Lambie’s fearless
12 May 2011
JON CARDINELLI, writing in SA Rugby magazine, says South Africa’s great prodigy continues to exceed expectations.
Pat Lambie can’t miss. He kicks six out of six against the Melbourne Rebels, and calls kicking consultant Braam van Straaten after the Sharks’ victory. ‘Coach, I’m hitting the ball so sweetly, it feels like I can’t miss,’ he says. That rare combination of skill and composure is once again evident as he nails three out of three the very next week.
In October 2010, SA Rugby magazine hailed the arrival of a special talent. Lambie exhibited all the attributes of a match-winning flyhalf, although at the time of writing, he was yet to substantiate the speculation; he was yet to take control. That article was written about a promising teenager, and few could have predicted the accelerated metamorphosis he would undergo in the next five months.
Lambie has ascended; he has begun to spread his wings. He led the Sharks to a Currie Cup title with a dazzling all-round display against Western Province. The sharp tactical probes, the visionary distribution and, of course, the daring dart and fend on Schalk Burger that epitomised his audacity. That moment alone will go down in domestic history, but on a longer timeline, it will serve as a precursor to greater deeds.
It’s an unshakeable confidence that’s come to mark him more than his natural feel for the game. Lambie believes he can’t miss, and through his increasingly impressive feats, more and more people are beginning to share this confidence.
Van Straaten picked up on that defining quality in the build-up to the 2010 Currie Cup final. Tasked with refining Lambie’s kicking technique, Van Straaten was surprised by the youngster’s penchant for responsibility. Van Straaten and Lambie spent a total of five hours during that final week discussing technique and practising an array of kicks, and it formed the basis for what was to become a prosperous working relationship.
They linked up again during the Sharks’ pre-season, and Lambie remained ambitious. While firmly entrenched as the first-choice flyhalf, there was still much to prove. There were other factors that contributed to his erratic goal-kicking on the Springbok tour of the home nations, but it was clear that his technique was holding him back.
‘There were some fundamental flaws that needed correcting,’ says Van Straaten, a former Springbok flyhalf with a reputation for goal-kicking accuracy. ‘His body position was wrong and his last step towards the ball wasn’t quite right. It took quite a while to fix, but as we saw during the early stages of Super Rugby this year, that hard work has paid off.
‘For a developing player like Pat, you want him exposed to as much ball as possible. This applies to kicking as much as it does to other areas of his game. I’d noticed that the Sharks used Stefan Terblanche as their primary kicker when they kicked for touch, and so I spoke to the Sharks’ coaches and suggested that Pat take on that responsibility. The good habits he’d picked up after working on his goal-kicking were carried across to his kicking out of hand, and because he got a feel for kicking the ball to touch early in the game, he would have some rhythm before kicking for goal.’
The Sharks won four of their first five matches and Lambie boasted a goal-kicking average of 86%. The improvement in his tactical game was also evident, and if not for a finger fracture that sidelined him for three weeks, he may have continued to top the point-scoring table.
While the Sharks toured Australasia, Lambie stayed in close contact with Van Straaten. The latter continued to analyse Lambie’s kicking performances and mail him video clips and feedback. It was after the Sharks beat the Rebels 34-32 in Melbourne and Lambie kicked six out of six that Van Straaten received a phone call from his prodigy.
‘It was a proud moment for me as a coach,’ recalls Van Straaten. ‘We had changed his kicking style and he’d put in the work, and he had progressed to the point where he felt like he just couldn’t miss. And it wasn’t a case of arrogance or over-confidence. He was kicking like an absolute king.’
Lambie’s performances with the boot and with ball in hand have not gone unnoticed. There’s a healthy appreciation for the 20-year-old in Sharks country, while members of the Springbok management are keeping a close eye on his progress.
He already has four Test caps and was on the field when South Africa completed wins against Ireland, Wales and England last year. But whether he gained anything from that northern sojourn is a point of contention.
Before that touring squad was announced, Sharks coach John Plumtree said that it wasn’t ‘necessary’ for Lambie to be involved. Having watched the four Tests and the questionable manner in which Lambie was managed, you’d have to agree that the youngster would have been better served continuing his development in a Sharks jumper. The Bok management introduced Lambie from the bench at odd times, and even the softest of critics would have viewed it as an example of a player being set up to fail. Morné Steyn was in great goal-kicking form, and yet coach Peter de Villiers decided to trade Steyn for Lambie at times when the game was still in the balance.
Lambie admitted that he would have liked a start, but tempered the talk of frustration by adding that the tour provided him with good exposure to the Bok systems. Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford has been impressed with Lambie’s progress in Super Rugby, and suggests that the flyhalf took the whole Bok experience in his stride.
‘I’m not sure that he added anything to his game after touring with the Boks, but he certainly didn’t do himself a discredit,’ says Bashford. ‘A great deal of work has been done since his return, and he continues to impress everybody, not only with his skill, but also with his attitude.
‘We always felt he would end up at flyhalf, but fate certainly had a hand in his move to the position as early as last year. He came into the Super 14 side as a fullback because Adi Jacobs was out injured and we had to move Stefan Terblanche to outside centre. Then we moved Pat to No 12 in the Currie Cup and eventually to flyhalf when Steve Meyer suffered that big knee injury. Sometimes these things happen for the best.’
Butch James must start at No 10 for the Boks at this year’s World Cup, as he has the all-round game as well as the experience of having won the tournament in 2007. Lambie is the future of South African rugby, but history will show that experienced teams win World Cups.
There is still value in taking the 20-year-old to New Zealand and exposing him to a tournament of this magnitude. He’s handled everything the rugby world has thrown at him, and while it’s a travesty of justice that a starting opportunity didn’t come his way last November, Lambie’s shown a temperament that, like the rest of his skills set, is in another class.
‘Pat has so much time on the ball, he never gets rattled,’ says Bashford. ‘Sure, he’s got a great forward platform to play off, but he’s made the most of that possession.
‘He’s responded fantastically to the responsibility that’s been offered to him. He’s an old head on young shoulders, he makes the big calls and he’s asked for the responsibility to kick. He also has the respect of the younger and senior players. Everybody backs him to make the big decisions.’
And despite his perceived lack of size, he’s stood up to the physical intensity of top-flight rugby. Even in the matches where his forwards have been under pressure, as was the case in that loss to the Chiefs, he doesn’t shirk his defensive duties.
‘Pat’s not exactly small at 92kg,’ says Bashford. ‘His tackle efficiency [before he was sidelined for three weeks] is 93%, so he looks after that all-important flyhalf channel. It’s a channel every team targets nowadays, and Pat’s proved he can handle that pressure.’
The cynics have drawn parallels between Lambie and Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Brent Russell, but the fact that Lambie played fullback before flyhalf doesn’t mean that he’s doomed to a career as a utility. There was much debate about his best position in 2010, but the argument is now settled. Lambie is a flyhalf. End of story.
At a tender age, Lambie already offers more than Frans Steyn and Russell. Steyn never had the sharp decision-making skills required of a top-class 10, while Russell’s kicking game was a perpetual shortcoming. Pienaar had all the attributes but was never backed in the position, and at times struggled for confidence. It’s clear that Lambie has no such problem. Ask Van Straaten. Ask Bashford. Ask the kid himself. He can’t miss.
‘Pat’s already light years ahead of other players his age,’ says Van Straaten. ‘That kind of calmness under pressure usually comes with experience, but he’s already
there. He’s got all the time in the world, whether he’s running with the ball or kicking it. It’s a mark of the really good players.
‘He has time on his side, and I’d like to see him used in the Tri-Nations before the World Cup. Test rugby has more pressure and variables than Super Rugby. I’d like to see him entrusted with that responsibility, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t pass that test.’
– This article first appeared in the May issue of SA Rugby magazine. The June issue will be on sale from Wednesday, 18 May.
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471 Comments
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13 May 2011, 08:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-450:
Yeah I fully agree with you. And he’s completely loopy.
But TJ brought it up. And he seems so much more stable.
13 May 2011, 08:48 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-451: i watched the show @ the gym with no sound, so i didn’t hear the discussion, just followed pictures…now i wish i had listened
13 May 2011, 08:49 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-449: speculation and discussion are just that… did the “experts” have proof or are they just speculating too? all I know is that GH at the start of the season met with the coaches and asked that ABs be rested for a period of 2 weeks at the coaches discretion…
if they are so concerned about resting players, why on earth would they schedule an extra test match against Fiji before the 3Ns? seems to contradict the whole rest conspiracy IMO..
13 May 2011, 08:50 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-451: the saders “casualty ward” looked quite substantial. i saw piri weepu might be back next, GH will like that cos piri slots in @ first 5 too.
13 May 2011, 08:59 am
its funny because at the start of the super rugby season, and even now, coaches and fans alike have all stated the need for proper player management throughout the new, extended super rugby format… squad depth I think is the buzzword…
damned if you do, and damned if you dont huh?
13 May 2011, 08:59 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-401: Thats not good… If its worse than Venter’s, as quoted by the Doc in the Nel article, then it must be bad…
A clue to what Joost may be affected by can be found in the Docs words:
“It is nowhere near the same as Andre’s, as that affected him from the waist down. This disease affects the entire body.”
The disease slowly degenerates the muscles in the body, up to a point where the patient can develop respiratory problems, and this can be life-threatening.”
This could be some type of motor neuron disease, similar to Stephen Hawking…
Its sad for Joost, legend on the rugby field. I truly hope that he finds the strength to fight this for as long as possible.
13 May 2011, 08:59 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-454:
Judging by Piris condition, he might well be slotting in at hooker when he gets
back.
@poppa69(poppa69)-453:
Thats better, call it speculation.
Instead of accusing all saffas of being conspiracy theorists.
13 May 2011, 09:04 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-456: its called Lupus
Learnt from watching too many episodes of House
13 May 2011, 09:07 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-455:
You and BillTong started this conspiracy theory bullshit! Seabiscuit was actually completely valid in his argument.
Go back and read the post 2 again will you. In fact let me help you with it.
..’my personal opinion is that they are planning rest periods for each player they intend on taking to the world cup to ensure they aint burnt out, if you look each week there is a all black or 2 from each team out injuired for only 2-3 weeks per time,..
I mean ffs, that is exactly what youve just said it in a post above..
13 May 2011, 09:08 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-457: what, you mean not all Saffas think that their is a NZ/Aus reffing alliance? that not all Saffas believe the laws were changed to suit NZ? that not all Saffas believe Paddy Obrien is sorting things out for NZ to win the WC?
and not all Saffas believe the judiciary is more lenient on NZ/Aus then it is on SA?
ok then, I stand corrected…
13 May 2011, 09:08 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-454:
indeed.
their team bus is now an ambulance.
13 May 2011, 09:09 am
@Papoose(papaown)-458: I regretted my post straight after pressing submit…. Not good to speculate… Anyway, I hope Joost has a chance of recovery or has a chance of alleviating any pain and discomfort…
13 May 2011, 09:11 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-459: ok, so a player who is out injured for 2-3 weeks MUST be faking it?
FFS, sometimes an injury only takes 2-3 weeks until it is no longer an injury…
those 4 players who came off the field for the Saders, was that all down to rest periods? Id imagine one or two of them will only be out for a week or two surely?
but yeah, you and seabiscuit are right… eish… so now NZ players CANT even get injured without an alterior motive? lmfao..
and yep, man didnt really walk on the moon, it was filmed in a warehouse somewhere…
13 May 2011, 09:12 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-459: The only sense of injustice and unfairness shown on Keo are by the silly little Kiwis. Good for a laugh to see the “bro’s” riddle themselves silly…
13 May 2011, 09:17 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-464:
Oh my sweet t its, its like talking to a 2 year old.
13 May 2011, 09:23 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-465:
is it possible for more then one player to be injured in the same game? is it possible for someone to be injured for 2-3 weeks?
but continue, its great to see Saffas are that worried that injured NZ players arent really injured..
thing is, without those players they are still beating the best teams you guys have, so I’d be more concerned with that if I was a SA fan..
but continue with the insults, its definitely something all Saffas seem to delight in..
13 May 2011, 09:27 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-465: 2 yr old’s being nice… ever tried talking to a vervetmonkey…? Poops comes close…
13 May 2011, 09:28 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-467: Its the Blueballas… and of course, Poops support the Blues… So, Pooper the Kiwi Vervetmonkey… ?
13 May 2011, 11:04 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-430: Lol , yea yea bla bla…tell me how many aborigines, maoris etc etc were wiped out by white settlers in australia, new zealand tasmania etc? Tell me what the average income for an aboriginal or maori family is compared to their white counterparts? The only difference is they just didn’t put a nice neat label to it for everyone to grab at.
So stick your f****ng precious hypocritical preaching up your butt, ‘mate’, and go throw stones somewhere else. Everyone except BP and 1 or 2 others is sick to death of you around here. Are you like one of those stupid annoying kids who just don’t know when they’re not welcome at a party?
13 May 2011, 11:07 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-407: Um skop, my car exerts more gravitational influence on the planet than that comet ever did.
14 May 2011, 02:20 am
article in weekend herald here in NZ states that 40 of the 160 contracted S15 players in the kiwi conference are currently injured. with mccaw and carter back this week, they’re not included on that list.
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