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, 11:36 am
@Horings(Horings)-240: One would hope the present coach has learned from past mistakes?
5 Jun 2012, 11:36 am
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-192: You see the below is the problem for me
[quote]As for Siya Kolisi, he has been very impressive. But I’m in favour of allowing him the luxury of the Super rugby tournament, and a solid Currie Cup before the End of Year Tour. Let him develop at his own high pace, identify short comings in his own game, then blood him against relatively weaker nations like the Scottish or Irish.[/quote]
Why does Siya need development and Marcel does not ? Etzebeth does not ? Siya FYI already had a solid CC last season.
I agree with the above 2 selections but why dont they use the same criteria for Siya ?
5 Jun 2012, 11:36 am
@Horings(Horings)-240: Mate stop justifying every cr a p Bulls selection by referring to perceived injustices 8 years back.
5 Jun 2012, 11:37 am
@Horings(Horings)-240: There’s quite a bit to choose. 1 is past his prime and competing with 2 other’s for the starting 12 jersey. 1 is a retreaded wing, who managed to cope playing centre after Heyneke’s initial Bulls buy turned out to be a flop and the other is in the prime of his career, albeit not playing brilliant rugby possesses the ability to beat defenders in 1-on-1 situations. You talk about his inability to pass? That just lumps him with the rest of the centres in SA. Like I said, read your posts carefully before you click the submit button.
5 Jun 2012, 11:38 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-236:
What game is this?
Baby tournament?
5 Jun 2012, 11:38 am
@Superbru(Superbru)-250:
Hitory has a strange way of repeating itself! I hope you are right.
5 Jun 2012, 11:38 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-218:
I hope you’re not implying that those guys are examples of SMALL centres, all of them being 90kg+.
And the next question then is – how do they stack up to the current All Black centres, like SBW, Nonu etc.
Meyer doesn’t just want parity with these guys. He wants to dominate them physically.
And the midfield crash ball is a central part of his gameplan.
As to skill vs size. Surely the aim should be to get our big guys up to the skill level required – if indeed they fall short.
Because a skilled big guy is better than a skilled small guy.
5 Jun 2012, 11:39 am
@greybeard(greybeard)-198: I use to feel the same way you did. Tell me honestly though is Luke was captain would you still feel the same ?
I know what you trying to say and I agree with some of it but I sadly cannot support such blatant provincialism. Players are picked on where they play and the basis of their color to me. Some need development while others are deemed ready.
Thats how I see it , sorry. SA rugby has taken 20 steps backward.
5 Jun 2012, 11:40 am
@BullDog15(BullDog15)-96: You know that means turnovers conceded – not a good stat to have
5 Jun 2012, 11:41 am
Morning all
Is this the white line fever site every paper is referring to?
5 Jun 2012, 11:41 am
Dawie Tron’s baby boks also seem to be playing direct rugby and was comprehensively outplayed
Direct rugby is not the answer, you heard it hear 1st
5 Jun 2012, 11:41 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-253: possessed? I think you should do the same.
5 Jun 2012, 11:42 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-218: Those are pretty big guys
5 Jun 2012, 11:43 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-253: Is Juan de Jong playing better or worst rugby than at the start of his career? Be honest.
5 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
I nearly fell off my chair
This is not the Anglo Boer War:
‘And the midfield crash ball is a central part of his game plan’
The ABs and Aussies must be smiling …
5 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
I hate the “be honest” because it implies the only honest answer is the one which conforms to the questioner’s stance.
5 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-256: How do you upskill a test veteran? Surely this is something which should happen at junior provincial level. Skills are refined at senior provincial and franchise level. Test rugby should be the pinnacle of rugby ability.
How many centres have dominated SBW and Nonu before? How do you explain Conrad smith being so effective? Not the quickest & not the most physical? What sets him apart as the premier 13 in the world? How do you explain the effectiveness of James o Connor, Kurtley beale and quade cooper?
5 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
We will get some idea of his game plan on Saturday! It is the win that he says is of importance and he has chosen a winning squad. Let’s wait and see.
5 Jun 2012, 11:45 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-260: as oppose to what type of rugby
Cheetahs run it all the time and set the world alight with their back line play, but eish, they are not winning many are they
We could do the same if we had the right players. Goosen would make a massive difference, alongside Steyn who is an excellent distributor of the ball
5 Jun 2012, 11:46 am
@JL1(JL1)-259: Yep,you got it all,a highly addictive site regularly abusive/abused.
5 Jun 2012, 11:46 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-256: I’m implying nothing. You asked who the smallest AB centres were over the past decade, and these were the ones I could think of. I’m not pushing any size issues.
5 Jun 2012, 11:47 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-267: No we will not, he has said already that it will be more down to senior players, talent and good decision making that will win the game
The game plan and structure he said can not be implemented in 7 days
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-264: Yeah,Pocock and McCaw are smiling,turnover ball.
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@Horings(Horings)-244: About as much a chance as anyone of the 11 sharks that was picked. What chance does anyone outside Pretoria have of mastering the defensive pattern ?
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-251:
I can not for the life of me understand any reasoning for Kolisi not being in the team,a fricken disgrace.He has made such a huge impact in Super rugby, greater than Estebeth imo, that to be overlooked for national honours borders on criminal.
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@JL1(JL1)-259:
Indeed
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
@Superbru(Superbru)-269: Seems the chief in charge is doing double lines if the media stories are true….. and they must be as the chief always tells us his stories are true
5 Jun 2012, 11:48 am
Are some of you implying that Frans Steyn and De Villiers don’t have high skill levels?
5 Jun 2012, 11:49 am
@JL1(JL1)-271:
So we will be planless on Saturday! Ok – maybe like the Baby Boks then?
5 Jun 2012, 11:49 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-274: Could be that Meyer feels their system is not very different from the Bulls one.
5 Jun 2012, 11:50 am
JL
The game of rugby has evolved, not that the average afrikaner would have noticed
The perfect blend of rugby is really ‘total rugby’ as envisioned by a cullert coach from Paarl, but usurped by the likes of Victor Matfield with his Pietersburg rugby
ABs by far the best exponent of how rugby should be played; they will beat you will average size skilful players because they understand the game better
Direct rugby is back to the ‘stampkar rugby’ of Ian Mac with the Banana boys in the early 1990s
We may well be in for humiliating defeats if we advocate ‘direct rugby’
5 Jun 2012, 11:51 am
@JL1(JL1)-277:
5 Jun 2012, 11:51 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-197:
but who are not the form players there?
is there a better scrummaging frontrow?
are those not the best availible locks?
is that not the best availible backrow combo? Debatable between kolisi and coetzee…both form though and I’d have a bigger issue with alberts than spies as alberts has just played 1 decent game against the stormers and only 60minutes. Spies has played every minute of superrugby and everyone else is injured.
is there a better scrummie availible, personally for me it probably is vermaak.
morne
the centers pick themselves (steyn/devilliers)
as do the wings
fullback is debatable but meyer prefers bigger players and lambie will probably cover from the bench?
so where is form in the match day 15 been so worringly overlooked?
5 Jun 2012, 11:51 am
Everyone just drop the Siya debate now already
5 Jun 2012, 11:51 am
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-258: I don’t follow. What about “possesses”? I might be a product of the gutter education system, but English is my first language and I’m fairly competent speaking it? Unless you’re questioning my logic, I’m not too sure why you take umbrage with my statement.
5 Jun 2012, 11:52 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-267: Look the only really poor selection must be Wynand Olivier, but statistically he is one of the best in Super Rugby, which I believe is his level……but 3 Bok coaches who know more than me selected him as well…..why?
5 Jun 2012, 11:52 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-275: Agreed 100%
5 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-265:
errm why…..mccabe is the biggest crashball merchant out there.
5 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-281:
Where did you hear this “direct rugby” thing.
5 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-278: For me, it’s not up to international level.
5 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-284:
Siya later
5 Jun 2012, 11:53 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-257: That would make sense if our ‘big guys’ were skilled – but they aren’t soooooooooooooooooooooo: for now it should be, small but skilled guys are always better than borderline retards who happen to have large biceps.
5 Jun 2012, 11:55 am
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-281: Well Eddie Jones is surely a “total rugby” guy and he thinks Fourie du Preez and Matfield are some of the best strategists and thinkers the game has ever seen. And yes, they are boerkies van Noord Transvaal.
5 Jun 2012, 11:55 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-278: I think many people here have lost track of what they’re implying.
5 Jun 2012, 11:55 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-279: Yes, a South African Barbarian side if you like
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-281: I am sure Meyer will have his backs run when the opportunity is presents itself, Ricardo Loubscher is known for his running, so let us wait and see
5 Jun 2012, 11:55 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-289:
Papers (Beeld here in Pta) and websites
5 Jun 2012, 11:56 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-285: Juan does not have that ability anymore?
5 Jun 2012, 11:56 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-283: Kanko,Olivier, Kirchner, Basson
5 Jun 2012, 11:57 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-288:
Crash ball – the name says it all
You crash out of competitions with that sort of nonsense; that’s not rugby
5 Jun 2012, 11:58 am
@Stormers supporters: Cry me a river!(Horings)-293: Oh Phulease, what FdP and Matfield know, (I say in a very sarcastic voice)
of course they are the best, rated by coaches around the world and not punters in the cheap seats
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