Why the Boks need Butch
15 Mar 2011
Butch James has the hunger, the experience and the intimidating aura to be a match-winning figure at the 2011 World Cup.
In the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, senior staff writer Jon Cardinelli says this aura shouldn’t be underestimated, especially in a World Cup year. Global tournaments are won on defence and experience, and James’s value as a game-changing defender is as indisputable as his 2007 World Cup winner’s medal. And at 32, he’s still rattling opponents.
‘I’ve never thought of [Dan] Carter as a fragile player,’ James says in explaining the psychology of big defending. ‘It’s more a case of making your presence felt. You want your opposite number to know you’re around. You want him to be constantly thinking about what you’ll do next.’
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James goes on to talk about how playing in the northern hemisphere forced him to embrace tactical kicking but why he prefers to play with the ball in hand, why he signed with the Lions, how he feels about leaving Bath, how he deals with injuries, and his competitors for the Bok No 10 jersey.
Former Bok technical adviser Eddie Jones and Bath coach Steve Meehan also explain why James should go to the World Cup.
Also in the new issue:
– Meyer Bosman has added a new dimension to the Sharks backline
– Christchurch is home for all four Whitelock brothers
– After a short stint in rugby league, former SA Schools centre JP du Plessis wants to make his mark with the Melbourne Rebels
– A pre-season injury to Tiaan Liebenberg has given Deon Fourie a chance to shine for the Stormers
– Former Bok prop Robbie Kempson on the Kings academy, the policing of the scrum, and why the Currie Cup First Division format should change
– The Kings are making steady progress ahead of their Super Rugby debut in 2013
– Bjorn Basson is determined to move past a nightmare period in his career
– SA U20 coach Dawie Theron on why he left Griquas, his preparations for the World Junior Championship and ensuring that the system produces quality players
– Financial mismanagement has plunged Namibia into crisis just six months before the World Cup
– Maties coach Chean Roux has a passion for the game
– After making a big impact in Cape Town as a defence, collisions and breakdown coach, Omar Mouneimne has been given the chance to work at Test level with Italy
– Brian Mujati has excelled for the Northampton Saints but don’t expect him to talk about it
– Springbok Sevens skipper Kyle Brown on turning their season around in Las Vegas and the importance of keeping youngsters in the system
– We preview the Easter schools rugby festivals and tell you which matches to watch
168 Comments
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15 Mar 2011, 10:06 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-99: i could live with that….barely!
15 Mar 2011, 10:07 am
@garth(garth)-88:
Well being able to kick that well is pretty special, but he is far from one-dimensional that many believe. I’m not saying that he is amazing or that Grant is terrible but that Steyn is a better option at 10 for SA than Grant.
15 Mar 2011, 10:09 am
Who would put Grant from Stormers ahead of Lambie? Think right at this very moment Lambie is our best fh. No question.
I rate Butch, but have to see how he plays when he arrives for Lions in the S15.
We can all go on and on here about fhs, but PdV has his selections already for wc. Morne will be our fh. Just hope he ups his game this S15 from just being a superb kicker. We need more from him.
15 Mar 2011, 10:10 am
@garth(garth)-88: naieve to think that at International level you can destroy the opposition. How many games are there in a WC final where the opposition is destroyed and if it is ever achieved its done off the back of a 15 man effort.
The secret in International rugby is to take your points whenever they are on offer and keep the scoreboard ticking over. If you don’t do that and the opposition do , you start to play catch up rugby and execution becomes fraught with tension and mistakes appear.
The secret therefore is to always stay within a score of the opposition. Tell me how many tests have you seen where the opposition that has been more than 1 score behind has come back to win (apart from at Soweto last year), very few. Thats why you need a dead-eye **** in your team to convert your points.
15 Mar 2011, 10:10 am
Slum town, it’s like formula one when that Martin brundle starts talking nonsense about a driver for you to findout that Martin is his agent! I wonder if keo has the media rights to butch or has gone into the agent business onthe side! Because no one sees the bok style of 2007 winning this years world cup.
15 Mar 2011, 10:10 am
@super_adi(super_adi)-102: M Steyn will reduce the bok backs to a sterile bunch of impotent plodders…as he did last year….
15 Mar 2011, 10:11 am
@grant10(grant10)-101:
Yeah, I think Smit from the bench could work. Then we don’t lose the ‘leadership’ thing, plus old Smit can still scrum and throw pretty dam well.
My plan for Smit. Start with Bissie in the big games, bring Smit on at 60min if we are winning. Else Bissie plays the full 80. And again, Smit must go to the WC as a hooker!!
15 Mar 2011, 10:11 am
The AB’s backilne on present for will look something like this:
9. Ellis
10. Carter
11. Sivivatu
12. SBW
13. Fruean
14. Jane
15. Dagg
Morne Steyn, Jean De Villiers, Zane Kirshner, Wynand Olivier, Ricky Januarie, Brian Habana and Butch James are not going to cut it. They are the safe options and would be great if we were playing for 2nd place, but we are not. I hope PDV is going to start supporting the right players.
15 Mar 2011, 10:12 am
Sharks v Crusaders game definitely at Twickers on Sunday 27 March.
15 Mar 2011, 10:13 am
be bold pdv….get rid of these sterile and aging heroes of yesteryear….its all about dynamic ball in hand play nowdays….see the sharks and lions style…thats the recipe….not the skop en jag en bid
15 Mar 2011, 10:18 am
Bok Backline for the WC
9 Fourie, Mcleod
10 Steyn, Lambie, Butch
11 Habana, Mvovo
12 JdV, Lambie, Butch
13 Mossie, JdJ
14 JP, Basson
15 Frans, Lambie, Basson
15 Mar 2011, 10:19 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-70: that was the point I was making, Morne Steyn isn’t creative but it doesn’t seem like Peter Grant is much better on the creativity front. I’d say SA are looking for a creative flyhalf who can reliably kick at goal in the test arena, but there isn’t one available.
@grant10(grant10)-68: morning g10, offline duties getting in the way of blogging time and I haven’t managed to see many of the S15 games anyway so I’d just be talking out of my hat (even more than usual
).
You seem to rate Grant as a creative force, but how does that square up with the limited Stormers backplay?
And come on now, you know Smit is already inked into the WC 22 if not the 15
@garth(garth)-78: James is arguably the most expansive flyhalf of the lot.
15 Mar 2011, 10:19 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-109: I know read it on Sunday. Don’t agree with it though. Our team gonna be so tired for their home games when they get back. Crazy this really.
15 Mar 2011, 10:20 am
Yawn.
I can only point you to the stats.
FduP and Morne Steyn in combination.
Trinations 2009: we scored more tries than Aus and NZ put together.
Super14 2010: which team scored the most tries? How many scored by outside backs?
Ill help you out
Shadow 8
Hougaard (at 11): 7
Zane: 5
Then Morne himself: 5
Get outta here.
15 Mar 2011, 10:23 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-104: 3N 2010
New Zealand 32 (20)
South Africa 12 (3)
New Zealand 31 (13)
South Africa 17 (7)
Australia 30 (17)
South Africa 13 (3)
I’d call that being dominated, even worse. We took ourselves out of those game before the even started. These are the same guys we have to beat to win the WC. Don’t expect NZ and Aus to fall out this time. Also, don’t ever expect the All Blacks to change their game plan. They go on the field to out play and outscore the opposition, not out penalize and out defend them. We need balanced players that can win game and adapt their game plan. Not one dimensional players, like Morne clearly and obviously is.
15 Mar 2011, 10:24 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-114:
at last somebody without a sanitary pad inserted into their nether regions speaks some sense.
15 Mar 2011, 10:24 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-111: Lambie is sure versatile. He is a valuable player for sure to have in the squad. If you look at it that way. But for now I think he is showing he is our best fh. So far he has been in our conference. His kicking was outstanding this past week and also last.
15 Mar 2011, 10:26 am
@Weepee(Weepee)-105:
Peter de Villiers does.
15 Mar 2011, 10:26 am
@Puma(Puma)-113:
Wasnt confirmed on Sunday, the Crusaders and Sharks had agreed but the English RFU hadnt given the green light because of the clash with the Halequins game on the Friday. RFU have only just confirmed now.
I dont know, I think they’ll be ok. There wont be any jet lag coming home from London and they would have had a few more days to prepare for the Crusaders because the game is on a Sunday.
All I know is that its going to be a cracker. There’s going to be plenty of ball in hand, running rugby on show at a packed Twickers.
15 Mar 2011, 10:26 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-112: The ball stops as soon as Jean gets it and predictably crash balls up the middle again.
15 Mar 2011, 10:27 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-111:
PdV all but confirmed last week that Ricky Januarie, Fourie du Preez and Francois Hougaard will be the scrumhalves at the World Cup.
15 Mar 2011, 10:28 am
@Puma(Puma)-117:
Ya, he’s definitely a fh. He has put that argument to rest for good.
Just giving all the options should someone pull up with an injury.
15 Mar 2011, 10:29 am
The chosen ones will be there! Loyalty to me means loyalty to the Bok. Winning is not everything.
15 Mar 2011, 10:30 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-121:
Awesome, cant wait to see Januarie in the squad. The only thing he has proved this year is that a man can live on pies and only pies.
Actually forgot about Hougaard. He’ll definitely be there as well.
15 Mar 2011, 10:30 am
@garth 108: sean maitland is the form kiwi 14 by a mile!!!
15 Mar 2011, 10:32 am
gotta run
outta here
go proteas….
15 Mar 2011, 10:32 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-119: It was a given. Cause the game was gonna be played on the Sunday, just knew it was going ahead. They just had make sure it was fine with the residents around Twickers for Sunday. Sharks had already agreed. Also it was on sw yesterday. So knew it was gonna happen.
It not the jet lag from London. The tiredness will carry on from the long haul flight from NZ. Also they have travelled already 18 hours to get to NZ. They come home on the Tuesday. Probably only get to train a bit from the Wednesday. Our game against Stormers will be very tough. We on the back foot here buddy. Stormers only have a 2 hour flight. Compare that to all the travel the Sharks will have done. Crazy to have agreed. I know it is for a good cause. But it could cost Sharks huge this.
15 Mar 2011, 10:34 am
Kirschner
JPP
Jean
Fourie
Habs
Steyn
Fouriedp
Guths
Plod
Doepdepoep
Maters
Botha – lezi
Smith – unfit not a problem – a half is better than nothing
Cheese Burger
My lover – Spies my kies
15 Mar 2011, 10:36 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-122: For sure.
@John Galt(John Galt)-119: What I was trying to say in my post 127. Sure no jet lag from London but the continuous travel. Have to count the travel from the time they left our shores until they get back. Globe trotting before some big home games is madness. Tiredness will set in huge.
15 Mar 2011, 10:36 am
It was irresponsible of the clown to play Lambie in the EOYT.
The kid is not ready for that level of rugby yet.
The Super 15 is perfect for him to fine tune his game right now. Leave him alone until next season and then bring him into action at test level.
15 Mar 2011, 10:42 am
@garth(garth)-115: Noteworthy that all those games involved SA and what I am saying is that it has not only to do with the Flyhalf position but the balance of the whole side. A side gets hammered when their balance is wrong. Getting rid of MS is not going to change that. Also in those games NZ at least had a good kicker to keep them ahead when they were dominating elsewhere on the pitch, admittedly running our poor kicks (from MS and Rickie) back at us with interest.
The problem lies in getting the balance in all your combinations right and we were missing Bakkies ( after 1st test in NZ – yellow carded) , FDP (whole TN’s) , Brussouw ( whole TN’s almost), Juan Smit had just come back from injury and Bekker was injured later on. Also no FS at fullback compared to previous year.
The 2010 TN’s was a blip but no-one goes onto a rugby field at International level expecting to walk over the opposition. 2010 may just turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
15 Mar 2011, 10:42 am
@PDivviedoesthingswrite(PDivviedoesthingswrite)-128: FDP, Fourie, JPP and Smith. The rest of your choice are either over the hill or not good enough and should go nowhere near the WC.
15 Mar 2011, 10:44 am
@PDivviedoesthingswrite(PDivviedoesthingswrite)-128: Unless Doepdepoep is Bismark, then you can add him to my list too.
15 Mar 2011, 10:46 am
Kirschner; Stain
JPP Aplon
JdV Jdj
JF Olieboy
Habs Mvovs
Stained and tarnished Butcher
FdP, Hamburger, Hougie
Guthro, Beast
Plod, Bissie
Doep CJ
Mats, Bekker
Botha=lezi VdM
Smith Cheeseburger Alberts Steggies
Spies Spies Spies
15 Mar 2011, 10:47 am
Damn website fracking with me so early in the morning.
15 Mar 2011, 10:47 am
And tell me, if you look at WC results how many of the WC finals have been won by young squads i.e. where the level of experience in Internationals amongst the players averages 30 or less tests. Look at Oz , England and SA when they won the WC and tell me what the average no. of tests per player was.
15 Mar 2011, 10:48 am
@garth(garth)-132:
If you like it or not – the chosen ones will be there. Why bother arguing or putting your best team on paper. It makes no difference. The team is chosen whether they are playing well or not!!!
15 Mar 2011, 10:50 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-131: We scored 4 tries in those games and had 10 scored against us. That’s why we lost. When we got so far behind after the first 30 minutes, we did not have the players to score tries and get back into the game. We were one dimensional, with our one dimensional game and our one dimensional flyhalf. I have not said that we should throw out all the players that can kick, just those that can only kick or only defend. We need players that can do it all.
15 Mar 2011, 11:00 am
@PDivviedoesthingswrite(PDivviedoesthingswrite)-137: You are right. My team for post WC is:
1. Beast
2. Bissie
3. Jannie
4. ???? We actually have no outstanding No. 4′s
5. Bekker
6. Brussouw/Flo
7. Smith/Deysel
8. Koster/Alberts
9. Hougaard/Mcloed
10. Lambie
11. Aplon
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Fourie
14. JPP
15. Frans
or
11. Mvovo
12. Frans
13. Fourie
14. JPP
15. Aplon
Hopefully the clan of old useless men and their coach would be gone.
15 Mar 2011, 11:19 am
@garth(garth)-139: Geez!!!, I had underestimated your deep hatred for the Bulls
15 Mar 2011, 11:28 am
RIght now i would still say M Steyn is the first choice Bok flyhalf. We have to wait and see if Butch can still mix it at international level.
The way the Boks play they need a solid reliable kicker and M Steyn is the best kicker we have had since Naas!
15 Mar 2011, 11:29 am
We need to see Butch playing for the Lions now, so that we can have a better look at him and see if he is good enough to be our world cup no.10. I have no doubt that he is a great player, but to judge him by his performances for bath is inaccurate, as the quality of domestic and club rugby up north is not nearly at the same level and intensity as super rugby. Some judge him on his world cup 2007 performance, but that is four years ago, don’t get me wrong, he was one of the best pivot’s in that tournament. But we need to see him play competitive super rugby for the lions and see how he performs and if he can stay injury free.
If indeed butch does produce, the same style and quality of play in 2007, he will definitely be a better option than Morne Steyn. We all know that Steyn’s goal kicking is more superior, but James proved that he is a very capable goal kicker, but his attacking, tactical and defensive play is far more superior than that of Steyn. I will definitely keep Morne in the match 22, as he is still a valuable asset for the side.
The problem for Butch is, that Morne has proven himself in recent seasons and got the respect of many Bok supporters and Pdiv for his brilliant goal kicking and his, maybe one dimensional, but solid performances, its not like he let the Boks down at any stage and he is a good player. Where James needs to come to the Lions and prove to the country and Pdiv and gain their respect and confidence in only a couple of months. It will be a tough task, but i believe he does have the ability to do that and if he does so, he will be without a doubt the best option at 10 for our World Cup campaign. But like any other player he has to first earn it, he cant just walk in to the side.
Where does that leave Lambie and Jantjies? First of all i wil not even take Jantjies, i will take Lambie and give hime some off the bench world cup experience against lesser sides. Lambie has proved he is ready for the big time, but not quite ready to fill the shoes of Steyn or James. Jantjies on the other hand not nearly there yet. Maybe in a couple of years!!
15 Mar 2011, 11:34 am
No quality No. 4′s???? Sykes, Hargreaves, Rossow, Bakkie still have someting left in the tank. I know some of those guys play at 5, but will have no problem switching to 4.
15 Mar 2011, 11:35 am
@grant10(grant10)-110:
skop en jag en bid
15 Mar 2011, 11:36 am
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-140: Dude, I lived in Pretoria for a year. You have no idea.
15 Mar 2011, 11:39 am
wow van wyk has more lives the many cats
15 Mar 2011, 11:40 am
smith is playing like an ******* as usual and putting so much pressure on the other batsmen to score the runs
15 Mar 2011, 11:47 am
smith run out 7 from 18 balls?? what a blessing he is out
15 Mar 2011, 11:54 am
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-143: For anyone who thinks Bakkies no longer has it, must simply ask that young English lock ( Courtney Lawes)…, he had a thing or two to say about Bakkies, and Bakkies went looking for him in the wars, we all know who won that little battle.
15 Mar 2011, 11:55 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-148: Bugger. Hope Ireland not gonna do a England on us. We actually had to win this one big. See AB not playing either. Hope we not in trouble here.
How you brudda? What is your feeling for our Sharks to play in London?
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