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, 11:40 am
Let’s try that missing post one more time:
I must agree with Tac here. For all his effort, Burger was pretty ineffective. I’m not advocating we drop him, but I certainly think his post match reports blow smoke up his arse.
He always takes contact the same way – by turning around and backing into the tackler. Not only does this deprive him of all his speed and momentum, resulting in zero gainline crossing, it also makes him look like he’s stupidly trying to spin out of tackles in super slo-mo.
Why does he do this?
12 Sep 2011, 11:43 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-195:
Great White, Brussouw was defending (22 tackles) and couldn’t make the turnovers. Exactly my point. The fetching role should rather be the 8th man’s duty. Open side flank is usually the first to the tackle, so it out of the game when on the ground. I really would swap Spies and Brussouw and let them both play to the ball instead of Brussouw making tackles and Spies roaming like a dump truck looking for parking
12 Sep 2011, 11:43 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-195: Now we are getting somewhere. Our T5 got outplayed if they did their job the loosies would have done something . The T 5 started playing with Bizzy, Muller and Gurthro cleaning rucks.
Smit, Danie , Beast biggest culprits
12 Sep 2011, 11:43 am
@capebull(capebull)-198: Easy. Wales were committed at the breakdown/rucks.
More organised than we were. Spies is useless at a breakdown.
12 Sep 2011, 11:45 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-165: shut up!
you want nonu & sbw to run straight at morne all night long if we ever meet in a semi-final neh?
fark, i don’t know who is more of a turnstile morne or meyer bosman?
nah, meyer is uber KAK
12 Sep 2011, 11:45 am
Hmmmm…. I am not sure I agree with these negative assessments on Burger.
He was incredibly hard working throughout the match. Yes, he is not the most intelligent runner / offloader of the ball and nowadays he struggles to break tackles, but boy he works hard.
Is it just me or does he look smaller at this world cup compared to other players?
12 Sep 2011, 11:45 am
We need a T5 that dominates.
Look whow Cheeters front row cleaned rucks
12 Sep 2011, 11:45 am
Play Morne at fullback and put Steyn at flyhalf, problem solved!
12 Sep 2011, 11:46 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-186: No doubt this guy must be the toughest guy in rugby today. Mamuka Gorgodze. I’m going to be looking out for him when Georgia play their game.
12 Sep 2011, 11:46 am
yada yada yada….
ek wil dit nog altyd gesê het!
12 Sep 2011, 11:47 am
@dr dre(dr dre)-204: Its not the number 8 Job to clean thr rucks.
12 Sep 2011, 11:47 am
Most kickers are missing their kicks and Morne was spot on. That’s all that matters.
There aren’t many Jamie Roberts at this world cup. Jami did this in 09 with the Lions and we still beat the Lions.
Am not too worried about Morne’s defensive frailties so to speak.
Quade has defensive problems but has the ability to generate more points than he concedes. This line of reasoning applies to Morne Steyn’s case. They are no different in points accumulation.
12 Sep 2011, 11:47 am
@byron458(byron458)-208: Do you remember the last time Morne Steyn was at fullback, in NZ during this year’s trinations? It was a disaster! Not a good plan.
12 Sep 2011, 11:49 am
@byron458(byron458)-208:
ja, just imagine a bacline of 9 – Hougaard, 10 – F Steyn, 12 – Butch/de Jongh, 13 – Fourie…
pretty devastating, eh?
12 Sep 2011, 11:51 am
The Boks took a line out when they were 6 points down with 20 minutes to go. I really appreciated that.
John Smit and Victor Matfield would have gone for points but whoever took the decision on the field made a very good one. I’m sure the Welsh were surprised by the decision. That decision was more important than Wayne Barnes’s decision.
12 Sep 2011, 11:51 am
@Helen(Helen)-196: Hate to say this, but good enough to be the kiwis or the aussies? Sadly, not sure I agree.
12 Sep 2011, 11:51 am
@Helen(Helen)-214: Steyn tried at 10 years ago did not make it . Jantjies best in SA at moment
12 Sep 2011, 11:52 am
@Helen(Helen)-214: Do you guys not recall in 2008 Barbarians game when Frans Steyn played fly half? It was a disaster.
12 Sep 2011, 11:52 am
Fourie du Preez was the poorest of the team on Sunday. They should let Hougaard start.
Morne and JPP need to improve their tackling.
12 Sep 2011, 11:53 am
@madvillain(madvillain)-212: it wasn’t only jamie running through morne…that tongan-born welsh 8 went past him like the gautrain!
radike samo would KILL morne!
12 Sep 2011, 11:54 am
@capebull(capebull)-217: He has stepped up but there is a big difference between CC without the Boks and WC, Elton would struggle at international level.
12 Sep 2011, 11:55 am
@capebull(capebull)-217:
I have 2 words for you:
Lambie!!!!!
12 Sep 2011, 11:56 am
@Helen(Helen)-214: FSteyn at 10 is rubbish, he was SOOOOOO selfish! he grubbered for himself and died with the ball all day.
the commentator in exasperation said something like “if i was this boy’s coach i would tell him never to kick a drop goal ever again” this was after fransie’s 3rd or 4th errant attempt
12 Sep 2011, 11:57 am
No Bakkies, Bismarck, Juan Smith and Dries Bekker in the starting line up.
Pierre Spies… need i say more. This guy disappears with such regularity i don’t even have words for his performance or lack thereof.
12 Sep 2011, 11:58 am
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-221: Agreed , so at WC its Morne/ Butch
Not like tackle vs No arms tackle
Kick all kicks vs Miss kicks
Not lickely to get card vs 70% chance of yellow card
I have not seen a perfect of any thing , if you know Morne does not like tackling , tell Bugger to help him…. simple
12 Sep 2011, 11:58 am
@capebull(capebull)-217: that gap jantjies took to set up hollenbach’s (i think it was) try was sublime.
12 Sep 2011, 11:59 am
We have no shotage of 10′s in SA after the RWC. I’d rate our best to be:
1 – Lambie
2 – F Steyn
3 – E Jantjies
4 – M Steyn
5 – P Grant
6 – Ebersohn
7 – B Francis
For RWC however, we need M Steyn’s conservative consistency.
12 Sep 2011, 11:59 am
Transie: lol! Chap the boks don’t have a running game, they are most convincing when they are mauling opposing forwards, drop garryowens like the Luftwaffe on London! Without an accurate goal kicker than there’s no hope. There’s no plan B, you’ll have to stomach Morne Steyn’s edginess in the tackle situation unfortunately, or do as the Aussies have done move frans Steyn to 10 on defense.
12 Sep 2011, 11:59 am
Key facts and figures from match eight of Rugby World Cup 2011 on Sunday, 11 September; South Africa beat Wales 17-16 in Pool D at Wellington Regional Stadium:
- Toby Faletau (20 years 303 days old) is the youngest player to score a RWC try for Wales, breaking Gareth Thomas’ record by three days.
- Wales captain Sam Warburton is the youngest player to captain a World Cup side at 22 years and 341 days, smashing the record (23 years and 313 days) set by Takamichi Sasaki (JPN) in 2007.
- George North (WAL) at 19 years and 151 days is the fifth youngest player in RWC history and the youngest player to represent Wales at the Rugby World Cup, beating Dai Young’s record by 167 days.
- Frans Steyn’s third-minute try is the quickest of RWC 2011.
- James Hook’s penalty brought up Wales’ 700th RWC point. They are the seventh nation to reach that milestone.
- This is the first RWC match decided by one point since Australia beat Ireland 17-16 in the pool stage of RWC 2003.
- This is South Africa’s narrowest RWC win ever and their first one-point win since beating New Zealand 21-20 in September 2006.
- South Africa’s 815 caps among their starting XV makes them the most capped line-up in rugby history. It is the first time the Springboks have won a Test in which their starting XV boasted 700 caps or more.
12 Sep 2011, 11:59 am
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-221: Selective amnesia.. he played super rugby too.. Twatism however destroys brain cells so your lack of memory is understandable
12 Sep 2011, 12:00 pm
@Helen(Helen)-222: I would pick him yes , if the boks T5 get outplayed like they did in Aus recently , even Lambie could not save them
12 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-220: I would love to see either a Samoan or Fiji monster disembowel M. Steyn in a chiropractor tackle
12 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm
you can’t judge Jantjies on the CC peformance … its like Vodacom Cup … even that Demitri Knopkierietakkies from WP (UCT) performed good – very low standard!
12 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-224:
I watched the game again last night and kept my eye only on Spies.
He is quick around the park and gets to the breakdowns mostly 2nd or 3rd, but once there he spends 3 or 4 seconds looking at the ruck before he gets stuck in, by which time the opportunity is lost. He could be much more effective choosing his entry as he runs up and not come to a standstill first. We lose a great cleaning opportunity by letting him be a passanger at ruck time
12 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
What was all that hot potato throwing the ball back and forth in the welsh dangerzone
Grrrrr
12 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-220:
Strange that the giant Polynesians in the Chiefs team couldn’t smash through Morne in the S14. In fact, they got monstered 61-17 with Morne at flyhalf.
Ah, but then the Chiefs tight five – De Melmanche and all – got a whipping from the Bulls big boys, which solved that problem immediately.
So the answer is, dominate the tight five of the opposition. The rest will take care of itself.
12 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
FS must play 12 , his best position ……and a want to say once more , Spies is kak ( like Graham Hick , a flat track bully . He will always be kak in a tight game but then go on and score 4 tries against Namibia …He has no hands , no vision and can’t read agame which is vitral for a 8th-man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm
Ok, so a lot of people say Morne at fullback, with Butch at nr 10, and Frans at nr 12. Then some say Habana on bench and FdP is on his best form. Some also say Schalk was not that good in this game.
My opinion, Schalk, played a great game, especially if you remember that he did not play for the last 8 weeks due to injury. Then I agree that Bismarck was awesome and so was Alberts. Morne only has his kicking boot going for him while JP Pietersen can only do something when he has the ball. Both of them are useless on defence. I mean, where do they get this whole idea of trying to tackle the guy by grabbing his collar. Really? JdV could not really show what he can bring to the plate due to the injury early on in the game.
There is a lot of options to make sure we never see a game like this past Sunday. A few of which would be to play Juan De Jongh at 12, Lambie at 10 (Morne on bench), Aplon to replace JP, Alberts to replace Spies, Flouw on the bench, and Hougaard at 9. Like I said, there are other option as well, but this is one that could work. The problem is that PdV does not see it and wants to win the 2011 RWC with Jake White’s 2007 team. If only PdV starts playing his own team and forgets about the 2007 team things will improve a lot.
And then one major issue I have with SA Rugby lately, what are the forwards doing in the backline. As long as they remain in the backline, we can not do any backline moves and thus we can not score any tries with the backline. Go back to the basics, forwards at the breakdown points with the backline running the ball through the hands. And please teach JP and Morne to tackle. Juan De Jongh can give them a few lessons.
12 Sep 2011, 12:05 pm
Malema guilty of hate speach.
sentenced to 4 years hard labour in Kobus Geldenhuis’ mielie farm
12 Sep 2011, 12:05 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-148: I looked at the game again this morning, Spies and Burger did pretty much the same things, tackled and ran up, with little of no gain
The only guys who made some ground where Willem, Heinrich and Danie. Danie was also quiet good on defense.
12 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm
agree with keo.morne steyn should go.
1.james in at 10
2.hougaard replacing one-trick pony fdp
3.jdj in for injured jdv
4.louw in for burger-running like a crab should not be done at a wc
5.alberts in for spies-spies should be given a healthy dose of time off to explore the sights and sounds of nz
6.steenkamp in for beast
7.bissy to replace smit as a matter of urgency.
8.aplon to replace jpp for the interim-jp’s game suffered playing with sharks has-beens like oupa ,meyer,joubert etc. etc.
make the changes along that lines and the boks will be ok.
12 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-46:
On Kanko’s opportunities vs Spies; i agree with that. Spies has been coasting for the last two years. Coasting, with nothing to show for it.
What i like about Willem Alberts is the fact that he uses every bok opportunity he gets.
Backing Joe van Niekerk would have been better than waiting on Spies to gallop to the try line.
We have been waiting a little over two years to see the Pretoria Stallion but nothing has come of it.
12 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm
Where is jaque fourie
12 Sep 2011, 12:09 pm
I think that the Frans Steyn try won the game for the Boks.. It took a while for Wales to get going after that and the whole game descended into a farce with everybody holding back. Had Wales not been floored so early with that sucker punch, there confidence have been sky high by the 15th minute and there may have been a slaughter
12 Sep 2011, 12:09 pm
I will feel much better if they select this team to start :
1. Beast
2. Bismarck
3. JdP
4. Rossouw (Only because Bakkies is injured)
5. Muller (Only because Matfield is injured and there is no other in NZ)
6. Brussouw
7. Alberts
8. Schalk
9. FdP
10. M Steyn
11. Hougaard
12. F Steyn (Ahead of JdJ because of Le Rocket Boot option)
13. Mossie
14. JPP
15. Aplon/Lambie (Undecided)
12 Sep 2011, 12:10 pm
Tac answer! What did spies do
12 Sep 2011, 12:10 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-236: That was the S14, Morne cannot tackle to save his life NOW, not last year or in 2009
The bigger question is what to do about it. If Steyn stays then we need to plug that gap. Jacques rushed up twice on Saturday closing the outside centre and wing space for the Welsh, only problem was that the Welsh did not want to spread it wide and where playing towards Morne every chance they got in the 2nd half.
His defence is a liability currently
12 Sep 2011, 12:10 pm
@madvillain(madvillain)-242: Agree on Big Joe on evidence of Spies in 1st game.
12 Sep 2011, 12:11 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-220: Hehehe. iGautrain yonke!
12 Sep 2011, 12:12 pm
helen ..damn … if i was the judge i would’ve sent him to Darren Scott and then to Bees Roux
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