Boks to fight fire with an inferno
27 Sep 2011
The Springboks intend to outbully the confrontational Samoans in Friday’s Test at North Harbour Stadium.
After a disappointing campaign in the Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa stunned the rugby world when they beat the Wallabies 32-23 in Sydney. Many believed the historic win signalled the beginning of something special, and the massive Samoan contingent in the greater Auckland area moved to buy tickets to the Samoa vs South Africa World Cup pool clash on 30 September.
The North Harbour Stadium will be at full capacity this coming Friday. There is a big South Africa-fan base in that part of New Zealand, but it won’t compare to the number of spectators clad in the blue of Samoa.
Both sets of fans will be expecting a physical romp, and there’s good reason to believe that this Samoa side will be tougher to top than sides of previous years. While they’re as physical as their predecessors, they play with more structure and purpose.
The Boks have taken note of Samoa’s performances at the 2011 tournament. They weren’t quite good enough to beat Wales, although they were competitive for large parts of that match. They steamrolled Namibia and hammered Fiji. They’re unlikely to dominate the Boks upfront, but there’s no doubt that they will try to win the battle at the collisions.
It will be a bruising contest, and there may be casualties if neither side is willing to move away from an attritional approach. Samoa have already spoken about moving the ball around, but the Boks intend to take the islanders on at the coalface no matter the cost.
It’s a strategy that should bring them the desired rewards, but they will be hoping that it doesn’t lead to further injuries to key players a week out from a quarter-final against Australia.
Bok centre Jaque Fourie said that playing two intensely physical matches back-to-back shouldn’t be a problem for this South Africa team. Following last week’s win against Namibia, the Boks enjoyed a couple of days rest, and Fourie believes this has made all the difference. The Boks have used this time to recharge and prepare themselves for an all out war at the point of contact.
‘It’s going to be physical, I’m sure we’re going to be feeling the bruises afterwards,’ said Fourie. That’s why it was important that we had the break. Your body needs to be fresh, but your mind needs to be fresh as well.’
Several players have stood out for Samoa in this tournament. Scrumhalf Kahn Foutali’i, who also plays for the Crusaders in the Super 15, has been one of the more direct No 9s while the 120kg winger Alesana Tuilagi will be an attacking threat if he’s brought into the line. Centre Seilala Mapusua is another who will look to impose himself in the tackle.
Fourie played down the threat of these individuals. While he acknowledged their talents, he believes the collective is more dangerous than before because Samoa are now using their natural talent and inclination for contact to pursue a common goal.
‘They’re a very physical team, and as is the case with the Fijians, if you allow it to get loose, they will punish you. If your kicking game and first-phase is not up to standard, they will punish you.
‘All round they’ve got a good team, so we’re not going to focus on one or two players. They stay in their structures, so we have to look at how we are going to beat the team rather than the individuals. They’re dangerous in broken play, but they seem to be even more dangerous now that they’re structured.
‘I think they’ve modelled their game on how the All Blacks play.’
The Boks have the pack to boss the islanders proving they don’t go into the game with a complacent attitude. They will also need to take the fight to the islanders in midfield, and this is where men like Frans Steyn, Fourie and even Jean de Villiers will need to prove their worth.
‘They’re very direct and physical, there’s no funny business,’ said Fourie. ‘You know what to expect, they just come straight and hard, and there defence is good as well.
‘We need to be clinical in what we want to do; we need to be as direct and physical as we can be.’
In the build up to the Fiji and Namibia matches, the Boks promised to play direct, pragmatic rugby. What transpired against Fiji was a looser albeit profitable approach against a weak defence. The Boks were also too adventurous during the early stages against Namibia, and the loss of structure led to frustration and unnecessary errors.
As Fourie suggests, the clash against Samoa will require a lift in accuracy and intensity. The Boks should beat Samoa, but their success will be determined by their ability to maintain a high standard over the course of 80 minutes. A consistently physical effort will ensure they beat the Samoans by a comfortable margin and take some much needed momentum into the play-offs.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Taupo
537 Comments
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27 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
@Atreides(Atreides)-238: But the cops kind of just accepted the story. I mean, where’s the statement, shouldn’t they have at least identified the witness?
Anyway I suspect, more will come to light soon.
27 Sep 2011, 10:47 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-244: Now go back and read…
Yes, “repell” by “basusa moyo… Howzat for clever
27 Sep 2011, 10:48 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-250:
Mlungu = white bubbly scum that washes up on the beach.
27 Sep 2011, 10:49 am
Now this “Rhodesian”, too clever and wiley for any Transkei Xhosa, must go.
27 Sep 2011, 10:49 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-243: Police avoid Hillbrow!!!
27 Sep 2011, 10:49 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-210:
If you read my posts you will see that I always have his humanity in mind
27 Sep 2011, 10:50 am
What if Vata was in fact dealing drugs and used his journalism degree, honest employment and press badge to gain access to the multi billion dollar tik industry in downtown Taupo?
27 Sep 2011, 10:52 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-250: I call YOU rhodesian and it has never, EVER been because i “perceive you to be too wiley or clever for Xhosas” “BAHLA”
so where the feck do you get your weed charlie? hahahaha
27 Sep 2011, 10:53 am
@Helen(Helen)-257: Agent Vaka will be severely disciplined upon his return to South Africa, his failure to dispense vakuzi aka suzy 2.0 has left the Boks at a distinct disadvantage, at least New Zealand intelligence failed to find the machines installed under the poles at Eden park that allow us to sway them in the event of drop goals.
27 Sep 2011, 10:53 am
@Staal(Staal)-229: I miss that bra!
27 Sep 2011, 10:54 am
@Helen(Helen)-257: You’re probably right, I mean he IS a black man in NZ – he must be a drug dealer.
27 Sep 2011, 10:56 am
@francois93(francois93)-249:
funny you should mention it.
the handyman there is called Floorsander Botha.
27 Sep 2011, 10:56 am
@Helen(Helen)-234: Goodmorning to you also darling… I will occupy the moral high ground and distance myself from any slander and nastiness.. but I could lose my footing and slip down to your level
@Gunther(gunther)-240: Keep your own experiences to yourself. Your nights at the langerbaan country club probably included a couple dives.. What was your chat up line.. no its not my d ick its my wallet
@Helen(Helen)-245: Stereotyping?? is there a upside for me?? Loot from Harrods plus the best shag ever
27 Sep 2011, 10:57 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-258: In my experience the Transkei is the spot for Swazi gold.
27 Sep 2011, 10:57 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-251:
I am more impressed they actually responded to a complaint.
A few years ago I saw a fellow, looked to be Maori or Pacific Islander, but that is incidental, testing the doors on cars in the parking lot across from my office.
Rang the Police and was told they couldn’t get anyone to the scene for 10 minutes. The Manukau Police station was 400 metres away for goodness sakes.
I never saw the Police turn up, and to the best of my knowledge the miscreant didn’t make off with a car.
The whole incident left me rather miffed. I suspect the Police were too busy with happy hour at Dunkin Donuts.
27 Sep 2011, 10:58 am
@Gunther(gunther)-262: hehehehehehe, a well placed sleeper, the boys in intelligence will be very proud especially his controller spysander Maritz.
27 Sep 2011, 11:01 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-264: thats the spirit, betcha everyone gets along after a couple hits from the bong. “Weed making friends wherever since 1963″
27 Sep 2011, 11:02 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-263:
Get off the moral high ground, you slimy inbred son of a nervous lab rat, there is only place for one of us up here…
27 Sep 2011, 11:05 am
@Helen(Helen)-248: You know he has lost it when he raises the petty insults to the level criminal slander… but the presumption is that he is transfering his own issues.
Gunt has been battling with an early onset of dementia so go easy on him by not adding to the delusions
27 Sep 2011, 11:05 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-264: yep, especially close to the Wild Coast Sun, Port St Johns area.
there’s even a hiking trail called the “high” trail, very popula with Scandanavians in PSJ, the stuff grows on it’s own on the side of the path.
27 Sep 2011, 11:06 am
@francois93(francois93)-266:
Methinks Vata was the decoy.
Much like a mule on SAA.
The ‘black man serving tik from the corner booth’ – tip-off thing was to throw the cops off the real dealer behind the bar counter who was including a baggie of tik with every ale bought
27 Sep 2011, 11:08 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-269:
Who is Gunt?
27 Sep 2011, 11:08 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-270: Awesome Transi guy, gotta get my picture taken next to the sign that says the “High Trail” bong in hand.
27 Sep 2011, 11:10 am
It is my understanding that we are psychological wired not to see OF because the brain sees V… but I suppose that does not excuse me from not typing it… working on it
27 Sep 2011, 11:13 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-274:
Dude, you better get your Save the World from Tyranny and Financial Manipulation (SWTFM) proposal off to the IMF pronto.. your continent is phukking up the world at the mo.
27 Sep 2011, 11:13 am
@Helen(Helen)-272: Gunt… short for Gunther the C unt
27 Sep 2011, 11:15 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-276:
You must be the only mammal this side of the northern polar cap that doesn’t like Gunth. He’s a gentleman, a generous, funny one, with loads of witty amo to deal with the lesser species that sometimes find their way on to this site.
27 Sep 2011, 11:16 am
Where was Chilliboy? Wasn’t he sent home last year because he was a druggie? Him and that funny looking boesman – basson i think?
27 Sep 2011, 11:17 am
WOMD!
27 Sep 2011, 11:17 am
@Gunther(gunther)-262:
What does Lnagers have against you?
Is it the poodle thing that tipped him over the edge?
27 Sep 2011, 11:19 am
@francois93(francois93)-273: you should see the locals when the cops conduct their yearly raids – they go into the valleys where the fields are and BURN all the weed – as the stuff is torched people go and stand facing the wind
27 Sep 2011, 11:19 am
@Johan_Goosen_best_nr10_the_world_will_ever_see(p0ppa69)-278:
Geez oke, you seem like a square di ck in a round vag ina. Not a nice fit for keo, where we refrain from racism and use only terms of endearment when referring to those that are different to us.
27 Sep 2011, 11:20 am
@Helen(Helen)-280: p_enis envy
27 Sep 2011, 11:20 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-263:
Langers my old lovely, I’m not sure what happened to you at the Langerbaan Cuntry Club but it seems to have defined you.
maybe you were abducted by aliens who had second thoughts when they realised how much it was going to cost to feed you.
or perhaps you a victim of their no dwarves policy.
suffice to say that, although it’s probably a rough redneck institution it is still considerably too refined for the likes of you.
besides everybody knows that caddies shouldn’t drink at their place of employment.
27 Sep 2011, 11:21 am
@Helen(Helen)-275: Working on it.. Participated in a huge debate on the Guardians blog… managed to convince the twats that the the Greek/Euro crisis is an illusion created by stupidity.. They accepted defeat after my relentless assaults on their intelligence.
The funny thing is that South Africa has already experimented with my solution.. They took money directly from the central bank to fund government expenditure
27 Sep 2011, 11:21 am
OMG whats wrong with the word boesman?
27 Sep 2011, 11:21 am
@Gunther(gunther)-284:
Bwhahahahahahahaha.
Gunth 5
Langers 0
KO pending
27 Sep 2011, 11:22 am
OK manne – cheers. Pecanwood golf, gotto go.
Gonna make some birdies……..
27 Sep 2011, 11:23 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-281: Sheesh, there has gotta be an SA version of Cheech and Chong in that, I bet those dudes are real chilled for about a bazillion hours thereafter.
27 Sep 2011, 11:23 am
@Johan_Goosen_best_nr10_the_world_will_ever_see(p0ppa69)-286: what is right about it?
27 Sep 2011, 11:23 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-283:
That doesn;t make sense. Langers is the biggest p enis.
27 Sep 2011, 11:24 am
@Staal(Staal)-279:
Langers is a weapon of mass consumption
@Transformation(Transformation)-281:
I’m suprised nobody has paid the pigs off.
Honestly if the goverment is serious about job creation they need to recognise that herb could be the cornerstone of the eastern cape economy.
27 Sep 2011, 11:26 am
I suspect the problem here is that so many of you Yarpies think that the rest of the world is as obsessed with race as you chaps are.
I’ve just been browsing the Stuff.co.nz website and this whole issue of the black SA journalist being arrested is not even news there. Rightly so I might add. It’s a very minor incident. This Ngobeni chap was not arrested because he’s black, he was taken to the police station for questioning because someone in the bar claimed that he offered them drugs in the toilet. They searched him, found no drugs and let him go. Now, if you take the colour issue out of it then why would that be even remotely newsworthy?
You Yarpies have blown the whole incident completelyt out proportion because your lives revolve around the colour of people’s skin and because you’re desperate to try and discredit the Kiwis so that later on you can deflect attention away from the beasting that their All Blacks give to your Steroid-Boks . . . in the unlikely event that your chaps get past the Wallabies in the quarterfinals of course.
27 Sep 2011, 11:26 am
@Helen(Helen)-277: He is caught between being a twat and hating his parents for bring him up as one… but he becomes a gentle soul after couple of drinks.. its takes the edge off
27 Sep 2011, 11:26 am
@Gunther(gunther)-292:
The govt is wayyy ahead of you, buddy!
What do you think Coega is all about?
27 Sep 2011, 11:28 am
@francois93(francois93)-289: hahaha the cops too, they act like they’re chasing kids away from standing in the smoke meanwhile they’re bathing themselves in it
the cow-herding boys then go bird & rabbit hunting when the munchies hit and a swim on the Mzimvubu river…such a simple life. i was last in PSJ on the 26th of Dec 2009, what a jol…champagne & weed go well together
27 Sep 2011, 11:28 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-293:
I have two words for you, will give you a few clues.
it is not “Thank you.”
It rhymes with phukkoff
if adhered to, you will leave immediately
any ideas? you have 3 guesses
27 Sep 2011, 11:30 am
@Helen(Helen)-287: You are feeding the illusion
@Gunther(gunther)-284: Have a drink Gunt.. I can see the tension building
.. or just step outside and p oep
27 Sep 2011, 11:30 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-293: just wait until Tuilagi gets accosted for “fitting a profile”
27 Sep 2011, 11:31 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-294:
Did the poodle comment hurt you that deeply, hey?
What’s your beef with Gunth?
Sadly, you are no match for him and every interaction you have with him, leaves you a little smaller. You are now 3’6″ and shrinking by the day.
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