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, 11:31 am
@Helen(Helen)-297:
That’s a lot more than two words, Helen old girl. Wouldn’t it have been a lot less typing and effort on your part if you’d simply said the two words?
27 Sep 2011, 11:32 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-293: I would be a lot more worried about proud Edwards army being sent home than a bunch of “Yarpies”, the jocks are going to have you me old chum.
Incidentally what is a “Yarpie” kind like a South African version of a “Harpie”. At l least get the lingo right guy, fail!!!!
27 Sep 2011, 11:33 am
Shear enjoyment
All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams got to know a sheep named in his honour in Waitangi Park, Wellington yesterday (see picture).
But we think Sonny Wool might have been better named Sonny Bill Wooliams. And that it would be fitting if he was put out to graze alongside Richie McCow, the Northland bull calf named after Williams’ 100-cap All Blacks captain.
HEHE! The Wooly mammoth!!!!
27 Sep 2011, 11:33 am
@Gunther(gunther)-292: they don’t get the local police to do, they sommer get the hardegat diickheads from queenstown to do it. the local cops aren’t bothered…ever heard of anyone arrested of weed possession in Mqanduli? hehehe
27 Sep 2011, 11:33 am
poor langers.
and his position papers.
the sad thing is that they only mean anything if people care about the person who is writing them.
asking langers to write a position paper on the global economy would be like asking Britney Spears to write a position paper on the merits of proprtional representation.
our boy langers.
dumb as a rhino and hung like a woodpecker.
27 Sep 2011, 11:34 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-301: Oh you again. Taking a break from raiding and butchering the people around Khartoum are we.
27 Sep 2011, 11:35 am
@francois93(francois93)-302: Exactly.
And as for obsession about “race”… My god, England is bloody rife with the obsession.
27 Sep 2011, 11:35 am
@Helen(Helen)-295: imports/exports
27 Sep 2011, 11:36 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-296: I to have squired a taste for champa’s and weed. I reckon that must be an awesome way to grow up, always hated the city, hopefully enough dinero to one day get the fark outa Jozi.
27 Sep 2011, 11:37 am
@Helen(Helen)-300: Looking for a hero…
.. I understand the white brand buckling under the weight of twatism. Choosing Gunt is a bit of a fkup.. he accentuates the trend
27 Sep 2011, 11:37 am
Heaven:
English are the cops
Germans are the engineers
Italians are the lovers
French are the chefs
Nigerians are the drug dealers
South Africans host the world cups
H ell:
Nigerians host the world cups
English are the chefs
Italians are the engineers
French are the cops
Germans are the lovers
South Africans are the drug dealers
27 Sep 2011, 11:37 am
@francois93(francois93)-302:
Really? Gosh, you sound rather confident, old stick. Confident enough to take a little wager on the result?
27 Sep 2011, 11:38 am
@Gunther(gunther)-292: Shaunie-poo is your poodle!
27 Sep 2011, 11:39 am
@Helen(Helen)-280:
Langers is offended by well hung, handsome and intelligent white people who don’t hold their knives like pencils.
It interferes with his sense of social justice.
27 Sep 2011, 11:39 am
@Gunther(gunther)-305:
“Hung like a woodpecker”!!!!!!!
Bwhahahahahaha….
So, the poodle didn’t even know that it was phukked?
27 Sep 2011, 11:40 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-312: Depends what are you offering, and what are the stakes?
27 Sep 2011, 11:40 am
@Gunther(gunther)-305: Not doing yourself any favours Gunt… twatism has found a new exponent.. and you got Helen as your resident cheer leader
27 Sep 2011, 11:40 am
@Gunther(gunther)-314:
“hold their knives like pencils” Bwhahahahahahaha…..
27 Sep 2011, 11:41 am
@Helen(Helen)-295: @Gunther(gunther)-292: check thus out…
http://www.theweekendpost.com/2011/08/31/joint-sa-uk-operation-intercepts-r14m-in-luxury-cars/
27 Sep 2011, 11:43 am
@francois93(francois93)-302:
don’t bet with kitchenboy.
Lord Crouchy has stopped his allowance.
27 Sep 2011, 11:44 am
@francois93(francois93)-316:
It’s quite simple, old bean, I was replying to your comment where you said that the “jocks” were going “to have” the English.
I’m now asking if you would put money on that happening . . . or was it just a load of hot air?
27 Sep 2011, 11:44 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-310:
Langers, Gunth is a hero, whichever way you look at it.
It is like he was designed by the same people who designed blogging. He be king of the 3 line put-down.
You are 3’2″ right now and heading for dwarfism in a mighty hurry…. at least put up a fight man, someone is bound to step on you during the next riot
27 Sep 2011, 11:45 am
@Gunther(gunther)-320: Nope I know he will welsh and or disappear if I win, but lets see some of that famous English honor and fair play.
27 Sep 2011, 11:46 am
@Gunther(gunther)-314: Well hung?? have you changed the shape of your wallet… Calvin Klein are also redesigning their pants to accentuate the d ick.. They got David Beckham to model it for them.. A bit a racism me thinks.. They refused to use a black model.. but then again..
27 Sep 2011, 11:48 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-319:
Even criminals shoulda known that a kg of Vaughall weighs more than a kg of polo neck sweaters
27 Sep 2011, 11:50 am
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-321: Nope money is meaningless the bet for me is simple, you lose, then you never blog as Kitchener again and you post a you tube video of yourself covered in an SA flag singing “Nkosi Sikelela ” followed by “ons vir jou Suid Afrika” and make it very clear to all that you are Kitchener from Keo. If I lose then I will do the same singing “God save the Queen” followed by a rousing rendition of swing low sweet chariot. Do we have an accord?
27 Sep 2011, 11:51 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-324:
hmmmm…… 2’10″.
Nice try, you slowed down the rate at which you’re getting smaller, but still on the downward slope
27 Sep 2011, 11:51 am
@Helen(Helen)-322: Do you wear a shortskirt and do cartwheels while blogging… give me a G, give me a U.. type of stuff
27 Sep 2011, 11:52 am
@Helen(Helen)-318:
langers was never allowed to learn how to hold a knife in his formative years.
sadly it was a condition of his parole.
27 Sep 2011, 11:53 am
@francois93(francois93)-326:
I’d like to see that. Let me know if you need a witness signature on the deal.
To sweeten the deal for old bean Kitch, I will cover myself in menstrual blood and sing g_d save the queen acapella …. and post to youtube
27 Sep 2011, 11:53 am
@Gunther(gunther)-329: You just made Helen do a splits
27 Sep 2011, 11:55 am
@Helen(Helen)-330: hehehehehe, nice one
27 Sep 2011, 11:55 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-328:
Gunth’s last comment was another clanker!!!
You’re standing proud at 2’2″ at the mo. Now you can go on those mall rides and even fit a pet in with you
27 Sep 2011, 11:56 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-324:
Calvin Klein are making pants to accentuate the d i c k?
Well Langers they are going to have their work cut out with you.
I would stick with you Mr Price Jeans for now.
At least until Mr Klein includes a prosthesis for the less fortunate.
27 Sep 2011, 11:57 am
@francois93(francois93)-326:
I’ll accept that bet but I just want to clarify the conditions because, based on your post, I’m having to risk more than you.
Please confirm that if England beat Scotland in their RWC game on 1 October, you will also never blog as francois93 again and that you will be wearing an English flag when you video yourself singing God Save the Queen and Swing Low.
Confirm that the forfeit ois the same and that bet is on.
27 Sep 2011, 11:58 am
@Gunther(gunther)-334:
hahahahahahahaha…… that was the one that shrunk Langers below the 2′ mark. He can now crawl through the London sewers from his own toilet
27 Sep 2011, 11:59 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-331:
Buddy, I’d quit if I were you.
This is going badly for you.
Before you know it, the maid will be sweeping you under the carpet
27 Sep 2011, 12:00 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-335: Consider it confirmed lad, I actually hope the English win for your sake, I dont have anything to fear from revealing myself, you on the other hand, well………………………….
27 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-334: Apologies for using local terms.. Pants means underpants in the UK.. Trousers for the other stuff.. No Mr Price in the UK but Primemark is even cheaper than Mr Price.. TK Maxx for cheap branded stuff.. Calvin Klein at 70% off
27 Sep 2011, 12:01 pm
@Helen(Helen)-330:
No thanks, old duck, I think I’ll pass on that one.
27 Sep 2011, 12:02 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-334: I love Calvin Klein underwear. It’s very comfy and pretty at the same time.
27 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
@francois93(francois93)-338:
Good show. Can we agree that the loser gets no longer than a week to put the clip onto Youtube?
27 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-339:
Over here ‘pants’ is what we do during phone s ex. Each to his own, I guess
27 Sep 2011, 12:03 pm
@Helen(Helen)-337: This is not going well for you darling.. The PR for Gunt is accentuating his annihilation.. which means that you are gonna have to take some responsibility
27 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm
I think 24 hours is in order.
27 Sep 2011, 12:06 pm
@francois93(francois93)-345:
Gosh, that could be a bit frantic, old boy. Let’s compromise somewhat . . . how about 48 hours?
27 Sep 2011, 12:06 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-344:
Ok, with that one you shrunk a bit more even without Gunth’s help.
Keep your eyes open for circling owls… they pick up little people like you without so much as a warning.
27 Sep 2011, 12:06 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-314: I’ve never studied knive holding techniques before. Now, I’m going to have to keep an eye out, taking into consideration the race of the diners. Mmmmmmmh. Were you refering to dining, or stabbing action. Please clarify.
27 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-346:
Chicken!
27 Sep 2011, 12:08 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-341: Primemark in the UK sell the sexiest underwear imaginable.. Price range from £1 to £1.25
but you can only wear it once and then you have to deal with abrasions.. Great for sexy pics displaying a bit of underwear to tease
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