Balance key in back row composition
3 Nov 2010
RYAN VREDE writes that Pierre Spies and Juan Smith’s selection in the loose trio necessitates the inclusion of Deon Stegmann.
Spies, consistently good in the Super 14, failed to replicate that form at Test level in 2010. However, coach Peter de Villiers remained unfailingly loyal to him and is fully expected to name him as his starting No 8 for their tour opening Test against Ireland on Saturday.
Spies, in five Tests in the northern hemisphere, has never recovered from his first – a nightmare display against Ireland in 2006. The Heathrow international arrivals hall seems to sap his power, rendering him a relative passenger. That he arrived this time with a fractured confidence after an indifferent Test season doesn’t aid his cause.
Spies is at his most potent when part of the game plan is geared towards engineering attacking opportunities in space for him. Admittedly, part of his failings can be attributed to the team’s inability to do this consistently. But Spies must (and would have given the high standard he expects of himself) take the bulk of the responsibility for his relative attacking impotency.
Equally he needs to assert himself more defensively. It continues to a personal point of frustration that none of his coaches have adequately taught him good tackle technique because a player with his upper body strength has the potential to be deployed as a defensive weapon, dominating tackle situations and whereby creating opportunities for turnovers. At present he is no more an a bulky obstruction.
Smith’s value cannot be overstated and was in full evidence upon his return to the Springboks’ back row for the home leg of the Tri-Nations. He is a banker at the gain line and defends with brutality that makes you cringe. His performance in those facets of play will be decisive to how the Springboks fare on tour.
However, balance is key in the back row, and with Spies and Smith tasked with making metres and blunting Ireland at the collisions (as well as the secondary roles as lineout jumpers), it is essential that the Springboks start with a specialist openside flank. Stegmann has the qualities that complement the aforementioned duo.
Certainly there is the legitimate concern that Stegmann is not match fit, having missed the bulk of the Currie Cup through injury. However, injuries and the perplexing omission of Francois Louw (he would have been my pick to start at No 6) means Stegmann is the only choice.
It would be a grave tactical error to deploy any of the other options – Ryan Kankowski, Keegan Daniel or Willem Alberts – there. While all three are undoubtedly gifted, none are as skilled at slowing the recycle or stealing the ball as Stegmann is. A player of this ilk has been at the heart of most defensively sound sides, allowing the line to set by ensuring that the ball emerges from the ruck slowly. In addition, teams often profit from turnovers created by these men.
Stegmann won’t offer the Springboks an additional potential metre maker with ball in hand, but they have an enough of those for him not to be a liability in this regard. Neither is he going to reverse anyone in contact, but again, there are those equipped to do so.
He has allowed Spies to play a looser role at the Bulls, South Africa’s most successful franchise, who’ve consistently deployed a specialist openside flank in the last four years (Wikus van Heerden preceded Stegmann in the role). He would now provide the same opportunities for him with the Springboks, and given that the forecast is for clear skies over the revamped Lansdowne Road, Spies could be a factor.
Balance is essential when constructing the back row, and it is an area where the Springboks’ coaching staff have consistently failed this season, following the premature axing of Louw. They cannot make that mistake again. Stegmann’s time is now.
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*Check out my lighthearted take on the Springbok squad selection and their chances against Ireland on the Telegraph’s (UK) blog – http://my.telegraph.co.uk/rugby/ryanvrede/478/peter-de-villiers-must-pick-patrick-lambie-as-springboks-full-back-but-he-wont/
291 Comments
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3 Nov 2010, 15:55 pm
lambie
comes in
stone
last
who
would have
guessed
3 Nov 2010, 15:56 pm
@gunther(gunther) : Will Basson move to 14?
3 Nov 2010, 15:57 pm
The only real question is will Lambie start at 10 or 15?
3 Nov 2010, 15:57 pm
@gunther(gunther) : lol
3 Nov 2010, 16:00 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated) : Gunther tells me the spy satellite o’head has Lambie at 12. Unless you have better info… lets say CIA info
3 Nov 2010, 16:00 pm
Oh my now Ruan is leading the charge!! WTF. Surely the poll should end in this order:
Morne
Lambie
Ruan
Jantjies
??????
No wonder our administrators are so clueless, look at SAs fans, probably the least knowledgeable fans in the world.
3 Nov 2010, 16:01 pm
November 3 – The Golden Lions Rugby Union has announced the signing of Springbok Sevens star Lionel “Speed” Mapoe. The exciting 22-year-old wing will play in the Red and White next season following a transfer agreement that was concluded this week with the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd
Since when is his nickname “Speed”
He’s not even that quick.
The rest of the wings in SA will p!ss on him!
3 Nov 2010, 16:02 pm
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz) : That sounds about right, play him in his 1st test in the position he has least experience. What a bunch of clowns. Mind you might pay-off, the kid is special, but you couldn’t blame him if he bombed, could you?
3 Nov 2010, 16:03 pm
November 3 – The Golden Lions Rugby Union has announced the signing of Springbok Sevens star Lionel “Speed” Mapoe. The exciting 22-year-old wing will play in the Red and White next season following a transfer agreement that was concluded this week with the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd.
“It is a major coup for us getting a thrilling young player of Lionel’s calibre into our squad. When we decided to invest in the resurgence of the Lions, we made a commitment to enhance our young team with Springbok quality players,” new Golden Lions Rugby Union shareholder Robert Gumede said.
Mapoe hasn’t been playing rugby since May because of a contractual dispute between the Free State Cheetahs and the KwaZulu-Natal-based Sharks. The arbitrator ruled – which ruling was by agreement not appealable – that the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd has a valid and binding contract with Mapoe, and the Honourable Madam Justice Cornè van Zyl issued an Order in the Free State High Court at Bloemfontein that Mapoe must report for service at the business place of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty) Ltd at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein.
“We are relieved that Lionel will finally be back on the rugby field,” said Free State Rugby Union president Harold Verster. “When we were approached by the Lions we saw this as an opportunity to bring closure to this matter. We have concluded a proper transfer agreement between the Cheetahs and the Golden Lions with payment of a transfer fee to the Cheetahs. We wish Lionel well and we are sure this solution will be to the benefit of all parties involved. We were happy with the professional manner in which the Golden Lion’s (new shareholders) Robert (Gumede) and Ivor (Ichikowitz) handled the negotiations.”
Golden Lions Rugby Union President Kevin De Klerk said Mapoe will join the Lions with immediate effect. “Lionel will form an integral part of our squad that is being built under our coach John Mitchell,” he said. “We want to pick up next season on the high we ended this season with, with the Golden Lions surprising fans and foes alike with our constructive and winning rugby. I can’t wait to see Lionel in the Lions’ Den. I know he will fit in perfectly in the Lions’ style of attacking rugby. We are committed to help Lionel fulfil his amazing potential.”
Manie Reyneke, CEO of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, also welcomed the signing. “We have, through the difficult times in 2009 and this year, assured our fans that we are working hard to turn things around and promised them that we would succeed. I think we are now fulfilling that promise – and more pleasant news could soon be announced,” Reyneke said
3 Nov 2010, 16:03 pm
Ryan
I enjoyed your article but i have a feeling that we should go for provincial combination ! Lets not write Keegan Daniel off because hes small , so was Neil Back , Jean Pierre Reeves and many more outstanding loose forwards that excelled in Northern Hemisphere conditions ! I would like to see a Sharks front row Beast , Bizzie and Jannie .A Bulls second row in Bakkies and Victor .U cant leave out Juan as he picks himself , but i would play Keegan Daniel on the flank and put Willem Alberts at 8 .
We need to speed the game up and with Daniel we will be able too .
Throw the young guns in we have nothing too loose .
Start with Hougard and Steyn with Ruan and Janjies getting at least the last 30 minuntes .
De Villiers and Lambie with Adi as back up .
Aplon and Mvovo or Habana ( pretty much of a muchness ) and my man Steyn at the back !
3 Nov 2010, 16:05 pm
Ratel … Mighty Horua emailed me and told me that he & his friends each voted for Jantjies about 100+ times … apparently if you delete your browser history you can vote more than once
3 Nov 2010, 16:08 pm
@Tomatoboy_ralepelle(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller) : Well that explains it.
3 Nov 2010, 16:11 pm
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated) : Not many options… JdV (dodgy groin) Adi (is he fit enough) and Lambie a bit of CC at 12 (Gunther tells me) and 10 during the CC Final; oh and 15 during the S14. Heck if the kid can play S14 he probably can handle the heat.
Can also play Pienaar (as long as he doesnt sulk) at 12… after all he is a utility player.
Boks have the opportunity to mix it up, their forwards are pretty stable, only missing Fdp and Hougaard is no slouch. The newer guys may give the Bok the unpredictable factor.
I’d prefer Aplon at 15, he may be slight but the guy has more skill in his big toe than Zane.
3 Nov 2010, 16:14 pm
Speed the game up? And play into Ireland’s hands? We need a gritty, powerful loose trio and that compete on the deck. Nothing flash. Let the backs do their stuff, once we provide quick, clean ball. Failure to protect our own ball, as we did in the TNs will result in utter destruction.
3 Nov 2010, 16:14 pm
Have a nice evening all
3 Nov 2010, 16:16 pm
argh the wait is getting to me, i want to see the team sheet now…
3 Nov 2010, 16:27 pm
@Alucard(Alucard) :
You still need quick ruck ball on slow surfaces.
Speeding up the game does not directly translate into taking the ball wide.
3 Nov 2010, 16:30 pm
@willievz(willievz) :
In fact, I have poked into the heart of our problems:
By playing a conservative game, players think they need to slow down the game by not playing at full pace or full intensity.
It is a fundamentally flawed interpretation of what is meant by slowing down the game.
3 Nov 2010, 16:32 pm
@willievz(willievz) : Grind them down is what they mean. Pittsburg Steelers style. Control the ball, control the clock.
3 Nov 2010, 16:35 pm
it’s when
both teams
slow down
the game
that it
becomes
interesting
nobody
gets
anything
done
3 Nov 2010, 16:49 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
Yes, but take that half-hearted phase play of the Boks before the final hooter of the last game against Aus, when Beale kicked that penalty.
Tried to control the clock, but not with the required intensity.
3 Nov 2010, 16:59 pm
@willievz(willievz) : Yip. Will bite you if you get it wrong…
3 Nov 2010, 18:14 pm
Looking forward to the battle of the back rows. Pierre Spies is a show-pony. He’d rather be off entering in Mr Universe than getting down and dirty on the pitch in Dublin. Heaslip will show him how to play no.8
3 Nov 2010, 18:20 pm
@willievz(willievz) : hey willie sorry about the late response but I had to go and buy a present for a colleague who is leaving. Thanks for that input and agree with you about the taking it wide bit from the outset. They line deep and don’t seem to worry about the gain line anymore taking the ball as you say as far as the number 13. The worst thing you can do against them is get caught in 2 minds about your defensive lines. I wonder if the balance of our loose forwards should shift to more emphasis on attacking the rucks and tackle areas relying therefore on turnover ball than having the big ball carriers. One thing that does concern me about our forwards is there ability to hold onto the ball in contact or rip it out. We have big forwards with big muscles but the muscle co-ordinaton and strength in their grips doesn’t seem as good and strong as that of our competition.
3 Nov 2010, 18:40 pm
I hope stegmann gets his first cap on saturday as i think brussouw and him are the best two No sixes in sa rugby and as brussouw is not fit he should get a starting place v ireland but that is just my opinion.
3 Nov 2010, 20:42 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
Hahahahaaa… Gunther you are seriously funny. You probably make a fortune writing comedy script. If you don’t, you should be.
If Keo is not paying you hansomely, he should be ashamed of himself.
3 Nov 2010, 20:52 pm
my team for sat …
1.Jannie
2.Bismarc
3.Beast
4.Bakkies
5.Matfield
6.Daniels
7.Smith
8.Alberts
9.Hougard
10.Steyn
11.Habana
12.Lambie
13.Jacobs
14.Mvovo
15.Steyn
3 Nov 2010, 20:55 pm
maybe move frans to 12 and lambie to 10
3 Nov 2010, 21:01 pm
@baw(maxed) :
If fit, Jdv at 13 and Frans at 12. Lambie at 15 and M Steyn at 10. Not ideal with JdV at 13, but hey, not too many better options…….
3 Nov 2010, 21:08 pm
@whatever(whatever) :yea that would be good ! im keen to see lambie somwhere closer to the ball …i know people here dislike sharks atm but from on form he is the best flyhalf in the country ,however i dont want to disgard morne just yet , i think he is talented ,just lacking confidence -this years 3n has hurt the boks confidence
3 Nov 2010, 21:23 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis) : First you cry that Stegmann is not in the team .Then you make excuses that he is not matchfit .Make up your mind. Should he play,or not ..I can see from your posts that you rate him very highly.(which everybody should)But my concern has always been his match fitness and not his capabilities.Would you play him now?Yes or no.Honest opinion please.
3 Nov 2010, 21:29 pm
Inevitable
Keo pays me in keo dollars.
In turn I use them to pay the bonus of maevis.
As well as any other interest free non payable loans that she may require over the year.
3 Nov 2010, 21:59 pm
$45,050 Keo dollars I am now up to…..
What have you amassed now Gunther, being a ‘regular’?
3 Nov 2010, 22:07 pm
Gunther is as regular as Ghandi’s bowels.
I am looking to buy an island in the Seychelles with my keo loot.
3 Nov 2010, 22:42 pm
@gunther(gunther) : carefull was some pirate activity there not 2 long ago
4 Nov 2010, 06:09 am
#199 williefz, I’ll go with that then add that quick ball = metres gained. The AB’s know this and used the rules/interpretation/ref to slow SA ball and protect their own with RM et al sealing off; no rucking allowed.
It also shows where SA coaching staff are so weak. I don’t believe we have anyone who can do this sort of strategic training. DM was a gifted rugby player but has a high proportion of bone above the neck. Analyst he ain’t. PdeV strikes me as an instinctive coach who wants his team to play a certain style of rugby but can’t/won’t fill in the details as to how to make it winning rugby. So we’re left with Gold who must do this, school the forwards and the defence. Min chance.
4 Nov 2010, 07:04 am
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) : Seagull time.
4 Nov 2010, 07:10 am
@husky(husky) : well said sir ! Problem is who do we go for after PdV ? Not much in SA unless they can tempt HM or even Plum ..
4 Nov 2010, 16:48 pm
@baw(maxed) : Interesting team, but I would definitely keep Jannie at tighthead and Beast at loosehead. No point in playing them both out of position.
4 Nov 2010, 16:50 pm
@baw(maxed) : Oh yeah, and clearly you’re a Sharks supporter (8 of them in your starting 15???). No-one but a Sharks supporter could put the lightweight show-pony Keegan Daniel ahead of Schalk.
4 Nov 2010, 17:00 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
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