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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12 May 2011, 10:28 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-99: Go well Poppa.
12 May 2011, 10:31 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-96:
Lots of spelling mistakes in there for tickles aswell.
12 May 2011, 10:34 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-93: as a direct result of you. if there is no rugby spoken here why do you come here, the only logical deduction is that you wanna troll and fight by telling the Saffas how **** they are in every aspect from politics to netball and how superior NZ is because of the AB, its old.
12 May 2011, 10:38 am
@Fern(Fern)-102: Yeah. Found another interesting one…
http://hubpages.com/hub/NZ_Rugby_Morally_Bereft
Sounds like poops could have written the article, allowing for a couple of “mis-spellings” here or there
12 May 2011, 10:39 am
Outtahere for now…
12 May 2011, 10:39 am
@Atreides(Atreides)-100:
rdp housing is being built in double and triple storey blocks,and are also integrated with gap housing.when single units were built on stands,the people still erected shacks to rent out for a income.Diepsloot is a case in point.I have seen a guy build a double storey structure with 14 small rooms that he rents out.Here is the main problem,the services was not designed for this unforeseen population explosion.rdp townships now have more communual areas where the people can play sport and relax and no illegal squatting can happen.
12 May 2011, 10:40 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-103: Dont stress it, we all know how much of a “leg up” the ABs get from IRB …Shame is they dont need it, they are a damn good side at the moment.
Problem for us is ANC politics is killing the game, deliberate or not I still cant decide. So to compete with NZRU at all shows just how good our guys (have) been.
Enjoy.
12 May 2011, 10:40 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-91:
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-92:
Piet
van
Zyl’ot
12 May 2011, 10:43 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-104:
Sadly some very hectic replies about dysfunctional families.
12 May 2011, 10:48 am
@bananas(bananas)-107: oh i learnt not to stress over poopas comments long time ago, they keep coming back over and over again…… no use conversing with a stuck record
12 May 2011, 10:57 am
Ok so now that everyone has got their morning frustrations out, here’s a thought;
With Ruan clearly being earmarked as a Flyhalf, if reports are to be believed, and PDV’s love for Butch, will there be a place for Lambie in the Bok squad?
Assuming that Morne Steyn is a given, that is…….
Butch
Morne
Ruan
??
12 May 2011, 10:57 am
Had my one foot in the air while posting that one…..
12 May 2011, 11:04 am
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-111:
you never know.
butch will probably do himself a mischief getting off the team bus.
12 May 2011, 11:08 am
@gunther(gunther)-113: I’ll put money on Butch picking up an injury before the WC,
One or two others as well.
12 May 2011, 11:14 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-88:
Like I said earlier…if these guys are managed well they’ll hopefully get throught this lengthy Super 15. I think it’s smart for them to be managed this way.
It’s not a conspiracy but rather tactical thinking. The NZRU are looking after their investments.
12 May 2011, 11:15 am
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-111: i think Ruan will bee seen as cover for both half back positions,
what is the normal makeup of a RWC sqaud? how many SH and FH’s are normally taken?
12 May 2011, 11:18 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-103:
I said it a year ago. I also said I’m conviced they’re teenagers looking for nonsense.
The only normal ones are Nils and Hurricane. The other two are like hysterical girls.
12 May 2011, 11:26 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-93:
Yes, you’ve always been very careful to not use the name Suzie, whilst still actually accusing SA of poisoning the AB’s in 95. Even going so far as to suggest that the office of the President may have ordered the poisoning! And then using INVICTUS as possible evidence…… Now if that’s not a conspiracy theory, then I don’t know what is.
And in case you conveniently don’t remember it, I’ve taken the libery to share some of your previous posts copied and pasted below:
488.poppa69: Reply to this comment
7 May 2010, 14:57 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-477:
1) poisoned by poor food, yes, by a waitress, no… as Ive always stated..
2) yes I do, otherwise why would Luyt have done that? you dont always have to pay a bribe before the event now do you? do you admit that it looks dodgy even today? that before the WC final the SARU president was giving a gold watch to the man whose 78th minute decision ensured his team made the final?
3) yes…
525.poppa69:
7 May 2010, 15:20 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-521: the question is, why did Luyt offer it to him in the first place?? cmon, face that one? because he was the best ref or because he gave a dubious decision in favour of the home side? who probably where slated by the IRB to win as reward for the seemingly noble notion of transformation…
one only has to see Invictus, the line were mandela states categorically that they HAD to win the WC, so the fact the ABs could have been poisoned with an order from the top office is a real possibility..
12 May 2011, 11:29 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-116: It is customary to take 3 scrumhalves and 3 hookers. The rest is determined by personal preference for the team make up.
A guy like Ruan may be seen as the 3rd scrummie after Porra and maybe Francois, likewise Lambie may be seen as a utility and that may influence selection. Lambie, Butch, Grant and even Steyn can all play 12 (and 15 in the case of Lambie) so that may lead to one less backline specialist getting chosen.
If you look at the Centers, for example, you have JDV, JDJ and Jaque who are shoe ins at this stage. Add in a WO to the mix and you start to get a very crowded list, one that lambie and Grant will struggle to both get onto…..
All of this presupposes that there are no injuries of course..
12 May 2011, 11:31 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-116: You have John as general front row cover which may open up some space, it depends on the viewpoint they take.
You already have Beast, Gurthro, CJ and Jannie likely to be in the team. Bissie and John. A.N. Other. (hooker)
Will they leave one of the above 4 props behind? Not sure.
12 May 2011, 11:37 am
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-118: Hahahahaha, well done Vetkoek, bet it would hurt him less if someone took a run up and kicked him in the nuts……… i for one would throw my name in the hat for that job. Hypocrisy that name is Poop
12 May 2011, 11:40 am
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-118:
12 May 2011, 11:40 am
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-118: its a shame context is never well expressed on a blog huh? that was all said firmly tongue in cheek, but I know you or no one else will believe it… its easy to pluck comments to augment your point…
you’ll also find many, many comments of mine that state I dont ascribe to the susie theory… never have….
but boy. most of you ascribe to the ANZAC “kissing cousins” theory..
12 May 2011, 11:43 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-123: Don’t fib now Poops…
12 May 2011, 11:44 am
I feel a tantrum coming…
12 May 2011, 11:45 am
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-119: ok, thanks for that, giving that what would YOUR RWC squad look like? mine to follow
12 May 2011, 11:46 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-121: tsk tsk… violence Mac, how very stereotypical….eish,,,
12 May 2011, 11:49 am
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-119: How can Francois be seen as a scrummie? He never plays there. Sarel should get the 2nd spot. Ruan is a bench specialist as he can cover many positions.
12 May 2011, 11:52 am
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-126: I am determined to not choose the squad until the end of the competition. Having said that, most of the squad chooses itself, we know John will be captain, but who will be hooker no 3? For me Strauss is that guy on this year’s form.
Grant or Lambie?
Spies? Will he start?
Alberts will be in the squad for sure, but will he play? Will Juan be fit?
For me too many unknowns at this stage…
Keen to see your picks, I’d rather give you my opinion on your picks, but for me the most contentious picks are the ones I’ve raised above.
12 May 2011, 11:52 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-123: you see now chap, if you’d heeded my call to cease all hostilities and discuss the merits of whether lambie is “fearless” or not you wouldn’t be offering lame excuses about “context”.
olive branch?
12 May 2011, 11:54 am
Nearly there…
12 May 2011, 11:56 am
@garth(garth)-128:
both pienaar and hougaard offer bench options.
between them they cover every position in the backline.
12 May 2011, 11:58 am
@garth(garth)-128: He was the second scrummie last year, and actually has done really well when played there.
I’m not talking about who I think are the best in the positions, I’m referring to who i believe will actually get picked.
I agree with you on Sarel, you’ll find many posts of mine talking about how good he is.
Ruan may well get picked as a scrummie/flyhalf cover, a possibility I referred to above.
Thing is, we just don’t know. Yet.
12 May 2011, 12:03 pm
Poops needs to calm down and cuddle up to soft, fleecy Dolly after a hard day’s night on the “job”…
Baa aah ah ahh…
Outtahere… Loved watching the blogging equivalent of a car crash… Shame Pooper
12 May 2011, 12:09 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-130: I can take the hit Trans… he’s gone to all that trouble to prove me wrong, cant deny him his moment…
(although if I spent the time I probably could),,
as for Lambie being fearless, old HG was accusing us of Tall Poppy syndrome, yet look at the hype this kids under… let him develop first.. Fearless in a rugby context at his young age when (correct me if Im wrong, as I know you will
) he hasnt started a full test match? A CC final is not the same as a test match, especially SH opponents… he may prove me wrong and step up to that level no problem, but expectation on the kid is as bad as that on the ABs..
does his rugby need that at this stage?
12 May 2011, 12:09 pm
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-129: Fair enough
Steenkamp
Beast
Jannie
CJ
Smit
Bismark
Chiliboy
Victor
Russouw
Bakkies
Bekker
Burger
Smith
Alberts
Flouw
Vermuelen
Du Preez
Houghaard
Ruan
Butch
Steyn
Lambie
De Villiers
Fourie
De Johng
Olivier
Mvovo
Basson
Aplon
F Steyn
I pick Lambie because he can cover Fullback, FH and at a push centre, Houghaard can cover wing and Aplon can cover FB or wing, Russouw can play flank or lock, i would start with Butch James but have steyn on the bench for his ability to take pressure kicks. i only include Olivier because i cant think of any other center worthy of going, WO is a filler.
12 May 2011, 12:14 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-135: forgot to add, or will he end up another Steyn, ruined by being rushed too quickly without having the game maturity to match it…
is it only his first full super season as well? (honest question)
12 May 2011, 12:15 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-115:
theyre injured.
GH said last season that in 2011, ABs would get 2 weeks off S15 incl McCaw missing opening 2 rounds. He did not know at the time that McCaw had a stress fracture that would require a metal screw.
despite that, you fell – leapt – straight in to SeaBiscuits conspiracy theory (at 2) that Nonu, Smith etc were all part of this ‘veil of secrecy’ from the ABs.
theyre injured.
12 May 2011, 12:16 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-136: Interresting. I see you’ve left Pierre Spies out in the forwards, I can see you reasoning, have no fault there.
No Habs or JPP in the backline? Basson for sure, not sure if i’d take Mvovo, understand why you may not pick Brian.
You post makes a lot of sense, I could live with this squad quite easily, even though I may pick one or two players differently.
One of the reasons why I want to wait until the end of the season is to se where guys like Habanna, Chilli, JPP, Steyn and Spies are, form wise.
12 May 2011, 12:25 pm
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-139: yeah, Spies for me is not a loose forward, he doesnt hit rucks, and he doesnt drive over the ball, which is sad for a guy his size, i suggested it the other day that maybe putting him at center where he can run onto the ball and use his size to get over the gain line at pace may be worth a try, i had Pieterson but like he did on 2007, i think Basson and Mvovo would bring in some youthful energy, JPP is coasting for me. no need to talk about Brian right now, if he hits form Mvovo would be dropped. Chiliboy i put in because Both he and Strauss are injury prone but Chili has been on more trips with the boks, thats the only deciding factor for me on that one.
12 May 2011, 12:31 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-140: Fair points all. Cannot fault them at all.
I think Pierre will get picked, whether we agree with it or not, which leaves Vermeulen out in the cold I guess. No Kanko? I guess you only have so many slots.
I agree with you on Pierre being too soft, given his athletic potential. Still there have been games where he’s looked amazing.
Consistancy has been an issue with him for some time now.
12 May 2011, 12:36 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-135: @poppa69(poppa69)-137: Your concern for Bokkie rugby prodigies is truly touching….
Reaching…
12 May 2011, 12:44 pm
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-141: well im quite sure PdV picks will look nothing like mine, kanko for me is also a bit too soft, if you look at the new interpretations, in my opinion, its better for a team’s forwards to drive over the ball that to try steal it with one player, and conversely you want the bigger guys from stopping that counter ruck, Kanko and Spies are for a looser type of game which i dont think the Boks should strive for.
12 May 2011, 12:44 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-142:
pooper just comes here to escape his boring mundane life.
12 May 2011, 12:51 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-137: it’s his second season, but he played most of last year @ fullback, so this is 1st season at 1st five.
12 May 2011, 12:52 pm
@Fern(Fern)-144: I wouldn’t think being a pimp in Kings Cross would be boring and mundane… But being a pimp in King’s Cross = a Shepherd??
So, boring and mundane…maybe
12 May 2011, 12:53 pm
@MacToogie(MacToogie)-143: For me Kanko does almost anything that Pierre does, and does much other stuff better. So if you pick Pierre, you may as well pick Kanko instead. That’s my point of view.
I think there’s still place for Kanko, just not sure how he can be accomodated.
Alberts and vermeulen are great “ruck” players. With Heinrich to play to the ball and Alberts to play to the man we’ve got the makings of a great combo IMO.
12 May 2011, 12:54 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-146:
He works at a casino so he kisses @ss the whole day in hope he will get a couple of chips as a tip for being such a good ******
12 May 2011, 12:59 pm
@At least Os will still wear green (but no gold)(stormersboy)-147: Yeah that is one thing SA cant complain about is the dearth of loose forwards of all makes, styles and sizes.
12 May 2011, 13:00 pm
@Fern(Fern)-148: surely you not carrying on while he’s not even here?
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