‘Morne’s still No 1′
20 Aug 2011
Peter de Villiers believes Morne Steyn has the ability to guide the Springboks to a World Cup title.
Steyn kicked all 18 of the Boks’ points in Saturday’s win against the All Blacks. His goal- and drop-kicking accuracy ensured the Boks ended their losing streak and secured an important win before the all-important World Cup, and that performance also gave the coach encouragement in the context of how the Boks will play at the global tournament.
‘We scrummed well and our lineout was outstanding once again, so there was a good platform to work from and create scoring opportunities,’ said De Villiers. ‘We went through a period during the first half where we worked our way into the All Blacks’ half and scored points. That is how World Cup rugby is played.’
Butch James was dropped after last week’s loss to the Wallabies, although after that game De Villiers explained that it was not so much a case of dropping James as it was a case of giving Steyn game time in a starting capacity.
However, after this Saturday’s win against the All Blacks, De Villiers suggested that Steyn will wear the No 10 jersey at the World Cup.
‘I never had questions [or doubts] about Morne,’ he said. ‘He’s still our No 1. Sometimes you have to make these decisions, to drop him for two games to help his development. I know he can take this team to a World Cup and through a World Cup.’
The Boks have scored three tries in their four Tri-Nations Tests, all three of those in the first two matches. Saturday’s victory was down to the boot of Steyn, but De Villiers ignored the criticism of the Boks’ attack and reiterated that goal-kicking will be all-important at the World Cup.
‘There are no bonus points for tries at a World Cup,’ the coach said.
Captain Victor Matfield conceded that improvements needed to be made before the Boks depart for New Zealand. He also laughed off talk of playing the All Blacks in a potential semi-final.
‘You can’t talk about things like that,’ he said. ‘You don’t know if they are going to be there [in the semi-finals] or if we are going to be there. We have to focus on the next game against Wales.
‘I was impressed with the defence today. There will always be linebreaks, but the guys worked hard to get back and make the cover tackle.
‘There’s still lots to improve. Everybody [the team and the country] needed the win today, but we have a lot of work to do between now and the World Cup.’
De Villiers also underlined the importance of the result in Port Elizabeth.
‘It was just reward for all the hard work. The result on the scoreboard will help us and make people believe [in us] again. It was a tough game but we came through.’
Patrick Lambie went off during the first half with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. De Villiers refused to comment on the nature or severity of the injury and said a full medical report will be relayed on Monday.
96 Comments
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21 Aug 2011, 12:22 pm
well tac, were ther birds singing to you today?…
21 Aug 2011, 12:27 pm
I was at the game. 5 min from the end we had a scrum almost in the middle of the field, wth the blindside maybe 10 yards narrower than the open side. That still left a roughly 40m wide blindside to work with. The all black defences were aligned completely on the open side, with only a wing covering the very wide blindside.
With the game already won, that was the perfect opportunity for Spies to pick up and go haring down the blindside, with our blindside wing running in support. In my view that was a try waiting to be scored, but we clearly had only 1 mission, and that was to grind out a safe win. Steyn instead kicked the ball towards their corner flag and a line out was set up in their 22, from which we ran down the clock as they desperately tried to run it back into a brick wall defense.
My point is, the Boks COULD have scored some easy tries in this match if they were willing to take some small risks, but deliberately chose not to do so. This does not mean that this exact same team could not score tries in future if they tried to. It was not Steyn’s fault that we didn’t score more tries, it was the gameplan.
21 Aug 2011, 12:29 pm
you heard it here first ladies and gentlemen….morne steyn will win us the world cup…
oh gwantie…oh gwantie..where are you?….does the coffee smell good?…did you tell rover its over?…did you blow a goodnight kiss to the nurse?…
21 Aug 2011, 12:33 pm
Sorry, meant a 20m blindside in the above post. Which is very wide.
21 Aug 2011, 12:49 pm
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-53:
I actually saw him choose a team on the other thread to play Wales and he had Morne at 10, I almost fell off my chair,
Still no sign of Smit though…
21 Aug 2011, 12:50 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-54: How was the atmosphere? I had goosebumps when we were watching the AB’s doing the haka and the crowd drowned it out with chants of Ole Ole Ole…
Well played PE.
21 Aug 2011, 12:57 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-55:
ja, he’s a poster boy for fairweather fantasy coaches…love em when they’re winning, hate em when they’re losing…rather like ryan and his sagacious wisdoming on butch…
funny how good john was when he came on..i think they won at least a th and maybe one against the put in with him on, no?…also his lineout throwing is soooo much better than bissy’s…sure bissy brings something special but john was solid and dependable.
21 Aug 2011, 13:00 pm
Stormersboy
Ja I was actually p*ssed off that I couldn’t hear the haka due to the crowds noise. From the stands the haka just looks like a bunch of ants making strange hand movements. They should broadcast it over the loudspeakers like they do on tv.
Anyway, great atmosphere. And great to have a Bok win over the All Blacks to show for the money I spent on tickets.
21 Aug 2011, 13:03 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58: We couldn’t hear it on TV either, too loud.
21 Aug 2011, 13:04 pm
@we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-57: I agree complete re John. When he plays hooker he is great. Not the same type of player as Bissy but Bissy lost at least 2 throws on his own ball in the Lineouts. Not good.
21 Aug 2011, 13:14 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58:
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-59:
sa does put microphones down around the ab’s for the haka perhaps not as much as the kiwis do but we do and possibly more than the nh does. thing is the crowd was having none of that and drowned it out. i saw a few microphones on the ground close to them.
21 Aug 2011, 13:23 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58: That would expose the cringe-worthy whitey maori accents.
You know, like all the first time suburbanites at the Soccer World Cup with their scarves and vuvuzelas shouting “Go Bafanas!”
21 Aug 2011, 13:27 pm
My youngest son, who is 3, and i were watching the AB ‘s vs the Wallabies a couple of weeks ago and when the AB’s did the Haka, he got all excited and at the sight of them sticking their tounges out and looking all fierce, and turned to me and asked: “Daddy, are they going to eat the lellow (Yellow) men??”
Had us in stiches
21 Aug 2011, 13:32 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-63: That’s funny. My three year old always asks “who are the yellow guys?” and then “who are the black guys?” and then “who are the green guys?” (or whatever colour the ref is wearing). I’ve tried repeatedly to explain that they’re not playing, but he doesn’t get it. Maybe it’s because we’ve watched too many AB games together, where refs struggle to remain neutral.
21 Aug 2011, 13:34 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-64: lol yes some of the refs should have black jerseys on sometimes…
21 Aug 2011, 13:46 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-49: When FDP tightens up his game there will be less holes.He looked tired though.
21 Aug 2011, 13:49 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-64:
hehehe sniggers…
21 Aug 2011, 13:52 pm
@optiplay(optiplay)-66: I hope so!
21 Aug 2011, 14:03 pm
Had two local All Black supporters sitting in the row behind me slightly to my left. One was a coloured guy without front teeth and his buddy was a mechanic type white guy but with a coloured accent more distinctive than that of the first guy.
Very strange combo. The two lonely brain surgeons were repetitively and as derisively as possible screaming ‘Skop, skop, skop! each time the Boks got the ball replaced with : ‘Dis hoe dit moet lyk!’, each time the All Blacks swung it wide.
Their mocking cries of Skop, skop, skop were growing more high pitched each time Morne put the Boks 3 more points ahead of their revered All Blacks, and their admiring calls of ‘Dis hoe dit moet lyk!’, more desperate as the All Blacks were caught behind the advantage line more frequently as they desperately tried to run it back at the resolute Bok defense.
By the end of the game the two rugby purists were hoarse from shouting out their frustrations at all who wanted – but those who mostly did not want – to hear their ignorant rugby views.
So in the end they saw the All Blacks do exactly what they wanted them to do – which was run the ball all game long, and they saw the Boks do exactly what they ridiculed them for doing – play a conservative kicking game, and the score was Boks 18, All Blacks 5.
The two Einsteins should have been happy, but by the looks on their faces their wives were in for a beating by papsak on Saturday night.
Hehe.
21 Aug 2011, 14:06 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-58:
I’m a Bok fan but I think it’s disrespectful to chant and make a racket during the haka. The Italians are the only nation that keeps absolutely quiet and it is amazing to actually hear it properly. The problem I find is that you can see the All Blacks look up at the big screen in the stadium to watch themselves; it is’nt nearly as sincere when you’re performing for the TV audience, or just checking to make sure you’re hair looks good. It’s like Graham Smith; Michael Vaughan in his auto-biography ridiculed Smith for watching the big screen and then pretending to be naturally motivating the players whenever he saw the shot change to himself. Phony.
21 Aug 2011, 14:57 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-43: Your the one make childish statements about Dan…The fact is there both brilliant players get over yourself
21 Aug 2011, 15:07 pm
@Sasquatch(Sasquatch)-70: I talked in Tana and Jerry Collins one day about the haka following a test and they said that they did not care if the opposition engaged them, walked away, the crowd sang or chanted. They said that the Haka was done only for themselves and they translated the words for me. I was surprised.
I was actually personally disappointed to see the style of SA rugby relegated to such a one dimensional play. As Tacitus (52) pointed out – there were chances to try something different but maybe we do not have a plan B. What would have happened if the AB’s had scored two more tries from the 23 line breaks that Henry mentioned ( I wasn’t counting so I will take his word for it). Would we have the alternative game plan and skills to try something new.
After that performance I’m even more worried at our chances in the WC. Remember this was (1) NZ’s “B” team, (2) on tour, (3) with a lot of the players coming back from injury and (4) lots of new combinations and yet it seemed like they were opening us us like a paper bag.
Looking forward to the final 3N game to see what style NZ and AUS play against each other
21 Aug 2011, 16:04 pm
I’m shocked by the ignorance on this site by Bok supporters. Instead of being proud of what the team did yesterday, they still hammer the boys. They did very well. Sometimes I think SA supporters are really dumb. Did no one notice what happened yesterday? The Boks played a forward game. They kicked ball back at NZ, asking them, begging them, to run at us. Wich they did. In 80 minutes they scored one try. We did zero on attack really. Why? Because we are going into a WC. You dont show your cards. I do not believe for one second that the Boks showed ANYTHING on attack yesterday. They refused to. We did the basics right. We scrummed well, controlled tha line-outs, kick-offs, we defended well (except for a few one-on-ones). There was no need to score tries yesterday. That will come. With the pack going forward, watch the backs later in the tournament.
This team will peak at the right time. Mark my words.
21 Aug 2011, 16:13 pm
anyone believing remoely that Plod is anywhere near the class of the worlds premier hooker Bismarck Du Plessis is absolutely blind as a short sighted bat.
If one reads my team for Wales it is based on the firm assumption that the skop en jag game plan is here for the WC….which it quite obviously is……and M Steyn plays the liited game plan to perfection…..
But really gents,,,,Plod better than Bissy…..oh my word….!
21 Aug 2011, 16:17 pm
I also suggest that Bok fans be proud of yesterdays match, but show some restraint and perspective. If Plod had started I virtually assure you we would have lost, same as we have 10 of plods last starting 11 games as bok skipper. It is funny how Matfield has won 4 out of last 5 starting tests as captain?
Also I watched test again, we had to make some scarambling tackles and on another day could of lost….stay humble gents…..
21 Aug 2011, 16:18 pm
Grant
Agree with you on Smit.
21 Aug 2011, 16:19 pm
@grant10(grant10)-74: Watched the game 3 times. Bismark was awsome. Brussow was awsome. Steyn very good. Habana so much better.
21 Aug 2011, 16:24 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-77: agreed.
For me the starting bok team simply has to include brussow and bissy….they add a whole new dimension to boks pack that no team in the world has…..that is our key right there….those 2 can win us this wc….like they won us Tri nations in 2009 when aussies and kiwis struggled to contain there onslaught at the breakdown.
Plod is a free loader, adds little….bissy showed he can be part of a dominant scrum as well….the tighthead was won with bissy on the field…..what a great scrum display….this team does not need plod…and by the look of bissys body language does not want him either
21 Aug 2011, 16:31 pm
Bissy was fuming when he came off. I would have been interesting to see him and PDV speaking after the game.
21 Aug 2011, 16:39 pm
@grant10(grant10)-78: Bismark way ahead. He should start the big games. Brussow an absolute must. Burger or Alberts at 7.
21 Aug 2011, 16:45 pm
What irks me is seeing Smit as the Boks RWC poter boy on all the ads and other media. He turns any serious marketing campaign into a farce. Victor so much more imposing.
Smit does not deserve to lift RWC trophies. He is freeloading and worst of all he knows it, but clings on in the hope that a RWC trophy will expunge the memory of his last 2 years of freeloading from the publics memory.
So he is selfishly using the World Cup campaign to serve his own interests, irrespective of the fact that his presence is reducing our chances of victory, rather than aiding us.
Disgusting.
21 Aug 2011, 16:48 pm
Poster boy.
Does not deserve to lift 2 RWC trophies.
21 Aug 2011, 16:48 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-81: my sentiments exactly….
I have no doubt Matfield is the ‘ spiritual ‘ leader of that team……Plod has ‘ lost ‘ the changeroom a long time ago in my opinion…
21 Aug 2011, 17:01 pm
I remember a world cup back in 1987 where Dalton sat on the bench when Fitzpatrick took hold of the No.2 jersey and never looked back – maybe Bissy can do the same to Plod and keep in not only off the field but away from the captaincy.
21 Aug 2011, 17:04 pm
Well, Brussouw has taken Skulks jersey so guess that’s the end of Skulk then.
Looks like we’re going to try and win the RWC on penalties only and no tries.
Suppose there’s a first time for everything.
MS and JdV the biggest problem with scoring tries.
Should be self evident but then again …
21 Aug 2011, 17:06 pm
@OCO(OCO)-85: Schalk will play 7.
21 Aug 2011, 17:12 pm
Schalk will make a pretty decent 7 and Alberts the perfect impact sub.
21 Aug 2011, 17:17 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-86:
And captain too I assume?
Shades of 2003 yet again.
21 Aug 2011, 17:21 pm
We did so well last year with Skulk and MS?
Sigh, we beat an understrength Ab team that dropped the ball often with the tryline begging and now we’ve got the perfect team.
21 Aug 2011, 19:25 pm
@OCO(OCO)-88: ?? Who said anything about captain. I’m telling you who will play 7. Get a grip mate.
21 Aug 2011, 19:34 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-77: Add to that the fact that FdP has not regained form yet ,(which he will) and things are starting to look better.
22 Aug 2011, 00:03 am
@ 75.grant10: Agreed. Victor had an amazing game. Hope his injury is not serious. Game could of gone either way, but as a supporter I am more confident now of getting through the group stages. that AB side was better than a Samoa or Wales
22 Aug 2011, 00:16 am
The Boks improved a lot and Victor took all the chances to score. Will never understand the fuss over John Smit as a captain – even the Sharks do’nt care. Victor has a much better CV and deserves his place. Fourie du Preez was imo useless.
PdV WC team: 15) F Steyn , G Aplon 11/14) B Habana , JP Pietersen , F Hougaard , L Ndlovu 12/13) J de Villiers , J Fourie , J de Jongh , B James
10) M Steyn , P Lambie 9) F du Preez , R Pienaar
1) B Mtwarira , G Steenkamp 2) B du Plessis , J Smit 3) J du Plessis , CJ vd Linde 4) B Botha , D Rossouw 5) V Matfield , J Muller 6) H Brussow , F Louw 7) S Burger , A Johnson 8) P Spies , W Alberts
If PdV can take 32 players, C Ralepelle and J Deysel will go.
22 Aug 2011, 00:54 am
@grant10(grant10)-78: Tell me grant did you like the Boks game plan?
22 Aug 2011, 00:55 am
@Tjokker(Tjokker)-93: Ruan Pienaar? Have you been smoking something? Slower than a 93 year old climbing a 10 flights of stairs! Eish!
22 Aug 2011, 01:30 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-87: I’m starting to like you more and more.
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