Boks shift into knockout mode
28 Sep 2011
Dick Muir says the Springboks will play finals rugby against Samoa and that Morne Steyn has a campaign-defining role to play in South Africa’s remaining matches.
There have been a number of rumours doing the rounds in the Bok camp over the last week. There was first talk that the Boks would ‘throw’ their final pool match to avoid facing Australia in the quarter-finals, talk that was refuted by technical adviser Rassie Erasmus.
Then there was a more subtle suggestion that the Boks would move away from their pragmatic game plan and favour a more expansive approach. The latter strategy would be implemented to ensure the Boks went into the play-offs without serious injuries incurred through an all-out-war of attrition at the gain line.
The Bok management has once again rubbished the rumours, and the make up of the match 22 certainly lends substance to their claims. On Wednesday, Muir pointed out that only the All Blacks are guaranteed a place in the next round. He confirmed that the Boks want to win Pool D and will be doing everything in their power to beat Samoa on Friday.
‘It’s a must win for us. We are looking at it as a knockout game,’ said Muir.
‘We came into this tournament underdone and what’s been great about this pool is that it’s been as physical as we anticipated. We’ve been able to rotate the squad and use a horses for courses policy, and I’m happy with what we’ve achieved.
‘Obviously there are a few things, such as the tactical kicking, that we need to work on, but otherwise the physicality of these three clashes has been good for us.’
The Boks will aim to impose themselves at the set-pieces, collisions and breakdowns, and their backs will also look to contain the more explosive members of the Samoa backline. Spectators can expect a series of high-hanging kicks from the Bok 9 and 10 in this match and indeed in every other match between now and the end of their campaign.
Muir intimated that if the game plan is executed correctly, the South Africans will accumulate points. While the Boks have a number of attacking players at their disposal, they employ a pattern that relies on their best goal-kicker, Morne Steyn, to score points. Muir said the management’s preferred No 10 will be pivotal to the Boks’ success on Friday and in next week’s probable quarter-final against Australia.
‘We took a view a while back that kicking accuracy was going to be important in this tournament. We saw how Morne performed against Namibia last week, it was an exceptional effort and that’s the standard we expect from him. Goal-kicking is going to be key going into the tight games.’
In July, Butch James was the selectors’ favourite to wear the No 10 jersey at the World Cup, but after he missed a relatively easy penalty against the Wallabies in Durban, Steyn was reinstated. The Bulls’ sharpshooter took his opportunity in the subsequent Test against the All Blacks, kicking all 18 of the Boks’ points in a approach many hailed as a World Cup finals template.
Muir extolled the virtues of Steyn in the context of this game plan. He did mention James as a fallback option, but for now Steyn is the man in whom the coaches and selectors will place their faith.
‘Butch has a World Cup winners medal around his neck. He has a huge amount of experience and is not the type of guy to get flustered in pressure situations, so we know we can call on him. He’s been very competitive on the training field, and we believe he is ready.’
Jean de Villiers is another who was expected to start the big matches at this World Cup, but when he sustained an injury in the first pool match against Wales he unintentionally gave Frans Steyn a chance to make the position his own.
‘Frans has shown that he’s not just a kicker,’ said Muir, who gave Steyn his big break at the Sharks in 2006. ‘He’s a very special player with a lot of vision, he likes to play what’s in front of him and if you can blend that into your structures you will have a dangerous player. He’s got that extra X factor with the boot too, being able to kick it over from anywhere.
‘He’s been given a gap and he’s taken it. It doesn’t mean that he’s the preferred No 12 for the rest of the tournament, but Jean is going to have to fight for his position. Jean will have an opportunity off the bench this week. He’s also a player who we believe has a lot of the X-factor.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Taupo
183 Comments
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28 Sep 2011, 09:47 am
@francois93(francois93)-149: I agree with you on Sharpe. Always rated him and was quite surprised that he didn’t get chosen.
28 Sep 2011, 09:49 am
@francois93(francois93)-147:
yes i agree, the right mindsight can only be a good thing.
28 Sep 2011, 09:50 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-150: Mr. Beamin I as ever am your humble servant and yet again find myself in agreement. Sir I like the cut of your jib
28 Sep 2011, 09:56 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-151: Look I cant fault Deans on wanting a specialist line out option. I just dont thin Dan is ready for the same reason that I am worried about Vic undercooked is an understatement. I agree Sharpe has been the go to guy for Auss when the hard stuff needs to get done, that he has mostly done it in a pack that has been noted for its lack of Physicality is a testament to him. Also any Guy Bakkies respects has gotta be a tough bugger.
28 Sep 2011, 10:03 am
@francois93(francois93)-154: Yeah and I think they could have used his hard edge against Ireland. One of the tactical mistakes they made.
28 Sep 2011, 10:30 am
Hougie, F Steyn and Lambie give the backline some much needed flair. All 3 need to start in the knock out stages against the top sides
28 Sep 2011, 12:35 pm
The odds at the bookies for an outright SA win at the WC is 10/1.
Worth a flutter.
Our boys are hungry (last rugby for some full stop, nevermind tournament), experienced (crucially, in key positions) and confident (due to a greater team spirit and a new-look midfield IMO).
But what really sets us apart is our bench. If we “survive” the onslaughts of the first 50 minutes, we will be unstoppable.
We have to take it one game at a time though. Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and a finalist.
10/1? Bring it on, bookies.
28 Sep 2011, 12:36 pm
@jocuba(jocuba)-144: Very obvious. How do you hate an entire nation by the actions on a sporting body? Should the world have considered all South Africans eye gougers after the B and I tour and the Schalk incident, just because of the statements PDV made? Don’t generalize it’s ignornant.
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-145: Yeah I forgot, Morne works as a package deal with Fdp. So tell me, is he off to Japan next year too, seeing as he can only play rugby with one specific player at 9 in order to function? What kinda **** 10 is he then.
28 Sep 2011, 12:39 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-146: And they won’t in the next few matches comming up. I expect them to revert to what we saw in PE and for Morne to be the sole point scorer in the game.
28 Sep 2011, 12:41 pm
@willievz(willievz)-157:
definitely worth a lazy twenty.
28 Sep 2011, 12:46 pm
JDV has the EX – factor, Steyn has the X – factor
28 Sep 2011, 13:01 pm
@NicG(NicG)-161:
Well said!!
28 Sep 2011, 14:20 pm
Morne Steyn has to carry the confidence he has now with ball in hand into the next stage of the WC.
The kick chase will not work against the Ausies and Kiwis for a number of reasons.
Habana is not the player he was in 2009 when rules facoured this tactic. Neither is Pietersen, which rules out our 2 premier chasers.
Fourie has lost his kicking accuracy for now, that ability he had when he was able to kick the ball onto a penny seems to have escaped him.
The Allblacks are picking players who are great under the high ball and not necessarily strike wingers. Perhaps in anticipation of playing against sides who favour the kicking games. England, SA etc.
Morne and the rest, try to keep the ball in hand and dominate the collision.
That is all.
28 Sep 2011, 15:15 pm
How stupid to play finals rugby (play the game like a knockout) when 1 point will put you top of the group.
So if you are less than 8 points down you would risk everything for the win?
Morons
28 Sep 2011, 16:46 pm
@chch(chch)-164:
Honestly sweetness, do you think they will not go for posts if they are 8 points down, 1 minute to play with a penalty in front?
However, would another team wearing black jerseys have the nouse to slot a drop to win a knockout game when they are 2 points down and time is running out? Answered in 2007.
28 Sep 2011, 16:47 pm
Chch – in the words of that great man Forrest Gump, “Stupid is as stuid does”
28 Sep 2011, 17:35 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-72: Kobus dis nou baie interesant. Waar kry jy die syfers vandaan?
Ek wil graag sien tekkel nommers vir elke posiesie, en veral vir losskakels
28 Sep 2011, 17:58 pm
Been having that same feeling actually since the Welsh game. I mean, a team with seemingly the outright advantage at the tackle point playing in 5th gear not able to put away a seemingly inferior opponent. Since then I’ve been having THIS FEELING!
28 Sep 2011, 18:00 pm
Knock-out feeling that is…
28 Sep 2011, 20:38 pm
@Atreides(Atreides)-127:
I recently posted a comment (I cant be farked finding it) that started by praising Bizzy to the Heavens (I always have, I even called him “best hooker in the World” long before anyone else here did) which, again, said he was “some player”. I then went on to say – in balance – that he was a Penalty Magnet, which he is. You should know that too, Atriedes, because all the offenses you happily label McCaw “a cheat” with, are the same things Bizzy is doing. Ironic, huh ?
I then ended my post by saying something like “despite Smits athletic shortcomings compared, he is very disciplined and never gives away pens….good leadership…..vital at RWC’s”
So, looking back on it, I thought I said 2 x complimentary RUGBY comments about SA players/rugby and (if thats your angle, it always is when you comment about me) 1 x ‘negative’ comment.
I then got a hasty response, in particular from 1 of my favourite stalkers, JL1 (who, I might add, has said more disgusting filth about NZ than I ever have about SA) and guess what he focussed on ?
How much I “hated” Safas.
Thats this whole issue IN A NUTSHELL
So what he did was ignore ANYTHING I said that was positive, and zero’ed in on the ONE ‘negative’ comment, just to perpetuate the same
ANTI-KIWI
(I presume thats the right phrase)
anti-Kiwi tar brush that youre, again, so being “precious” about. with me now.
How many times have you brandished the “Kiwis are cheats” tar-brush then, Atriedes ?
So youve got, what, maybe 4-5 Kiwis here giving you guys a ribbing and then you have 100′s in some gang mentality telling us what “cheats” we are, we “beat up our women” we “are suicidal after an AB loss” our “women are ugly” we are “racist” and, more hilariously “the RWC will be sh*t, noone will watch it, it will be massive losses”….blah blah
and
yet
1 ”negative” comment in the sandwich of 2 very positive ones, and yet you have the gall to call US “precious”
from a vast minority ?!
28 Sep 2011, 21:30 pm
… What a precious twat… The post says it all…
28 Sep 2011, 21:49 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-170: America has been discovered already, no need to try again.
28 Sep 2011, 22:10 pm
@Nils(Nils)-172:
tis true
I’ll STFU then
(pass the Tui’s)
28 Sep 2011, 22:50 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-173: I do not know about Tui’s but can assure Estonian beers I have got while breathing superfresh air in very tiny island in the middle of the sea taste delicious.
28 Sep 2011, 22:58 pm
OK, so Kiwis still hating Saffas, I see
28 Sep 2011, 23:02 pm
@JL1(JL1)-175:
No
just you.
28 Sep 2011, 23:04 pm
@Nils(Nils)-174:
its a reference to a local, well-known, advertisement by the beer Tui’s (which incidentally, is a terrible brew)
The Tui’s ad’s always end with
“yeah, right”
an ironic p*sstake
(eg, “yeah right, as if Im going to STFU”)
28 Sep 2011, 23:17 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-177: Now I get it.
I just think time has come to stop all that ‘explaining’ and other shiit. You know perfectly well as I do – it won’t change a bit.
28 Sep 2011, 23:19 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-176: You hate me?
A bit harsh old chap would you not say?
28 Sep 2011, 23:41 pm
@JL1(JL1)-179:
of course I dont. I dont even know you.
but no sillier or “harsh’er” than saying I “hate all saffas”
would you not say, old chap ?
28 Sep 2011, 23:42 pm
@Nils(Nils)-178:
fair enough. good point well made.
28 Sep 2011, 23:55 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-181: I mean, some things are certain as death. When ABs play many (majority) okes here will spot any single bit about them and will not see a tiny bit about the opposition (Frogs 2nd try a prime example – no a whimper of complain) and vice versa – when Boks play they will be blind as moles and see everything the opposition does wrong or perceivedly wring. The same applies to the reffing.
Plus some special ones will keep on tell fairytales thinking all others are fools and cannot use internet or just have total amnesia.
From recent examples I especially like the pearl from Kobus Kitty (from thread “Bryan looks to break the barrier”): “Boks very rarely get to play a real proper minnow, unlike the ABs who “somehow” manage to play them often.”
Nevermind that during 1995-2011 Boks have played 8 “proper minnows” while ABs 6. As I said it won’t change a bit in their thinking.
29 Sep 2011, 04:29 am
@Nils(Nils)-182:
are you now explaining away my over-explaining ?!
(silly smiley Teachers Stamp…..gawd, I feel irreparably tainted already)
I get it.
I just find it odd that I can say ‘positive SA’ stuff, but all Old Chaps like JL1 do is focus on the 1 ‘negative’ (constructive criticism, actually) and then make a meal out of it. When if they wanted their insatiable ego’s stroked, then its right there if they care to look for it.
No worries, as we say.
And youre 100% right.
I feel a little Waka coming on.
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