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
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10 Oct 2011, 15:32 pm
after what david pocock did on sunday i’m waiting for a fool like taine randell to tell us that richie mccaw is still the best opensider in international rugby
i counted 5 or 6 turnovers by pocock yet we are told daily that mccaw has “altered” his game to compensate for the change in laws that has lessened the ability of players to pilfer.
10 Oct 2011, 15:33 pm
for me it can only be schalk….
no one leads better from the front in the thick of the action better than him…
sure he’s made mistakes… don’t they all… don’t we all… but at least he recognises them and develops… he still plays hard as hell but is not longer the yellow-card carrying member of the team any more… how come we forgive so many other players their ‘sins’ but not burger…
i don’t know why so many saffas still don’t rate the guy… players and supporters from other countries all rate him very highly…
as i said… for me, there can only be one.. and that is schalk…
IMO
10 Oct 2011, 15:33 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-96: As it should be. The coach also should not be setup to fail: He must be able to select who he wants and have adequate time with his team.
If that means SARU compensating Provincial Unions for player time with Boks then so be it.
10 Oct 2011, 15:34 pm
@David(David)-99: Insurance for Brussouw. But he was good.
10 Oct 2011, 15:35 pm
@ufo(ufo)-102: no, you are biased! as schalk’s no.1 Fanboy your vote is disqualified.
even if schalk gouged you would tell us fitzgerald brought his face on to schalk’s fingers
10 Oct 2011, 15:36 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-100:
I think it’s this new product they are making down fish hoek way.
A s s shampoo.
Cleans even the dirtiest hair.
10 Oct 2011, 15:37 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-80: about as out of the box as when I said it 12 months and six months ago.
10 Oct 2011, 15:38 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-106: Yeah, I think I’ll pass. The name of the product just sounds too vicious.
10 Oct 2011, 15:40 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-101: I love McCaw, you know I do. But Pocock is top dog at the moment. He was a demon yesterday.
10 Oct 2011, 15:40 pm
As a supporter of England, I half hope a rugby dunce like skopplop gets the bok coaching job! How anyone can think that Schalk Burger on world cup form was anything other then brilliant and a true asset to his nations rugby team is beyond me. Either the reasons aren’t rugby related or he knows nothing about rugby, take your pick.
It would have to take some pretty huge performances by other players still in the tournament to prevent him from walking into the world XV at the end of the tournament. Not sure about him as a captain though, not nearly shrewd or smart enough.
10 Oct 2011, 15:42 pm
@ufo(ufo)-102: I rate Schalk. He is a living embodiment of a Bok player, like Frik Du Preez..
But I do not rate him as a Captain
I could be wrong. Accepting the mantle as Bok Captain could bring the best out of his leadership skills.
10 Oct 2011, 15:43 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-108:
It’s completely organic.
Kosher too.
10 Oct 2011, 15:43 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-105:
hehehe…
if schalk gouged my face i’d pull and jimmy hoffa with the police wondering where they put my body…
i listened to the kiwi commentary all world cup so far… (ours is so useless and gutless) and they really respect burger and you can ask virtually any player (as some uk paper did) who is the hardest man in world rugby and they say schalk with bakkies second… except schalk has cleaned up his act…
and saffa FANS reckon he shouldn’t even be in the team… WTF…??
only in sa do we hate the people the rest of the world recognise as stars… go figure…
10 Oct 2011, 15:43 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-109: You know he was illegal right?
10 Oct 2011, 15:48 pm
We should do less PR and more scoring.
The days of orators are over. The empire has fallen.
In the bigger scheme. Who does not believe in a Skeem.
PdiV and Smit and Matfield would have achieved a glorious prize if they won this thing.
They would have become the glory Springbok team of all time. The untouchable / hall of fame team of the alltime WC history.
This is what they set out to achieve. (maybe unwittingly), but anyway… The team selections inn view of this should then be examined. Go for gold or just go for it.
Pieter De Villiers, well done! He said he was going to take some time off. Now if everybody else now also please leave so that the next Bok coach can come and do his thing.
10 Oct 2011, 15:48 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-114: ja, ja pocock was CLEVER, something you can’t accuse any of the bok “captains” of being.
10 Oct 2011, 15:50 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-109: Going to be a classic clash of the opensiders !! With Brussow going off injured , can we credit Pocock so highly ?? IMO i still think Richie will give the young dog a run for his money on the weekend .
10 Oct 2011, 15:50 pm
@shooter(shooter)-107: It will be interesting who will be made the new Bok Captain…
10 Oct 2011, 15:50 pm
Geez its hard to hold back the whingening after yesterdays debacle, but all in all we have to admit that “that’s rugby”. Yes Bryce Lawrence was a shocker but we had enough opportunities to close the game out and blew it for ourselves,….can’t really make excuses for blowing those chances. Anyway au revoir John Smit what an absolute legend! I am surprised by the lack of rugby knowledge from some bloggers on this site…..he may not be Bissie but it seems the good things he did in this world cup just got ignored.
10 Oct 2011, 15:52 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-116: He was not clever he was cheating. I wonder how it feels knowing you are cheating every time and knowing you are getting away with it. I think only someone who lives in Australia will understand how it feels. I cant acknowledge a player like Pocock.
10 Oct 2011, 15:53 pm
Pocock is peerless as an openside.
My loosie trio of the QFs
8. Harinordoquoy
7. Schalk
6. Pocock
10 Oct 2011, 15:54 pm
@Skeppie(Skeppie)-119: Nice one.
10 Oct 2011, 15:54 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-118: Yes just judging by the comments over here. It could be a number of players. guys that fit the bill Bekker, Burger, Jaque Fourie, F.Steyn, Bismarck, Jannie
10 Oct 2011, 15:57 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-123: Add Juan Smith to that list.
10 Oct 2011, 15:57 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-111:
cool HG… but the guy thrives on leadership… only other player who rates up there for me is juan smith… these are the two boks i respect the most… who give it their all every minute of every game…
you most probably would not have seen the ad on sa tv with him and his dad… where as a kid he rode in a mountain bike race.. his chain broke so he carried the bike the rest of the way and still came third…!! true story… that’s how determined he has always been to do his best no matter what curve-balls come his way…
reports are he is so single minded and determined to give it all every time he pulls the jersey over his head… IMO he is the perfect role model for a bok rugby player…
we must remember he’s playing with fused vertebrae in his neck… how many people come back to rugby… with the same ferocity as schalk after a broken neck?? plus finished games with broken ribs…??? i’ve busted ribs… i could hardly move without crying like a little girl… he finished a rugby match…?
it was also his call to go for touch in the wales game that lead to the try… and he makes those cover tackles and such because he not only reads the game well but then makes the effort to get back… while several of our other boks just trot along…
so i understand he may not be everyones cuppa tea… and everyone can find reasons not to rate any player we have… but who better I ask…? and not just names… but reasons too…?
and as far as commanding respect from the players… find me one saffa player who does not respect him…? even luke watson…
anyway will be interesting to see who our new coach and captain will be… whoever they are… i hope the people who don’t like them… don’t start another hate campaign…
10 Oct 2011, 15:57 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-114: Oh yeah, but he won his team the match by creating many turnovers and didn’t get penalized. That, in an opensiders book is an excellent day at the office. Knowing how to pick a pocket and not get caught.
10 Oct 2011, 15:58 pm
Gotta run
Peace
10 Oct 2011, 15:59 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-120: how come he got Man of the Match then
? are you saying the kiwi commentators who voted for him were condoning “cheating”?
10 Oct 2011, 16:00 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-121:
i agree with you 100% there… harry-the-nordic-guy is a great number eight… couldn’t believe they moved him to flank early in the tourney…
10 Oct 2011, 16:01 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-126: If another Ref had blown that game Pocock would of been off the field early in the 2nd half for 2 yellow cards. Must I tell you what makes an excellent opensider getting turnovers legally without the refs assistant. Pocock is half the opensider people make him out to be.
10 Oct 2011, 16:01 pm
@stew(stew)-117: Be Honest Stew. Richie has changed his role so as not to get the reffs attention. You hardly hear them say, leave it seven! He is still effective to his team. But he is doing other things.
10 Oct 2011, 16:02 pm
@Sasuke: I hear you re: Pocock, personally I think he looks like a toolbag (might be a bit harsh seeing as I have never met the guy) but he did a great job for his team, when your coach tells you to opsh the envelope untill the ref shuts you down, that’s your brief. He is a brilliant player.
10 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
@ufo(ufo)-113:
The rest of the world could not understand why we were playing Smit ahead of Bissy ??)
They were right there as well !! lol
10 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-130: McCaw got awarded IRB player of the year, when he was warned about 4 times about being carded in a trinations match. Boks need to stop being so naive.
10 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-128: Yes. They could of given it to Horwill or O’Connor but that cheating snake Pocock ha a!
10 Oct 2011, 16:03 pm
27 tackles….that is unbeleivable regardless of the “cheating turnovers” the guy is class…..as much as I hate to say it.
10 Oct 2011, 16:04 pm
My team of the QFs
15 Beale (Lambie was close)
14 Jane
13 Smith
12 JdV (Redeemed himself)/Roberts (Too close to call)
11. Clerc
10. Priestland
9. Warthog (Phillips was close)
8. Harinordoquoy
7. Schalk
6. Pocock
5. Matfield
4. Horwill/Thorne (Too close to call)
3. Mas/Franks (Too close to call)
2. Moore
1. Gurthro
10 Oct 2011, 16:04 pm
Ah, the old never fail game of “if”s, aided and helped along by the bigger insurance policy, national past-time of the newest next team and captain to be forwarded for the next disastrous sporting commitment and effort even while the lastest campaign is still unresolved.
Please note the opposition does not choose your squad of 22, they just decimate them by whatever means available.
Note too, that ” if ” ALL your aunts had balls they would then be your ‘uncles’ or just shemales.
Four for four, so say no more.
10 Oct 2011, 16:05 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-134: We are not naive we are honest. Something that is lost in international sport.
10 Oct 2011, 16:05 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-133: Having read Victor Matfields post match interview it’s clear to me that the players made Pdv’s tenure pure hell. They refused to play the way he wanted to, insisting on them making the decisions on the pitch. If this is true, then John pretty much sellected himself for the Boks and left Bismark to rot on that bench and Victor, Habs and Fdp condoned it.
10 Oct 2011, 16:06 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-130: we don’t know that for sure, bryce is touted as the best in the business, he gets super rugby finals and top notch rwc quarterfinals. paddy o’brien rates him highly!
10 Oct 2011, 16:07 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-123: That list doesnt inspire.
Smith will have to compete with Burger for blindside flank. A true openside is non-negotiable.
Not sure whether Smith can last the distance too.
10 Oct 2011, 16:10 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-133:
hehehe… touché…
been waiting for that…
however, no one says bissy shouldn’t be a bok…
but i don’t believe we lost because of that controversy…
although seems some on keo believe it’s all schalk’s fault… go figure…
maybe we should exile him to mongolian rugby union… he’s not proud enough of the jersey… never puts in as much effort as the other players… walks from breakdown to breakdown… shirks the hard stuff… is an overalls sissy of a player and doesn’t deserve to be a bok…
10 Oct 2011, 16:10 pm
@justrugby(justrugby)-133: touche
10 Oct 2011, 16:10 pm
@Helen’s Shame(Helen’s Shame)-137:
NO one believes your emotional garbage. You have NO credibility to make any choices let alone worthy ones seemingly based on thhe four winners representing the beautiful rugby union game.
Four for four and all for the cause of the aesthetic game, so say no more.
10 Oct 2011, 16:11 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-140:
It would appear that way Ross, anyway it is an era now gone, just hope we have learnt from the last 4 years and don’t repeat the same mistakes !!!
10 Oct 2011, 16:13 pm
@ufo(ufo)-143:
LOL, Schalk must surely be a strong candidate for the job !!
10 Oct 2011, 16:13 pm
@ufo(ufo)-143: schalk is no captain’s arse man, yes he is tough, yes he is unrelenting but he doesn’t come across as nuanced manager of man. from what i’ve seen of him at the stormers i am not convinced.
10 Oct 2011, 16:14 pm
@ufo(ufo)-125: Foo Fighting Ufo
, do not think that because I dont think Schalk will be a great Captain, that I don’t think that he is a great player. Indeed I reckon he is now back up to his level of IRB player of the year, if not surpassing it.
I dont doubt his courage… I dont doubt his capacity for pain – he feels none… I don’t doubt his workrate… I dont doubt his rugby mind…
I just doubt his leadership ability. I may be wrong about this. Due to lack of other candidates, especially those who are guaranteed a run on place, he might just be the best candidate.
10 Oct 2011, 16:14 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-128:
there is a significant % of public vote for MOTM… have an app on my phone that allows you to vote for MOTM each game… it must be on the world cup website too… i bet more aussie’s are voting than saffas…
of the saffa players schalk was highest on 18%… with several other guys getting 15, 12, 8 %…
pocock got something like 60% of the aus vote…. (last time i looked during the game but didn’t look at the final percentages)
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