Fear not a factor for Wallabies
5 Oct 2011
Kurtley Beale says the heightened pressure of a quarter-final won’t deter them from ‘having a crack’ from broken field situations in Wellington on Sunday.
The Wallabies have consistently punished the Springboks from situations where they’ve turned the ball over at the breakdown or where the defending champions have kicked poorly. With white-hot winger Digby Ioane back in the mix, their back three (Beale and James O’Connor completing the trio) has a formidable look about it, and along with Quade Cooper, they are equipped to inflict serious damage if allowed to.
Openside flank David Pocock is expected to be a force at the breakdown and the Springboks’ kick-chase method, if not executed flawlessly, will increase the opportunity for broken field surges. Beale said their first instinct remains to run it back, but stressed that assessing the intelligence of that decision quickly would be key to success.
‘They generally kick on you and back their defensive system to pressure you into penalties. It has always been a big tactic of the Boks. We tried to simulate that situation today in training and we’re pretty confident we can handle it when it comes,’ he said.
‘South Africa generally set a solid brick wall in front of you. When that’s the situation you generally kick it back, but where their line is unset and you can run at a couple of big forwards, we’ll have a crack.’
The Springboks have improved in their structural understanding and implementation of a new defensive system instituted by assistant coach Jacques Nienaber. It mimics the Stormers’ system exactly (Nienaber fill the same role there). Flyhalf Quade Cooper played in the Reds team who were one of the few to unlock the Cape side consistently, most notably through superb tactical kicking. However, Cooper said the Wallabies wouldn’t try to replicate that approach.
‘Our game plan with the Reds is a lot different to ours with the Wallabies, simply because we have the very best players in Australia available. Our approach with the Reds was tailored around the players we had. The Wallabies have a very different group with different strengths, so it makes sense to harness those.’
While the Wallabies are reluctant to kick away possession, Cooper didn’t dismiss the chance they may do so as a point accumulation tactic, through the drop goal. This hasn’t featured as a option for them to date, but the Reds did use it to their advantage in Super Rugby.
‘World Cups have been decided on drop goals and we have a lot of guys who can do it. The drop goals we kicked for the Reds weren’t necessarily aimed at winning matches. We used it to keep pressure on the opposition. If we’ve played through a couple of phases and had teams under the pump, the three points can be a buffer that serves you well later in the match,’ he said. ‘There may be a moment late in the game where we need one for the win, and if that moment comes we’re confident we have the response in the bag.’
The Wallabies have won five of their last six Tests against the Springboks. Cooper conceded that it makes them favourites, but stressed that the Springboks’ experience in winning play-off matches at the World Cup should be taken into account.
‘We do take an edge into the match because of past results. But they have the runs on the board in the World Cup, and [this generation] has never played them at a World Cup before.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Wellington.
Follow Ryan’s World Cup coverage on Twitter
36 Comments
5 Oct 2011, 03:40 am
No fear when you’re 2/2 so far this year…
5 Oct 2011, 03:40 am
Brave dragons!
5 Oct 2011, 03:43 am
Let’s face it, “having a crack” is the only chance the Wallabies have of winning this match… they won’t win it via mud wrestling in the tight with SA’s big boys.
5 Oct 2011, 03:45 am
Tackles, it seems you going over the top in your support for the Wobblies. I assume that means you prefer your adopted country to play them in the 1/2?
You better watch out, the Boks are on the march and it will take a little more than wishfull thinking to stop them!
5 Oct 2011, 03:47 am
sneaky sneakinesses, will be planning all sorts of tricksies like using Bryce as a defensive shild, spinning the ball wide to tire Bakkies out, and generally being unpredictable…. Boks have to clamp down hard on that sort of nonsense and force them to play proper rugby. Good, proper forward orientated rugby, the sneakinesses won’t like that, oh no!
5 Oct 2011, 03:48 am
…. stole our coach the sneakinesses did, stole your kicking coach (Braam), and won’t give them back!
5 Oct 2011, 03:49 am
Perfect…
5 Oct 2011, 03:50 am
… the sneakinesses might also come out and kick 80% of their penalty kicks after foxing for the last 5 or 6 games down at the 60% level….
wouldn’t put that sort of trickiness past them….
its ours, we wants the precious back!
5 Oct 2011, 03:50 am
If you have fear get off the rugby field.Become a blogger who can make snide and derogatory comments about the players from the safety of your bunker.
5 Oct 2011, 03:53 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-9:
Well Beale has it all wrong anyway, it has very little to do with fear and all to do with winning the match i.e. playing the percentages and getting the points on the board.
5 Oct 2011, 03:54 am
On a serious note, it will be a shame if Pierterson is out. I think he has been fantastic on defence, he really stood up against the Wallabies, put his body on the line. He has also had his moments on attack – he doesn’t seem to be a big stepper, but he is fast and direct. Has been excellent under the high ball as well.
5 Oct 2011, 03:57 am
Ja. The players don’t think or talk in those terms. It’s the so-called journos and cyberwarriors ego fling those terms around. You’re right. It’s about which approach is best for the situation.
5 Oct 2011, 03:58 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-10: Yes, if you are talking about the Boks. You will have front foot, quality ball from first phase and from rucks and mauls. You can and should win by playing the percentages.
The Aussies, on the other hand, are going to be living off scraps (assuming your forwards do their thing), so counter attacks from broken play are really the Wallabies only chance to beat you.
It’s a compliment from beale really – he has basically conceded they won’t get attacking chances from set phase.
5 Oct 2011, 04:21 am
@corporal punishment(corporal punishment)-13:
If, and given the form over the last 4 years it is a BIG IF, the Boks play to their full potential they should be to strong for the Wobblies. On the other hand if we see some of PDivvie’s magic we may be in deep trouble…
5 Oct 2011, 04:28 am
Anyone that “fears’ another team doesn’t belong on the ground at any level not to mention a test match. What a ridiculous headline. Interested to read today that only six members of the likely Springbok team for Sunday’s match have won more Tests against Australia than they have lost: Bakkies Botha (8 wins, 6 losses), Schalk Burger (8-7), Fourie du Preez (8-7), Jannie du Plessis (4-3), Jean de Villiers (10-7) and Jaque Fourie (8-7).
5 Oct 2011, 04:42 am
Billy
Brussouw 2-2
Matfield 11-11
But it is only an indication of how well PDivvie did as only 1 name is NOT from the JW era…
5 Oct 2011, 04:50 am
Good call – but as I said, “won more than lost” Brussouw and Big Vic are all square on the ledger. And JP out would be a loss just for his defense out wide – you guys will miss him if not there.
5 Oct 2011, 05:07 am
@BillMcConnell(BillMcConnell)-17:
Yeah I got that but I thought I will highlight two close ones to make it smell better
It is an alarming stat though…
5 Oct 2011, 05:20 am
Alarming for you guys!
5 Oct 2011, 07:59 am
Probably the game of the week-end. Read some strange comments on here from pretend Aussies. The general consensus is we could have done without having to meet the Boks first up, but that’s our own fault.
Most blokes were backing the Eyeties against the paddy’s this week-end past, so I reckon that speaks volumes.
Whoever wins this game will have deserved it, becuase it’s not going to be easy.
Come on you Wallabies, bring that 3N mongrel along with you.
5 Oct 2011, 08:01 am
ya well – fear is definitely a factor when you’re standing in front of a charging Rhino!
5 Oct 2011, 08:36 am
there were certainly quite a few ‘factors’ against the irish…
5 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
Hmmmmm..Wobblies vs Suffering-Cans? A champion team vs a team of champions…free play vs pick and drive you nuts as spectator?…….Structure vs versatility….I gotta give this one to the Boks….tight as bro but the boot will make the difference in this one with the weather and the ill disciplined Aussies.
Boks by 7+
5 Oct 2011, 11:43 am
Very difficult game to predict – worrying factor for the Boks is that the Ozzies have only lost once in the last 4 encounters , if i am correct, scary stat – this game is going to be tight !!!!
5 Oct 2011, 15:54 pm
If we can do to the Aussie forwards close to what the Irish did we will win. If the Aussies get parity or close to parity in the forwards they will win. The Australian backline when they get good front foot possession are the most difficult in the world to defend against. Should be a great match anyhow.
5 Oct 2011, 15:59 pm
Sorry boys the psychic sheep has picked Oz to win
5 Oct 2011, 16:07 pm
@stew(stew)-26: Howzit Stew,
No Stew, we South Africans don’t believe in that stuff. We not superstitious..lol.
So that psychic sheep can pick who he wants.
Boks will be meeting your boys in the semi. Hope you have tickets.
5 Oct 2011, 16:11 pm
@stew(stew)-26: Which one? There is one called “Sonny wool”, he picked NZ, SA, ENG and IRE all to win. I would say he is on the money!
5 Oct 2011, 16:11 pm
@stew(stew)-24: Yes but this year they should have lost to us in Durbs. We should have nailed them there. We messed up by stupid stuff. Not passing and handling errors. I counted quite a few tries that went begging that day.
We sent a C team to Oz this year too. Can’t count the last two encounters. Well I don’t. They will also doubt themselves that they lost to Ireland. They will be desperate.
Also the ref will have a huge say. Sorry to say that, but I just don’t rate Bryce at all. Being Shark supporter he cost my team a few games in SuperRugby.
5 Oct 2011, 16:15 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-28: Just winding up !!! Psychic my a@s#s !!
5 Oct 2011, 16:16 pm
@malcolm(malcolm)-25: Oz never had Pocock, Moore or Digby for the Ireland game. I feel had they those players Ireland just may not have beat them.
Those players are back for the Bok game. Will be tough for us, but Boks won’t go down with out a huge battle.
5 Oct 2011, 16:16 pm
@Puma(Puma)-29: Should be a cracker – think it will go down to kicking in the 2 nd half , SA probably have the advantage there ???
5 Oct 2011, 16:36 pm
@Puma(Puma)-31: If you look at how Ireland beat OZ, it was through a great forward performance, they simply blew the Aussies away in every forward department, but especially front and back row. England have had a lot of success against the Aussies by doing the same thing in recent years. I think the Boks are more then capable of doing a job on the Aussie pack, BUT all the forwards need to turn up, if guys like Smit and Spies are just passengers, then it wont happen. Big powerful guys like Schalk Burger, Danie Russow, Willem Alberts, Guthro and Bismark need to beat the Wallabies into submission, but will they all be on the pitch and for long enough?
5 Oct 2011, 16:59 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-33: Yes I know it was their forwards HKS. But they never had their key players in Pocock and their hooker was out too. So they just might have won that game. With them there.
I think we will have to start with Alberts and leave Spies on the bench. Also think we need to start with Danie. He is our in form lock right now. Also won’t give away penalties or get a sin bin. Bakkies just might.
Tell you what if Oz are falling behind they will throw everything at us. Just hope it don’t get dirty and we end up with a red card. Have to keep the discipline.
Just looking at how Cooper always has a crack at McCaw. We need to just ignore that stuff it starts. Much like we ignored the Samoans off the ball stuff.
Our bench has been our weapon too. So really not sure if we should just wear them down by starting with John and bringing on Bissie after 40 or 45min. Or just send in the heavy artillery from the start and hope we last the full 80min. Always good knowing they are getting tired legs and we have this unbelievable bench still to come on.
Though we have to think smart here and if it means we have to start with our best first up then so be it, this is our last chance no more after this. Every game is a must win from here. Just hope like crazy that Victor captains well. Some say you don’t need a leader but we do. Had John been on for the Samoan game I doubt we would have had so many injuries. Think off the ball stuff would have stopped. Well think it would have.
We have to keep the discipline imperative we do that. First time tackles is a must.
5 Oct 2011, 17:02 pm
@stew(stew)-32: I hope we win this one Stew. Been looking forward to seeing the Boks/ABs in the semi for a long time.
Now Oz is in our way. Need to sort them out good for messing up a great draw they had by losing to Ireland……hehehe. Keeping fingers crossed we beat them and face your boys the next week. That will be a cracker for sure.
6 Oct 2011, 01:40 am
@Puma(Puma)-35: Be prepared for more suprises……….we may see an Irish/ NZ final yet!!
Boks to win this weekend.
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