Steyn’s the man for Meyer
27 Feb 2012
RYAN VREDE says there is no reason to believe that Heyneke Meyer will look beyond Morne Steyn as his flyhalf for the Springboks.
At his unveiling as Springboks coach in January, Heyneke Meyer spoke about giving every player a fair opportunity to state his case for selection. There would be no preconceived ideas about players, he said. Every player would have an equal opportunity of advancing their cause.
Meyer’s integrity is sound and there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of that offering. However, through conversations with him it is apparent that he has an acute sense of the weight of expectation. This sense will heighten as his first on-field assignment, a three-Test series against England in June, draws closer.
Meyer has been portrayed as the saviour of the Springboks. But he is like every coach that has preceded him, who, in the high-pressure results-driven environment, will back players he trusts and knows and who fit into his game plan.
Steyn is at the head of that queue and with his performance against the Sharks in Pretoria on Friday he exhibited why, barring injury or stupendous form from one of the other South African flyhalves, he will be the incumbent No 10 for the England series.
With just over a week to prepare his players for their first Test Meyer will not gamble by experimenting with an untested game plan or an unfamiliar pivot. The Bulls showed just how difficult it is to counter their pattern if they are accurate in execution. Central to its success is the timing, weight and placement of up-and-unders and the accuracy of tactical punts into space and touch.
At present there is no player to match Steyn in these disciplines, while he is one of the pre-eminent goal kickers on the planet. Youngsters Pat Lambie and Elton Jantjies are undoubtedly gifted, but their franchise coaches have very different rugby philosophies to Meyer and this is manifested in the manner they are asked to play.
Given more time under Meyer’s mentorship both could be engineered into the type of flyhalf he prefers. Indeed they have the potential to offer him more than Steyn can because of their natural feel for the game and broader attacking arsenal.
However, Steyn’s presence and potency is crucial but not imperative for the Springboks. For the Bulls he is the fulcrum and any prolonged absence would almost certainly render them significantly less threatening opponents. Both Louis Fouche and Lionel Cronje, the Bulls’ deputy pivots, are far more adept at running the ball than they are at kicking it.
Furthermore, any injury to Steyn would have been softened if they had a scrumhalf with a high-quality kicking game. But Francois Hougaard’s extensive repertoire does not include kicking of the standard required in the context of this argument.
Don’t be surprised if Steyn plays all of the Bulls’ matches this season. Such is his importance to them.
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115 Comments
27 Feb 2012, 07:32 am
The pressure is indeed on!
A leading captaincy candidate for Meyer’s team has just torn knee ligaments.
And a player tipped to be a shooting star and surely a candidate for the Bok 22 is now out with a shoulder injury before playing a single full S15 game for the Bulls.
Meyer would have wanted to see more of Burger and Sadie in the games leading up yo the England tests, no doubt.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he now does look to Japan to lure back both Fourie Du Preez (captain) and Jacques Fourie (13) for the war against the Roses.
27 Feb 2012, 07:34 am
nothing wrong with whats been said here, very reasonable.
perhaps maintain the honesty going forward and call it as it is in sa rugby and not how you guys want it to be. yes, by this i mean your silly shenanigans with butch and more.
27 Feb 2012, 07:34 am
Meyer, hoever, can be bouyed by the performances of the local second-rowers in the wake of Matfield’s retirement and the departure of Botha, Rossouw and Mostert.
One wonders whether he will look to the likes of Bekker, Van Der Merwe, Kruger, Etsebeth and Elstadt first up, or whether he will bring back some of the old guard to play against the Brits?
I have a feeling he will give Bakkies a final swansong, considering the manner in which Bakkies had to bow out of the world cup…
27 Feb 2012, 07:50 am
I would say that Steyn is under pressure, to keep his place in the team. Kick and chase rugby had been exposed at test level and the top teams will gobble up kicked away posession and punish Meyer if he believes that kick and chase will do.
Now Vrede is changing his story over here. First the story went that Steyn was needed because he was an 80% kicker and could not be dropped, despite his deficiencies in other aspects of play – well Goosen and Jantjies are also 80% kickers and more complete players than Steyn will ever be.
This is a problem for Vrede and predictably he goes for the Bulls angle of Steyn being able to play Bulls rugby – the safe bet blah blah blah. Rubbish Vrede! Meyer has to drop this kicking mule and go for a complete flyhalf that can take the Boks forward. Your campaign to make die Bulle almal Bokke is sickening but transparent.
Meyer wanted to bring running rugby to the Bulls because he knew that kick and chase was dead – he was shaking his head after Ludeke chickened out of the ball in hand approach on Friday. Let’s just hope that Meyer follows through on his promise to run it.
27 Feb 2012, 08:02 am
Good morning all.
Must honestly say that we can’t keep giving possession away to the Ab’s & Wallas. So if we can’t be 90% sure of retaining the kicked ball we should not kick it. Finnish en klaar.
With Bekker in the line-outs we will be very competitive but still we need to stretch them on the park for 80min.
We must give more attention to our attacks with first phase ball. We must be more innovative.
imo..
27 Feb 2012, 08:12 am
I cannot see the point of kicking away possession to gain 30 metres and a 1/10 chance of regaining the ball. Do this 15 times in a game and you have just lost. If this is really how Meyer feels, he is definitely the wrong man for the job. The kick and chase worked for one season at test level before it was worked out. Last year it did not win the S15 and caused us to see our gat at the 3N. For sure the Bulls just beat the Sharks playing in this dumb manner, but it was the 1st game of the season and I suspect any team to put them away from about the 3rd week on if they continue wit it.
27 Feb 2012, 08:18 am
@RL(RL)-4: I agree with what you say , the kick and chase did work against weak opposition like the Sharks , but I wonder if it will work against stronger opposition
27 Feb 2012, 08:19 am
@capebull(capebull)-7:
“weak opposition like the Sharks”
You’ll be getting it any second now…
27 Feb 2012, 08:20 am
@garth(garth)-6: Right a dumb team like Sharks could not figure this out…
I thought the Bulls are playing like this for last 5 years ?
You recon teams will notice this after 3 weeks ?
27 Feb 2012, 08:22 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-8: I am just repeating what RL and garth are saying…
If you are playing dumb rugby for last 5 years,and you are winning , how dumb must the opposition be ?
27 Feb 2012, 08:25 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-8:
@capebull(capebull)-9:
27 Feb 2012, 08:25 am
@capebull(capebull)-9: @capebull(capebull)-10:
Agree 100%
One thing to see it coming, that’s the easy part.
Now you need to counter it effectively.
Good luck with that.
Yes, Morne’s gonna kick the ball, allowing Basson to chase and compete. Do you have the aerial skills to compete with Basson? If not, gonna be a long day at the office…
27 Feb 2012, 08:29 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-12: I think Tukkies has the right balance with this game plan , they mix it with running as well. The blame must go to the laws , Meyer studied the new laws and found this to be the best way to play the new laws. Change new laws and you will see a new game.
27 Feb 2012, 08:36 am
I blame the Broederbond.
27 Feb 2012, 08:51 am
Shouldn’t the headline read ‘Steyn the man for Vrede’? Just seems as Vrede’s opinion.
27 Feb 2012, 08:52 am
ryan, how short is your memory? remember eoyt 2009 vs Ireland where the same morne & FdP skopped us to a loss?
the only positive to come out of friday’s match it the fact that ludeke recognised quickly that he was up ****’s creek without a paddle and reverted to the old way.
as for morne, against the poms this tired strategy might wrok BUT let him try that rubbish of kicking away possession against cory jane, richard kahui & israel dagg, i guarantee you we will see our arses!
we might’ve scraped through in PE when GH was still fiddling with his team playing hosea gear, toeava and dagg (who was returning from injury) but our saving grace that day was the Boks’ scrambling defence after we were cut to shreds with the ABs making line breaks at will.
27 Feb 2012, 09:06 am
Steyn was always going to be the safe bet.
If i were to pick a Bok team now or at any time in the past 2 years, Steyn would be my 10.
If a guy like Elton is the next up and coming player then play him off the bench by all means, he needs to start getting exposure, and he’ll be ready in time.
But for now it’s Morne
27 Feb 2012, 09:21 am
@RL(RL)-4:
I hate to admit it but the Boks should base their attacking play on the Lions blue print.
The ball carrier is at all times shadowed by support runners with objective primarily being to keep the ball “alive” at all times.
The other objective/mindset is NOT to pass to your team mate for the sake of spreading the ball around the park but to pass were the SPACE is.
Meyer should put “Skop and Jag” in a tik pyp and smoke it.
27 Feb 2012, 09:25 am
1 game into the season and we are already thinking skop en jag….jah ne
27 Feb 2012, 09:27 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-17: if morne is the man, fine but it can’t be ONLY for doing skop and jag!
when teams cotton on to that plan, the what else does morne offer?
27 Feb 2012, 09:31 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-18: Interesting that the Lions had to win the game on Saturday with ……. wait for it , …….9 kicks…..
27 Feb 2012, 09:33 am
Ryan – you omitted Johan Goosen.. You speak of Pat Lambie and Elton Jantjies – neither are in Goosen’s class as the complete flyhalf…
Goosen will become our greatest flyhalf ever – for the first time we have a flyhalf in the Jonny Wilkinson/ Dan Carter mould – brilliant at the kicking AND running/passing/distributing game!
My Bok backline: 15) Pat Lambie, 14) JP Pietersen, 13) Jacque Fourie, 12) Frans Steyn, 11) Gio Aplon, 10) Johan Goosen, 9) Fourie du Preez..
Backline bench: Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana.
27 Feb 2012, 09:35 am
steyn will go down as one of sa’s most underrated flyhalfs.
on friday night he did the business for the bulls again. The running game wasn’t working for either side on friday night for any number of reasons(ring rusty,awesome defence, breakdown infringements and interpretations,etc)
so second half play percentages.
He can play both, it’s never acknowleged though.
the only aspect of the game that I would say Steyn lacks is running speed something the youngsters do have but then they don’t have half as many of the other bows that steyn currently possesses. ??Oh and that one major facet, Steyn has BMT and apptitude in spades.
27 Feb 2012, 09:35 am
You will not won test matches with 22 rookies, neither will you win with 22 over the hill old timers.
It will be the right mix between the right experienced players and the right newcomers.
27 Feb 2012, 09:37 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-20:
If Morne has a settled center pairing his inside, he will be able to play a more expansive game. The Olivier/Pretorius combo never really worked as an expansive option and Jean/Jaque didn’t even score tries for the Stormers. The moment the Bulls’ centers look confident enough to play the expansive game, Morne will show that skill set as well.
27 Feb 2012, 09:37 am
@Nick Armstrong(Nick Armstrong)-22:
I would agree, Goosen really does look to have all the goods going forward but he looks a little injury prone which is a worry. Saying that, Jantjies is playing some awesome rugby and his goal kicking has definately improved.
I’m not sure if 10 is lambies best position.
27 Feb 2012, 09:37 am
@capebull(capebull)-21:
Their style of play created 11 penalties within kicking range which wins you tight test matches.
They also could have opted for line outs.
27 Feb 2012, 09:39 am
The inexperience of Johan Goosen cost the Cheetahs the game on Saturday.
You will start with Morne and bring in the newcomer of the bench.
27 Feb 2012, 09:40 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-18:
You would like to base your attacking play against a team that could score no try in 80 mins against a team with a history of leaking tries.
That seems odd!
27 Feb 2012, 09:40 am
This tactic might work at provincial and Superrugby level, and well done to the Bulls franchise for perfecting this game in some ways, but it’s not going to work at international level. It’s been proven over and over again, that the smarter teams like the ABs and Oz are going to work us out very easily. You need to mix things up and find a balance and I really don’t think guys like Morne, Jean (whose playing terrible rugby at the moment) can give us that in the back division.
27 Feb 2012, 09:42 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-20: I hear you, but when it comes to tests the safer bet is Morne. besides his game is a bit better than just that.
27 Feb 2012, 09:42 am
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-18: Meyer seems to be the conservative type, he will stick to the tried and tested. I do not expect to see many new faces in the team that was moered by the Convicts in the RWC QF. He will probably bring a bit more directness to the way the team plays.
So expect Steyn to feature. Meyer will definitely instruct his half backs to kick and his chasers to contest. He may win some matches but the top teams will have his number if kick and chase is all he does.
27 Feb 2012, 09:42 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-23:
My pointr exactly. It’s not Morne’s fault if the circumstances doesn’t allow for an expansive game. The Boks never had an expansive mindset under De Villiers and Jean and Jaque never really lived up to their attacking reputation for both the Boks and the Stormers.
If I’m not mistaken Morne played in every match that the Bulls scored more than fifty points. He also played in most of the matches they HAD to score a try to win the match and managed to do this.
27 Feb 2012, 09:42 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-16:
but the bulls have beaten those self same players fairly regularly in the past few seasons.
In fact, the boks beat the kiwis with steyn at 10 in nz.
not to mention that he scored all 31 points against the kiwis one afternoon.a record that will not be broken any time soon.
27 Feb 2012, 09:46 am
It’s not the gameplan, but the execution of it. The Bulls of 2009 & 2010 played to a certain gameplan and they executed it accurately. In 2011, they used the same gameplan, but their execution wasn’t accurate. The same with the Boks in 2009. They didn’t loose the WC semi because of their gameplan. They lost it because of unforced handling errors and giving away silly penalties.
27 Feb 2012, 09:46 am
@RL(RL)-32:
question, why would a coach want to make any changes to a side that dominated the ozzies in the last match to the tune of 75/25% possession and territory?
sure,the wobblies scraped through on the scoreboard but put them on a field again with those sort of statistics and I’d wager they’d take another 30points against them.
27 Feb 2012, 09:49 am
@capebull(capebull)-21: indeed, 3 more than the Bullies. Lucky for them they did not play against a team that went out of their way to niggle, to spoil, to interfere with players arriving to clear the rucks. Yes the Cheetahs were negative and preferred to concede 3 points instead of 7.
27 Feb 2012, 09:50 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-34:
Again, the Boks won that match because they were ruthlessly accurate in their execution.
27 Feb 2012, 09:56 am
BREAKING NEWS: Otago rugby union to be liquidated
27 Feb 2012, 09:56 am
Transie, how rubbish was Dagg this weekend? Complete garbage!
27 Feb 2012, 09:56 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-36: like I said, Meyer will select many of those players – he will instruct them to be more direct and more physical. Expect headlines like “brutal Boks” under Meyers reign.
27 Feb 2012, 09:57 am
@Wezwp(Wezwp)-39: could this just be the catalyst to bring in the spears?
27 Feb 2012, 10:00 am
@Wezwp(Wezwp)-42: talking to youself I see.
27 Feb 2012, 10:01 am
@RL(RL)-37: I am not saying that the Bulls game on Saturady was a nice game , it was about winning , no one gave them a chance , they beat a highly fancied street wise Shark team.
Lets see how they evolve their game as the comp unfolds, I stand corrected but the Bulls have scored either the most or in the top 3 tries in Supa comp the last 5 years. So surely they can not be that bad.
27 Feb 2012, 10:04 am
@RL(RL)-41:
absolutely personally i don’t know how the ozzies and to a lesser extent the reds survive off their 1-8?
how is it the kiwis are able to mangle them everytime and we are not?
I’d be surprised to see pocock finish a full 80 against the boks ever again.He certainly wouldn’t if I were the coach, and NO, that doesn’t mean I’d get the boys to bliksem him but the order of the day would be that if Pocock gets tackled he stays tackled. everytime until he is broken.
I believe it is a coaching,tactical and stratergy issue with the boks.
27 Feb 2012, 10:05 am
@Nick Armstrong(Nick Armstrong)-22:
But Goosen’s defense is non-existant. Did you see him breaking his jaw while attempting a fake tackle on Jantjies? You can’t put him in the Wilko/Carter league just yet.
27 Feb 2012, 10:08 am
@capebull(capebull)-44: I knew the Bullies would win – picked them by 5. Guppies are useless without Alberts and with shoe ponies like Daniel and Kankowski, who in their right mind would pick the guppies. It was ugly indeed but a win is a win. Do you think that losing Sadie and weird breakdown interpretations forced them to go the aerial route?
27 Feb 2012, 10:09 am
Why not have Steyn on the bench… Give the younger guys a chance…
27 Feb 2012, 10:09 am
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-29:
Lions gameplan/strategy with BOK players.
27 Feb 2012, 10:10 am
“Steyn’s the man for Meyer”.
This “Headline” gives me almost as much joy as the “Big5 Boycott Threat” of a week or so ago.
Go on Heyneke…………………………………………………..make my day.
27 Feb 2012, 10:10 am
According to this sundays rapport the assistant coaches will be announced this week…
27 Feb 2012, 10:11 am
@Nick Armstrong(Nick Armstrong)-22:
One problem. With FdP at 9, he controls the rhythm and space that the 10 operates in, which reduces the 10s decision making ability. Whilst he would probably be a superb mentor for someone like Goosen, he would also stifle his individual talent and growth, in my opinion.
27 Feb 2012, 10:14 am
@RL(RL)-47: Maybe Sadie was a blow cause they had to remix the backs. I think they decided lets win , go back to what we know. They lost Chilley and Dean as well.
Bizzy has to rethink his rugby , he is a walking penalty machine, he is only worried to show he’s stonger than you. however he got hammered by the Kirsten , I don’t think anyone has ever tackled him so hard , he stayed down.
How about the forward pass in the Shark try.
27 Feb 2012, 10:15 am
@RL(RL)-47:
yes, and was it mvovo on the sharks right?
they obviously don’t rate him under the ball as the bulls were kicking on him from the start.
27 Feb 2012, 10:18 am
@David(David)-52:
I agree, you need a young player to mature as a flyhalf, by playing flyhalf and learning from other flyhalves. If Steyn didnt have Du Preez so long beside him, he might have developed other skills to make him a more rounded flyhalf…
27 Feb 2012, 10:31 am
Don`t you guys think this kid belongs at the bulls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EGjypwnzKc This kick was at 68 meters and the second one at 63 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouvq4kMByPA. He is 18 years old playing for a club in despatch eastern cape!!! Was almost signed by the sharks after cravenweek last year but broke his collarbone just before he had to go for a final trial !!!!
27 Feb 2012, 10:44 am
Sadly,Steyn is the man.I don’t believe the other contenders are up to international standard yet.
27 Feb 2012, 10:50 am
short memories guys…Steyn was exposed last year. Simples.
27 Feb 2012, 10:53 am
@stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-57: Don’t understand why this should saden you? I also dont understand the need for a flyhalf debate. Steyn has never let the Bulls or SA down. On the contrary, he has single-handedly pulled games out the fire that we should have lost. Sure, he is not a flair player, but I rather stake my fate on a guy that deliver the percentages as apposed tho one that looks good but cant win you games. At least we are blessed to know that there are at least 5 or 6 youngsters who show enough potential to act as his understudy.
27 Feb 2012, 11:16 am
The only thing separating Steyn and the other flyhalves is his boot. Lambie was brave until he caught a stray knee from Gryeling after tackling Flip van der Merwe and still managed to stay on the field. Lambie’s only weekness is his kicking at goal. I though Johan Goosen had a blinder of a game. Kick goals from 60 m out and were incredible on attack. His only short coming is that he has an tendency to knock himself out in the tackle. I saw him do it in the Currie cup last year and he did again on Saturday. The cheetahs looked like they were going to win until he got injured. I can see why Drotsky likes this kid, the difference between him and Ebersohm was night and day. I also think that Jantjies did really well and his tackling was solid and his movement was really sharp. I don’t think we should bank on Steyn for the future, we need to start backing these youngsters.
27 Feb 2012, 11:23 am
I use to say Johan Goosen is the Tendulkar of rugby! but Tendulkar last scored runs when he ate a dodgy samoosa in India 5 years ago …. I’d rather say Goosen is the Barcelona or Man U of rugby!
27 Feb 2012, 11:27 am
Best two flyhalfs this weekend played against each other on Saturday evening. Jantjies and Goosen were both in wonderful form.
27 Feb 2012, 11:28 am
@kingcorn(kingcorn)-60: Did you see his tackle on Ashley Johnson? Stopped him dead and well behind the advantage line. That made Minnie’s turnover that night.
@Beast(Beast)-59:
“Steyn has never let the Bulls or SA down”
Clearly you havent watched the Boks from 2009 year-end tour until world cup 2011. Steyn was nowhere!
27 Feb 2012, 11:31 am
Jantjies did well when Goosen went off! & when he was sin binned …. Goosen was magic ….
27 Feb 2012, 11:35 am
@Sharks101(Sharks101)-56:
Why not leave him with the Kings. This will continue to be the major reason why the Kings remain uncompetitive without A Franchise to keep and attract players, whilst the other Franchise unions bolster their squads at the Kings expense.
27 Feb 2012, 11:37 am
Goosen is easily knocked out.
If he keeps going like that he will be lucky if he remembers how to tie his shoelaces in 5 years time.
27 Feb 2012, 11:37 am
Bloues – I agree with ouyr comment on Morne being more expansive with a decent 12 his inside. At the RWC the Bok backline looked very healthy with Frans Steyn/J Fourie at centre. Frans Steyn has to play 12 for the Boks, too much impact too ignore, infact he fixed the entire backline!!!
27 Feb 2012, 12:05 pm
@BWA(Dusktill)-61: Both those football teams are about to lose their titles! Maybe the goose should just be himself first ,and in the mean time replace his glass head with a steel one.
27 Feb 2012, 12:13 pm
With the new laws that grant flyhalfs more space to operate in, you need somebody with pace, that can take the ball flat, good distrubution in contact and good tactical kicking. Steyn might hold on to the Springbok jersey for the next two years, but then I think it could be either Jantjies, Goosen or Lambie. Look at what a difference players like Cruden and Cooper makes for their teams, bet it at international level or or Super 15. I would hat to see the boks play like the bulls did on Saturday. Goosen is only 19 at the moment so I think it would be good to have in the system and groom him for the future. I agree that Steyn is a safe bet, bet even though he had a 90% kicking success rate over the last 2 years, his kicking still didn’t win us games. We need a backline that can fire on all cylinders and bring the most out of the players outside of him. We seem to score more tries when lambie came on the field. The same can be said for Frans, but I would like to have my most lethal backline on the field, and be in favour to run with the ball and kick with purpose than just kicking the ball up in the air. 9. Hougaard, 10 Goosen, 11, Aplon, 12 Frans Steyn, 13 Jacque Fourie, 14 Pietersen, 15 Taute
27 Feb 2012, 12:18 pm
@David(David)-65:
welcome to pro sport.
anyway the kings have Earl Rose now.
Their fly half worries are over.
27 Feb 2012, 12:27 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-70: Wasn’t the Earl of Rose also banned from the Kingdom? Or did they give him a contract?
27 Feb 2012, 12:32 pm
M Steyn is the perfect 10 to have on the bench. Will be interesting to see who of Lambie, Janjes and Goosen is the 1 standing tallest come the first Bok test.
PS think Goosen has a couple of seasons still to go after watching him on Saturday, loads of talent but needs to work on his decision making
27 Feb 2012, 12:49 pm
Earl Rose didn’t get the contract at the Kings.
I remember him having unbranded headgear when he played SA U/21 and was told he had to wear Canterbury branded headgear. The entire team was given CCC headgear for the tour.
He didn’t like the fit of the headgear given and decided to paint the “CCC” freehand on his unbranded one.
27 Feb 2012, 12:49 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-71:
Dorothy brought him back.
27 Feb 2012, 12:52 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-73:
happens all the time.
bret schultz used to paint 3 stripes on his bowling boots.
27 Feb 2012, 12:53 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-62: Think Goosen needs to work on his decision making, although an awesome talent
27 Feb 2012, 12:56 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-75: And ET paints M3 onto all the cars he’s ever owned. Even the Pulsar.
27 Feb 2012, 12:57 pm
brett schultz – now there is one crazy son of a …..
27 Feb 2012, 13:00 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-77: HAHAHAHAHAHA
Classic.
27 Feb 2012, 13:01 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-77:
extraball was born with racing stripes.
27 Feb 2012, 13:02 pm
Steyn is important, simply because Saffa is yet to produce visionary backline coaches. The likes of Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen, etc who’ll preach efficient utilising of space, stepping from both feet, quick off the mark excelleration, passing off both hands, etc.
All of this worked into adaptable game plans.
Our coaching (especially from provincial level onwards) seems to stifle creative progress.
27 Feb 2012, 13:07 pm
On a different note – Kirchner was shockingly pedestrian, my goodness! He didn’t do alot wrong, but when receiving the ball in space, could not advance beyond the advantage line.
27 Feb 2012, 13:13 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-80: He’s also owns the only Nissan Sentra WRX STi in the world. You’ve got to know people for that sht.
27 Feb 2012, 13:18 pm
Ryan if you havent noticed Springbok rugby has been crying out for a flyhalf who can actually break the advantage line, someone who takes the ball at pace attacking the line. NOT someone who recieves the ball so far behind our advantage line!
Yes Steyn can kick make no mistake about that.
But its about time that you expand your vision past the Voortrekker Monument and your boss peeps over table mountain for once and you’ll realise there are actually other rugby players in the country.
Goosen kicks just as well as Steyn and Jantjies attackes the line like no other flyhalf in the country at the moment! he is also deadly with the boot, Lambie is a complete flyhalf who will not let you down! Its time for new blood in the Bok side starting at Flyhalf.
27 Feb 2012, 13:20 pm
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-82:
indeed he was kak as he was for most of last season.
we need to break the bank and sign franke steyn.
but the bulls are short on absas.
27 Feb 2012, 13:22 pm
#53 Capebull I remember watching i am sure it was a CC game last year bulls v sharks and the bulls scrum was being shoved all over the place(i cannot remember who was the bulls tighthead that game) and pienaar subbed the tighthead and brought on frik kirsten at tighthead and almost singlehandedly destroyed the sharks scrum,and after that game i think he got a bad neck injury,and was out for the rest of the season and i thought to my self what a pity as this bloke is a Powerful scrummer.I was happy to see him back in cotention on saturday and if he is over that neck injury i think he is good enough to take werner kruger`s place in the super rugby team.
27 Feb 2012, 13:44 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-85:
.
We’re talking Matfield type money now,
If the union remotely was thinking of bringing Fransie to Loftus, I’d think most of us would want to see him @ 12.
27 Feb 2012, 14:20 pm
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-87:
sure but it would be worth it.
venter looks good at 12.
we could save on oliviers 2 bar a year.
steyn would be superb at 15 for the bulls.
I’s also like to see lionel cronje get a run there.
27 Feb 2012, 14:49 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-88:
Valid points Gunther.
Fransie would be the Christmas signing. If not, I’m of the opinion that Cronje’s left boot could be the perfect foil to Morne’s right. We live in hope, and the boys have options. Time to settle on combo’s – PS. Venter had a few deft touches in the midfield, prospect for the future no doubt.
27 Feb 2012, 14:50 pm
Goosen for me, thank you.
27 Feb 2012, 14:53 pm
Lambie offers no attacking qualities at test level and merely average at Super level. Jantjies will never cope with the physicality of test rugby. He offers very little as a poor man’s Carlos Spencer. Not even Spencer himself could hack it at test level. Morne is the best all round 10 out there. His ability with the boot and ball in hand is far beyond the rest of the 10s in SA. Goosen is the only candidate for test rugby, but even he still has much to prove. In short, only a shortsighted buffoon would go for Lambie or Jantjies. And that baffoon would fail. Lambie is a very poor 10, but a world class 15. End of story.
27 Feb 2012, 14:54 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-88: Fransie is a terrible to average 15. A specialist 12 only, and that is where he must play.
27 Feb 2012, 14:57 pm
Vrede you will be the first to crucify Meyer for the selection of Steyn if his defensive channel is exposed against the Poms (which by the way, it shouldn’t, as they don’t have very strong ball carriers to be utilised around the fringes at current).
Steyn is the safe bet and could start or warm the bench, but against England I am prepared to take some risks and give Goosen decent game time.
Everything Steyn can do, Goosen can match at least.
27 Feb 2012, 14:59 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-91: I was disappointed with Lambie on the weekend. I thought his alignment was very good, but he set his backline away in diagonal fashion.
And he had his fair share of front foot ball, I thought the Sharks did well to match the Bulls in the collisions.
The reality is that the Sharks were a lot more threatening and direct when Bosman moved to pivot.
27 Feb 2012, 14:59 pm
@willievz(willievz)-93: Morne is our best defensive 10, aside from Butch. Last year he was knocking back locks and stood very form against the pacific islanders. It’s a myth that he can’t tackle. I be more worried about Lambie or Jantjies there. Lambie is a lightweight to afraid to man up on defence there and Jantjies will be the new Pretorious revolving door.
27 Feb 2012, 15:01 pm
@willievz(willievz)-94: For the Boks Lambie repeatedly puts the backline under pressure. His alignment can be very poor there. He has no feel for the position. The only time he looks remotely world class is at 15, he becomes a completely different animal there.
27 Feb 2012, 15:14 pm
@willievz(willievz)-90:
fries with that goose willie?
27 Feb 2012, 15:37 pm
You pick Goosen, Lambie, Jantjes et al. in the starting berth, and be prepared to suffer the consequences. IMO, I’d have Jantjes as he attacks the gain line with more verve then the other greenhorns – if we’re to believe that those credentials of Morne is dead all together.
In the end, at least two of these boys need to make the step up as natural successors in the test arena.
But two things to consider with the Bulls/ Morne
1. Bulls was right on par in the try scoring stakes when we had Louden as backline coach as uppose to Slappes. So I’d question guys like Muir’s, etc coaching ability.
2. Steyn being seen as the running option when Derrick Hougaard monopolised the 10 jersey. Hougaard left Saffa shores, while Steyn showed a more complete set of skills and temperament.
Just saying Keolings. Gameplan, etc dictates a lot of what’s on show. Ashton’s Pom side made it to the 2007 showpiece with TOBY FLOOD @ pivot.
27 Feb 2012, 15:57 pm
No big surprise here from Meyer
The Hougaard-Styen combo was a complete failure in 2010 Test season but that was under PdV and JS watch
Meyer will work the combo to be more effective, the tired scenario of Styen receiving the ball deep and kicking diagonally long ups and unders may not repeat itself, with the likes of Dagg, Jane, Maitland, Mitchell, Beale and few more waiting in anticipation.
27 Feb 2012, 16:00 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-91:
I said last week that Michalak will intentionall ruin Lambie at Loftus to reclaim the 10′s spot and nothing happened on Friday for me to revise that bold statement.
Lambie and Hoffman will get the Sharks going,
27 Feb 2012, 16:17 pm
@Sharks101(Sharks101)-56:
WOW, I just watched that clip, that boy can kick!!
27 Feb 2012, 17:01 pm
Kick and Chase may be fine up against a rebuilding Poms side during a home series. But using Steyn for the same old/same old against NZ and Aus? A recipe for disaster.
27 Feb 2012, 17:25 pm
My Bokke backline
15. Patricio
14. JPP
13. Taute
12. Frans Steyn
11. Gio
10. Morne
9. Hougaard
27 Feb 2012, 17:37 pm
@Markel77(Markel77)-103: I would be tempted to go with:
9-Sarel
10-Goosen
11-Hougaard
12-F.Steyn
13-JPP
14-Aplon
15-Taute
27 Feb 2012, 17:57 pm
I like your team Willie. Only disagree with JPP, not very convinced with him playing centre .
27 Feb 2012, 19:26 pm
@Markel77(Markel77)-105:
He looked very promising and imposing over the weekend, exhibiting skills we haven’t seen from him at 14.
A lazy player on the wing, he needs to be closer to the action to provide optimal value for the team he is playing for.
He has played 13 his entire school career.
And – of course a relevant question – who else do we have left in SA to fulfil the gap left by Fourie?
27 Feb 2012, 20:43 pm
9 Sarel
10Goosen
11 Hougaard
12 Frans
13 Sadie
14 JP
15Lambie/Viljoen/Aplon
27 Feb 2012, 20:51 pm
I laugh every time someone makes a comment about test players never letting us down. I am sure such people were crocs and tracksuites when they visit the mall on weekends for a bit of excitement. Romania pick players that “never let them down”. Morne Steyn is k@k because he is very limited. He seldom let’s you down, unless you are expecting a decent flyhalf that has the IQ to make judgement calls on when it’s appropriate to kick and when he should pass or even try and break himself. He may be governed by a limited gameplan, but it looks more likethe gameplan is in place because Steyn is there and has no other abilities. When Steyn plays, we are so predictable. This worked for a little while 4 years ago.
27 Feb 2012, 21:49 pm
@garth(garth)-107: Good backline.
I am curious to see who Meyer will select at 15.
Viljoen could be very close to Bok honours proper this year.
27 Feb 2012, 22:37 pm
I am not his biggest fan but MORNE IS A POINTS MACHINE. Just in the last World Cup he NAILED kicks from the touchline that WON TIGHT GAMES. You can fantasize all day about how you wish he had other aspects to his game but BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DISCARD. If banking points like a casino slot-machine is predictable then I’ll take it !!!
28 Feb 2012, 04:06 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-95: China, I think thats the stupidest post I have ever read…in fact, I think you might be seriously deluded
And guys who are punting Sarel – guys, a little tip about #9′s – focus 1stly on the pass. If you have a loop pass like Sarel, doesn’t matter how many solo tries you score
Ne
28 Feb 2012, 08:44 am
@umfolozi(umfolozi)-110: Yip, he is a points machine. Why is he a points machine? Not merely because he can kick accurately? There are other kickers just as good. The reason he is accumulates points is that when he is playing at 10, that’s the only way the team can score any points. No tries can be scored while you have the likes of Morne and JDV crashballing and kicking away possession.
28 Feb 2012, 08:49 am
@Alucard(Alucard)-95: “Morne is our best defensive 10, aside from Butch. Last year he was knocking back locks and stood very form against the pacific islanders”
Now I have heard it all. Jamie Roberts made Morne Steyn his ****** at the world cup and you want us to believe he could smash back locks in the tackle? Please
28 Feb 2012, 09:02 am
I think playing next to Spies makes him look like a better defender than he really is. The issues here is that 10 is your decision maker. The guy controlling play. Morne does not have the common sense and balance to his skills to execute a variety of options successfully. I think he has potential, but would need to play for a team that has a more varied gameplan to show any valuable talents.
3 Mar 2012, 20:54 pm
Morne will win us games and we are one dimensional
But let Grant kick one over and you are champions
Classic
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