Test rugby’s a different beast
15 May 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says Super Rugby is not the measure of a Test player.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has got the mix right with his first national training squad of 35. And I know Bok coach Heyneke Meyer will look to a similar balancing act of youth and experience.
Super Rugby form is an indicator but is not the definitive measure of a Test player, and there are those who thrive in the claustrophobic cauldron of Test rugby but never respond to the more forgiving platform that encourages flamboyance and excuses mistakes.
So many players look sensational in Super Rugby and quite the opposite in Test rugby. It is why the good Test coaches and selectors understand what makes a good Test player, but not necessarily what makes a player good.
Jake White always used to say the 15 best players are not necessarily the best 15. As an example, the best 6, 7 and 8 when assessed individually may not necessarily be the best 6, 7 and 8 combination.
Test rugby is more about combinations than individuals, but it is definitely about experience more than youth.
Hansen has rewarded six of the New Zealand U20s from the victorious 2011 Junior World Championship campaign and he has included 21 Test veterans from the World Cup-winning squad, many of whom have been poor in Super Rugby.
Among the poorest performers has been Blues lock Ali Williams. Hansen described the player as an enigma, reminding the critics that while Williams had often been poor in Super Rugby, he had seldom played a poor Test match in 73 internationals.
Super Rugby is a fantastic medium for players to showcase attacking skills. The majority of the matches are played at a frantic pace, tries are scored and taking a risk is applauded.
Attack generally rules the mind over defence (unless you find yourself in the Stormers change room) and the emotional demands can’t be compared with those of a Test match.
The point that there is a difference in mentality when playing Super Rugby and Currie Cup to Test rugby can never be emphasised enough. Some players live only for Test rugby, while others can’t live with the emotional stress that one mistake can often determine a Test result.
There will always be exceptions — players who can adapt their game with ease and prosper in any environment, and the exceptional players dominate Test rugby as 20-year-olds. Think Dan Carter, Frans Steyn and James O’Connor.
Generally players need time to settle into Test rugby and they need the comfort of turning to experience.
White, post 2007’s World Cup success, singled out Os du Randt and Percy Montgomery’s experience as among the most powerful aspects of the Boks.
Experience should also not be confused with a player’s age. Experience at Test level is about a player having regular exposure to mental stress and positively overcoming this stress.
Chiefs loose forward Liam Messam is a very good player. If all one had to assess him on was his provincial and Super Rugby history, he could even be described as an exceptional player. However, he has never been imposing or inspiring in a Test jumper.
The All Blacks midfield pairing of Frank Bunce and Walter Little played for a limited Chiefs team and, because of the quality of their side and the hapless environment, often looked no more than a half-decent centre partnership. Yet for a decade they were considered among the best the world had seen when playing for the All Blacks. They were an example of players whose qualities as Test players were always more seductive than their Super Rugby form.
In this year’s Super Rugby, Hurricanes fullback Andre Taylor and Crusaders centre Robbie Freuen have on occasion looked magnificent, but it was no surprise they weren’t included in the initial All Blacks squad. Both are damn good players, but both have limitations and flaws to their games. These limitations can be excused in Super Rugby, but Taylor’s poor line-kicking game is more significant than his ability to revel on attack in expansive, 40 plays 30 Super Rugby matches.
Meyer, in selecting his first Bok squad, will be accused of Bulls bias, of having a prejudice against attacking mindsets and of not introducing a new generation and a new era.
Those bashing him will use Super Rugby form, league positions and even a Currie Cup performance (team or individual) in justification of their stance. But for the debate to be relevant and insightful there has to be an understanding that it isn’t as simple as the 15-best start and Super Rugby form.
It also isn’t as simple as taking kids in 2012 to build a team that challenges for the 2015 World Cup.
The revolution in Bok rugby will be when the support base recognises the revolution is actually an evolution.
123 Comments
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15 May 2012, 11:19 am
“Cheap shot or the Stormers” Keo …. Dragons
15 May 2012, 11:20 am
“Cheap shot at the Stormers Keo” …. Dragons
15 May 2012, 11:21 am
Said post failed then actually appeared? Wtf?
15 May 2012, 11:26 am
“(unless you find yourself in the Stormers change room)”
I chuckled. And Stormers are my side.
15 May 2012, 11:27 am
Well it was, before the comp got watered down.
The intensity of Super 12 was as close to test rugby as you could get.
15 May 2012, 11:29 am
@wing_14(wing_14)-2:
Did I miss something?
15 May 2012, 11:30 am
@Atlas(Atlas)-6: Skipped thru it, missed that part
15 May 2012, 11:36 am
I am not convinced that Robbie Freuen doesn’t deserve a black jersey.
15 May 2012, 11:36 am
Good article. Some people will never understand why players who are easy on the eye, such as Taylor and Fruean, are not selected for the All Blacks despite their impressive attacking form, but both have far superior and complete players selected in their position ahead of them.
15 May 2012, 11:37 am
As soon as Meyer picks Meisiekind Oliiver in his squad, this whole article falls flat on its face
15 May 2012, 11:37 am
But I’m happy for the Boks’ sake!
15 May 2012, 11:37 am
Andre Taylor has certainly looked the business, he has some serious gas…
15 May 2012, 11:37 am
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-8: Have a closer look at his defensive capabilities.
15 May 2012, 11:41 am
A different beast indeed,but if Meyer goes as blue as picking meisiekind he’s lost his marbles.
15 May 2012, 11:41 am
Those players will get a chance… Specially Andre Taylor… Cullen in the making!!
15 May 2012, 11:44 am
Keohane is becoming all conservative on us, quoting Jake White and all that
Fact check keo- was dan carter 20 y.o when he made his AB debut.
Think not
15 May 2012, 11:44 am
this is why pdv didn’t blood too many youngsters during his tenure, Super Rugby is a different tendai!
15 May 2012, 11:51 am
@gecko(gecko)-10: spot on!
15 May 2012, 11:52 am
Meyer would only be accused of being biased towards the bulls, if that is in fact the case…. In terms of the starting bok team, and if combinations are what a person looks for in test rugby, then only hougaard and steyn should be bulls starters… olivier, stegmann, kirchner, spies have test experience, but not test players, in fact are ****…. stormers locks trump bulls, sharks front row, back row… brussouw, schalk, alberts, vermeulen(depending on fitness)… … so only really two, maybe three bulls starters…
15 May 2012, 11:54 am
Carter made his Test debut vs Wales in June 2003 in Hamilton
Since his d.o.b is March 1982, he was 21 y.o at debut
15 May 2012, 12:17 pm
Robbie Fruran and Sonny Bill would be the best centre pairing for ABs post WC 2011, Nanu and Smith are no longer young enough to make 2015 and building experience has to start somewhere.
I say boot carter and play Cruden, boot Nanu and Smith and get SBW and Freauen and give the back three to Gilford, Jane and Dagg.
Forwards would stay as close to 2011 squad as possible with the exception of Thorn and possibly McCaw (might not be fit enough or too old).
The halfback is guess work.
15 May 2012, 12:26 pm
Meyer does not have to make this destinction, the experienced campaigners are doing well in Super rugby as well as a couple of youngsters.
1 Beast – back to his best (old bok)
2 Busmarck – playing well but could be better but still the best (old bok)
3 ? Tough choice as not many playing well, maybe WP Nel (new cap)
4 Etzebeth – Best by far (new cap)
5 Bekker – (relative test experience and guidence under Matfield)
6 Brussouw – Not his best so far, but still good (experiece)
7 Coetzee – Great talent (new cap)
8 Spies – Vermeulen injured (old bok)
9 F Hougard – Best 9 in Super rugby (not a lot of test xp)
10 M Steyn – Old hand, has the test winning capability (old bok)
11 Habanna – Back to his almost best (old hand)
12 F Steyn – Knows how to win games (old hand)
13 De Jong – Has some tests under the belt, playing well enough, great attack and defence. (some test xp)
14 Mvovo – great speed and strength (some test xp)
15 Kirchner/ Lambie/ Aplon – Depends on game plan (all have test xp)
15 May 2012, 12:29 pm
@line break(line break)-19: Please explain the logic of your statement saying that the team on the top of the log should only have two players on merit in the springbok team? Also it has to be seen whether the Stormers locks will trump the Bulls on Loftus. That is of course if Bekker makes it that far without being injured as he seems to be carrying niggles.
15 May 2012, 12:42 pm
“Super Rugby form is an indicator but is not the definitive measure of a Test player”"- Britney Spies and Meisiekind Olivier spring to mind
15 May 2012, 12:52 pm
Spot on KEO, def one of your better articles
15 May 2012, 12:55 pm
Pietste, was just responding to to the content in the article…. Even if Bulls win the tournament, does nt mean they should have the most Boks… Sharks are currently third in SA conference, but if test experience and player ability are the main considerations, they could have like 7/8 in starting team (beast,bismarck,alberts,mvovo, pietersen, lambie(f steyn, assuming he back at sharks)) again. etsebeth and bekker better combo than juandre and flip…. the themes prmoted in the article were1. good super rugby player not necessarily a good test player 2. experience important 3. combos over individualism…on that basis, cant see there being more than 3 bulls players… and therefore dont see why he should/would be accused of being biased towards the bulls…
15 May 2012, 13:09 pm
@line break(line break)-26: Maybe Heyneke sees Morne and Olivier as a good combo, because Morne and JdV has never worked as a combo. Is the combination between 10 and 12 as important as 12 and 13?
He may think Chilliboy, Kruger and Spies is a good lineout combo and lineouts is probably more important than front rows.
In terms of balance he may think if Bismark is picked you don’t need Brussow and rather a heavier loose trio, but on the other hand Strauss and Brussow work well together as Strauss is a better ball carier than Bismark.
All I am saying is the combo within the loosies, locks and front rows may seam good, but it is more important that a good balance between the different set of forwards is picked.
15 May 2012, 13:14 pm
@Horings(Horings)-27: That is why it may seem logical for Heyneke to only pick 2 Bulls as some members work perfectly in the Bulls set up, but not in the Bok set up (historically). 2 very good examples are W Kruger and Stegmann. They are the cleaners and work horses of the Bulls team. Jacques Potgieter may seem to do more work, but neither him nor Stander has got Stegmann’s work rate. Kruger and Greyling work as a combo, not because they scrum well together, but because Greyling is a better ball carrier and the other a better cleaner. He secures good quick ball from the rucks.
15 May 2012, 13:35 pm
Good article – The bottom line here is : From is no longer the first factor
Etzebeth
WP Nel
Marcll Coetzell
Kyolisi
Stander
Paul Jordaan
These are my picks likely new caps. I have a feeling Meyer will have Stegman as Heinrich backup although Stegman has never stoodout in his test appearances.
15 May 2012, 13:45 pm
This from Sport 24 on Morne Steyn:
Cape Town – If Super Rugby statistics are going to carry any weight in Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s deliberations over the flyhalf spot against England next month, then incumbent Morne Steyn is only entrenching his position.
The Bulls No 10 rules the roost in just about every boot-related category in the competition after Week 12.
According to latest figures in the Sydney Morning Herald, the 27-year-old heads up five departments.
For starters, his 12-point haul in the latest victory (27-24) over the Waratahs on tour last Friday boosted him to 161 overall points in 2012, nine clear of next-placed counterpart Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs (152).
These prolific scorers are due to lock horns very shortly: the Bulls, who first play the Highlanders this Saturday, meet the Chiefs in Hamilton on May 25 in a match which may go a long way to determining who tops the overall table at the end of ordinary season.
The men from Pretoria presently head the standings, one point ahead of the Waikato outfit.
Steyn also hogs top spot for most penalty goals (32), conversions (27) and dropped goals (2).
Just as significantly, the out-of-hand authority of his kicking is reflected in the fact that he sports the most kicking metres, according to the latest stats: an impressive 4,294m.
That places him fairly narrowly ahead of compatriot Joe Pietersen (3,914m), the diminutive Stormers fullback who gets surprisingly strong distance himself on touch-finders and in-field kicks – both players are a long way ahead of anyone else in Super Rugby in that regard.
And if anyone is tempted to suggest that the figures only confirm a “robotic” characteristic to Steyn, they should bear in mind that he is clearly not doing a shabby job in mixing up his game.
That is because the Bulls currently boast 36 tries – an average of just under four per game. It is a tally matched only by the Hurricanes.
The flyhalf is obviously regarded as a vital conduit in attacking play, so it suggests Steyn is back playing more adventurously out of the “pocket” he has often been accused of occupying a little too stubbornly in the past.
Adding further to the rosy picture surrounding his current form, he has the distinction of making his 100th Super Rugby appearance when the Bulls tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
Another South African featuring especially prominently in the various Super Rugby stats right now is the Sharks’ dynamic No 7 Marcell Coetzee: he heads up the category for most tackles (168) – three more than Zimbabwean-born Force captain and fellow loose-forward David Pocock.
Considering that he is also a confident runner with the ball tucked beneath an arm, Coetzee could just force himself into Bok contention at blindside flank, where the national side has a problem with several injured customers at present.
Bulls wing Bjorn Basson has just slipped to second for most tries (7), behind Andre Taylor of the Hurricanes and the Chiefs’ amazing pick-and-go phenomenon near the tryline, shiny-domed loosehead Sona Taumalolo – they both boast eight.
15 May 2012, 13:58 pm
@super_pippo(super_adi)-13:
These are the players who had missed the most tackles by the end of Round 12:
Most Missed Tackles
1. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) 31
1. Nick Phipps (Rebels) 31
3. Willem Alberts (Sharks) 26
4. Brett Sheehan (Force) 25
4. Charl Mcleod (Sharks) 25
4. Peter Grant (Stormers) 25
4. Rob Horne (Waratahs) 25
8. Andrew Ellis (Crusaders) 24
8. Willie Le Roux (Cheetahs) 24
10. Faifili Levave (Hurricanes) 23
10. Nick Cummins (Force) 23
12. Aaron Cruden (Chiefs) 22
12. Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) 22
12. JP Pietersen (Sharks) 22
15. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) 21
15. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) 21
15. Tim Whitehead (Sharks) 21
15. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) 21
19. Chris Lowrey (Blues) 20
19. Mark Gerrard (Rebels) 20
You’ll notice that Freuen’s name isn’t in there.
However, the following Kiwis made the list:
Most Missed Tackles
1. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes) 31
8. Andrew Ellis (Crusaders) 24
10. Faifili Levave (Hurricanes) 23
12. Aaron Cruden (Chiefs) 22
12. Conrad Smith (Hurricanes) 22
15. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) 21
19. Chris Lowrey (Blues) 20
And four of those – Barrett, Ellis, Cruden and Smith – are in the All Blacks squad.
15 May 2012, 14:01 pm
Must watch this Cotzee more carefully.
15 May 2012, 14:04 pm
@stew(stew)-32:
yes. watch him get fended by Dean Mumm on Youtube.
his weakness at 7 is his lack of size.
15 May 2012, 14:08 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-33: ATM Elstadt playing very well at 7 too.
15 May 2012, 14:11 pm
Combinations are important. Morne and Frans worked well as 10 / 12 in last WC. I expect to see them both there provided Frans is fit and his current form warrants selection. Morne and Jean never clicked. We may see Jean at 13 and captain. HM already expressed his admiration. Players also look up to Jean and respect him. Which is VERY important. Also was part of the Boks brains trust and on field decision makers for the last few years. Lambie is the incumbant Bok 15, and while currently playing 10, he did well enough at 15 to keep his place there. So HM can select Joe P on the bench as an impact player in the last 20. Between the 3 it covers 2 positions and all kicking duties. I suspect HM will go for experience on the wing. Habana and JPP will be there, but perhaps Basson and Mvovo are the form wingers now. Expect to see one of them on the bench. Both Habana and JPP can cover center. Aplon to be the unlucky one missing out. Backup 9, however, is not so clear cut.
The forwards…well there I am probably as unsure as HM…
15 May 2012, 14:11 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-33: Thats why we need to mould him as a fetcher….play a big ugly blindsider with him (eg a Juan Smith type player) and then we have options at no 8
15 May 2012, 14:12 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-17: Peter had no les than 17 failed selection.
15 May 2012, 14:14 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-31: I am surprised to see no Bulls on that list after their recent defensive struggles. I’d expect to see Spies on there
P.S. Morne haters – I bet your day is now spoiled?
15 May 2012, 14:14 pm
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-35: Lambie is not the incumbant, the Boks never had one under Peter. Lambie played a few tests at 15 because Frans had to cover for Jean at 12. Nothing more, nothing less. Lambie is not a test quality player.
15 May 2012, 14:15 pm
@Skeppie(Skeppie)-36:
agree. we are missing Juan Smith.
15 May 2012, 14:16 pm
Great article Keo – very true – they’re almost two different games; and the difference between Test Rugby and World Cup rugby, particularly the final, is also very different – and much higher in the latter for obvious reasons.
15 May 2012, 14:16 pm
@Skeppie(Skeppie)-36: Long term: 6 = Kolisi, 7 = Elstadt, 8 = Coetzee/Stander
15 May 2012, 14:17 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-39:
Lambie is not a test quality player.?????????
cant believe I read that right
15 May 2012, 14:19 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-39: I beg to differ. But explain to me (and the Sharks fans who are surely about to grill you), on what basis do you come to that conclusion?
15 May 2012, 14:21 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-43: perhaps it was a typo…I am holding my breath for the explanation
15 May 2012, 14:22 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-31: a player might have a reasonably high missed tackles stat but it shows he at least attempted tackle rather than the player who stands off and neither features in the tackles attempted nor the tackles missed stats because he did nothing!
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-30: what that report doesn’t tell us is that morne is only leading in those stats ONLY now that johan goosen is sidelined, when that kid was playing, morne was nowhere near him.
15 May 2012, 14:24 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-43: this is alucard, he HATES lambie, bismarck, juan de jongh. they never do anything good in his eyes.
15 May 2012, 14:25 pm
@kaksioek(kaksioek)-31:
Missed Tackles per game would be a more concise indicator of defensive frailties than total missed tackles….
15 May 2012, 14:26 pm
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-44: hes bombed attest level, nuff said. had an okay show against australia but blew that try by overunning it something kirchner, joe or aplon would never have done. pretty kak at 10 all the way through nothing uch to speak of at all.
15 May 2012, 14:27 pm
great article
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