Muir jumps to Dash’s defence

Muir jumps to Dash’s defence

8 Sep 2011

Springbok backline coach Dick Muir conceded Bryan Habana is struggling for form but sought to alleviate some of the pressure on the winger by saying the attacking burden must be shared between the collective.

Habana spoke earlier in the week about his desperation to surpass the all-time Springbok try-scoring record of 38 tries (he is currently level on that figure with Joost van der Westhuizen). It will undoubtedly be a notable feat, but not one that should hail the return of a player who carries chronic struggles into a tournament he dominated four years ago.

Habana has scored just eight tries in 34 Tests since 2007, the year his excellent form in France earned him the IRB Player of the Year award (he scored 30 tries in 36 Tests pre-2008). His last five pointer came 10 Tests ago against Italy. He enters the global showpiece with a fractured confidence and having his training curtailed by a nagging injury this week would not have aided his cause.

Muir, however, believes Habana’s self-motivated nature stands him in good stead. ‘Bryan just wants to get on to the field and he’s been a bit frustrated this week by not being able to train full out and he’s certainly one of those players that puts in a lot of effort,’ he said.

‘He’s had one of those up and down years, where you see this outstanding player, and that’s what he wants to get back to. He’s really driven and for him it’s not just about scoring tries, it’s about the collective team effort.’

Habana has undoubtedly been adversely affected by the Springboks’ pragmatic approach under Peter de Villiers, but that alone cannot mitigate his gradual decline in potency. The Springboks are expected to persist with their kick-chase method, though Muir stressed that they were experienced enough to veer from the script when the time was right.

‘You want to have a little bit of flexibility in what you’re able to do, but I think a lot of teams get too caught up in worrying about the opposition, whereas you’ve got a job to do that presents you with certain opportunities,’ he said.

‘You’ve got to be able to exploit those opportunities and that’s where the flexibility and decision-making comes in and if you have a look at our squad overall, we’ve gone for mature, well-experienced guys that are tried and tested under pressure situations.’

Swirling winds are predicted for Sunday’s Test against Wales in Wellington which could adversely affect the Springboks’ kick-orientated game plan. Muir said their training sessions offered opportunities to simulate the expected conditions on match day.

‘The kicking game is always affected by the wind and where we are training it’s elevated and there’s a lot of wind there, so we practised our kicking game on Monday. The wind is certainly getting stronger now and we’re expecting it to swirl, but it’s the same for both teams.’

Flyhalf Morne Steyn wasn’t concerned about it. ‘We have played here a number of times, so I know the conditions well,’ he said. ‘It could count in our favour a bit – the fact that we have played here a couple of times, and probably no one from Wales [has].’

By Ryan Vrede, in New Zealand

Follow Ryan’s World Cup coverage on Twitter


905 Comments

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  • 401.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:47 am

    and in other news, in SA only 43 people get murdered every day and 154 females get raped every day.

    and then people get all uppity when the k-word is dropped? Not that I condone it but it seems priorities are somewhat misplaced in SA.

  • 402.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:48 am

    we’re supposed to be an intelligent species and not not react instinctively to everything that confronts us… a little rational thought goes a long way… and is supposed to be what sets us apart from other species…

  • 403.Hooker22: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:48 am

    @ufo(ufo)-394:

    I get your point, but provocation is legitimate recourse in a court of law, either as a defence or in mitigation of sentence.

    Nothing is black and white, ironically, it is all various shades of grey.

  • 404.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:48 am

    @trupisero(trupisero)-401:
    Hey Trupsi…
    How is it your end?
    With all those murders surprised there are many of you left!

  • 405.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:48 am

    @Helen(Helen)-386: there have always been rumours about dear hennie

  • 406.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:49 am

    @ufo(ufo)-402:
    Key word in that sentence ‘supposed’ !!

  • 407.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:50 am

    for those condoning or excusing his behaviour because he was drunk…

    drunkeness reveals the innermost man… (or woman)…

    drunkeness does not make you do anything abnormal…

    drunkeness lowers your inhibitions and lets you do what you would normally not do due to social constraints…

  • 408.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:50 am

    @Helen(Helen)-400:
    I must be getting old because it is more exciting than Christmas!! :-(

  • 409.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:51 am

    @ufo(ufo)-394:

    Scott didn’t kill anybody did he? Provocation would mean a lighter sentence yes. I think you’d find that all countries give lighter sentences to people who were provoked. I’ve never seen the United States execute someone who killed someone right after being provoked. If they had planned it, that would be a different story.

    I seriously doubt Scott went out planning to call this guy a k….

  • 410.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:52 am

    @ufo(ufo)-407:
    Humm, I like to dance, sing and I get very cuddly!! :-)

    What happens when you have a few?

  • 411.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:52 am

    @the peanut gallery(peanut)-405:

    When he played with Japie as his outside centre, he’d always beg Japie to switch position and ‘come inside him’. That got me suspicious.

  • 412.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:53 am

    @carol(carol)-410:
    and I get very cuddly!!
    Really?

    Whats your poison? Im buying.
    ;)

  • 413.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:53 am

    Anyone hear the rumour of Francois Steyn wanting to return to SA next year? His contract ends end of June 2012. The smart money would be on him joining Province.

  • 414.Tecumseh: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:53 am

    A Twitter page for Julius Malema stated: “#DarrenScott k-word shouldn’t be on anyone’s vocab. For words have a way of surfacing; drunk or not = unjustifiable(sic)”.

  • 415.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:54 am

    @carol(carol)-410:

    hehehe…

    I like to dance, sing and I get very cuddly too!!

    we should go for drinks sometime…!! ;)

  • 416.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:54 am

    MUST GET ON….Things to do, places to go, people to see.

    GO ENGLAND AND GO SPRINGBOKS….

    Please not another England S.A final, it might kill me!! :-)

  • 417.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:54 am

    @carol(carol)-404: Howzit Carol. All good here thanks. Not in SA for about 18 months now – still in Africa but in far less violent part ;)

  • 418.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:54 am

    @carol(carol)-408:

    You know you’re getting old when the world cup is the most fun you have with your clothes on

  • 419.Tecumseh: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:54 am

    @hendrikp(hendrikp)-413: noooooooooooo!the dikgat can go to the bulls.

  • 420.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:55 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-412: He he he beat me to it!

  • 421.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:56 am

    @Taahirah(Taahirah)-412:
    Sauv Blanc BTW..South African is just fine! :-)

    Not adverse to the odd Windhoek either!

  • 422.the peanut gallery: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:57 am

    @Helen(Helen)-411: you might say he likes scoring behind the wrong tryline.

  • 423.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:57 am

    This from Sport 24:

    “Wellington – The vuvuzelas which provided the droning soundtrack to last year’s Soccer World Cup in South Africa are unlikely to make a big noise at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

    The ubiquitous plastic trumpets are among several items banned from World Cup venues. Also included on an eclectic list are whistles, umbrellas, roller blades, gang insignia, furniture and – remarkably – auto parts. Leave your carburetor at home.”

    Well i never…..

  • 424.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:58 am

    @ufo(ufo)-415:

    Well ask Grant and Robzim..I like to party!!
    Cape Town is a good place to party too!

  • 425.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:58 am

    @the peanut gallery(peanut)-422: entering the ruck from behind, you mean?

  • 426.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:58 am

    @Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-419:

    Wouldn’t mind having him with the Stormers. Would mean 2 big boots if Cronje comes right. Conrad Jantjes & Gio Aplon are both old – Aplon would be 33 by the next World Cup I believe. Steyn is about 6-7 years younger the Aplon I believe?

    And we don’t exactly have a fullback coming through. You call him dikgat but with some conditioning we can have him back to his winning ways.

  • 427.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:58 am

    @Hooker22(Hooker22)-403:

    that may be so… but still not acceptable…

    for sure… everything is shades of grey…

    @hendrikp(hendrikp)-409:

    so a guy owes him money so it’s okay to drop a racial insult…? no ways man… just not acceptable, justifiable, excusable… or defensible… IMO…

    you’ll Darren Scott himself is not trying to defend himself… so why are other people…

    he says he hates himself for this… so we should all support him in this… ;)

  • 428.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:58 am

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-369: well that’s how you view it and you’re entitled to it. malema said the woman who accused zuma of rape had “had a nice time” because in his mind those who enjoyed “it” usually “stay over, have breakfast and ask for taxi fare”.

    he was talking about “khwezi”, in your book he should’ve ONLY offended her and the women’s rights groups that laid a complaint in the equality court were being overly sensitive and need to hardenthefcukup.

    imagine your child gets molested at school by a teacher or something, then you hear of 2 other incidents of the same nature and you get infuriated and someone then suggests YOU need to hardenthefcukup…

    i’m glad Darren himself understands that he has offended more than ONE person :D

  • 429.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 11:59 am

    sorry…

    you’ll notice Darren Scott etc…

  • 430.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:00 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-420: :mrgreen:
    Early bird catches the worm! Or gets snatched by the eagle…
    Lets hope its a worm!

  • 431.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:00 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-423:

    LOL
    for that to be a rule, they must have had an incident with an inappropriate auto part…. I wonder what it was? There is only so much damage you can do with an air filter or a wiper blade

  • 432.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm

    @carol(carol)-424:

    cool… next time you’re here…!! :roll:

  • 433.carol: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm

    @trupisero(trupisero)-417:
    Sounds great, enjoy…

    @Helen(Helen)-418:
    You mean you have never played ‘Strip Rugby’? If your team scores you have to remove an item of clothing?

    Right really must dash………Or I will end up doing a Puma style long goodbye :-)

  • 434.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm

    @Helen(Helen)-411: I believe that Nataniel only has a sister, not a brother.

  • 435.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-427:

    No one said it’s wrong. Only that it’s been blown out of proportion. Guy doesn’t deserve all this over what sounds like a reasonably minor incident.

  • 436.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm

    @carol(carol)-397: hello bluebird

  • 437.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm

    @carol(carol)-433: The way the Boks are going Helen will die of old-age one day. Fully clothed.

  • 438.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-434: Ouch! Not so sure Hennie would appreciate that?

    I have heard it now from 3 or 4 different sources over the past 15 years. Really can’y say for sure,

  • 439.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm

    @Helen(Helen)-431: That’s what I was thinking!

  • 440.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:05 pm

    @carol(carol)-433: Strip rugby?/?? I’ll have to make sure I wear underwear then :-)

  • 441.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:06 pm

    @hendrikp(hendrikp)-435:

    *not wrong.

  • 442.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm

    @Helen(Helen)-438: Ja. I’d heard it too but then I met an old varsity friend of mine who studied drama back in the day at the same time that I was there (not studying drama of course) and it came up, and he laughed and said that he knew Nataniel very well ( I didn’t ask ;) ) and knew that he only had a sister.

    So my info is also 3rd hand..

  • 443.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm

    @hendrikp(hendrikp)-435:

    i guess proportion depends on your own personal perspective…

    i don’t think it’s being blown out of proportion at all… i think transie, mpundlu and others are being rather restrained and reasonable actually…

    all that is required for evil to flourish is for good people to stay silent…

    we all need to speak out and castigate Darren Scott IMO… so that the next time someone is THINKING about using a racial insult… they very quickly decide not too because they know what will be coming if they do…

  • 444.Tecumseh: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-427: blacks should stop being so sensitive.they know how to dish it out but cry like babies when they at the receiving end.

  • 445.Helen: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm

    so, the whole incident of darren calling someone a catheter has dominated talk on a rugby blog one day before the world cup kick off.

    Let’s drop that and get excited about the mouth watering tournament that awaits

  • 446.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm

    @Helen(Helen)-438: I think it started directly after the 95 WC, there was an interview with a SA gaymagazine (no, I dont suscribe) in which the rugby player confessed his sexual preferences. He wouldnt identify himself , only that he is a WC-winning Springbok backline player, playing for Transvaal at the time. So. Hennie. Japie. James.

  • 447.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:09 pm

    @Helen(Helen)-438:

    What’s it got to do with me? LOL

  • 448.ufo: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:11 pm

    @Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-444:

    sheesh… where to start….?

    haven’t got the time or energy…

    go back to the beginning of the thread… my comments there should suffice…

  • 449.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:12 pm

    another perspective.

    groundwork.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/racism-in-south-africa-a-note-on-irvin-khoza/

  • 450.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2011, 12:12 pm

    @Tecumseh(Tecumseh)-419: Why not back to the Sharks.

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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