Back Bismarck, axe Morne
12 Sep 2011
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says the Springboks have to change who starts and how they play if they want to defend their World Cup title.
Forget the old cliché that this was a character builder for the Boks. This team of champions has enough character and they’ve been through enough scraps in the last eight years to never want to endure another 80 minutes like Sunday’s in Wellington.
The Springboks don’t need more exposure to character-building situations in this World Cup and the head-coaching trio, out of their depth for the last four years, surely don’t need another match to know that the best XV has to start every game in this tournament and that includes Bismarck du Plessis at hooker and excludes Morne Steyn at flyhalf.
The Welsh goal-kicking implosion in the last few minutes means there can be calm in the Bok camp and not the hysteria that would have followed defeat.
There can be perspective and not national persecution. There can be reflection and not condemnation.
Wales flyhalf Rhys Priestland missed a drop goal from smack bang in front with five minutes to play and fullback James Hook fluffed the chance to win the match with an angled 35m penalty three minutes from the end. Had either of those two kicks gone over the mood in the Bok camp and the emotion among the South African rugby public would have been a lot different than it is this morning.
I keep on writing about the honesty needed within our rugby and within the Bok squad. It has never been more appropriate than this morning. Forget patriotism for a moment and focus on pragmatism. The patriotism at this tournament belongs to New Zealand. The Boks need something more tangible to defend the title won four years ago.
The Boks remain one of three teams who can win this tournament. Australia put down the biggest marker in the first weekend and New Zealand’s home ground advantage remains their biggest asset because they are limited as a team and the great among them merely balance out the many mediocre All Blacks playing for a first World Cup win in 24 years.
But for the Boks to move on from the Houdini escape in Wellington there has to be an acknowledgement of what works and what doesn’t. There has to be criticism from within that is not interpreted as a negative but rather is applauded as a positive. To win here the Boks have to change who starts and how they play. Wales gave every South African the most timely reminder that what worked in 2007 won’t be good enough to beat one of Australia or New Zealand in a play-off.
The Boks next nervous 80 minutes will be a probable quarter-final against Ireland and the examination will be as demanding as those questions asked by the Welsh.
Samoa, in the pool match-up, won’t challenge the Boks because they don’t have the game or the composure to win ugly against a side as experienced or powerful as South Africa.
Wales were outstanding. Let’s start there. Welsh coach Warren Gatland tactically got everything right against the Boks. They kept the ball, kept it close, used the powerful Jamie Roberts to run at Morne Steyn all match and played the field percentages almost to perfection.
Welsh captain and specialist fetcher Sam Warburton was colossal. He played with the precision and irritation of a young Richie McCaw and starved the Boks of ball. He deserved to lead a historic triumph in Wellington.
Wales had 60% of territory and possession, conceded just five penalties – only one of them kickable – and poached three South African lineouts.
Yet they still lost because it is not in their DNA to beat the Springboks, and when the biggest moments of the game came their players did not have the nerve, the conviction and the courage in decision making to win it. Wales were in unfamiliar territory against the Boks and the match they talked of all week they couldn’t quite play out according to script.
Aside from Australia – and possibly New Zealand – this Welsh effort would have beaten every team at this tournament, but that will be small comfort to Gatland and Warburton.
The Boks, beaten on the ground, in the air, in the tackle and in the collision, were never beaten in their minds – and the belief that they could conjure up seven points, almost at will, never deserted them.
The opening try to the impressive Frans Steyn was vintage Boks, but what proved to be the match winner from Francois Hougaard in the 65th minute showed the qualities of a champion who has been there before and delivered.
South Africa always had the one punch to strike from anywhere that was more threatening than the collective build-up of so many impressive Welsh attacks.
Bismarck du Plessis was monumental in the final quarter, Hougaard was inspirational and Willem Alberts was destructive. Not so those they replaced.
598 Comments
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12 Sep 2011, 10:31 am
@trupisero(trupisero)-33: much better you are forgiven
12 Sep 2011, 10:31 am
@trupisero(trupisero)-40: I am sure he passes the same amount of times if not more than JDV? Will be able replacement. Also very good tackler. Better than Lambie in that regard and against the hard running Fijians we need good defence.
12 Sep 2011, 10:31 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-46:
Its simple Spies is built for show Alberts is built to go.
12 Sep 2011, 10:32 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-46: You are wrong . Spies and kanko , Koster are the same players. how can any of them play if Beast and Danie are always in the backline
12 Sep 2011, 10:32 am
The problem with starting all these players is that we will not have a bench capable of making a telling impact. At best they can cover injuries but not up the game.
12 Sep 2011, 10:32 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-42: when adi jacobs was targeted by the same jamie roberts and was battered everyone and their dog were shouting from roof tops that he must be replaced and nothing about someone else must stand in the 13 channel on defence…
interesting
12 Sep 2011, 10:33 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-39: mate, the boks looked sh it, they were sh it and they deserved to lose.
simply put, the welsh were the better team.
morne can get lost, spies too. smitty? well as i said, grind him against the islanders because bizness will rule the playoffs.
habs can also take a hike to the bench or the plane home.
young hougie is a starter in my books.
and frans to 12, lambie/gio to 15.
alberts at 8.
yeeha, easy peasy all over rove goodnight nures fckadilly and fark caps.
12 Sep 2011, 10:33 am
@RL(RL)-3: Because Rassie is overrated and only good in the eyes of the Province fans. What has he done with the WP so far with all that talent at his disposal?
My question is will Bissy (yes), Hougie (maybe) and Alberts (no) make the same impact when they play for 80 min? Also Brussow was good at times but imo he schooled by that Welsh chappie.
When we were good when we had ball in hand. Those Welshies was no where when we ran at them….. guess we have to get the ball first.
12 Sep 2011, 10:34 am
@keo(keo)-51: now that’s a great relief
12 Sep 2011, 10:35 am
We had two injuries, involving two of our most experienced and crucial players, and our absolute key player – Fourie du Preez – had a nightmare match. Plus someone must have fed Pierre Spies sleeping tablets or Tipex…
And Wales played magnificently…
So, let us take our win humbly and graciously….
12 Sep 2011, 10:36 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-58:
The only reason that Brussow got ‘schooled’ was because he had no support while the Welsh 7 had support at the breakdowns.
12 Sep 2011, 10:36 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-38:
Boring us with your repetitive shite as usual. Tell your mate de Villiers you moron. You were one of the first to toyi toyi when he was made coach.
Now you must live with the consequences.
12 Sep 2011, 10:36 am
we’re talking a lot about the boks players, but the welsh need credit. they were hungy, aggressive, relentless, disciplined, direct, and accurate – at everything they did except kick for poles.
dont think you’ll ever see wales play btter than that. however the boks will improve plenty – they have a plan, and it is about hitting form in game 5, not in game 1. only problem with that plan is the youngsters who came off bench seem to have form already.
12 Sep 2011, 10:37 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-58: Welsh cappie was brilliant, but to be fair, Heinrich had to make far more tackles and couldn’t really compete for large parts of the game.
12 Sep 2011, 10:37 am
For me its pretty clear who the team should be also now that it’s confirmed MAtfield and JDiv is out of this comming weekends game.
15 Lambie Solid with good Boot, also good kicker at poles
14 Aplon Good left boot
13 JF
12 F STeyn can also kick for poles etc
11 JPP
10 Butch can kick for poles etc
09 HOugaard, just looks so much hungrier and faster
08 Schalk
07 ALberts
06 Brussow
05 Muller
04 Rossouw
03 Jannie
02 BIsmark
01 Beast/Gurthro
16 Smit
17 CJ, only because he covers both sides, but mainly TH
18 Spies, Alberts prolly to move to lock if needed,has lock cover has been called up Mostert?
19 Flouw
20 Pienaar
21 JDJ
22 Habana
12 Sep 2011, 10:38 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-56:
Exactly…..
Roberts made Butch & Morne look like amateurs.James to my suprise was very BANG to tackle Roberts who got over the adv line AT WILL no matter who was standing in his channel.
Morne was abysmal in contact,worse than Adi at the worst of times in fact.
12 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
Lucky day at the office yesterday. Welsh really coughed that one up. We owe them some beers for the freebie.
De Villiers is over-rated. Ordinary on defence and can’t get Fourie away. Either put Butch or Lambie at 12 or a genuine No12 – like Doppies Le Grange. Don’t laugh – the reason why the Lions penetrate defences more than any other SA franchise is his distribution skills. Can also poach ball on the ground which JDV cannot do. Check his stats – he beats JDV hands down.
Spies, needs to be an impact player when the game is a bit more open. Alberts to start at 8. Burger not too bad and Brussouw was superb but give the Welsh credit for their rucking. Locks are fine – Bakkies makes a big difference. Roussow remembered how to hold onto the ball after an early spill. Thought Muller was excellent.
Front rows are fine, as long as Smit only plays hooker. Bismark’s impact was immense, but that is when he can do the most damage. Bringing on Bismark and Spies puts enormous pressure on the opposition – right way to go.
M Steyn is terrible on defence and its no longer the old days when Naas didn’t have to tackle (in fact he was instructed not to by his coach). Each player needs to be able to tackle and he was terrible. His kicking out of hand was poor, many kicks were too deep to be reclaimed and simply handed possession back. He’s not playing with the precision of S14 2010 – simple.
FDP got better as the game wore on – showing some rustiness that’s all.
F Steyn was excellent – fullback is his place, not 12.
Peterson was OK but needs to work a bit harder.
The less said about Habana the better. Hougaard embarrassed him. He should be in the suites drinking with corporates.
12 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
I don’t like to say it about such a great player, probably the best scrum-half I have seen but Fourie Du Preez appears to be playing scared, weak under the high ball and especially weak in the tackle. I wonder if he is really recovered from his previous injury.
12 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
@pokkel(pokkel)-61:
I agree. I saw Brussouw isolated several times while competing for the ball and he simply got mauled off the ball as he wasn’t being supported.
12 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
rangerman – I agree with Frans Steyn to 12, De Jongh is too smal, and Lambie to 15!!! Atleast we can then give Butch a run at 10 and have Morne Steyn on the bench. We ahve big problems with Spies as who the heck replaces him now? I guess if Mostert comes overs we then have Muller/Mostert at locks and then Rousouw/Burger/Brussouw!!
12 Sep 2011, 10:39 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-56: I agree
I have always said Adi is being badly treated, and in my eyes still a damn fine player
12 Sep 2011, 10:41 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-32: the loosies are to protect Steyn … the tight 5 must give Spies the platform to run like a gazelle … bullcrap.
12 Sep 2011, 10:41 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-68: I dont think so
he is totally off the pace in all facets of play
12 Sep 2011, 10:42 am
CJ vd Linde is faster than Adi
12 Sep 2011, 10:42 am
RL – I have a feeling the nerves and adrenaline got to the Boks yesterday, so hopefully the Boks can progress from here! We can pull loads of negatives out of this game but there are also huge positives to take as well!!
12 Sep 2011, 10:42 am
FS
JPP
JF
JdJ
GA
BJ
FH
SB
WA
HB
JM
DR
JdP
BdP
GS
BM, JS, (CJvL), GM, FL, RP, MS, (PL)
12 Sep 2011, 10:42 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-17:
true and with so much go forward ball for the welsh I don’t believe their is a player on the planet that could stop roberts dead.
it’s morne for me as well as bismark.
F.Steyn to 12 and Lambie to 15.
Hougie replaces Habana and Habs drops out of the 22.
Aplon or Pienaar on the bench with James.
Spies to the bench.Alberts to start.
With Smit on the bench we need to carry only one prop on it and can get Louw onto the bench as I believe we definately need another fetcher in case brussow gets injured.
To me that gives a far more dynamic starting 15 as well as bench.
12 Sep 2011, 10:44 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-68:
Boet it could also be said that he had an off day. Who knows.
12 Sep 2011, 10:44 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-69: 100%
you cant hunt alone
infact if i was the bok coach, i would have selected a very different loose trio , even different to what i selected in my team
8 alberts
7 flouw
6 brussow
hell thats 3 fetchers in the team , they could cause havock
12 Sep 2011, 10:45 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-71:
Yeah and its a fckin travesty that he has to play behind Terblanche, Joubert etc first the excuse was that Terblanche was cappie-NOW WHAT? Adi was one of the only playrs who did ok vs AB’s in Wellington in this years 3N.
I get more pleasure watching the u21′s play because they actually pick on merit and look to PLAY rugby.Sean Everitt(my old Phys Ed teacher at DPHS) is doing an AWESOME job with them.Deserves higher honours.They tore the Valke apart and never let up-it was the Mthembu/Jafta/Jordaan show all day. Was most impressed by Siseko Jafta-19 years old….Wow
12 Sep 2011, 10:45 am
27 RIP,
Its not ideal to interchange players in the middle of a game. You weaken 1 position all the time.
If Morne was meant to be a full back, he would have been.
12 Sep 2011, 10:46 am
@24_years_new_zeeland_looking_for_web_ellis_where_the_f_is_web_ellis(p0ppa69)-74:
And Adi is faster than Frans Steyn
12 Sep 2011, 10:46 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-79: the 3 fetchers i refer to bei9ng
Brussow
Flouw
Bissy
12 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
Brigadier Van Zyl – I dont agree with starting Alberts. As you need some to come on and lift the game to surpise the opposition and that is exactly what happened. Alberts is a supreme supersub. Goodpoint o J Smit and get hopefully get Flo into the 22.
I flippin hope Habas can find some form against Fiji, maybe a confidence thing for him!!
12 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-79: add Bissie, you got 4. awesome
12 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-46: I’m with you on this one.
12 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-50:
de jong is not an option on the bench…doesn’t offer the same options that aplon or pienaar can.
12 Sep 2011, 10:48 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-80: yeah those 3 plus Lindeque for me had great games
12 Sep 2011, 10:48 am
F du Preez was shocking.
It is a crime to keep him in the team when someone like Hougaard is waiting in the wings.
At the vefry least, Hougaard needs to replace DuP as much as Bissy needs to replace Smit, so treat both subs the same way.
12 Sep 2011, 10:50 am
1-Gurthro
2-Bissy
3-Jannie
4- Alberts
5- Muller cause theres no one else
6- Brussouw
7- Burger
8 Spies
12 Sep 2011, 10:50 am
I’m probably not the first person here to suggest this (couldn’t be bothered to read all the comments), but for me it’s simple:
Replace John with Bismarck
Replace Du Preez with Hougaard
Replace Spies with Alberts
Move F Steyn to 12
Start Aplon at the back
Leave Morne where he is
Oh, and teach Jannie how to tackle, Muller how to clear a ruck, Burger how to run into someone without leading with his arse, Danie how to hang onto the ball, Morne how to kick the ball out and all our backs how to position themselves to actually catch the frikkin high ball.
Then we should be good to go.
12 Sep 2011, 10:51 am
The tight 5 was an embarrassment was our tight 5. Even Bismarck when he came on. They simply didn’t do their job!! They were never at the breakdowns!
Even if you overlook the fact that Brussow made half the tackles, he was always cleaning up at the breakdowns! That’s not his job, but our forwards were invisible! Even the two steal Bismarck made, go watch who had to clean out the opposition to make it possible! It should have been the other way around.
Yes, the ref had a very strange way of blowing the breakdowns, because the Welsh stormed and fell over the breakdowns almost at every ruck, but the boks should have been better.
And… was Habana on the field?
12 Sep 2011, 10:52 am
We are exiting a phase in SA rugby at the moment.
See how the GREAT Bulls team of the last few years, is imploding.
Bulls lagging in CC
Bakkies injured.
Vic injured
F D Preez has a shocker
Morne is suddenly not the great white hope at 10 anymore
Spies disappears
Meisiekind is out of form, so too Kirchner and a few other Bulls
All this is affecting our RWC. If we lose it is because this RWC came one year too late.
An era is coming to an end… is it going down in a blaze of RWC glory or in a whimper?
12 Sep 2011, 10:52 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-87:
Don’t understand what you mean. If de Jongh is on the bench and Frans Steyn gets injured, then Lambie moves to the back and you have a specialised centre coming in. If Lambie or Fourie gets injured then JdJ can slot in his normal positions. If the wings get injured Fourie can move on out.
12 Sep 2011, 10:52 am
Drop Pietersen and Habana for Hougaard and Aplon
Drop Smit and Burger for Bismark and Alberts.
Get Bakkies, Matfield and De Villiers back for the quarters.
That’s the only changes required.
12 Sep 2011, 10:53 am
@32,
I thought that Priestland was very good, as was the rest of the Welsh back line. I think that this Welsh team will in 2-3 years, be the dominating team in the NH. They are young now, and need some time together (Like the Wallabies 2-3 years ago when Cooper etc was found)
I think that Keo hit the nail on the head. For all intense purposes, the Welsh should have won. They beat us in possession, territory, penalties etc etc. They are just green, and do not know how to close out a game. We can say what we want, but calm heads and direction won us that game at 17-16 with 13 minutes to go. When FDP started dictating what was going to happen, the players listened and followed. You only get that through experience, and the babies in the Welsh team will lear that in the next few years.
I expect them to be a very serious outfit in 3 years time.
ANY I HATE MIKE PHILLIPS
12 Sep 2011, 10:53 am
Alberst is hard , we need a hard lock. Danie does’nt want to get involved
Alberst ‘s controll at back of scrum suspect , we were lucky to get penalty, but for rest he was Gold
12 Sep 2011, 10:53 am
One of the guys that was totally useless was Beast. Twice in the first couple of minutes he got mauled of the ball at a ruck. That was our single biggest problem. Guthro, Bakkies and Juan Smith not being there in the first 60 minutes to support Brussow at the rucks. In the last 20 Bismark and Alberts took over that job.
I would therefore definitely bring in Guthro as it will also strenghten our scrum, and then I like the impact the bench makes. If Bakkies could start, then Rossouw will make an even better impact.
12 Sep 2011, 10:54 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-95: and Peire “the Gate” Spies?
12 Sep 2011, 10:54 am
@Helen(Helen)-89: I always knew that FDP was kak with a few blinders to sell the hype.. Hougaardt is however useless at 9. He is a wing. A damn good wing who is almost as good as Aplon.
Hows the period cramps today
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