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, 10:27 am
Go Steggies Dragon! Where’s Agile?
3 Nov 2010, 10:34 am
“Spies, consistently good in the Super 14, failed to replicate that form at Test level in 2010.”
If Spies was good in the S14, then Duanne Vermeulen was great.
And in my book, a good player should be confined to playing S14 and CC. Great players play test rugby
3 Nov 2010, 10:35 am
Keo youth league are not going to like this one little bit.
I expect to see Mighty Tortilla leading the charge.
3 Nov 2010, 10:37 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) :
frankly you are getting ahead of yourself here.
vermullet played in two finals this year and was owned in both of them.
what makes you think he was great?
3 Nov 2010, 10:39 am
@gunther(gunther) :
3 Nov 2010, 10:40 am
Agreed. Daniel or Stegmann at 6. I would go with Daniel he is the form player at the moment. Stegmann to come on at half-time or 60 minutes into the game.
3 Nov 2010, 10:40 am
I agree that a fetcher should be there. But Spies! No a chance. Stegmann, Alberts and Smith.
3 Nov 2010, 10:40 am
@gunther(gunther) :
Who are the members? Can I take a guess? Mighty, Transie, Ross, Skoppie? G10 maybe?
And who would be the Afri-forum members here? Tac? Hondo? Quotas Sux?
And PissAnt? Would he be the Vavi of the blog? Or the Zille?
3 Nov 2010, 10:41 am
I agree that the Boks need a guy who plays to the ball and slows opposition ruck ball down. I don’t agree that Stegmann is the best call. I’d have gone with Flouw, Smith and Alberts at 6,7 and 8 respectively. Daniel and Kankowski provide plenty of energy off the bench, and Spies should be rested with along with Burger.
3 Nov 2010, 10:45 am
I’m very much in favour of playing Spies on Sat….BUT on the following conditions:
1. He borrows another heart…a BIG heart. He should understand that someone with his built should be afraid of contact here and there.
2. He spent his off time with tackle bags…24/7
3. He has by some miracle learned to read a game. To be at the right place at the right time. I admire his ability to always be the guy who arrives JUST too late after sth has happened…..a tackle was made etc.
Except for that…….great no8!
3 Nov 2010, 10:45 am
To be fair Kanko was great in the Super 14 and we all know what he does a test level.
3 Nov 2010, 10:45 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah) :
Pissant would be Tony Leon.
The quiet insistent voice of reason
3 Nov 2010, 10:45 am
*SIGH*
Spies’ inability to defend is more a mental thing than a technique thing. I was amazed to see in the Bulls – Sharks semi how he consciously avoided being the first person to make contact on defense. He would run past the point of contact and then get stuck in when there are two or three of his team mates present. He is scared of contact – always has been and always will be.
Look carefully at how he makes contact with his hands first rather than with the shoulder – you have to hit with the shoulder while at the same time wrapping your arms around the ball carrier. He does not do it. He first makes impact with his hands – trying to soften the impact and then brings the player to ground. By that time the attacker has gained about three yards. Just not good enough for an international loose forward. Give me Alberts or Vermeulen any day.
3 Nov 2010, 10:48 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT) : You said it all.
3 Nov 2010, 10:48 am
@gunther(gunther) : More like the incessantly barking little poodle chasing the gravy train
3 Nov 2010, 10:49 am
@gunther(gunther) : Owned in both of them?
You sound like Tomatoboy with his “WO killed JdJ” statements
Spies is out of form. Normally a player would get dropped or relegated (like Flo, Potgieter) , but PDiv is his biggest fan and persists with starting him.
Whether he was great or not, he sure as hell was better than Assegaai
3 Nov 2010, 10:52 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) : Absolutely right. I think PDivvy is on the same ‘roids – could be the reason for his squeaky voice and lack of balls. Who knows, maybe Assegaai is his supplier?
3 Nov 2010, 10:55 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) : The only thing WO kills is lice in his hair on weekends!
3 Nov 2010, 10:56 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) :
nobody killed anybody.
now stop being sdo embraboer.
honestly you are as predictable as an SABC board meeting.
it was hard to find a player who was more anonymous than vermullet in both games.
even the ballboys were more visible.
yes it’s true.
3 Nov 2010, 10:57 am
@gunther(gunther) :
Tony Leon… Bwahahaha!
Ryan allow me if you will…
How is it the Sharks won the Currie Cup, doing so playing without their recognised fetcher (Botes) for most of the season, and dominating contact, and the tackled area against the Bulls and Province (with your first choice fetcher no less) in the semi’s and final?
I would be fascinated with your view on this…
3 Nov 2010, 10:57 am
Why is it that JDJ gets injured in finals.
The kid has no BMT!
3 Nov 2010, 10:59 am
Good article. Would still prefer Brussouw at 6. A Stegman, Smit Spies combo sounds really balanced, and I would love to see how they perform.
3 Nov 2010, 11:01 am
@Tegejo(Tegejo) : That combo scares me. Spies – enough said. Stegman not matchfit. Looked out of sorts in CC semi.
3 Nov 2010, 11:02 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) : Vermeulen was owned by Spies in the SUper 14 final and Alberts in the Currie Cup.
Vermeulen really didn’t have good games in the two finals he played in. Its not completely his fault – the Stormers and WP were dominated in both finals physically and really struggled to get into the game.
3 Nov 2010, 11:07 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21) : So being in the losing team automatically qualifies you as being owned by the opposing teams player in the same position?
Thanks for clearing that up for me
3 Nov 2010, 11:10 am
What has BMT got to do with getting injured?
3 Nov 2010, 11:10 am
@Two Eyed(Two Eyed) : As did the entire Bulls team.
Spies is given time and space to play his game around someone like Stegman and Brussouw. Spies played very well in 2009. Since the injury to Brussouw, he looked tired. After returning to the S14, he played with Steggies and looked in top form again, against the same intl. players that made him look ordinary during the intl. season. When given time and space (which he get from Stegman and Brussouw) he is the most destructive attacking 8 in world rugby.
3 Nov 2010, 11:11 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21) :
laugh
my
white
***
off
would you say he “disappears in tight” games?
(rubs chin knowingly, turns the wors with a deft flick of the braai tongs slurps his amstel and then starts on with another sporting cliche about great bok teams always having a jew in them, maybe throw in another couple of cliches, like their bone density prevents black people from being competitive swimmers.)
3 Nov 2010, 11:12 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) : He didn’t have a big influence in either of the two finals. I thought he had a fantastic season, but didn’t have a particularly strong impact in the two finals.
Notice I said that Alberts owned him – the two were largely matched against in each other. The Sharks back row destroyed the WP backrow on Saturday, and that is a major part of the reason why WP lost the final.
3 Nov 2010, 11:13 am
@scrumfan(scrumfan) : Dont cry!
3 Nov 2010, 11:15 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt) : I’ve had the same discussion on the forum before. The ‘fetcher’ roles has been overemphasised and overhyped. As long as you have dominance at the contact point, any one of the closest supporting defensive players has to be the person trying to steal the ball. The skill in this, is the ability to read when that opportunity is. You’d have more opportunities when tackles are effective and dominating.
On another point. Is the return of bigger backline players the way to go? Seems the AB’s are moving in this direction. Seems the ability to offload in the tackle and minimize the ruck count is what they are going for. That style also disrupts defensive alignment.
3 Nov 2010, 11:15 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) : In Pretoria, Yes.
3 Nov 2010, 11:16 am
@Tegejo(Tegejo) :
I have stated many times that Spies would be, or still is my first choice 8 – but like Ryan in his article I am concerned that areas of his game as an 8 have been seemingly neglected over the last 3 or so years.
I will go back again to what I said when Italy toured here earlier this year. Compare how Parisse looks world class behind a good (his club) and a bad pack as an 8, and you get an idea what a world class 8 is actually about.
World class athlete, no doubt, world class 8… not if his game is so reliant on other individuals around him to make him look good.
Like Juan Smith, Spies should aim as a player to be the best in the world, no matter who he combines with.
3 Nov 2010, 11:17 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21) : I dont’ think he was owned. His tight forwards were owned and he couldn’t play his game. Would any of the incumbent 8′s have done better?
3 Nov 2010, 11:17 am
@pompies2(pompies2) :
I have found the fascination with opensiders in union quite amusing for a number of years now.
3 Nov 2010, 11:18 am
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking) :
being on the losing team does not mean you get owned.
however in both instances thats what happened.
poor dwane didn’t know whether he was arthur or marthur… or bruce
3 Nov 2010, 11:19 am
hie all, knew here, but I’ll get straight to the point.
Burger, louw,& Vermulean – outplayed in two finals in a row by Stegmann, Potgeiter, & Spies, then by Daniel, Alberts, & Kankowski.
The most balanced backrow would be Stegmann, Smith, Spies/Alberts (depending on the latters fitness & expected conditions) bench Daniel & Alberts/Spies.
3 Nov 2010, 11:19 am
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid) :
you mean tshwane.
stop being a coconut.
next thing you will be supporting the bulls to impress your white colleagues
3 Nov 2010, 11:20 am
@pompies2(pompies2) : I don’t know because they didn’t play the game. You are very defensive of him – just because he had a bad game doesn’t mean you need to take the posters of him off your wall.
I am not hating on the guy, I am just saying that he didn’t have the same influence in the two finals he has played in this year as he had in other games.
I would have selected him for the Boks ahead of Daniel, Kankowski and Spies. It is strange that such a consistently player isn’t selected, when Daniel is selected after a half season of good Currie Cup rugby.
3 Nov 2010, 11:24 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21) : Not true. An combination of factors influenced the result.
1. The sharks prep
2. Januaries injury
3. De Jongs injury
4. Scrum dominance
5. Bissie in contact situations
6. Lambies goalkicking
7. De Waal’s hopeless display
So all in all, a deserved victory by the Sharks. I thought the backrows were evenly matched. No real standout. Schalk was most busy, without end result. Flo did well @ the breakdowns, but fighting a losing battle. Alberts was well marked and his influence wasn’t as big as expected. So all loosies provided a competent display, but the tight 5 is where the hard graft was done.
3 Nov 2010, 11:25 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt) : Its not about his game being reliant on players around him. As a coach, you need to pick the right combinations. When Spies plays with a good fetcher, he is given space and time to unleash bullocking runs, that no other 8 in this country posseses. The difference ONE second makes to your attacking opportunities, at most senior levels, are of the utmost importance. Playing guys getting to the loose slower than Stegman and Brussouw, gives you less time to create opportunities to gain ground through the big men. Simple really.
Please explain to me why Spies looks phenomenal in the S14, playing with Steggies and Potties, but looks so ordinary in a Bok jersey playing with Schalk and Flo. against the same opposition. I’ll tell you. Its because Ludeke picks the right combiations, and Pdivvy doesn’t.
3 Nov 2010, 11:27 am
@Tegejo(Tegejo) :
More than that, let me ask you a question.
What would you rather prefer, an all round world class 8 or an 8 who seemingly only comes into his own with ball in hand in space (created for him by opensiders)?
3 Nov 2010, 11:28 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt) : 36
Yeah, it all started with McAwe, ask Blank Panther.
Just kiddin, Howdy Doody.
3 Nov 2010, 11:29 am
@pompies2(pompies2) : If you think the backrows were matched, you are crazy. The WP backrow was killed. Slaughtered at the break down, destroyed at the tackle point, and annihalted when it came to working as a unit.
Burger was almost murdered by Ludik, and owned by Lambie. He might have been busy, but he wasn’t effective. Same with Flouw – one turnover and 3 or 4 penalties?
3 Nov 2010, 11:30 am
@gunther(gunther) : Shut up!! Gunther, you are going to confuse the “knew” guy
3 Nov 2010, 11:31 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt) : PA, cannot agree more with regards to the openside fascination.
I just shake my head when I read artickles like this stating that players like Daniel, Alberts and Kanko lack the ability on the ground. In the Currie Cup semi and final it sure did not look like the Sharks had any problems at the breakdown?
3 Nov 2010, 11:32 am
I think Steggies still limpimg around with the hammie. And Spies is a certain starter, Alberts is a debutant and battling a niggle. Juan Smith is going to start at 7.
So, it will probably be
8 Spies
7 Juan
6 Daniel
3 Nov 2010, 11:34 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt) : Looking at the Bulls S14 record, I’d go for the latter!
3 Nov 2010, 11:34 am
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21) : Perhaps you were expecting a certain type of performance from him, which were in your rights to assume, based on his seasons performance, but very seldom has his tight 5 been bossed. I think it happened in the stormers v sharks game earlier in the year as well.
I think he might be unlucky wrt selection, but he lost in a straight shootout with Alberts. I think PDV is looking for a typwe of dynamic 8, hence his reluctance to select vermeulen.
Duanes challenge now is to develope his game where he adapts to backfoot game. It’s might not be easy, but he’ll be a more balanced 8 for it.
3 Nov 2010, 11:35 am
The only deficiency in Spies’s game that concerns me is his technique in the tackle. I agree he uses his arms rather than putting his shoulder into the hit. He will wrap a guy up and leg drive him back, but he will never smash a guy back with his shoulder.
This leads to the attacking player sometimes being able to shift his point of contact off-centre, allowing him to run through the outstretched arm of Spies. This is one area he seriously needs to work on.
As for his ball carrying ability – he is as powerful as Alberts, but with much more pace.
He hasn’t set the world alight this year, but the criticism has been over the top. He hasn’t been that bad.
I don’t understand the hype about Vermeulen. He is a carthorse, and is at best a hard worker who loves making contact, without necessarily making massive amounts of ground.
He won’t let the Boks down, but he won’t be anything special either. Picking him would be more to reward him for his consistent play at provincial level than identifying a potential international star of the future.
He would have less impact than Spies, and in fact, would rob us of Spies’s other attributes, primarily his pace, mobility and cover defensive speed.
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