Talented 10s light up Super Rugby
27 Feb 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says the performances of South Africa’s flyhalves was the highlight of an absorbing weekend.
Elton Jantjies take a bow. So too Morne Steyn, Johan Goosen and Patrick Lambie.
Rarely has South African rugby been blessed with such youthful talent simultaneously in the most pivotal position.
Steyn is the old man among the generation of kids playing flyhalf in South Africa’s Super Rugby challenge, but he’s far from a pensioner and his second-half performance in beating the Sharks means that he won’t easily relinquish his ownership of the Springbok No 10 jersey.
Steyn was outstanding in the circumstances at Loftus but it was Jantjies who stood tallest at the weekend. He kicked a Super Rugby record nine penalties but he did much more than score 27 points. He played with a swagger that was encouraging. The bigger tests will come when the Lions go on the road, but there is no doubting his talent or his desire to be the best in the country.
Cheetahs teenager Johan Goosen is a special talent but he was second to Jantjies in Johannesburg. Lambie, the most complete of the lot, didn’t quite match Steyn’s tactical and goal-kicking precision, but he was very good in a losing cause.
The impact of the flyhalves was the most significant in a weekend when only the Stormers won comfortably and every other result was in the balance until the final whistle.
It was an absorbing opening weekend for Super Rugby and the most impressive aspect was the appetite of the players to tackle. The fitness and conditioning generally was good and the South African physicality was brutal in Pretoria.
Referee interpretation again dominated too many matches, especially at the breakdown, but it is custom in the first month of the competition.
There was far greater confrontation all-round and a surprising defiance, given it was only round one of the competition, to defend the tryline.
The Stormers had the easiest of the South African starts against a limited and inexperienced Canes, but even though they won easily there was little inspiration in the performance.
Schalk Burger’s injury – he will miss the next two months – adds to the complication of a Stormers season that will be far more demanding than the last two years.
The Sharks were a pre-season game shy in round one and it cost them victory in Pretoria. There will be criticism of the type of rugby played by both sides, but invariably when these two meet it is a war of attrition and not a celebration of rugby’s finer qualities.
The win was massive for the Bulls, as was the leadership of Pierre Spies, who is thriving on the additional responsibility.
Chiliboy Ralepelle also prospered from a quality off-season programme and he had the edge on Bismarck du Plessis, whose discipline failed him too often. Du Plessis is the best hooker in the world and with that tag comes unrelenting scrutiny. On this occasion he did not do his standing justice, but like the rest of the Sharks he will get better with more game time.
The Lions and Cheetahs both play with positive intent and the biggest improvement from a year ago is the structure in their defensive lines. This was the most entertaining of the South African matches, even if it lacked the drama of the Reds injury time win against the Waratahs, whose naivety in the final minute cost them victory.
The Reds aside, the threat out of Australia is negligible. The Force and Brumbies have the look of basement dwellers and among the Kiwi teams the Canes are probably the most limited.
The Crusaders, like the Reds, showed their class to sneak an away win against the ever under-achieving Blues, while the Chiefs don’t have the pack to match the star-studded backline.
The nature of the extended competition means coaches will be forced to manage players and rotate and teams will get beaten often, which isn’t a bad thing.
No team towers above the other, which is a tournament promoter’s dream and don’t be surprised if teams that win just 50% of their games feature in the top six play-offs later in the year.
In a post-World Cup year the emergence of new talent is always the highlight and South Africa’s youngsters, especially those playing at No 10, have already given us a reason to count down the hours till this weekend’s second round.
244 Comments
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27 Feb 2012, 19:33 pm
@Horings(Horings)-197: Yes, my instinct was correct. the Hurricanes scored 20 points outside their conference and the Chiefs 19. That places the Waratahs (16) behind the top 6, the Bulls (20), the Cheetahs (22), the Highlander (20), the Hurricanes (20) and the Chiefs (19). There are therefore 4 Aussie teams in the bottom 5 teams from this analyses. Now surely this is not the only analysis to do, but it does tell a story.
27 Feb 2012, 19:34 pm
Wallabie does make a valid point if you read between the lines with sound reason, and take emotion out of the equation.
I have to ask – wouldn’t SA Rugby be better off with only 4 franchises? Do we have the quality in depth to field 5 Super teams?
We will know more by the end of the season, but the historical evidence is clear.
27 Feb 2012, 19:38 pm
@willievz(willievz)-202: Well taking only 2011 into account. A year in which it is perceived SA did not do too well. The Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Cheetahs did quite well. Not only taking points from each other as shown by my remarks above. The Lions also got two wins on the road. Our problem is not a problem with talent, but rather unprofessional unions. A problem that has been rectified, to an extent, in the last few years.
27 Feb 2012, 19:43 pm
@Horings(Horings)-203: Sure, fair points there.
I would also add the structure of the competition as being disadvantageous to SA teams in general.
27 Feb 2012, 19:44 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-200:
absolutely… needs to go on one of those style makeover shows…!!
but…
the kid can play… no question!!
27 Feb 2012, 19:46 pm
@willievz(willievz)-202:
we sure would…
less is more…
four stronger teams would serve saffa rugby far more than five weaker teams…
27 Feb 2012, 19:51 pm
@ufo(ufo)-206: If we had only 4 teams, either Goosen or Jantjies would play. It is better that both players gets an opportunity.
We can even make the Kings, as a 6th team, work if we work together with Argentina. Bring in some players from Europe and bring the EP youngsters in slowly.
27 Feb 2012, 19:54 pm
@Horings(Horings)-207: It will be bad news for the Bulls as the EP region has served us well over the years. Well we always have the Western Cape as a base.
27 Feb 2012, 19:58 pm
@willievz(willievz)-202:
I think we can field 5 teams if the young players were given more opportunities, as is starting to happen. If you look at the Sharks, Lambie is the only homegrown backline player and the current pack isn’t much better. SARU and the Bok selectors, including Meyer, should have far more influence in assigning younger players to Franchises that are lacking depth in certain positions, for the S15 only.
27 Feb 2012, 20:03 pm
These pricks at Supersport are pissing me off quite a bit these days. It seems every match that they broadcast is interrupted by their incompetent staff. Fark them they better fire someone!
27 Feb 2012, 20:56 pm
No substitute for Darren Scott it seemed
27 Feb 2012, 21:02 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-211: yeah your kind
27 Feb 2012, 21:06 pm
What a joke, Keo – so Jantjies has a phenomenal game against one of the worst teams in S15 history, the Cheetahs, and now he is the best thing since sliced bread. Honestly?
Why not judge SA talent against top Kiwi and Aussie talent and then make a verdict?
No wonder your wife left you – you are a fat plonker.
27 Feb 2012, 21:14 pm
@kwas(kwas)-213: We did that in the last S15… he picked up a couple of the MOM awards then too but how would you know. Studies reflect that most conservative Afrikaners can’t recognise the sun on a beautiful spring day… case in point
27 Feb 2012, 21:18 pm
@kwas(kwas)-213: Wow dude!
Was that last bit necessary over a sports article? What a d*ckhead, that’s not funny at all.
27 Feb 2012, 21:23 pm
@kwas(kwas)-213: you have just overstepped the line of decency here now.
27 Feb 2012, 21:29 pm
This site has been going on about which conference is the worst to be in and I said from the start the SA and NZ conference is the most difficult, while the Aussie conference is some way behind. Well here is some facts. (TP – Total Points, WC – Within Conference, OC – Outside Conference).
TP WC OC % OC/Tot
SA 197 91 106 53.81%
NZ 207 95 112 54.11%
Aus 177 96 81 45.76%
Some usefull observations. The Aussie teams picked up 177 points in total of which 81 was outside the conference. 33 of these was obtained by the Reds. The bottom 4 teams therefore picked up 48 points, therefore 12 on average.
In the SA conference the Sharks picked up 30 points outside the conference as they did not perform too well within their conference, while the Stormers (24), Cheetahs (22) and Bulls (20) all got more points from outside the conference than the bottom 4 Aussie teams.
The same applies for the NZ conference where all their teams, Crus (29), Blues (24), Hurricanes (20), Highlanders (20) and Chiefs (19) all got more points than the bottom 4 Aussie teams.
Another interesting observation is that the SA conference produced the least number of points within the conference, although teams such as the Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions were some of the most attacking teams. The conclusion must be that when the SA teams face each other the scores are lower and less bonus points are scored. This can be summarised by only looking at the Sharks results, where they only scored one 4 try bonus against the Lions in a 30-30 draw. They however scored 4 try bonuses against the Force, Rebels, Brumbies, Hurricanes and Crusaders. Again the Aussie teams feature in a negative way!
I challenge our bloggers from downunder to rip my report apart, but please include some logic into your arguments!
27 Feb 2012, 21:35 pm
I am sorry guys but Gary van Aswegen is waste. I am glad Peter Grant is back in Cape Town. He should atleast feature on the bench this weekend. Burton Francis looked good when he came one and he has experience of Super Rugby. He also has a big boot on him. Peter Grant when fit should start. His all round game is great. His defence is very strong it is only with line kicking that he struggles. With Aplon and Joe Pietersen in the team they should help him with that. When it penalties and free kicks they should take over the kicking duties. When we trying to get out of 22 they should work it that Aplon or Joe line up at first receiver to kick the ball out of our 22.
27 Feb 2012, 21:41 pm
@Horings(Horings)-217: The Sharks would have played a couple of finals at Kings Park in the 90s if the conference system was used.
The Bulls would also have obtained success earlier when they were much better than at least 3 other SA teams in 2003-2006.
27 Feb 2012, 21:45 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-212:
Yep
He knows his rugby stuff inside out so he can tell a shovel from a strake
Unlike most
27 Feb 2012, 21:46 pm
@Horings(Horings)-207: No, one of them could go to the peninsula.
27 Feb 2012, 22:15 pm
@kwas(kwas)-213:
Way da go to show your true colours …what a pleasant chap you must be to be around …
The long winter nights must just fly by for your wife.
Have you consdiered that the same could be said about Goosen ..obviously not.
27 Feb 2012, 22:43 pm
@Horings(Horings)-201:
Which further proves my point…how many points did those teams you mention win in their conferences.
27 Feb 2012, 22:49 pm
@Almost…(Bonobo)-192:
Lol…Force and Brumbies match being dire…I agree but there was less to see in the cheetahs game and next match not to see much was the bulls game.
27 Feb 2012, 22:55 pm
Jantjies trimmed down and got rid of his jelly belly, now its time for him to get rid of that dreadful hairstyle, his head reminds me of the alien in the movie Alien.
28 Feb 2012, 03:28 am
Well, rugby union’s most amped-up professional — NZ heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Bill Williams — will pack away his All Black jersey and his RWC winner’s medal and his NZ residency to return to Rugby League and to the Sydney Roosters team in 2013…
28 Feb 2012, 05:27 am
bok team for the future?
1. greyling
2. bismark
3. oosthuizen
4. bekker
5. kruger
6. brussow
7. Louw
8. alberts
9. pretorius
10. goosen
11. hougard
12. frans steyn
13. sadie
14. aplon
15. lambie
16. beast
17. chilliboy
18. burger
19. strauss
20. vermark
21. jantes
22. taute
28 Feb 2012, 05:58 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-226:
Overrated journeyman, no loss to union…………
28 Feb 2012, 05:59 am
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-75:
O vok, Jy kan baie kak praat Shaunie my gam. Are you sure you not sitting in a padded cell in Valkenberg instead of a little 1 sleeper next to the railway line on the mud isle?
Remember your son was also according to you published author at 8 with ” Dada shows me his little pee-pee every night and says it is a lollipop” series of books.
Just for us to find out it is actually another 8 yr old girl that wrote them and that Shaunie is now teaching his little boy to be a plagiarist just like him.
Podgy little ****….Rather go serve your English Masters my booitjie
28 Feb 2012, 07:04 am
@jackbill(jackbill)-227: With two looseheads you find it difficult to scrum straight. Otherwise it’s a good team. I like the idea of Louw at 7 with a decent openside flank. He does tick all the boxes. However, I prefer having 1 skillful and powerful looseforward that can act a a linkman with the backs. I don’t believe Alberts fills that gap yet. Hougaard needs to stick to playing wing and he’ll be one of the greats. With Vermaak at the Bulls and Sarel for the Boks, it’s a waste playing him at 9.
28 Feb 2012, 08:28 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-223: Sorry, did I miss something or was your point that the Aussie conference is the weakest. See comment 217. Let me just make it clear. The Reds did well not because of the weak conference, but despite not taking advantage of the weak conference. That it is a weak conference is as clear as daylight from last year’s competition.
28 Feb 2012, 08:33 am
elton jantjes may be the first “small” flyhalf in SA to deliver on his potential. because in john mitchell there is a coach who is prepared to back talent over size. refreshing to see.
28 Feb 2012, 08:42 am
Team of week one ?
15 Joe Pieterson
14 Aplon
13
12 Venter
11 Basson
10 Jantjes/Morne
9 Hougie
8 Joss
7 Marcell/Kolusi
6
5 Juandre
4 Mellet
3
2 Chilley
1 Dean/ Redhead from Stormers although his opposition was weak
28 Feb 2012, 08:48 am
@capebull(capebull)-233: Who the hell is Mellet??
13. Robert Ebersohn
6. Kolisi
3. ??
28 Feb 2012, 08:50 am
@capebull(capebull)-233: 4= Etzebeth
28 Feb 2012, 08:53 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-235: Thanks you are correct
28 Feb 2012, 08:54 am
Team of week one ?
15 Joe Pieterson
14 Aplon
13 Robert Ebersohn
12 Venter
11 Basson
10 Jantjes/Morne
9 Hougie
8 Joss
7 Marcell/Kolisi
6
5 Juandre
4 Etzebeth
3
2 Chilley
1 Dean/ Redhead from Stormers although his opposition was weak
28 Feb 2012, 08:55 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-234: I think he lives next door to Alice
28 Feb 2012, 08:55 am
As has become my custom, here is Rugby 365.com’s team of week 1:
15 – Isaia Toeava (Blues):
Toeava, who has the skills and athleticism to play anywhere from inside centre to fullback, laid down an early marker for a starting spot in the All Blacks team.
Bubbling under: Ben Smith (Highlanders)
14 – Lelia Masaga (Chiefs):
Masaga, nicknamed the Flash, showed that he is so much more that just a player with pace. Yes, he does have great flair and speed, but he is also very powerful and reads the game well.
Bubbling under: Akona Ndungane (Bulls)
13 – Robbie Fruean (Crusaders):
The physically dominant midfielder, who earlier in his young career overcome open-heart surgery to repair a condition known as pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart, showed that he can challenge for an All Blacks spot this year.
Bubbling under: Tamati Ellison (Highlanders)
12 – Tim Bateman (Hurricanes):
Opposed by the Springbok veteran Jean de Villiers, the swift attacking midfielder started repaying the Hurricanes for the faith they showed in him by luring the former Crusaders and New Zealand Maori representative back to NZ.
Bubbling under: Tim Whitehead (Sharks)
11 – Gio Aplon (Stormers):
The hot-stepping utility back again showed his finishing abilities, although it is his often underrated work-rate and defence that makes him such a valuable asset.
Bubbling under: Rudi Wulf (Blues)
10 – Elton Jantjies (Lions):
He won the first round in the battle of the prodigies, when he not only out-kicked Johan Goosen, but he again showed his tactical acumen in the latter stages of the match – when it mattered most.
Bubbling under: Mike Harris (Reds)
9 – Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs):
The Waratahs have been raving about him throughout the pre-season and he again showed at the weekend why. The South African import, the top try-scorer in the 2011 Super Rugby competition, may well be on new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s scrumhalf shortlist later in the year.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (Bulls)
8 – Jerome Kaino (Blues):
No.8 may not be his preferred position, and many feel he is less effective there (than as a blindside flank), but the immensely powerful All Blacks loose forward again showed the form that made him New Zealand’s Player of the Year in 2011.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)
7 – Derick Minnie (Lions):
He may have been penalised on a couple of occasions, but like any true openside flank he plays to the absolute limit… and then some. The clincher were those turnovers late in the game that swung the momentum for his team.
Bubbling under: Daniel Braid (Blues)
6 – Adam Thomson (Highlanders):
Not only did he throw his body at everything on the park, but his work in the line-outs were invaluable and a crucial factor late in the game.
Bubbling under: Deon Stegmann (Bulls)
5 – Juandré Kruger (Bulls):
Bulls fans will sleep a lot easier knowing they have a new aerial king. His play at restarts and in the line-outs were complimented by some sublime skills in general play.
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Reds)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Stormers):
This young man has Springbok written all over him. He may not be the finished product yet, but he has the potential – both in terms of his aggression, skill and maturity.
Bubbling under: Tom Donnelly (Crusaders)
3 – Werner Kruger (Bulls):
He showed that his selection for the national team last year may not have been such a fluke as some critics would like to believe. He still has some work to do, especially in the scrums, but he was a monster with ball in hand.
Bubbling under: Ben Franks (Crusaders)
2 – Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls):
He won round one against his main rival for the starting spot as hooker in the Springbok team.
Bubbling under: Jason Rutledge (Highlanders)
1 – Benn Robinson (Waratahs):
His scrumming power was again evident, albeit against a rickety Reds front row. But with him back (after missing the 2011 RWC due to injury), the Wallabies’ scrum will be a lot more sound this year.
Bubbling under: Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders)
28 Feb 2012, 09:16 am
Horings…
Very impressive stats, which are difficult to argue with and must’ve taken a fair amount of time and analysis…
Good stuff man…!!
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-239:
good to see gio and eben in there…
28 Feb 2012, 09:26 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-226:
hope your not a highlanders fan…
28 Feb 2012, 09:37 am
I see Lionel Cronje is out for the season.
28 Feb 2012, 09:43 am
All the beast, Tendai.
28 Feb 2012, 11:24 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-243: I see what you did there….
Nice
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