Gold denies defensive frailities
21 Sep 2011
Gary Gold says that he’s not particularly concerned about the fact that the Springboks have missed as many as 43 tackles in two World Cup matches.
On Wednesday, Gold picked up where the head coach and skipper left off, stating that the team wasn’t as concerned about the quality of opposition during these pool games as they were about the quality of their own performance.
Like Peter de Villiers and John Smit, he also believes the Boks are on the right track, and that by the quarter-finals they will have sharpened their game to the point where they can mount a serious challenge on Australia.
Gold said that he was particularly pleased with the defence. The Boks conceded one try against Wales in the Pool D opener, and then kept the Fijians tryless last Saturday.
Many of the Boks had suggested beforehand that Fiji would present more of an attacking threat than Wales, and so to keep the islanders to three points is something the team regards as a pretty special defensive effort. Great scrambling defence saved them on more than one occasion in that clash with Wales, and the cover defence was called on time and again to smother a Fijian attack.
But while the Bok coaches and players are quick to commend the defence, the defensive statistics confirm that it’s an area that requires further polishing. Against Wales, the Boks slipped 17 tackles. Against Fiji, they were even worse, missing 26 tackles in all.
The official rugby World Cup statistics also confirm that the Boks’ first-time tackling was less efficient against Fiji than it was against Wales. While they only had 40% of the ball against Wales and had to spend large periods of the game on defence, they enjoyed 53% possession in the next game but still allowed the Fijians through the line.
Gold admitted there was room for improvement, but is otherwise largely satisfied with the Boks’ progress in this area.
‘The obvious improvement in our game is that we didn’t concede a try. We conceded a try against Wales, but didn’t concede a try against Fiji. I think our defence was tighter against a team that can be a threat with ball in hand,’ the Bok assistant coach said.
‘Against a team like Fiji, you are always going to miss a handful of first-time tackles. They’re phenomenal steppers and that’s their game. Sometimes people talk about scramble defence as if the team has failed, but that is still an aspect of defence. A fantastic Fijian may step the first defender but then it’s up to the players on either side of the beaten defender to react accordingly.
‘We’re not overly concerned about it, but obviously there is always room for improvement.’
Gold said that he would like to see the Boks improving their ball retention in the next two matches. While Namibia is the weakest team in Pool D, the Boks will employ a direct approach and use the game as an opportunity to improve in the areas identified by the coaches as below par.
An improved showing in terms of ball retention will also have a positive impact on the Bok defence. They’ve conceded far too much possession in the last two matches either through handling errors or breakdown turnovers.
Namibia won’t ask many questions of the Bok defence, but this will present the South Africans with a chance to build some momentum and confidence before facing the confrontational Samoans and then the Aussies in the play-offs.
Morne Steyn has plenty to prove in the flyhalf channel after a swing-door effort against Wales and another shaky showing against Fiji. But even if he delivers a solid performance against Namibia, it won’t be enough to convince anybody that he has improved sufficiently to stand up to a world-class attack.
A start for Steyn against Samoa would serve as some preparation and act as an indicator of his defensive progress, but that would rob the Boks’ best defensive flyhalf option, Butch James, of a promised start at this World Cup.
Gold revealed that James, who is not available for Thursday’s game against Namibia because of a hip injury, will come into contention for the next game against Samoa. It will present something of a conundrum for De Villiers as he’s sworn to build momentum with his first-choice team, but has also promised to have a look at James before the play-offs.
If defence is truly prized, then it shouldn’t even be a debate. Steyn will stand up to the Namibian challenge, but it is James that will best serve the Boks in the games where top opposition target the No 10 channel.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Auckland
33 Comments
21 Sep 2011, 07:13 am
This Silver Dragon gets to much airtime… imo…
21 Sep 2011, 07:13 am
Morne had a shaky effort against Fiji?
Keo columnists have now resorted to making up stories to try get Butch into the line-up (instructed to do so by the big boss Mark Keohane.
21 Sep 2011, 07:23 am
Ok – sorry…. good morning.
my 2 cents regarding Bucth’s tackling.
i can only compare it to Pakslae’s tackling. It’s overrated and ineffective of late.
imo.
21 Sep 2011, 07:23 am
wow, talk about ‘sticking to your structures’…
the keo backline pulling of another ‘same old’ set piece move…aka butch james is waaaay better than morne….
21 Sep 2011, 07:25 am
Jon, still bowing down to die baas? Keo has made a complete and utter *** of himself with his attack on Morne. Morne is the best all round test 15. His defence is BETTER than both Lambie and Butch, two of the lesser players (who have failed to impress in recent seasons at 10 for the Boks) that the master who pulls your strings has been backing for a considerable amount of time. Utterly pathetic. Why not point out the real culprit to Bok woes, Jean de Villiers. Because that would be an inconvenient FACT in the hack job on Morne? Of course. You clowns do no research and cannot fathom actually reviewing games, hence you idiots are 9/10 times wrong. I have done stat collections, did you know that Carter has kicked more than Morne, that since the start of the 2009 season? Did you know that Morne does NOT hang back in the pocketas stated by idiots such as yourselves? But the question was never asked what was happening to possession that he was distributing. Why? Because it was an inconvenient expose on yet another media driven lie. You want the real problem, it was Jean all along. Fiji proved that, just as the 2007 RWC did. We would never have won that tournament with Jean. Likewise this year. But in terms of the team dynamicsm, never listen to Keo folks. Kei is better off retiring to a farm where he can use his knuckle dragging abilities to plough fields. That or a scarecrow, anyone who talks as much **** as this ****** can scare away anything. Put Peter de Villiers and Malema up with him while we are at it.
21 Sep 2011, 07:26 am
Banging the Butch James drum again?
It took some creative plotting to move the story arc from Gary Gold’s game analysis to Morne Steyn’s supposed defensive frailties in one article. Cardinelli should consider a career as a novelist. Although, most of what he writes is fiction already, come to think of it.
The most entertaining part is how the two ‘journalist’ stooges and their dimunitive stooge master continue to act as if Steyn’s continued selection is a surprising anomaly with Butch’s return only being a matter of time.
This despite Divvy categorically stating that Morne is his first choice flyhalf for this tournament.
As I said, more fiction than fact in these articles. And meanwhile Butch continues to stare at me vacantly from his book cover everytime I log onto this website.
Hehehe. Absolute coincidence, of course.
21 Sep 2011, 07:26 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-5: typo, 10 not 15, but you all knew that right?
21 Sep 2011, 07:28 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-6: In 2007 it was Pretorius that was going to take us to a WC win, and the plodder Butch was a liability that the, supposedly bad coach, Jake was persisting with at the team’s expense. Look what happened there. Pretorius was a revolving door against Tonga. These fools know nothing about the game and lag so far behind the curve it beggars belief!
21 Sep 2011, 07:28 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-5: he won’t say anything about Jean… remember the book deal…
21 Sep 2011, 07:32 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-8: sorry trying to understand your post.
be patient with me.
what are you saying.
Butch was bad / Pretorius was bad?
Please explain…
not serious – just wanna know…
21 Sep 2011, 07:36 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-5:
They’ve got this idea that because he didn’t ‘smash’ Jamie Roberts in the tackle, he can’t defend. A few bloggers also had the same idea. Hero one day, zero the next.
Keo lot would rather see Butch James miss 1/2 his tackles for a couple of hits a game.
21 Sep 2011, 07:37 am
@Staal(Staal)-10: In 2007 Butch was the better 10. In fact, a much better player than he has been the last few years. The irony is that Butch is an inferior player now, yet in 2007 Keo had it in for him. Now It’s Morne that’s under the Keo hacksaw. It just doesn’t make any sense. Keo is not motivated by rugby. He uses his position in the media to drive his own opinions and influence the game. He also attempts to destroy careers in the process. Keo must be drowned in the very same gutter he should never have been allowed to emerge from. Likewise his little jah brus.
21 Sep 2011, 07:40 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-11: There isn’t a single 10 at top level that can stop Jamir Roberts head on. But I did see Morne scrag an All Black lock in that win this year and dump him backwards. In 2009 against France he ran out the 22 and flattened Jauzion head on, not exactly an easy thing to do. Morne has immense work rate. He chases every opportunity to do anything. Something Lambie never does at test level, something Butch can’t do. Again, Keo’s very scarce research is exposed.
21 Sep 2011, 07:45 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-8:
personally i think he might be a manchurian candidate and i am serious in saying this.
the kiwis have been planting ‘agents’ in a lot of opponent rugby nations team management/coaching/admin etc. this is possibly a plot with the intention to activate their agents at crucial times in order for them to destabalise the opponent nations internally, thus leaving them vulnerable to the all blacks…just look at keohane’s involvment with boks circa 2002/3.
i trust nothing and nobody…especially the dirty all blacks.
21 Sep 2011, 07:47 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-12: oh – ok.. got it.
donnow about his meadia connections – not interested – but anyone punting Yoyo Pretorius must have a knock in the head.
21 Sep 2011, 07:48 am
@conan wishes he was a springbok #4 locks girlfriend…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14:
21 Sep 2011, 07:52 am
Have to agree with the scramble defence being very effective. We saw it against the ABs in PE as well. This is part of the defensive systems that the team work on. With brilliant players on the opposing team you will miss first up tackles, but what happens then is what stops the teams from scoring.
The Stormers are praised for their impressive defence, but they also rely on scramble defence. Just quoting first time tackle misses and then issuing a verdict on the defensive effectiveness of the Boks is very, very naive.
21 Sep 2011, 07:54 am
@Staal(Staal)-16:
its true man…for another example just look at the progress over the last four years of wallabies under ‘dingo’ deans… but yes, the ‘conspiracy theorist’ denouncers will dismiss my claims as ludicrous fantasies…you watch…thats the beauty of a manchurian candidate move… you never see it coming…
21 Sep 2011, 07:57 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-13:
My point exactly. Morne’s defense has never been a problem before. Now that Wales targeted him he’s a big weakness.
Morne is the best 10 in SA by far. At this stage only Johan Goosen looks like he could possible overtake him in the near future.
People will make a case for Jantjies, but Goosen is playing in the same competition. You can’t say Jantjies is doing well and looks like a Springbok, but then say Goosen is playing in a weak competition.
21 Sep 2011, 07:58 am
@Craven(Craven)-17: Notice how Gold does not in fact dismiss that they’ve missed first time tackles. Anither misleading title by the snakes at Keo.
21 Sep 2011, 08:09 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-20:
“snakes at Keo” Never met any of them but will keep that in mind when i do…
i donnow why but i am under the impression that you and Keo aren’t “braai-buddies”?
21 Sep 2011, 08:16 am
@Staal(Staal)-21: I’ve been reading articles here for nearly a decade. I have seen the mentality of this monstrosity for some time. He is very inconsistent and always has other motives. Regarding rugby? He knows nothing about the game either. The manner in which he conducts himself is unworthy of my respect. And anyone willing to be his little stooge is even less than that. Look how Keo campaigned for the Watson mafia during Jake’s era. He has his connections, make no mistake about that. All I want is an honest appraisal of the game, I don’t expect perfection, but honesty. I don’t think I am being unreasonable. Rugby is a secondary issue with this mob.
21 Sep 2011, 08:21 am
and
never forget
his dubious
role
in the
davids
cronje
saga
21 Sep 2011, 08:31 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-22: like they say in afrikaans…
daar’s ‘n storie AGTER die storie…
21 Sep 2011, 08:35 am
Think that the Bok defense is coming together nicely, compared to 2010 where we couldn’t buy tackles in the cry nations, the last four games have been a huge improvement. I must admit that Nienaber has certainly played a role and deserves a lot of credit for his contribution would anyone with defensive coaching experience give me some insight as to why the Stormers and now Bok scramble defense is so effective?
21 Sep 2011, 08:42 am
I think I have a take on the in and up defense, off the set piece with JF coming out of the line and and cutting out the wide pass to winger or fullback and forcing the guys in on the inside, would that be about right?.
21 Sep 2011, 11:02 am
@francois93(francois93)-26:
You are correct. We saw a patchwork team do this in the away leg to New Zealand in 2007. Carter lamented their inability to execute full backline moves. It kept them to 13-6 until the final ten minutes. Better than the record defeat we saw this year. de Villiers on his own has had no answer to our defensive frailties out wide. We have been incredibly frail on defence, more so than I have ever seen before. Under Straeuli we were solid, just so blunt that we couldn’t score and thus buckled under pressure, much like Italy. Nienaber has done an immense job in such a short space of time. Literally reconstructing our game from a defensive standpoint from nothing!! No wonder they need a few games to get things completely right. Isn’t that so Keo? Nice of you to leave that out you plodding turkey! I challenge you for once in your life to say it how it is. I’d make a thousand fold the journalist you ever could be! I don’t have the connections, but clearly I know more than you do. I could assemble a much brighter team than you too. There are so many more people that could right great articles, it’s truly sad that a munter like you has such influence as to actually be there for a Bok interview. How very sad indeed.
21 Sep 2011, 11:47 am
Morne was fine against Fiji, in fact, it was probably one of his better outings defensively.
More of a worry is Spies. The only time he ever dominates the tackle is if Rosouw or Burger first holds the opposition player up then Spies enters the situation and fluffs about while his fellow bok does all the work.
Not a good look being manhandled by a back Pierre.
21 Sep 2011, 12:18 pm
The weak defence displayed by all the Southern Hemisphere teams is a direct result of this throw-and-giggle “Super” 14/15/16 (however many teams it is these days) touch-rugby nonsense that your chaps play where the fans demand these ridiculous basketball-type scorelines so tackling becomes optional.
You may get away with your sissy-boy defending when you play in your Tri-Nations competition because you’re playing agaisnt other non-tackling colonial types, but you’ll always get found out in a RWC when you come up against gritty and courageous British teams used to playing proper rugger where they tackle like men.
21 Sep 2011, 12:48 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-29:
You are so right. I mentioned this elsewhere. This years Super tournament was the sloppiest I have ever seen. In fact, this entire cycle of rugby has been a mess, complete failure. The IRBs attempt to artificially engineer the game has failed. Now we have an inferior game. Earlier this year I was watching some of the games from yesteryear. The Boks win over Australia in 2000, Australia’s stunning comeback in 2000, and the quality of these games was far better than this cycle, in all aspects of play, ball in hand, everything. The SH is going to suffer for their candy floss rugby. The sooner we leave the TNs the better to be honest. NZ and AUS want League, stuff them and let them have it on the backside of the planet. We don’t need these cheating and arrogant wenchs.
21 Sep 2011, 12:50 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-28: Luckily we dont have Bekker or Adi! Both are some of the worst defenders ever. Bekker in particular isn’t tough enough to be a wing, though he does try, loafing around on the wing being dominated and injured by flyweights.
21 Sep 2011, 21:06 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-29:
thats not what 2-consecutive AB-Grand Slams would indicate (2008 and 2010).
Thats 8 Tests vs the “gritty & courageous British teams playing proper rugger where they tackle like men” on their Home grounds
Tries by ABs = 24
Tries by Handkerchief-wearing riot-scum = 4
(thats 0.5 tries per Test).
better replace the teabags with tacklebags, your argument is starting to look soggy.
21 Sep 2011, 23:34 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-32: You fail to take into consideration the importance of tests, the mentality of EOYTs and the ABs cheating. Last year Scotland were utterly mugged by incredulous cheating that was let off the hook. Not to mention that most NH sides roll over on EOYT against NZ. Though England were the better side last November against NZ and thy utterly flattened Australia. Scotland battered us and we have been outplayed by Wales in every test since the second home test in 2008, lost to both Ireland and France and had very patchy wins over Italy and a last gasp escape from Scotland. Australia in that time have had their share of losses to Scotland, Ireland and Wales as well as numerous unconvincing wins. It’s not nearly as rosey as you say. The complexion of the results thus far emphatically support Kitchener.
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