Boks must back Butch
23 Aug 2010
RYAN VREDE argues that Butch James must start at flyhalf at Loftus.
In announcing his squad for the Tri-Nations, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers told the media that the World Cup winning flyhalf had had limited opportunities in the incoming tour Tests, and because of this he deserved an opportunity to prove he still had the aptitude for Test rugby.
That opportunity has amounted to 39 minutes out of a possible 320. This while Morne Steyn struggles to replicate the form that saw him monopolise the shirt in 2009. James’s time is now.
Steyn is an excellent goal kicker and is suited to the kick-chase approach that the Springboks employ as a primary means of attack. However, he has failed to consistently display the variation that is a feature of his play with the Bulls and was evident with the Springboks in 2009.
Against the All Blacks in Auckland Steyn took the ball to the advantage line just thrice in 33 handles, with a solitary linebreak. A week later in Wellington Steyn attacked the gain line four times with zero success in 35 handles, while against Australia in Brisbane he breached the defence once in 19 handles. While typically accurate in his goal-kicking (sinking six from six) Steyn’s struggles with ball in hand continued at Soccer City.
Tellingly, just once in the aforementioned matches has he offloaded in contact – a marked feature of the Blacks’ Dan Carter and Wallabies’ Quade Cooper’s play. Carter had made nine play-maker offloads in four matches prior to Saturday’s Test in Soweto, while Cooper made four in the one match he played prior to his suspension. One doesn’t need to elaborate on the value of a flyhalf who creates attacking opportunities in this way.
There are mitigating factors, the most notable being the Springboks coaches’ unrelenting fascination with a flawed, pragmatic game plan. Their impotency at the tackle point on attack and consistent inability to deplete the opposition’s defence through multiple phases is another. And there can be no doubt that his potency is diminished in the absence of Fourie du Preez, who takes immense pressure off his flyhalf through his all-round excellence.
With nothing to gain from the remaining Tests, there can be no justifiable reason to omit James from the run-on side. Steyn’s selection will amount to nothing more than a conservative move from a desperate coach.
James, who impressed with Bath in 2009 before an injury sidelined him, watched the entire match in Soweto from the wood. De Villiers argued that the result could have rested on a 50m penalty and that in that situation Steyn was his go-to man. That rationale is understandable given that Steyn is a superior goal-kicker with experience in sinking pressure kicks.
But the next two Tests must be used to measure James in order to accurately establish the depth at pivot. The stocks were trimmed with Ruan Pienaar’s departure for Ulster, and outside of Peter Grant and more recently 19-year-old Pat Lambie, none at franchise level have impressed.
James physicality in defence will be a boon against the hot-stepping Cooper, while his directness in attack – something De Villiers says was lacking in the second half in Soweto – will add a dimension to the Springboks’ play which has been sorely lacking.
There is no risk in the selection. James is an experienced player, versed in the ethos and playing philosophy and whose combination with inside centre Jean de Villiers is well established. He is also a competent goal-kicker (there will be an insurance policy in Frans Steyn should Butch’s kicking boots still be in Bath) and has the skill to adapt to various styles of play.
James is a must for Loftus.
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
267 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
23 Aug 2010, 17:12 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-248: My boet had a nice example of a CZ with pachmayr grips, recoil compensator. Was actually a really nice gun to shoot. We (yes, we’re that kind of family) all went “new school” some years ago, Glock all the way. Much more comfy to carry, also no stoppages, although I haven’t taken her out for a while now. These days I’m almost too scared too, given my road rage tendancies….
23 Aug 2010, 17:14 pm
AVOIDANCE RUGBY, OFF LOADING AT CONTACT, SUPPORT PLAY, DOING EVERYTHING AT PACE, RIPPING THE BALL AT TACKLE, LOOSE TRIO-678 AND 2 SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITH EASE. STEALING BALL ON THE GROUND LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY WITHOUT GETTING PENALISED “APPLAUSE FOR HEINRICH”. WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP COACHES IN SOUTH AFRICA! TEACH THE BOYS WHAT IS NECCESSARRY FOR US TO DOMINATE LIKE WE ARE SUPPOSE TO.
23 Aug 2010, 18:55 pm
Some more interesting muppeteers than the precious know it all, told you so’s gwanty10 and snotskiet. #251 SB; would it be accurate enough to nail the ref – shoot McCaw in the bum; that way you’d nail Paddy O’ Bumlicker as well. Same with Twatson, hit his jacksie and we’d be free of gwanty and snotty – way to go!
But please girls, MS made some good breaks and scroed for the Boks and the Bulls. What’s happened? Some poor service, some offside/quick close downs by the opposition that I think was penalised in the S14. But he needs to be equipped for his place with decent instructions and good support. I was very disappointed that Aplon didn’t get some better runs on Saturday. Otherwise MS needs training to keep his skills sharp (Calder?). Missing touch from a penalty is a harsh mistake.
But I don’t think Butch, much as I like him. Grant10 is a basher but with a bit of upskilling would be better. Jantjies and Lambie need better skilling before being thrown in – remember Gaffie. Some Aussies have done it young but not too many Saffers. A flyhalf does not have to place kick, remember Monty?
In short I think it’s all about a plan, super skilling and not panicking, swapping players by the score. Fresh players are needed, no doubt but they also need to know the set up, game strategies and moves perfectly.
Will it happen? We’ll wait and see.
23 Aug 2010, 19:03 pm
@gunther(gunther)-79:
He is a typical coward, he and that other lowlife G10.
Blame the troops when things go wrong!
23 Aug 2010, 20:11 pm
MS just needs rest. He was the flyhalf of the team which scored the most tries in the S14. He has BMT. (Remember last year?)
And important for the WC : He can drop kick. Even with the ‘new’ rules the drop kick can be decisive in the final games.
The way the AB’s are playing it’s hard to see any SA attack breaching their defence to win a match.
24 Aug 2010, 01:57 am
ONE WORD:
RUAN, adding a second, PIENAAR
24 Aug 2010, 02:14 am
How about Frans Steyn?
He has not impressed there before, but was hardly given much time to settle…
Why on earth did ruaan Pienaar leave? He would have been greta to be able to get in there now. I suppose because he has been stuffed around so much.
24 Aug 2010, 02:17 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-11: World Cups aren’t won or lost 12 months out for any of the world’s top sides, but then you already know this after the last one
24 Aug 2010, 02:18 am
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-257: Pienaar’s injured at the moment.
24 Aug 2010, 02:24 am
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-257:
F Steyn is a 12 or 15 mate. He’s been tried at 10 and is NO good.
Too slow to react, gets kicks charged down far to often…….don’t even go there!
24 Aug 2010, 07:56 am
If Butch James is the answer, what is the question?
24 Aug 2010, 09:12 am
@TruBlu(TruBlu)-261: Honiball in 1998 and Butch in 2007 World Cup. We tend to do well with a fearless defender in the 10 channel.
24 Aug 2010, 11:01 am
If Butch fails to live up to the expectations (a very big possibility), what then?
24 Aug 2010, 11:06 am
@nama1(nama1)-263: Agree Nama.
The reality is that he will not prove to be the answer, because he has one game to perform magic. Unfair on him, really.
Not in a patched-up Bok team with unsettled combinations.
As much as I am a Butch fan, and as critical as I was about Steyn in Soweto, my head says pick Steyn and stick with him.
24 Aug 2010, 11:07 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-259: Hey BigHit, thanks for the streaming link the other day
24 Aug 2010, 11:45 am
drop morne? – you guys are rtards…
its just carter-envy
24 Aug 2010, 11:58 am
They should’ve given Peter Grant a call-up to the Boks during the inbound tour with France and Italy. He was by far the 2nd best flyhalf in the S14 and is in the same mould as Butch(aggressive, can cover 10 and 12 from the bench).
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 [6] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.