15 Kirschner
14 Aplon
13 Fourie
12 JDJ
11 Habanna
10 Steyn
9 Pienaar
8 Kanko
7 Potties
6 Schalk
5 Vic
4 Danie
3 CJ
2 Chilli
1 JS
16 BJ
17 Gurthro
18 Flip
19 Flo
20 January
21 WO
22 Hougaard
19 Jul 2010, 13:54 pm
divvy, deek and GG….
the origin of species
19 Jul 2010, 14:57 pm
@GI POT(GI POT)-79: We have Dewald Potgieter on the bench. There is no deadlier defensive flanker, no more naturally gifted visionary 8 and no harder grafter than him in SA, yet we for some or other reason persist in ignoring him.
And to anyone who questions his abilities due to his size I simply say this. He has consistently been picked at every agegroup level, u/19 SA, Bulls S14 and CC, Emerging Boks and Boks level by different sets of selectors in recognition of the effectivity of his play. They can’t all be wrong. He has played against every individual he is bound to come up against at S14 level and has consistently out-performed them. Are we waiting for him to go stale due to lack of gametime like they did to Kanko before we play him as last resort? His heart is huge.
19 Jul 2010, 15:04 pm
Playing with 14 on the field makes it a lot harder on the rest of the team, but it is NOT impossible to win with 14 on the field! It makes things harder yes, but if the rest of the team is poor the dont hold your breath. No matter what is said, the boks are not in the best form right now. The All blacks are in better form .
It is like golf , you play with the swing you bring , if your swing is **** , then instead of blaming everything else learn to play with what is going on at once. You dont win a game a day later after everything has been analysed . You do that before the game! Make sure you are fully prepared, for everything including the referee . If you know the ref is focused is slowing the ball down , then dont go there are the first 3 penalties.
Boks are slow to adapt, simple really, get more brains and less brawn on the field, the brawn has already cost you two games so far…
19 Jul 2010, 16:32 pm
JC you are so right in writing: They committed too few players at the breakdown which allowed the likes of McCaw to get their mitts on the ball.
19 Jul 2010, 18:05 pm
Jonck #94; shades of 2008! GI Pot, sure a rush defence is ok but it doesn’t work that well if your opponents can run from deep and build up pace (don’t try it if you keep kicking the ball to them). Then your man cannot miss his opponent otherwise, as you say, unless you have a bullet flank, you’re in trouble.
These are the details of a game plan that shows weakness in the coaching staff (stand up Mr Muir), lack of appreciation of player fatigue and attributes and finally just a lack of coaching.
AB’s the opposite. Drilled to run back the kicks, support the ball carrier, attack tackle ball and finally to win over the refs and citing officals.
19 Jul 2010, 19:43 pm
Yes contrasting styles. AB’s prepared to play TOTAL RUGBY, Bok’s still lost in a time warp that is TOTAL THUGBY.
19 Jul 2010, 22:08 pm
What pissed me off was seeing teh bok defenders jumping OVER the tackled player to get to their position in teh defensive line, instead of grabbing the ball as the tackled player hit the ground. Like competing of rth eball at a a tackle was beneath them. Clearly they believe that it is still possible to “stonewall” the attack with a good defensive line in the face of quick ball to the other side. This is a COMPLETELY WRONG assumption. You will never get aligned defnsively when the other side are getting quick ball. It would be better to have teh closest player get himself in a positon to grab the ball ASAP before the AB cleaners get there. If they just step over thetackled player, they allow the tackled player to push ball back for IMMEDIATE ball, or to pass up to following players. that should NEVER be allowed.
21 Jul 2010, 22:52 pm
From Sportsbet: There is a special place in Hell reserved for referees and, boy, will they be toasted red by the time Satan has finished with them. In the meantime, punters do [earn] their money in cold blood.
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