Rossouw’s versatility a boon for Boks
17 Sep 2011
Playing at No 5 against Fiji, Danie Rossouw showed why he’s one of the most valuable members of the Springbok squad.
Rossouw won the 2007 Super 14 playing flank for the Bulls, and helped the Boks to a world title in 2007 playing at No 8. He played some of his best rugby for the Boks in the No 4 position in 2010, standing out for a team that was battling for results.
Rossouw delivered a powerful showing in last week’s World Cup opener against Wales, and a change of position did little to diminish his potency in the most recent fixture against Fiji.
With Victor Matfield and Johann Muller on the injured list, Peter de Villiers was forced to pick Rossouw in the No 5 position, and his dominant performance at the lineout aside, he was magnificent with ball in hand.
‘I was very pleased with his performance, the old man played with a revitalised engine,’ said De Villiers after the Fiji match. ‘It also came down to our structures, he needed to be able to choose the right lines to run.
‘My concerns before the game were that he’d played 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and every position requires you to run different lines and perform different roles. So for him to fit in like he did – I take my hat off to him.’
It was far from a flawless performance, as Rossouw missed several tackles. But by in large, Rossouw was full value for his man of the match accolade.
The versatile Bulls forward broke tackles, stepped round defenders and created try-scoring opportunities for his team-mates. The Boks’ third try came after Rossouw had broken clean through and laid the platform for a wide attack.
His support play was excellent and as De Villiers suggests, he worked hard to be in the right position and generate attacking continuity. He was rewarded with a try right at the death when he blasted through the tired Fiji defence.
‘It was a looser game today, so you needed to be able to adapt and run the right line,’ Rossouw said. ‘It started out very tight and physical, so we had to be able to stand up to them in that area. But them as the game opened up, we needed to adapt and keep the ball alive in contact.
The Boks scored six tries in all, and Rossouw said the performance had given the Boks a lot of confidence. While they won’t get ahead of themselves, they believe it was a performance that indicates they are headed in the right direction.
‘I’m happy about the fact that we scored some tries today. There’s a perception that we play boring rugby, so it felt good to throw the ball around and get some tries. I felt proud after that performance.’
Matfield will return to the starting side before the play-offs, while Bakkies Botha came through Saturday’s game having not exacerbated his Achilles injury. Rossouw is likely to sit on the bench in the big games, but it will help the Boks’ cause to have a player of such quality and versatility to call on in the dying stages of the game.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Wellington
13 Comments
17 Sep 2011, 12:09 pm
Most of the so called missed tackles by Rossouw merely smashed the attacker into oncoming traffic, setting him up to be nailed by Burger or Brussouw.
Rossouw has a similar tackling style to Spies which results in attackers sometimes bursting through an outstretched arm or bouncing off an open shoulder. But if he connects properly its pretty much man down for the ball carrier.
17 Sep 2011, 12:22 pm
Can’t believe you actually justifying 4 1st half misses tackles,i would hardly call being handed off by the Fijian No.5 “Smashed”.Had a great 2nd half tho but in the Quarters and Semi’s missed tackles will cost you……….Well done BOKS!!!!!!
17 Sep 2011, 12:22 pm
Steyn excelled at 12 – great balance between attack and defence.
I’m surprised they didn’t use the Welsh tactic of first receiver being a wing going sideways and drawing in our forwards only to pass to a ball carrier who straightens and runs through Morne Steyn.
17 Sep 2011, 12:25 pm
Rossouw is an excellent player. His form has been consistently good for a while now. In Super Rugby he always contributed hugely to the Bulls’ cause after he’d been brought on through several great carries and solid defence.
Bakkies disappears completely in a Super Rugby match, never mind a test match. He no longer plays with the aggressive enthusiasm that he used to. The only times that you notice him is when he is involved in a scuffle or clears a ruck long after the ball has been secured.
Rossouw and Matfield should start as the first choice locks.
17 Sep 2011, 12:28 pm
I thought Bakkies was massive on defence in the first half.
17 Sep 2011, 12:32 pm
Pakslae us one if the all time great boks – better than Andre Venter, Teichman and Skinstad. Pity he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves
17 Sep 2011, 12:37 pm
@Caper(Caper)-4: Agree with the Matfield/Rossouw altho Rossouw tends to lose the ball in contact an should work on that 1st time hits as well,with ball in hand he was titanic but Fiji’s forwards lost there legs in the 2nd Half
17 Sep 2011, 12:39 pm
@Train(Train)-6: Eish Bobby bru no ways hahahahaha…………..agree he is a Legend tho!!!!
17 Sep 2011, 13:45 pm
Caper! Bra, Bakkies het alles gegee toe hy op die veld was, gee my die eksakte minute waar hy nie vir jou genoeg gedoen het nie?
Pakslae was uitstekend!
When Graeme Bell invented the telephone, there was already 3 missed calls from Bakkies Botha.
17 Sep 2011, 13:56 pm
Well done Danie Rossouw.
17 Sep 2011, 20:15 pm
Danie was solid and played with determination. However just watch the match again – and you will notice that he lost the ball in contact a couple of times and did miss those tackles. MoM was not justified – IMO. Either of the Steyns could have been awarded MoM. Morne showed a very positive attacking side and Francois was excellent in attack and defence. Biggest worry is the lack of form of FdP! His option taking is not good at the moment – by his own very high standards. Smit was very good in 1st half, especially on defence and Bismark complemented this especially well in 2nd half. Danie was good but in a team of others all playing well too.
17 Sep 2011, 22:31 pm
Pakslae is a legend. He had a couple of Rhino-like runs today, building up to a surprising pace that had the Fijians wishing they had enough time to get out of the way. Now if only he could learn to put his head down, Mr Upright would do some real damage.
17 Sep 2011, 22:34 pm
Danie was good today, but everytime they pass him the ball I sit on one cheek getting myself ready for that knock. But he was very good today.
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