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, 13:12 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-399:
‘Come on Helen’??
Are you trying to incite vulgar behaviour by the other bloggers? Sies!
27 Sep 2011, 13:13 pm
@reechie maak so lank die pan warm, bakkies bring die wors…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-383: Yes I know. SA didn’t have a great winning record with Dickenson in charge of the whistle.
27 Sep 2011, 13:14 pm
@Helen(Helen)-400: You are taking that illusion a bit to far now.. looking to me to give Gunt an endorsement is a bit silly.. Go easy on them pills
27 Sep 2011, 13:14 pm
Langers, I like you.
Even though you now weigh the same as my labia, you’re a likable fella.
BUT, c’mon, if you were to choose between yourself and Gunth, it’d be a no brainer, your current size notwithstanding
27 Sep 2011, 13:14 pm
WTF
27 Sep 2011, 13:15 pm
@Helen(Helen)-400:
To be perfectly honest, from the little I’ve seen of Gunther, he’s an attention-seeking blowhard who tries so hard to be funny with such limited success that I actually feel a bit embarrassed for him.
Maybe he’s an acquired taste . . . I’ll have to wait and see.
27 Sep 2011, 13:15 pm
Hehe….that’s funny stuff…
27 Sep 2011, 13:15 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-405:
S H I T
So Happy It’s Tuesday!
27 Sep 2011, 13:16 pm
@Helen(Helen)-401: My apologies.. unintential but now you got Gunt dreaming of creampies
27 Sep 2011, 13:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-405: Ja bloody hell…!
27 Sep 2011, 13:18 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-406:
Other Langers and a fabled mongoose with suspect morals in the Scottish midlands, you are the only mammal who does not like Gunth.
Here where I live, we have his face on billboards and every girl walks around with an original cast replica of Gunth’s private parts
27 Sep 2011, 13:21 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-409:
You still haven’t apologised for the incitement to indecently assault me.
27 Sep 2011, 13:22 pm
@Helen(Helen)-404: I dont need to choose between me and Gunt.. I am comfortable with my huge ego…
27 Sep 2011, 13:23 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-406:
come know kitchenlad let’s chat about trying too hard.
tell me you aren’t still sore because I called you a minor public schoolboy pseud.
or that I that I suggested your material was borrowed from your hero crouchy’s mansack?
time to move on methinks.
27 Sep 2011, 13:25 pm
@Helen(Helen)-412: I am sorry hun..
Claiming the moral high ground
27 Sep 2011, 13:26 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-413:
langers you know you choose yourself.
every night.
sometimes twice on the weekend.
27 Sep 2011, 13:29 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-414:
Awfully sorry, old prune, don’t mean to burst your little bubble but I didn’t even know you’d called me a . . . what was it . . . “minor public schoolboy pseud” . . . whatever that is.
If you have examples of me borrowing material from Viscount Crouchback or anyone else then please, feel free to put it up and expose me as a plagiarist . . . but for heavens sake, don’t keep making snide and spiteful litle accusations if you can’t back them up or substantiate them in any way.
Is that asking too much?
27 Sep 2011, 13:31 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-416: Transference?? but be mindfull that it is healthy to clean out the pipes ever so often.. Medical Science suggest regular blow outs but I reckon once a week should do. I advise the singletons once a week too to keep the edge off.
27 Sep 2011, 13:33 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-414:
You got kitch.
He is sooo jealous.
Go in for the killshot.
27 Sep 2011, 13:35 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-419:
Goodness me, how many of these servile ra-ra pom-pom girls does Gunther have?
Let me guess, Dawn old crumpet . . . the score is Gunther 1, Kitchener 0?
27 Sep 2011, 13:41 pm
Lunch Time.. Catch you all later
27 Sep 2011, 13:46 pm
@Kitchener(Kitchener)-417:
it is what it says on the box.
if you can’t understand it then I apologise for aiming slightly high.
I’m sure crouchy is flattered by your tributes.
Cheer up old poppet.
27 Sep 2011, 13:49 pm
Reason to be excited for the weekend. OCTOBER BEGINS AND OCTOBER FEST CELEBRATIONS WILL BE UNDERWAY.
27 Sep 2011, 14:10 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-421:
Not if we catch you first!
Is ‘lunchtime’ code for next looting spree?
27 Sep 2011, 14:12 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-422:
Gunth, you made both wannabe pommies run with their tails firmly tucked in between the butt cheeks.
The one even used the excuse of having lunch. As if swamp donkeys have specified eating times! hahaha
Well done!
27 Sep 2011, 14:19 pm
@Helen(Helen)-424: lol
27 Sep 2011, 14:25 pm
The wizards and witches of deception, deceit, dishonour, distortion, lies, dishonesty and more are, as expected, at it again during this period of the global celebration of rugby.
There has to be any of a set of factors to explain this need for an exhibition of gross immaturity by adults ,anywhere from mostly 45 years to 95 years(senility) , as we witness here daily now.
Possibly and hopefully it is just the last dregs of a Nation, past.
You can have all of your low ground, for ironically, it is founded on quite a few fallacies, some even very simple.
27 Sep 2011, 14:27 pm
“the last dregs of a Nation, past”
Do you believe this?
What makes you think so?
27 Sep 2011, 14:28 pm
@ET.(ET.)-427:
You were the one, oh great master, who said you don’t see problems, only unrealised potential.
27 Sep 2011, 14:28 pm
“You can have all of your low ground”…..Dare we hope??
27 Sep 2011, 14:29 pm
Some say Kitchener is really Keo looking for Hits…..we just call him the D I C K!
27 Sep 2011, 14:30 pm
@ET.(ET.)-427: Oh Boy ET—-Go home!
27 Sep 2011, 14:31 pm
the biggest brain on keo is here – he who passed his MB ChB, all hail the alien.
27 Sep 2011, 14:35 pm
The Druid is here!
27 Sep 2011, 14:36 pm
ET, that was a serious question…
27 Sep 2011, 14:38 pm
Rather the dregs of a Nation, past , than the froth of a nation’s turbid acidic pusspotion!
27 Sep 2011, 14:41 pm
@ET.(ET.)-427:
Hi ET. Good to see that one of your teams won a game last week, even if it wasn’t soccer.
27 Sep 2011, 14:43 pm
@ET.(ET.)-427:
Commiserations on your recent break up.
A little soemthing from the Carpenters to help heal you pain.
Feel free to get your zippo out.
Long ago and oh so far away
I fell in love with you before the second show
Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear
But you’re not really here, it’s just the radio
Don’t you remember you told me you love me, baby
You said you’d be coming back this way again, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh baby
I love you, I really do
Loneliness is such a sad affair
And I can hardly wait to be with you again
What to say to make you come again
Come back to me again and play your sad guitar
Don’t you remember you told me you love me, baby
You said you’d be coming back this way again, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh baby
I love you, I really do
Don’t you remember you told me you love me, baby
You said you’d be coming back this way again, baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh baby
I love you, I really do
27 Sep 2011, 14:43 pm
ET posts.
Gets 9 responses.
Disappears.
It’s like someone masturbating on the bus, gets huge reaction and then jumps out the emergency exit. Flash mob mentality.
27 Sep 2011, 14:44 pm
@Redrover(Redrover)-436:
27 Sep 2011, 14:45 pm
@willievz(willievz)-440:
Willie van Zyl, wazup swamp donkey?
27 Sep 2011, 14:50 pm
@Helen(Helen)-441: Swamp donkey, nogal
Good thanks Helen, see you’ve had another interesting day on Keo
27 Sep 2011, 14:52 pm
@willievz(willievz)-442:
My only reason for being here is to put Langers, Tecumseh, Poop69 and ET in their places.
If it weren’t for them, I’d be sitting in the corner, bleeding quietly.
27 Sep 2011, 15:05 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-438:
Shampies man.
A broken heart is baie swaar.
27 Sep 2011, 15:13 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-444:
fortunately he is amongst family here at keo.
we are all here to help him through this difficult time.
27 Sep 2011, 15:14 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-445:
Sigh
I too had a difficult time once, when the love of my life married that other woman.
Why Ig, why!!!!!
27 Sep 2011, 15:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-446: maybe she cooks beter than you?
27 Sep 2011, 15:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-447:
Possible.
But I do know where the Woolies ready roast chicken counter is.
27 Sep 2011, 15:23 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-448:
And you can’t beat a woolies roast chicken.
Moister than et’s servants entrance on date night.
27 Sep 2011, 15:26 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-448: love woolies roast chicken, have elbowed some hardegat tannies for it before
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