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, 16:26 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-292: Hehe. Alright, now I really depart. Salut!
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-290: Yup. 2 times whole game, I do not think I have ever seen something even remotely resembling like that. I bet Frogs could not believe their lucky stars.
Poor ********, next week their carriage turned back into pumpkin.
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-288: Cheers to you, too!
12 May 2011, 16:27 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-299: WC99 3rd place game.
12 May 2011, 16:38 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-297:
which email ?
cut’n'paste here
or
better still
since everyone in SA knows it word-for-word
just type it up here, verbatim.
ps – did you ever here the one about the Boks and the ‘travel disadvantage’ ?
uh- huh
well, last time that wee Urban Myth came up – repeated as if fact – it was shown that the Boks travelled LESS than Aus & NZ, not MORE.
schucks
y’know, Bok excuses just keep running out
I even had BokiNZ trying to say that it was Paul Honiss in Ireland (2004) that started all the ‘out to get the Japies’ paranoia. Funny that. Wasnt it Piet van Zyl’ot who ran on to the field in 2 years previously and attacked the ref ?
which begs the question – was it 1976 that made Paddy angry to write the email ? was it ‘the email’ that made Piet angry ? was it Piet that made Honiss angry ? was it Honiss that made Krusty angry last year when he blatantly accused the IRB of colluding with NZ to ensure they won the RWC ?
gee
all over an email that noone has ever seen.
Noone
Maybe Suzi has it.
12 May 2011, 16:39 pm
@Nils(Nils)-302:
2003
QterFinals
12 May 2011, 16:41 pm
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-298:
cut’n'paste
I’ll be waiting
12 May 2011, 16:54 pm
seeing as transie is on holiday.
Rugby: Referee fiasco sends out the wrong message
5:00 AM Friday Mar 26, 1999
By NZPA
An embarrassed New Zealand Rugby Football Union yesterday smoothed over a potentially harmful row with South Africa, saying the incident had been dealt with internally.
NZRFU chief executive David Moffett would not say if the perpetrator, New Zealand manager of referee development Keith Lawrence, had been reprimanded.
Lawrence was forced to apologise to his South African counterpart Freek Burger following the sending of an e-mail which contained derogatory remarks about Burger. The e-mail had been sent to arrange a conference call between the three Super 12 referee managers but is understood to have contained earlier dialogue – not intended for South Africa – which had taken place between Lawrence and his
Australian counterpart.
Keith has spoken to Freek Burger and has apologised to him and Freek Burger has graciously accepted that apology and they between them have decided to move on and put it behind them,” Moffett said.
“It’s something we would have preferred not to have happened, it was a mistake and it has been apologised for.”
Both the NZRFU and South African Rugby Union have said there was no conspiracy involved in the e-mail in which the Anzac partners agreed to “teach the Japies (South Africans ) a lesson.”
The message went on: “We won’t tell Freek what we have decided and make sure (SARU chief executive Rian) Oberholzer doesn’t get involved.”
Moffett said the issue stemmed from a frustration related to the assessment criteria and standards to be used in assessing referees.
“There was a degree of frustration in respect to this which boiled over into the e-mail,” he said.
“It should not have happened and Keith is aware of that and he’s apologised for it. That is the issue and it does not involve anything else.”
Moffett said the refereeing assessment procedures had now been resolved between the Super 12 participants.
Changes to the interpretations of some rules and the referees’ ability to carry them out have been at the root of a less appealing Super 12 competition this year, but Moffett said the laws would be in place until the World Cup in October/November and it was up to the players to adapt.
The laws will be then revisited by the International Rugby Board and Moffett said it was likely New Zealand would be keen for a closer look at some of the issues.
That will teach the basteraud japies.
12 May 2011, 16:58 pm
this is a question for all those who chose ‘Springbok history’ as their Mastermind subject…..
Have the Springboks EVER been defeated due solely, and only, to being ‘outplayed’ ?
for the avoidance of doubt, that means:-
Not because of ->
cheating referees (which is helpful, to get the 97% out of the way first).
cheating opposition players (phew, there goes another 2.75%)
No players banned
Not Quotas
Not the weather
Not travel
Not IRB-NationalUnions conspiracies
Not drug bans
Not protesters
…..well, thats a helpful start anyway.
?
12 May 2011, 17:02 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-305:
You have made the thread very predictable and deathly boring.
12 May 2011, 17:07 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-184:
Please get your conspiracy theory straight.
All the reports I have read said there were a hell of a lot less than 20 out of the 22 suffering ill effects.
And of those that were suffering ill effects a hell of a lot less were chundering.
But dont let the facts get in the way of a good story
They never did find the source of the bad food. They claimed the hotel but even that was not verified. The ABs were sneaking out and eating outside the hotel (saw it the prev week with my own eyes). Burger joints, KFC, Pizza and fish joints all got well hit.
Even if it was the hotel we dont know if it was accidental. And even if it wasnt accidental we dont know the paymaster (Asian betting syndicates etc.).
And even if all that is true…. the AB management ignored hotel advice to eat in a roped of area from the same buffet as the other residents. It makes it harder to nobble the guys.
12 May 2011, 17:09 pm
@gunther(gunther)-306: Jeez man, when he said cut & paste, he didn’t actually mean for you to cut & paste. This is as embarrassing as it was back in ’99.
12 May 2011, 17:09 pm
@gunther(gunther)-306:
Nice one Suzi
that article has, of course, been here many times, as you know
it still aint ‘the email’
I like the way “teach the Japies a lesson” has been conveniently cherry-picked and then edited in with “dont tell Freek what we have decided….”
WHAT have they “decided” ?
WHAT is “the lesson” ?
Sounds like gossip between employees
No hand-picked minimal content like that was ever the basis for a successful outcome.
One day, ‘the email’ might even surface. The whole email and nothing but the email. Until then…
12 May 2011, 17:11 pm
@Shark attack(Dawnpre)-308:
BaXXies !
12 May 2011, 17:11 pm
Boks win RWC in 1995 – NZ says we poisoned them
Boks win the RWC in 2007 – NZ says we were lucky
Ho hum….
12 May 2011, 17:20 pm
@Shark attack(Dawnpre)-308:
Actually
youre right for once
it IS pretty boring isnt it
I turned up on a thread about Lambie – a player I reckon is very talented and have said so often enough – only to find BS anti-AB posts at no2
what is it about youse fellas that even when you have a good player, one to celebrate all of your own, that the 1st thing that springs to mind is anti-cr@p about someone elses player ??!!??
scroll thru the thread
its the same farkwits every day who turn up and start it every time
Boy George
Fern
PrePrawn
JL1
(tactually, far too many to list)
and then fellas like G10 who just want to talk footy, as does Skop if you ever read between the lines, they get abused for being so needy.
youre right then
its boring
Lambie – WHAT a promising young player !!!!! Good enough for the Boks starting XV, what do YOU reckon ?
12 May 2011, 17:22 pm
@Shark attack(Dawnpre)-313:
actually NZ never said it “was SA” in 1995
thats just your conscience talking
12 May 2011, 17:24 pm
between yourself
poppa69
Tackler
You three do a pretty darn good job of stirring too. I think there are culprits on both sides.
12 May 2011, 17:31 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-314:
Lambie – WHAT a promising young player !!!!! Good enough for the Boks starting XV, what do YOU reckon ?
Personally I do not think he is nearly good enough. I cursed, swore and vloeked de Villiers for choosing him. I knew it was waaay too soon. It still is. he will be ready for the RWC in four years from now.
12 May 2011, 17:34 pm
@gunther(gunther)-306: Best I got out of that article:
“teach the Japies (South Africans ) a lesson.”
The message went on: “We won’t tell Freek what we have decided and make sure (SARU chief executive Rian) Oberholzer doesn’t get involved.”
Can you feel the love?
12 May 2011, 17:36 pm
WTF!!!!
Another Lambie storie just so he can take a hammering from the clowns in here??
Leave to oke be FFS , all this is is for the lambie haters to stretch their stupidity further
talk about the amazing fearless ruthless stunning brilliant out of this world flyhalf grant
12 May 2011, 17:40 pm
@Shark attack(Dawnpre)-316:
the Tickler is his own Master and answers to no man. And there is only one Nation that can ever really claim him and its not mine.
Poppa only stirs once stirred.
Ive also noticed a correlation between ‘Shark’ niknames & fans and who tends to bite first. That or ‘Blue’
which begs the Question
has there ever been a ‘Blue Shark’ on Keo ?
now theres a thought
12 May 2011, 17:46 pm
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-319:
Tell me you don’t mean that SL, cos I don’t see the smiley anywhere in your post.
If it’s a Province story, it’s oh no not another one. If it’s not, it’s some kind of conspiracy.
C’mon bru.
12 May 2011, 17:50 pm
@Shark attack(Dawnpre)-317:
I also agree with that too.
I still believe the Boks style is best suited by Morne the Metronomic and then cross your fingers its a penalty-ridden bun fight of a RWC, like most of the others have been. For SA/Krusty to change take now, so late in the piece, and start a running game (like he originally said he would) with someone like Grant (he should) or Lambie (possibly) would probably be too late for it all to knit. Especially when he’s thinking of bringing in overseas players (Ruan Woods, the Hoff), who play different patters in NH club rugby.
I hope its a festival of running rugby and may the best team win, whether that be ABs or France or Samoa or Ireland who ever. As long as they run it.
12 May 2011, 17:54 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-279: Futsek!!!, siyabuya!!!!
12 May 2011, 18:04 pm
“I” turned up on a thread about Lambie – a player “I” reckon is very talented and have said so often enough – only to find BS anti-AB posts at no2…
Not really about Lambie this…
Really about “I”… I think “I” may have a persecution complex…
I wonder who “I” is…
12 May 2011, 18:06 pm
The Keo Nazis giving their white knight PR booster??? Herr Lambie?? six out of six without a dodgy kicking tee??
12 May 2011, 18:08 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-324:
Anti AB posts on the official website of SA rugby magazine???
Scandalous
12 May 2011, 18:13 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-325:
It’s an article from the magazine ffs. Maybe you think they should fill it with knitting patterns or soduku puzzles every month.
It might stop the moaning, but I doubt it.
Some people really need to get over themselves and grab a life.
You excluded of course Shaun. Commuting into London every day is a dream not many can realise
12 May 2011, 18:14 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-326: Wasn’t me…!!!
Shhh… Pooper is snuggled up with Dolly… sleeping…
12 May 2011, 18:15 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-321: nope i mean it , they should leave lambi alone , its more sarcasm lol , because all that happens is lambie gets trashed in here everytime these clowns do articles about him
why not write about the more ellustious stormers players
leave us sharkies off the radar
12 May 2011, 18:16 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-325: He’s not white… He’s Scottish…
12 May 2011, 18:20 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-327: You squeezing your own nuts mate.. Keo Nazis refers to Mark and his sidekicks but if the shoe fits
Hows Chad…
.. no commutes?? 
12 May 2011, 18:24 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-330: I got nothing against pigmentally challenged humans… not all of them are Nazi’s.. but like I said before, Guilty until proven innocent
12 May 2011, 18:30 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-327: BTW Jocko… I have found a new political Hero, Alex Salmond (William Wallace stature)… He makes every Tory Twisted Journalist look like a c unt.. They try to avoid challenging him.. Makes me think of me
12 May 2011, 18:47 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-333: A Guardianista needs no-one to look like a twunt….
The way of the world… Salmond leads Scotland into being the UK’s first bantustan…
12 May 2011, 18:48 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-333: Yup, Slamond makes me think of you too…
12 May 2011, 18:56 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-334: Scotland got oil and gas ( North Sea).. Tourism is not to bad either. Only 5million people. Its smaller than London in that respect but plenty more resources.. Cameron is planning an invasion and occupation as we speak
12 May 2011, 19:10 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-333:
He’s a fine man. I’ve admired him for years. (Almost) a lone voice in Westminster for many years. And of course a Hearts fan like me. So don’t mess, if you catch my drift
12 May 2011, 19:11 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-336: North Sea Oil and Gas…? The dregs mate… Why do you think Cameron is busy with Libya… They are the next candidate for the Union… Fark Scotland
12 May 2011, 19:12 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-331:
I know what you mean. It’s just not funny. I’ve told you before, make a difference in a positive way in SA or do your country a favour and shhhhh.
You’ve got the power. I believe in you Forrest
12 May 2011, 19:14 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-338: Libya… Piece of Cake… There’s more violence at an Old Firm match than in Misratah for a month!
12 May 2011, 19:16 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-338:
Easy tiger
Of course Scotland could go it alone. But they won’t. Support for independnce running around 28% apparently.
Scots like being British too you know.
12 May 2011, 19:18 pm
Boy George
“I don’t know why I bother”
then don’t
12 May 2011, 19:19 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-311:
Gossip between employees?
Who might they be?
More like scheming between employees.
Of two different organisations..
Against a third organisation.
There was definitely an email because your boys saw fit to apologise.
There now.
That wasn’t so bad was it?
Now about Suzie…,
12 May 2011, 19:20 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-340:
Did you see that muppet hit the Celtic boss last night? Strange thing is for me that everyone is surprised. It’s been going on for years right through Scotland and if the powers that be allow Celtic to continue with their religious segregation and supporting terrorists policies, then it’s no surprise to me or anyone who actually goes to football in Scotland.
Not condoning it, just saying.
12 May 2011, 19:22 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-341: They could…?? You sure??
Of course Scots are Brits… One of them represented the BI Lions in SA… Only one though…
12 May 2011, 19:23 pm
@gunther(gunther)-343: And there we have it… I think “I” might finally understand…
12 May 2011, 19:25 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-344:
But did you see the picture of the look on Lennon’s face while the chap was on the ground… If looks could kill…
12 May 2011, 19:25 pm
BP is correct Its actually true
If anyone cares to read between the lines here and check it out exactly who wanna talk rugby and who wanna sling hand bags left and right for ever and a day
Check it out clearly and closely and see who is precisely absent by conspicuousness and who don’t wanna partake of said mud slinging kindergarten shenanigans across the Indian Ocean 24/7 and 365/365
12 May 2011, 19:25 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-330:
According to Billy Connelly all scots are blue.
12 May 2011, 19:25 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-345:
Hahaha. Different in 97 though when there were plenty of them sprinkled around. Including your very own Gregor Townsend
Do you see the connection? No Jocks = series loss. Geech should’ve known better really.
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