Aplon challenges perception
22 Sep 2011
Gio Aplon believes the pragmatic approach the Springboks adopt against the elite sides shouldn’t preclude him from selection either as a starter or impact player.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said last week that Aplon has had his chance to build his cause for inclusion in the match day squad and that he knows what he has in him as a player. Granted a rare start, against Namibia in Auckland, Aplon reminded of his game-breaking ability. While the inferiority of the opposition must be taken into account, it is telling that he outshone the perpetually impotent Bryan Habana against the same opponents.
Whether deployed as a wing or fullback, he has always altered the feel of the Springboks’ back three, giving them an air of unpredictability and a cutting edge. Defensively he has consistently exhibited the ability to subdue physically superior opponents by compensating what he lacks physically with sound technique.
However, it is likely that Aplon will watch from the stands in the quarter-final, stripping the Springboks of a potential match winner. De Villiers clearly has reservations about his aptitude in relation to the pattern they want to employ, but Aplon countered, saying: The Stormers play in a very similar way to what the Springboks do and I’ve done well in that structured environment, so I don’t see any reason why I couldn’t fit in with the pattern here.
‘Some players rely on their running game without paying much attention to the basics and hope to get by that way. I’ve worked very hard on the core skills of the game for a player in the back three – catching, kicking and passing. The flair comes naturally to me, but I’d like to think that I choose my moments to have a go well. It is about decision-making and assessing the situation quickly. If it’s on I’ll back my strength, but if you need me to play differently that isn’t a problem.’
Aplon added that with the [observable] improvement of the elite sides defensively, players with an ‘x-factor’ would become increasingly influential.
‘Defence wins World Cups and you can see that a huge emphasis has been placed on that at this year’s tournament,’ he said. ‘But there will be games where you’ll need something special from someone – creating or scoring out of nothing.
‘I’d love that challenge if it came my way because I believe I have the skills to help my team in a situation like that. It would be easy to get down about my situation, but I keep training hard and when or of I get my chance, like tonight, I know that I have to make the very best of it.’
By Ryan Vrede in Auckland
42 Comments
22 Sep 2011, 14:18 pm
Appeltone dragon
22 Sep 2011, 14:19 pm
Come on Ryan….
The man should have had a great game against the whipping boys but he is defensively weak and an area to target in a knockout situation. On top of that and you should know this our game in the knockout stages is not exactly looking for wings that can be line breakers. Its all about defence and Gio as great and exciting as he is will not be selected for the 22. That is the right call and everyone knows it.
22 Sep 2011, 14:24 pm
Good on you Gio, slam your fist on the table. This “I’ll do what the coach asks me” and “We all know our place in the squad” malarkay is soooo tedious. Back yourself.
22 Sep 2011, 14:27 pm
@Londonpiet(Londonpiet)-2: Except Gio looked very good on defence today. Did you watch the game?
22 Sep 2011, 14:44 pm
@Londonpiet(Londonpiet)-2: Jissus Piet, watter game het jy gekyk? Aplon tackle beter as Spies!! Sy verdediging is nog heeljaar uitstekend en ek sal hom beslis bo Lambie op heelagter speel!
Go Bokke!!
22 Sep 2011, 14:49 pm
@KingPaul(KingPaul)-5:
Paul! Bliksem, lanklaas vir jou hier gesien!
Hoe gaan dit ou maat?
22 Sep 2011, 15:01 pm
the mans defence was good all year round in the super15. he can tackle better than morne.
22 Sep 2011, 15:02 pm
the stormers had him in the team and their defensive structures werent breached
22 Sep 2011, 15:08 pm
Aplons successful tackles percentage lies somewhere close to 75%, same as Bryan Habana. Was only marginally behind other Stormers winger Danie Poolman on 80%.
Compare that to Bjorn Basson who was just below 60% and it doesn’t seem much of a problem.
Aplon is actually a very good defender. Takes them around the ankles or high and drags them across his body. He’s got the pace off the mark to not get beaten very often.
Could offer something over Bryan Habana possibly.
Also not as assured with Pat Lambie at fullback anymore at this stage. Maybe move Frans back and hope Jean has one of his better days against Australia.
22 Sep 2011, 15:12 pm
I am a Gio & WP fan, but come quarter finals I will put my money on Brian for a defensive game.
22 Sep 2011, 15:14 pm
Aplon is a great player, tecnically tackles properly like a man,old fasioned real mans rugby, he goes low. unlike steyn the pussie. Basically, you go low your percentage to bring a man down increases drastically. Also because you are holding onto the dude he will then have to release the ball as a ruck has formed. This chock tackling which is to inhibit the dude and to ball from being released is risker. You can get shoved away. This is Steyns problem and he leaves a bigger hole. A reason why the 10 chanel is considered one of our weaknesses when he is playing. But he can kick and in a world cup he is doing well while most are struggling….mmm…….
So If Francois/De Villiers is the edge(back up defense) to steyn, to Aplon it would be Fourie. mmm…
-Although I say Bryan has exceeded his use by date (for now), he brings bulk, which for the Knock Outs would Suit and you cant knock his defense.
-It only takes Aplon two side steps and we gain 15ms a couple of thoughs and it might be a game saving try.
I am a big fan but being small …mmm…. his becomes a target…. its a delema?
22 Sep 2011, 15:25 pm
Aplon’s defensive record speaks for itself: He has been phenomenal.
His strike rate is far superior than Habana’s in Sup15..so its all the negative bull that clouds these readers perceptions of this game-breaker
22 Sep 2011, 15:36 pm
Nothing wrong with Aplon’s defense.
I would back him to make a try-saving tackle over Spies anyday.
But there are far better decision-makers than him with ball-in-hand and regarding off-the-ball positioning.
His left boot also does not generate enough distance as proven in the 3N against Australia.
22 Sep 2011, 15:36 pm
This man MUST be in 22
My bench
Beast
Bismark(cos we know John wont be dropped)
Cj
Rossouw
Alberts(cos we know Spies wont be dropped)
Hougaard
Gio
Best bench in the bizness….Stands-butch,jean
22 Sep 2011, 15:39 pm
@bokguy(bokguy)-10:
WTF????? Are you talking about the chase-up-out-of-line-to-intercept Habana? The one who leaves gaping holes for opposition wings? The one who could not catch a cold, let alone a high ball?
Get real
22 Sep 2011, 15:43 pm
The test against the Welsh was crucial for planning. We went in with our “strongest” team and this is what we learnt:
1. The backline lack penetration.
2. FS is an asset at fullback.
3. MS is a target at flyhalf
4. Habana is definately off his game.
The last two tests have provided some questions:
1. Was JDV the problem with the backline and should Aplon and Hougaard be included?
2. If we move FS to 12, is Lambie good enough at 15 and is JDV good enough to be included at all?
3. Should be consider Butch or Lambie at 10?
4. Who should start at wing with JP?
I think we should use the next game to help answer those questions. My backline would therefore be:
9. FDP
10. Butch
11. Hougaard
12. Steyn
13. JF
14. Aplon
15. Lamb
I must say, DeJong looked phenomenal today too. He would be my first sub.
22 Sep 2011, 15:45 pm
@Greenies(Greenies)-11: mmm…
22 Sep 2011, 15:47 pm
As good as Frans has been at 12, our territory-orientated game plan makes him vital at fullback – the boks are heavily dependent on his ability to kick 60m+
if jean recovers, then aplon and lambie will fight it out for no.22 – but only if we go for the traditional 4/3 split for the knock-out stages.
22 Sep 2011, 15:49 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-9: Give Lambie a shot against Samoa and see how he goes. Why is everyone kicking the great white hope to the curb? This boy was the answer to Carter last year, he was said to have BMT, x factor, and was mature beyond his years, now bok fans are giving him the old heeve ho. Yho.
22 Sep 2011, 15:51 pm
@ali(ali)-18:
As a 12, FS has been better than JDV but besides individual play, FS at 12 has improved our entire backline – its not just the improvement of one player. And we know that FS plays well at 12 in big games too.
I would give up the 10 meters extra that he can kick for a much improved backline.
22 Sep 2011, 15:52 pm
All,
Never watched the game – but have seen Aplon play many times before. He is a weakness on defence against big teams. I would prefer lambie at Fullback instead of him. We need FS in centre and we need to assume JDV will not be back in time, if he is he can take over from Habana on the wing.
Quarters will be all about defence and kicking. Aplon doesnt have the kicking game on top of scratchy defence. yes he makes tackles but not really try saving 1 on 1 tackles… I have seen him miss enough to know I wouldnt put my c@ck on a block for him. FS yes no problem….
Remember it was namibia who didnt get a point – I hope he plays against Samoa so you guys can see his form properly
22 Sep 2011, 16:06 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-14: Why Aplon over De Jongh?
22 Sep 2011, 16:12 pm
@Londonpiet(Londonpiet)-21: which “big team” has EVER monstered over aplon, i want details not conjencture!
22 Sep 2011, 16:20 pm
@Londonpiet(Londonpiet)-21:
OK…so you then also need to drop SPIES and Morne for the big “heavy” teams since their defence does not warrant inclusion.
You are clutching at straws!
Aplon sharpened up his tacklin in 7′s where every tackle is a try saving tackle!
You are blinded by size. I see this every time you speak to rugby players and some other team supporters.
I will have Aplon on bench. If we need a try in the last minute of the semi…..Aplon would have 80% of getting it. Lambie, FS, Habana, JP pieters prob 30%
Heyneke Meyer stated again how much he rates the x factor the other night.
22 Sep 2011, 16:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-23: He’s lucky he never played a lot against Corne and Barry
22 Sep 2011, 16:24 pm
@willievz(willievz)-25:
Barry “SBW Killer” Geel, with Corne Uys’s calming influence!
17 tackles, 0 missed!
22 Sep 2011, 16:27 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-26:
barry… the Geel deal..!
22 Sep 2011, 16:27 pm
@willievz(willievz)-22:
Aplon just has more in him to blow the game wide open along with the rest of bench especially Hougaard. De Jongh is very good but with Aplon coming in from FB late in game vs tiring defenses with Hougaard running of him….Thats one hell of an attack. in midfield it tends to be tighter & structured vs quality nations.A bit more space for enterprise in back 3.
22 Sep 2011, 16:35 pm
Gio’s an excellent player…
from the get go “everyone’s” been saying he’s too small, doesn’t tackle, would be shut down at international level, would get killed… blah blah…
so…
gio is south africa’s most potent counter-attacking playing bar none… he tackles just great… if other guys twice his size tackled with half his heart the boks defence would never be breached…
he’s no smaller the juan or pat…
he has an excellent and long left boot….
and he still ghosts through and even breaks tackles at international level…
he has quicker acceleration than every bok bar, maybe, hougie… but steps off either foot even better than hougie
22 Sep 2011, 16:36 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-28:
:applause:
22 Sep 2011, 17:06 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-15:
That would be the one. I know Gio’s stats are good. I have seen him defend, giving it all he has got. Why do I have to demean one player to air my preference for another?
22 Sep 2011, 17:16 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-26:
Love it!!
22 Sep 2011, 17:51 pm
Morne Steyn
WC 2011
Tackles made: 34
Tackles missed:5
Now all of a sudden he is vulnerable on defense!!!
22 Sep 2011, 18:01 pm
Same goes for Pierre Spies
Tackles made: 32
Tackles missed:5
22 Sep 2011, 19:20 pm
@ufo(ufo)-29:
He’s significantly smaller than both, Pat is over 90kg’s but it would be a mistake to equate size with defensive quality. Aplon has massive heart and is a very good defender. But don’t say ‘he must be big cos he defends well’ it’s as dumb as saying, ‘he’s small so he can’t defend.’
23 Sep 2011, 00:52 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-9: As I’ve said… Lambie is fine at 15 but is he comfortable there? I don’t think so… a little bit worrying.
Aplon – ou BallsnRibs!!! – what is there about the man that you can’t admire… gotta love him.
23 Sep 2011, 01:19 am
@Greenies(Greenies)-11: I fecking hate people that go mmmm all the time. Say what you mean otherwise shut up.
23 Sep 2011, 03:27 am
@Brendope(Brendope)-35:
And that’s as dumb as saying i said something i didn’t say…!!
Please go back and read post 29 and cut-n-paste for me where I said… ‘he must be big cos he defends well’…?
You just look dumb and dumberer quoting things people haven’t said…
speaking of facts
Gio is 175cm Juan and Pat are both 177cm… so if 2cm is significant…??? okay…
You say Pat Lambie is over 90kgs…?? Well he’s listed as 86..???
sure apron is lighter than both… but as most unbiased commentators will note… he tackles well above his weight…
thing is… he both makes and breaks tackles of much bigger guys in every game he plays…
23 Sep 2011, 03:29 am
sure aplon…
(damn… this damn predictive text… auto-correcting after the fact)
23 Sep 2011, 09:03 am
Whateva, more Cape propaganda. Its 2 from 3. Hougaard, Lambie or Aplon. Hougaard an obvious and Lambie is just that much more solid than Aplon. He has a better kicking game, much better under the high ball, better defence and positional play. Just watch Aplon vs the Aussies in Durban. Lambie also covers 10 and brings a great playmaking option to the backline. How many final passes from Lambie in the Fiji game?
23 Sep 2011, 09:07 am
Lets not get caught in the Kiwi trap here. Its about picking the best team, not the best 22 individuals. Its unlucky for Aplon, as he’s a great player, but he just doesn’t fit into the match 22. Either a centre or an extra prop. Beast will add more to the bench than Aplon, I mean you already have great wing and fullback cover, why on earth would you need Aplon?????
23 Sep 2011, 22:09 pm
You go Aplon, just love what you bring to the party!!
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