Fleck: No room for razzle-dazzle
21 Jul 2011
Robbie Fleck says that Saturday’s Test will be a tight, forward-oriented affair and that Quade Cooper will be well contained.
The Wallabies will head into this game as favourites. They’re playing at home, they’re playing an inexperienced Springbok side, and they’re desperate to improve on a shocking showing against Samoa.
They should beat the Boks comfortably, and because of last Sunday’s humiliation, there will be no risk of complacency.
Peter de Villiers remains hopeful. He’s spoken about winning the forward battles and starving Wallabies halfbacks Will Genia and Quade Cooper of quality possession. It’s a tactic that if successful will go a long way to winning the game.
The Wallabies harbour similar ambitions of forward dominance, but will try to maximise the talents of their back division. There is talk of an expansive approach, and some of the more optimistic Aussie critics have suggested that a four-try bonus point is there for the taking.
Fleck, however, doesn’t believe the likes of Cooper will have the attacking space that was afforded to him in the Super Rugby tournament, and says that the Wallabies will have to work hard to penetrate the Bok defence.
‘Test rugby is a completely different ball game,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘Cooper won’t have the kind of freedom he had in Super Rugby; the Bok defence is going to be gunning for him. The Boks will concentrate on winning the collisions and the battle at the set-piece, and from there they will work hard to cut down the space of Genia and Cooper.
‘We’re not going to see Cooper getting away those miracle passes. He’s just not going to have the time. I don’t think were going to see much running rugby at all, it’s going to be a battle for territory, and the Boks are going to look to tackle the Wallabies backward and force them to make mistakes.’
The Reds played four of South Africa’s five franchises in the recent Super Rugby tournament and won all four matches. Genia and Cooper were at the centre of those victories, and were particularly impressive in the win at Newlands.
As a Stormers assistant coach, Fleck watched as the Reds’ pack dominated their Cape counterparts and then played for territory. If the Wallabies obtain the edge up front but struggle to breach the Bok defensive line, they may look to implement a similarly tactical approach.
But this could also provide a potentially dangerous Bok back three with counter-attacking opportunities. Gio Aplon is a particularly lethal runner from broken field.
‘I get the feeling that the Boks will keep it pretty tidy and conservative, and if they get onto the front foot, they have the pace outside to finish,’ said Fleck. ‘But with guys like Gio, Lwazi Mvovo and Bjorn Basson, they also have some dangerous runners when the game is less structured. Hopefully they can punish the Aussies if they make the mistake of losing their structure.
‘But I don’t think it’s going to be that kind of game. The battle up front as well as the battle for territory is going to be decisive.’
By Jon Cardinelli
19 Comments
21 Jul 2011, 06:01 am
It will be interesting whether the Boks can counter attack like the Wallaby back line can, I tend to feel they’ll be more conservative as a highly free flowing attack is not in the usual Bok game plan, It will be an interesting battle between a highly enthusiastic group of SA’s players trying to stake a claim and get noticed and a desperate Wallaby outfit searching for redemption,
21 Jul 2011, 06:12 am
Going to be a very wet paddock too… Boks could take a leaf out of the Deans’ book and include an extra forward with a 5/2 split… really no need for both Lambie and Jacobs.
21 Jul 2011, 06:23 am
The Kiwi from Tokoroa was nowhere to be seen in the S15 final.
21 Jul 2011, 06:38 am
fully agreed if its wet stick with 2 backline players on the bench, drop jacobs, but then replace him with who?, btw w is the ref for our game?? But i reall hope to see Aplon Mvovo and Basson come alive, they all good under the high ball so if alot of kicking is involved im not worried just hope they counter with a run every now n then and not just return it with the boot, if it rains lambie should come on early he is good in the wet, no kanko at least cuz he is kak in the wet, lets hope for the best
21 Jul 2011, 08:45 am
Although some might have the notion that Fleckie is a legend… i honestly think he gets to much airtime….
21 Jul 2011, 08:56 am
@Staal(Staal)-5:
He gets airtime because he can speak coherently and is able to construct a sentence.
A rarity in our rugby.
21 Jul 2011, 09:01 am
@Staal(Staal)-5: I agree
21 Jul 2011, 10:08 am
jirre fleckie, how can you say that the boks will loose on saturday ?
21 Jul 2011, 10:23 am
There you have it Test Rugby is a completely different game to Super Rugby – indeed.
Smit suits tests rugby to a T. The looser guys suit CC and S15 (CC more)
21 Jul 2011, 10:32 am
Cooper is running high on confidence and does not give a sheet about it being a test. Our looses are no better than the Stormers were, so if the tight 5 don’t dominate we are in for a long afternoon.
21 Jul 2011, 10:54 am
@Staal(Staal)-5:
who can forget that tackle by kayser when he was literally under the posts hehe
21 Jul 2011, 11:04 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-6:
hehehe
thats called showing off.
21 Jul 2011, 12:35 pm
@Staal(Staal)-5: Ah! Someone from the early days of Keo’s “Robbie-Fleck-is-a-legend” running gag! I haven’t heard that one in some seven years.
21 Jul 2011, 13:20 pm
Fleckie knows what he’s talking about.
21 Jul 2011, 13:55 pm
Now that’s proper test match talk Fleckie.
21 Jul 2011, 15:03 pm
Famous last words Fleckie, Cooper is going to tear it up. You shouldn’t give the supporters false hope.
21 Jul 2011, 16:21 pm
At his heydays, Fleck’s defence was described as a headless chicken
Thought he will keep quiet for a while after the Semi against the Saders.
21 Jul 2011, 18:23 pm
Decent player ON the field, that Fleck. In fact, far too many ballskills to have been selected to okay for SA – what were they thinking ?!
Off the field it’s a different story tho, he couldn’t so much as Pick his nose.
21 Jul 2011, 18:50 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-18:
You know him well then?v
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