Burger stands tallest
10 Oct 2011
JON CARDINELLI rates the performances of the Springbok players and coaching staff following their unsuccessful World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
Ratings out of 10 are in brackets. The star performers in each category are in bold.
BACKS:
Back three: Frans Steyn (7) started to find some form at fullback before he was asked to step in at No 12. Steyn provided plenty of physicality and impetus in that channel, but his success must be viewed in context considering he played in that position against the minnows. Pat Lambie (7) started the tournament slowly, but delivered his most rounded performance in the quarter-final. Francois Hougaard (7) was the pick of the wings, mixing a mongrel attitude with a phenomenal attacking talent for spectacular individual attacking results. Gio Aplon (7) was similarly dangerous, although wasn’t used nearly enough over the course of the tournament. The two wings who were, Bryan Habana (5) and JP Pietersen (6), were consistently unimpressive. Habana became South Africa’s top try-scorer when he dotted down against Namibia but was otherwise largely ineffective. Pietersen had his moments against Fiji, but also battled to make decisive breaks and finish. Odwa Ndungane (5) looked ordinary even when he started against Namibia. Zane Kirchner is not rated as he didn’t play a game.
Centres: When the World XVs are compiled at the end of this tournament, Jaque Fourie (7) will be up there as the preferred No 13. His value on defence was evident in the first pool match against Wales and again in the quarter-final showdown with the Wallabies, while he combined well with Jean de Villiers (7) on attack in the latter game. De Villiers left the field early on during that Wales game and played off the bench in the Samoa clash, so his rating is largely based on a strong game against Australia. Juan de Jongh’s (6) two-try success against Namibia should be viewed in context, although there’s no denying he has a special talent.
Halfbacks: Fourie du Preez (6) mixed the measured with the erratic, executing well at some stages of the tournament, and missing the mark horribly at others. He looks to be past his best. Ruan Pienaar played so little rugby that it’s difficult to give him a rating. The man who usurped Pienaar in 2009 for the No 10 jersey also didn’t live up to expectations in many respects. Morne Steyn (5) wasn’t as accurate in front of goal as many would have hoped, and his woeful defence allowed opposition teams free passage through the flyhalf channel. He did nail a great drop goal in the quarter-final against Australia, but looking at the Boks’ campaign as a whole, his shortcomings on defence and attack let the team down. Butch James (6) did not get any opportunities at flyhalf, but turned in a solid defensive display at No 12 against Wales.
FORWARDS:
Back row: What better place to announce that you still have what it takes than on the biggest stage of all? Schalk Burger (9) looked the physical, sadomasochistic hulk of old, but also displayed a more subtle side to his game. His role as a ‘distributor’ in games against Wales and Samoa was influential to the outcome, but it was his ball-carrying surges into heavy traffic and some outstanding defensive displays (he made try-saving tackles against Samoa and Australia) that should be duly glorified. Heinrich Brussow (6) made some positive contirbutions without really dominating, as Sam Warburton won the breakdown battle in the big Pool D opener and David Pocock was the more influential openside flanker before Brussow succumbed to injury in the quarter-final. Francois Louw (6) did well when he was called on to deputise for Brussow, while Willem Alberts (7) was explosive in a bench or staring role. Pierre Spies (5) was consistent considering he failed to front for the big matches.
Locks: Victor Matfield (7) ended his illustrious career in terrific fashion. While he had a relatively quiet game against Wales and missed two pool games through injury, he rose to the quarter-final occasion, generating some important lineout steals as an individual and set-piece manager. Danie Rossouw (7) started this tournament strongly, but his overexposure at the top level in 2011 caught up with him in the latter stages. Bakkies Botha (5) never looked like the enforcer of old, while Johann Muller (6) was also limited by injuries.
Front row: Why wasn’t this guy starting? It’s not so much a question asked by myself than a question screamed by hordes of South African and international spectators every time Bismarck du Plessis (7) took the field. Every time Du Plessis came off the bench, he provided the Boks with go-forward. Peter de Villiers will argue that he is an impact player, but the Boks could have used his mobility, hard edge and breakdown skills from minute one. John Smit (5) tried his hardest at this competition, but was a poor impostor of the John Smit of 2007 and nowhere near the Bismarck du Plessis of 2011. Gurthro Steenkamp (6) and Jannie du Plessis (6) scrummed well, although the latter struggled in open play. The prop with the strongest game in general play, Beast Mtawarira (6) received few opportunities, as the Bok coaching staff favoured the superior scrummager in Steenkamp. CJ van der Linde (6) offered good impact from the bench, while Chiliboy Ralepelle (6) made the most of the few minutes he was given against Namibia during the pool stage.
COACHING STAFF:
Head coach: As the lengthy list of Bok assistants and consultants will show, Peter de Villiers (4) did not go to the World Cup to contribute in the technical department. From a management point of view, the senior players loved their coach because he allowed them carte blanche. He didn’t have the balls to make the tough calls when it came to selection, particularly in the areas of flyhalf and hooker. This weakness cost the Boks big.
Forwards coach: The forwards performed strongly at this World Cup, although the selection of Smit did undermine their cause at the breakdown. Gary Gold (6) did a solid enough job, but it must also be noted that he worked closely with Rassie Erasmus and veterans like Matfield in formulating the forward battle plans.
Backs coach: What has Dick Muir (2) contributed to the Bok game in the last four years? At the beginning of the 2008 season, he convinced De Villiers to favour an all-out approach that shunned structure, and when the players overturned this decision and reverted to what worked in 2007, it was almost as if Muir lost interest. In 2011, the Boks had a defensive coach, a kicking coach and a technical analyst to aid their backline’s development, and in areas like kicking and defence, there was a notable improvement. What failed to evolve was the Boks’ attack, as the poor try-scoring record will show, and Muir must shoulder some of the blame for the backline’s gross underachievement.
219 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
10 Oct 2011, 19:57 pm
@ET.(ET.)-170: The problem is, your predictions came from hate of SA and not knowledge of the game. So don’t praise yourself to much.And after the world cup your life will be empty again and you will miss these blokes on this site.(I am sure they are the closest to “friends” you have)
But do enjoy your time in the sun.
10 Oct 2011, 19:59 pm
duh Villiers has retracted his comment about standing down. He seems to think he was misquoted. That won’t be a first.
10 Oct 2011, 20:04 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-196: Agree
10 Oct 2011, 20:04 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-202: Oh PLEASE tell me you are not serious.
10 Oct 2011, 20:07 pm
@optiplay(optiplay)-204:
Siriaas. The nightmare we thought had ended has come back…like Jason in those Halloween movies…..he just won’t die!!!
10 Oct 2011, 20:12 pm
@Suidkapenaar(Suidkapenaar)-198: What about Bakkies? He was absolutely missed in this WC. Not finished yet. Where is Bekker,Lambie,Steenkamp.Nice post from you though.
10 Oct 2011, 20:14 pm
@Suidkapenaar(Suidkapenaar)-198:
Outstanding assessment. Top drawer! I also think Mallett, Brendan V, Smal. Rassie and Coetzee needs a couple of year to WIN something first.
10 Oct 2011, 20:20 pm
Hahaha, PdIV is worst than my heartburn
He is with us until Nov, not resigned yet
10 Oct 2011, 20:23 pm
Keo
So onto kicking a new coach.You must be nervous in excitement at the prospect of copying the last 10 years of article and just find and replace the name of old coaches with the new ones name. Job done
10 Oct 2011, 20:35 pm
@optiplay(optiplay)-206: I forgot about Bekker. One problem area solved!
10 Oct 2011, 21:15 pm
@Suidkapenaar(Suidkapenaar)-210: Just heard PdV is considering a coaching job in SanFransico. He is taking Pierre Spies a his captain for the next 4 years.
10 Oct 2011, 21:52 pm
@optiplay(optiplay)-211: Must be San Francisco, Uganda.
10 Oct 2011, 21:54 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-202: He’s realised that clipping train tickets doesn’t pay a R1m annual salary.
10 Oct 2011, 22:20 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-182: Smit was rock solid, so too was Schalk. You are just another jumped up little squirt whose agenda is far from rugby. You must be one of those Keo groupies, only you are slower on the up take than they are! The attacks on Schalk were over years ago you fraggle.
10 Oct 2011, 22:21 pm
@Suidkapenaar(Suidkapenaar)-210: Bekker is utterly useless. And even if he were any good, he is ALWAYS injured trying to impose himself on tiny backline players. Hasn’t had one good test for the Boks. Very sad if we are stuck with him for the next four years.
10 Oct 2011, 23:40 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-214: You’re such a bl00dy id1ot! I said Burger was great and deserved 10/10.
As for Smit, he was not close to being rock solid and having Bismarck on instead of him for 70-80minutes would have swung the match in our favour. There is no place in any national team for a pasenger like Smit, finished and klaar.
You also mention in your posts that Morne Steyn was the best flyhalf at the tournament. Kicking and being a flyhalf are two different things. Steyn was like a revolving door when opponents ran at him, shocking in defence.
You must be one of those people that are confused all the time and make comments to other people that make no sense all the time…
11 Oct 2011, 01:53 am
The Boks did play well and deserved to go to teh semis.
HOWEVER: Some criticisms.
1) The backline attacking play is nowhere. That they could not penetrate for a try with so much forward dominance says it all. D!CK MUIR MUST GO!!
2) Schalk Burger has a nasty habit of turning his back on defenders when carrying ball up – this makes him ripe for being dropped onto his back, and the ball grabbed while being up in the air. Its just poor technique that should have been sorted out a long time ago. He tries to be a hero and go it alone, which more often than not results in a turnover. When he gets it, he must look for support (actually he should not get it if there is no support). If there is none, he must pass, or try sand stay on his feet as long as possible.
3) For all JdV’s reputation as a playmaker, this is not from his ability to pass into space, or make space for players on his outside – more to be selfish and run into space using his size. He NEVER looks around for other players in space – much to the detriment of the Boks. He is just plain selfish.
4) The Bok forwards were just not organised enough in support play to combat openside defenders like Pocock. There should have been a plan to run at Pocock FIRST, with support, and get him involved in a rick, so that he could not pick on unsupported tackles.
11 Oct 2011, 04:17 am
It’s larf a minute reading some of these comments blaming this player or that player, explaining how to negate Pocock. Wake up! The players are NOT to blame. How can you combat Pocock when the ref allows his side to not have to release the tackled player and to keep his hands fighting for the ball way after his hands should be out? You can’t. Smit tried but was ignored. Brycie should have been reffing sheep in S Island after the Sharks vs Crusaders game and SA reffing authorities and rugby administrators should have put him there. But they are represented by spineless, self-important boneheads like Freek Burger (read his childish comments elsewhere) and Brycie is obviously Paddy’s little gnome chum. Paddy and Brycie should have been long gone. We need an SA head of refs at the IRB.
Do you muppeteers think Burger decided himself to run the ball? It was a pre-planned move but one that has no place 10m from your goal line and anyway that should have had 2 Boks on his shoulder. They weren’t there; Brycie allowed hands everywhere and the game was lost; right there. Tactical and coaching naivete and childishness. This has no place in a game like this where you have excellent kickers at scrumhalf and flyhalf and a good lineout.
But look back. This game could have been won by Frans Steyn kicking. He was injured because we persisted with playing him against Samoa instead of say, Butch. This in a game we could have actually controlled with tactical kicking rather than up and unders then defend, and, with the 100% vision of hindsight, lost. Piss poor coaching and management.
Bottom line remains the same. We lost. But we deserved to lose. But NOT because of our players. We’re an African team; good players, bad management.
11 Oct 2011, 11:01 am
Poor Cardinelli’s provicial bias and hatred of Morne Steyn (perhaps becuase of hisown love affair with Butch) is clear for all who care to actually read his opinions !
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.