Struggling for a silver lining
7 Sep 2010
JON CARDINELLI writes that although the Boks scored 13 tries in this year’s Tri-Nations that attacking success needs to be viewed in perspective.
Defence has been identified as the biggest pitfall in a botched campaign. The Boks finished their worst ever Tri-Nations with the most porous record in the tournament’s history. They leaked 22 tries and conceded the four-try bonus in four of their six matches.
Some have pointed to the attacking displays in Pretoria and Bloemfontein as one reason to feel encouraged. They argue that those fixtures, where the Boks scored eight tries in total, were outstanding examples of how rugby should be played.
They ignore the fact that the Wallabies came to South Africa with a largely inexperienced group, and that over the course of two matches were as diabolical on defence as their hosts.
The stats confirm the fact. The Boks missed 29 tackles and the Wallabies 33. The Boks were allowed to make 19 linebreaks while the Wallabies cut the opposition on 18 occasions.
If people enjoy that kind of rugby, they should push for a new law that limits defence. Both Tests were dramatic, but won’t go down as two of the classics. The players have expressed their regret for multiple errors, and while the Boks have to improve their defence, they also need to sharpen their attack.
Put those two freakish Tests aside, and the Boks’ attacking record reads five tries in four matches. When South Africa came up against a solid defensive line in this year’s Tri-Nations, they struggled.
The Wallabies will finish second in this year’s Tri-Nations, but it will be a distant second to the trend-setting All Blacks. Graham Henry’s side has been the best attacking unit, and have also set the standard on defence. They’ve conceded just seven tries in five games, and are yet to allow the opposition a four-try bonus point.
The All Blacks’ superior and belligerent approach to the breakdown blunted the Bok attack in New Zealand, and even though South Africa brought more intensity to the fixture at Soccer City, they still weren’t as accurate as their Kiwi counterparts. An overall lack of intensity and accuracy has stifled the Bok attack in 2010.
Selections also contributed to an underwhelming attacking performance. Picking Jean de Villiers on the wing in New Zealand limited the midfield’s attacking options, while sticking with an out-of-form Bryan Habana did the team no favours. Gio Aplon showed some spark, and should have featured in all three home Tests.
While there’s no replacing the all-round brilliance of Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard proved himself as a useful alternative. The Boks looked better with De Villiers and Fourie together in midfield, but Morne Steyn isn’t the answer at No 10. He kicked flawlessly at goal on the home leg, but the Boks need a flyhalf who can attack with purpose.
The defection of Ruan Pienaar to Ireland is unfortunate, as is Butch James’s serious shoulder injury (James was supposed to start in Bloemfontein). These are two players who can lend the Boks some purpose from the pivot position. If Morne Steyn continues at 10, the Boks will perpetually fail to threaten an organised defence.
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163 Comments
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8 Sep 2010, 06:28 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-149:
To be fair Poppa69, Saffa do take a top down approach to whining, it starts at SARU, then the coach, etc etc!
Don’t see any whining coming out of NZRU or ARU or their coaching staffs?
8 Sep 2010, 06:31 am
@richw(richw)-151:
Oh it happens Rich but I must admit the current crop at the ‘head’ has set the bar very high…
8 Sep 2010, 06:36 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-150: and your questions werent generalisations? hehe the ole holier then thou attitude is not becoming of a Saffa… at all..
what should be of a more pressing concern for you is the fact that you guys led a 14 man Aussie into the last ten minutes of the match and proceeded to lose…
yet still many proclaim here you guys have won next years title..
as for gloating, the amount between last years 3Ns and this years was endemic, just helping most swallow that very large humble pie theyve had shoved in their mouths..
8 Sep 2010, 06:44 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-153:
Still avoiding to answer the question I see? Where did I suggest all Kiwis fall into those two categories? Feel free to correct me if it is indeed the case but I was merely asking which one of the two groups you think is the worst.
If you paid any attention between your normal repetition of posts you would have noted I have had a lot to say about the current issues with the Boks. If you came here to talk Rugby you would have been able to join in the conversation but alas…
By the way, is the caps lock key on your computer broken by any change?
8 Sep 2010, 06:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-153:
You have turned from being a pretty reasonable bloke to a smart arse faarken kn ob end. One swallow does not make a season. We had a cr ap season this season, you had one last year. Some on this site gloated like walleys, some did not.
You unfortunately appear to have won the WC after the first game at Eden park and have been gloating ad nauseum.
I foresee a lot of tears next year……..
8 Sep 2010, 06:48 am
@whatever(whatever)-155:
Very true whatever, I can remember we had some lank conversations with the bloke when he first arrived on the blog.
8 Sep 2010, 07:20 am
The Boks will no doubt be better next season just with returning of Fourie Du Preez, Heindrich Brussouw, Bismarck Du Plessis and Bakkies Botha.
However, if we can get a half decent coach or two and give all a senior plays a good rest period we will even be stronger and will offer a very much improved performance next season.
8 Sep 2010, 07:31 am
The **** performance will hopefully be the catalyst to get rid of the pathetic coaches.
PDV is a twat and out of his league. The WP pack was nonsense under Gold. The Lions were rubbish under Muir.
8 Sep 2010, 07:35 am
to think we’re still faffing around with a carthorse like francois steyn, with no attacking ability, no pace and an errant boot…
Israel Dagg eyes No15 jersey
By DAVID LONG – Sunday News
Israel Dagg has his eyes on a starting spot
for the All Blacks at the World Cup.
Dagg has had a tremendous start for the All
Blacks, which culminated in a sensational
match-winning try against the Springboks
in Soweto a fortnight ago.
But rather than bide his time at fullback as
the back-up to Mils Muliaina, Dagg wants to
push ahead of the veteran Chiefs captain and grab the No 15 jersey.
“I’d love to be starting [at the World Cup],”
Dagg told Sunday News.
“I’d love to be playing but at the moment
I’m not. Mils is in there and playing some
top rugby so I’m just watching the master
in action and learning from what he does.
“Mils is playing some great rugby and he’s
one of the standout players in the team. It’s
a learning curve for me and I’m just waiting
for that opportunity, and when it comes I’ll
make the most of it.”
Despite Dagg being hungry for Muliaina’s
jersey, there is no animosity between the
two players.
Muliaina has had to fend of a number of
challengers for his spot in the starting team
since making his All Blacks debut against
England in Wellington in 2003.
Of all those who have been chasing his
jersey, he says Dagg has impressed him the
most.
“When you see a player come in for the first
time, they’re all shy and things like that,” he
said.
“But how they develop and take things in
their stride is really up to them, and I’ve
seen Israel do that the best.
“He really wants to learn but you can learn
things then not go out there and express
yourself.
“His biggest asset is that he’ll go out there
and apply those things he’s learnt.
“He’s definitely a guy who’s going to be in
this environment for a very long time and
he’s someone who’s keeping me on my
toes.”
Dagg and Zac Guildford are often seen as a
pairing.
They came through the scene at Hawke’s
Bay at the same time and they’ll both be
playing for the Crusaders in next year’s
Super 15. But in the All Blacks their careers
have been poles apart.
Guildford was in the team last year, while
Dagg missed out.
This season the tables turned, with Dagg in
and Guildford playing provincial rugby.
“You want one of your good mates in the
team but things don’t always turn out like
that,” Dagg said.
“I’m sure he’s working hard on his game to
get back in the team for the end-of-year
tour.
“He’ll be working hard for Hawke’s Bay and
will want to increase his chances of getting
back in here.
“It’s the same with me. I’ve got to prove
myself, train well and, if I get the
opportunity, play well so I can stay in the
team and not just be a one-tour man.”
8 Sep 2010, 07:48 am
I don’t mind the Kiwi’s gloating, but pretty childish on an SA “rugby” site. The AB’s are the Greg Norman’s of rugby but in spades. Making women happy; leading all the way and still coming second.
Now Snottie. I have to admire your blind, race based support of PdV and blaming everyone (mostly Smit & Matfield) except him for the Bok woes. But why don’t you be realistic. Admit his weaknesses (he definitely has them) and suggest how they can be fixed. My view is that he shouldn’t be fired. Accept that just maybe merit wasn’t the only criteria for his selection (Hoskins said so). Then support the poor bugger with a decent bank of well qualified specialists, talent developers, administrators and officials. Muir and Gold have their places but they are not able enough to do it all.
Don’t be a blinkered twit and keep proving how right Mallett was when he said SA rugby fans were stupid.
8 Sep 2010, 07:57 am
@wpforever(wpforever)-21:
Non of the south african players!!
8 Sep 2010, 08:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-159:
Until he proves he is as good under the garryowen as he is at beating the man with ball-in-hand, then he should forget about the Test no15 jersey.
12 Sep 2010, 01:37 am
@husky(husky)-160: not sure how played 15 3N tournaments played, won 10 makes the ABs the Greg Normans of Rugby Union.
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