Lancaster not fazed by mysterious Boks
5 Jun 2012
Stuart Lancaster says in the absence of footage of a Heyneke Meyer-coached Springbok side they have been forced to review Bulls matches and garner information from within his own squad.
The Springboks have only four days to prepare for the first Test against England in Durban on Saturday, which is clearly a significant obstacle. However, their advantage stems from England’s limited analysis material, whilst Meyer and technical analyst Rassie Erasmus have a wealth of information from England’s Six Nations campaign on which to build their challenge.
Lancaster acknowledged that it was a disadvantage but explained that there are avenues they have explored in order to fill in the gaps in their knowledge.
‘You go back through previous teams that he coached, he has a long association with the Bulls, and he also spent seven months at Leicester. We have six or seven players who’ve worked under him and given us insight into him as a person as coach,’ Lancaster said. ‘The beauty of this tour is that we play each other three times in three weeks so we are going to know each other inside out at the end. It’s more about who learns quickly during the game and who adapts to the match situation.
‘South Africa would have had a good chance to have a look at us during the Six Nations, while their last game was the World Cup quarter-final in 2011. So that’s a clear advantage. But again it’s about adapting quickly, especially in the first Test because come Sunday both sides will have a clearer idea of the other’s strengths and limitations.’
Click here to read Stuart Barnes’ take on Stuart Lancaster
Lancaster also explained that the experience and familiarity of the Springboks’ senior players will soften the impact of an inadequate build up.
‘The Springboks have had limited preparation for this series, but they have a core of players who played not only in the World Cup but prior to that as well. There will be a common understanding and philosophy. South Africa are a difficult side at home, irrespective of their preparation time.’
England last won in South Africa 12 years ago. It signalled the start of a golden era which culminated in them winning the World Cup in 2003. Asked whether this was their best opportunity since that last victory to return with the Bok scalp, Lancaster offered: ‘I tend not to look back, but rather forward to where we want to go.
‘This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity to test ourselves against high quality opposition in their own back yard. A tour doesn’t get any tougher than facing South Africa in South Africa, as the British & Irish Lions found out in 2009.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Durban
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635 Comments
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5 Jun 2012, 11:08 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-189:
Eish, just looks more and more like a deer in the headlights to me…if we lose on Saturday this man is going to realize that the media banter about his selections is not the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the pressures of his job.
5 Jun 2012, 11:08 am
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-192:
I stopped reading at the 2nd paragraph.
There wasn’t an uproar when Streauli got the job.
The k@k hit the fan when he started his strange selections.
5 Jun 2012, 11:08 am
Would someone enlighten me as to who the smallest All Black centres were in the last 5-10 years?
5 Jun 2012, 11:09 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-199:
History! Hey you are my friend. Shurrup!
5 Jun 2012, 11:09 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-199: So do you now have pink ballas hanging next to the blue ones on your towbar. How many titles have been won by a team wearing pink?
5 Jun 2012, 11:10 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-203: Size isn’t everything. They are very skillful.
5 Jun 2012, 11:10 am
Mysterious Boks…can’t help but chuckle everytime I see that headline. Their gameplan and approach is going to be as mysterious as the alcoholic beverage of choice at a party in Welkom
5 Jun 2012, 11:11 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-196:
And that’s whats pissing off so many supporters.
All the contradictions, certain rules applying only to certain players from a certain union.
5 Jun 2012, 11:11 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-175: It does if you have the best defensive record i nthe championship. Do you want to check the territory and possesion stats for 2011 final? France had more possesion and more territory, but still lost.
Bulls could not get through our defence, so we won because we could get through theirs. Stop moaning because you have been beaten at home twice in two seasons!
5 Jun 2012, 11:13 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-197:
Best chirp of the week award. You cracked me up and that after leaving on a high.
5 Jun 2012, 11:14 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-203: Christian Cullen. The comparison to the AB’s is flawed, because they had superior ball-skills.
I know you don’t have an appreciation for 7′s but my analogy would be to put the AB backline against the Bok backline in a 7′s game. it will test spatial awareness, passing ability, tackling, support play.
5 Jun 2012, 11:15 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-203:
If you go back to 95 there was a certain player weighing in at 86 kgs.
Frank Bunce.
Aussie legend Tim Horan also wasn’t the biggest around.
Look, these smaller but talented players don’t come around often but when they do a coach worth his salt will use them appropriately.
5 Jun 2012, 11:15 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-57:
“unleash the doodpoes”
5 Jun 2012, 11:16 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-193: Listen dude, some of us are depressed enough as it is without you throwing these confirmations of our worst fears in our faces every 3 posts. Have a heart, please.
5 Jun 2012, 11:16 am
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-201:
Ja I said if we lose on Saturday there will be a lot of (un)happy people.
5 Jun 2012, 11:16 am
@ufo(ufo)-155:
you forgot:
‘all over rover’…
5 Jun 2012, 11:17 am
The Make up of the Boks aside, what really should concern Lancaster and the RFU would be to ensure the integrity of the referees?
Based on the performance of Bryce Lawrence and Berdoe the first 2 Tests against the British Lions in 2009, I would say the least the Poms must insist on is some kind of lie detector tests to ensure no ‘diamonds studded gold Rolex’ practice,
And they have to do prior to the test, not raising hell afterward
5 Jun 2012, 11:18 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-203: This is not comprehensive – just a few I could think of:
Aaron Mauger: 1.83m / 93kg
Dan Carter: 1.78m / 94kg
Conrad Smith: 1.56m / 95kg
Sam Tuitupo: 1.75m / 93kg
5 Jun 2012, 11:19 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-211: If you want to beat the All Blacks play the style you are used to. Meyer has been known to bring in expertise from other sporting codes and from other countries to tweak our players’ skills and to bring in new ideas, but he keeps to a South African playing style.
5 Jun 2012, 11:19 am
Joanne’s back
5 Jun 2012, 11:19 am
Jir Tac
Your posts are getting torn to shreds.
Much like your rugby theory and predictions have.
5 Jun 2012, 11:20 am
@Nikita(Nikita)-210:
Do I win something? When are the awards?
5 Jun 2012, 11:20 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-218: Of course, CS is 1.86, not 1.56m
5 Jun 2012, 11:20 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-220: What about her front?
5 Jun 2012, 11:20 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-218:
Geez, Conrad Smith is one heavy midget!
5 Jun 2012, 11:22 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-218: Juan de Jong’s size may have played a role in him not being selected, but to be fair is he any good? He cannot pass. He has a predictable step that worked against Wales and Waratahs in his first full season, but not again. Aplon I am not happy with as he will be better than Kirchner any day.
5 Jun 2012, 11:22 am
@Horings(Horings)-219:
Both the Sharks & Cheetahs have shown there’s different styles of SA Rugby if you have players and coaches willing to go that route.
5 Jun 2012, 11:23 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-195: Tell me, who’s outside backs scored the most tries over the last two seasons? De Jongh or Olivier?
5 Jun 2012, 11:23 am
@Horings(Horings)-219: How well has that worked over the last few years? Even when the players insisted on that style, they still came up short.
If you were and All Black right now, who would you want to be playing against? Basson\Mvovo or Aplon? De Jong or JJ? Coetzee\Kanko or Brussouw\Kolisi?
5 Jun 2012, 11:23 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-222:
Yes but it is a sprint for the line.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-224:
5 Jun 2012, 11:24 am
@Horings(Horings)-226: Kirchner was picked for his Movie Star good looks (Sideshow Bob)
5 Jun 2012, 11:24 am
@Horings(Horings)-219:
Other codes and other countries hey? That leaves the door open for Olivia Newton John to come and teach Pierre Spies how to “get physical” Thank all the rugby gods – there is hope yet
5 Jun 2012, 11:25 am
@Nikita(Nikita)-230: Yes, this site is as addictive as coc… as cigarettes.
5 Jun 2012, 11:25 am
@Horings(Horings)-226:
So you’d pick Wynand who’s been a repeat failure at Test level over De Jongh who’s shown he has the aptitude for elite rugby when given the opportunity?
5 Jun 2012, 11:26 am
What exactly is Meyer’s definition of ‘direct rugby’ ?
I hope it’s not running directly onto the opponent/defender, but I suspect that’s exactly what he has in mind.
Well rugby is in essence about scoring tries (highest reward) and the way to do that is to create an overlap. The overlap is created by the attacking player running into space, creating doubt with 2 defenders and both attempting to defend.
This frees up the rest of the attacking team and the logical result is a try every time.
By selecting a bloke like Wynand Olivier he is giving all of us clue of how he understands direct rugby.
5 Jun 2012, 11:26 am
@Horings(Horings)-226: And JJ and Meisiekind have set the super rugby competition on fire. at least read your posts before clicking the submit button.
5 Jun 2012, 11:27 am
Sitting in my office, watcing the start of the Wallaby vs. Scotland game. Got to love DSTV at he office and midweek games. Who should I be supporting?
5 Jun 2012, 11:27 am
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-228:
Tell me, who’s been an absolute let down at Test Rugby after 30 games.
Wynand or De Jongh?
5 Jun 2012, 11:28 am
What exactly is Meyer’s definition of ‘direct rugby’ ?
I hope it’s not running directly onto the opponent/defender, but I suspect that’s exactly what he has in mind.
Well rugby is in essence about scoring tries (highest reward) and the way to do that is to create an overlap.The overlap is created by the attacking player running into space, creating doubt with 2 defenders and both attempting to defend.
This frees up the rest of the attacking team and the logical result is a try every time. By selecting a bloke like Wynand Olivier he is giving all of us clue of how he understands direct rugby.
5 Jun 2012, 11:28 am
@Nikita(Nikita)-230:
5 Jun 2012, 11:30 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-235: My point is if there is so little to choose between Olvier, JJ and de Jong then he has all the right not to chose de Jong. Remember in 2004 when Ettienne Botha was not picked after breaking the CC record for tries scored. Wayne Julies was picked ahead of him. Now that was shocking!
5 Jun 2012, 11:30 am
@Horings(Horings)-226: @Horings(Horings)-226: If the boks play a passing game I would agree with you cos Juan biggest fault is his passing. His step while predictable is still extrenely difficult to defend against as shown every week.
However with both Steyn’s there and the likes of Basson and Kirchner the boks will not deploy a passing game. Instead the gameplan will be based on defence. once again I remind you that the stormers are the best defensive side in the comp . the same side with De Jong at centre for everygame so far. Not a argurement for his inclusion , just shooting down that theory.
We can go on and on with this and eventually guys like Tact will claim that tired of this and cannot get through our thick skulls while the truth is they cannot defend the selections,
5 Jun 2012, 11:31 am
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-228: Well you could also ask who has had more defensive lapses,De Jongh or Olivier?
5 Jun 2012, 11:31 am
@Horings(Horings)-240: And yes at the time Heneke was the biggest supporter of Ettienne , seems size did not matter back then. Maybe the bulls jersey makes them look bigger ?
PS – Just how big is Basson by the way ? He looks about 80 off Kg’s
5 Jun 2012, 11:32 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-241: They are, but are they the best defensive side when John McFarland’s defensive strategy is used. The Stormers have a very different (but very efficient) defensive system, but will they be able to master a different system in 5 days time?
5 Jun 2012, 11:32 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-238:
You have an even clearer idea of his approach with F Steyn at 12
5 Jun 2012, 11:33 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-243: Like I said maybe it is just because juan is k a k!
5 Jun 2012, 11:33 am
its a pretty good team. aside from 3 debutants meyer has gone for about the most experienced team he could pick if the 15 proposed above start in 1st test. 7 sharks (incl Frans Steyn) so hardly a bulls bias. i reckon brussouw is biggest ommision.
5 Jun 2012, 11:34 am
Basson is selected purely for speed and ability in the air.
5 Jun 2012, 11:34 am
@Horings(Horings)-246:
Maybe
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