All in to blunt Steyn’s threat
8 Jun 2012
Brad Barritt says nullifying Frans Steyn will require a collective effort not an individual one.
The Springboks have made no secret about their intention to attack England’s 10-12 axis of Owen Farrell and Barritt, with key strike runners – the most prominent back in that group being Steyn – set to test their defensive resolve.
Much of the Springboks’ success will rest on how Steyn fares in this primary role, but Barritt, a team-mate of Steyn’s at the Sharks before he opted to continue his career in England in late 2008, doesn’t feel burdened by the challenge at hand. It is a weight he says will be shared.
‘If they want to give away their tactics that’s their prerogative,’ Barritt said. ‘Gainline dominance is obviously important to the way they want to play. Ultimately it will be a collective effort in stopping [Steyn]. If their forwards can’t get front foot ball it is going to make it a hard day [for Steyn].
‘But really we’ve been focusing on ourselves and not too concerned about what they will do. We’ll try to impose ourselves on them by holding on to possession.’
England of course have a notable wrecking ball of their own in Manu Tuilagi, who impressed in the Six Nations and who is equally adept at physically dominating his opponents as he is at dazzling with his quick feet, good hands and appreciable ball skills.
Read SA Rugby magazine’s in-depth interview with Barritt
If England manage to boss the gainline and, particularly, the set pieces, against a Springbok side that will be big on defensive aggression but still seeking synergy under new structures, Tuilagi will have opportunities to isolate his counterpart Jean de Villiers, who has had limited experience at outside centre. Barritt experienced the same positional shift during the Six Nations and explained the biggest challenges De Villiers will encounter.
‘Defensively there is a a different feel about it. You have to react more instinctively because you don’t have that protection on the inside. He is very experienced and I’m sure he’ll adapt,’ he said. ‘On attack you need to be the team’s width and show that you are a running threat. Ultimately playing 12 open your eyes to what is available outside of you.’
England haven’t won in South Africa in 12 years and Barritt conceded that they were underdogs once more. However, he pointed to them defying expectations previously and says they are determined to do this once more. ‘We aren’t daunted by that tag. That was the tag for most of the Six Nations [England lost just one game].’
By Ryan Vrede, in Durban
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
176 Comments
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7 Jun 2012, 23:55 pm
@kinlaw_62(kinlaw_62)-149: That Manawatu does seem to be a factory. Almost like we have down here in Cape Town!
7 Jun 2012, 23:55 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-140: Well hello Rangemaster
7 Jun 2012, 23:58 pm
@LightZone(LightZone)-151:
Lol. Good night to all!
7 Jun 2012, 23:59 pm
Cheers pax
8 Jun 2012, 07:34 am
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-42: Why don’t you go suck HG’s balls?
8 Jun 2012, 07:49 am
@kinlaw_62(kinlaw_62)-88: I have to disagree, our lock combo is going to blow you away, also Beast is one of the best LH’s in the game, he wins more scrums then he loses them and his defence and attack is amazing.
8 Jun 2012, 07:57 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-156:
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-155:
…suck..balls..blow you away….Are you a Stormers supporter?
8 Jun 2012, 08:05 am
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-157: Yes I am and a bigger Springbok supporter. What gives you the right to question my support of the bok squad because I have a difference of opinion on the squad selection?
Your username smacks of ignorance and idiocy, would not be surprised if this is Fern.
Grow up boat and go swim in the Durban sea beyond the net and save us all from your moronic blabbering.
8 Jun 2012, 08:09 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-158:
Your post smacks of double standards Stormsader. Dogs bollocks…
You also can’t read…
8 Jun 2012, 08:57 am
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-159: Why does it smack of double standards? Please explain? I am awaiting you brilliant explination?
You are the fool that is stereo typing Stormers supportes because we question bok squad selections.
8 Jun 2012, 09:04 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-160:
It’s Great White Shark.
Ignore him
8 Jun 2012, 09:23 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-160:
I left a clue in my post.
8 Jun 2012, 09:27 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-161: It seems these “trolls”; as they are called in the international internet community, change their usernames often. It is something this website should address as it allowes the degenrate scum to apply their trade in this forum.
Thanks for the heads up, so the Great White Hype is afraid of being indentified. It seems his real usersname is PreDawn.
8 Jun 2012, 09:29 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-163:
Take a look on the right of the screen Doris. Everyone can see it but you…
8 Jun 2012, 10:05 am
I walk in and its handbags left and right
8 Jun 2012, 10:28 am
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-164: It’s all right if you can’t explain yourself properly, that is usually the case when a troll is asked to speak sense.
8 Jun 2012, 10:49 am
From what I understand the Boks have won 19 out of the last 31 games since the 1930s? That is a 61% win ratio. Most South Africans would expect that ratio to be higher and perhaps it should’ve been. At the very least what it does say is that historically the Boks are stronger than the Roses. I don’t know how many wins in SA there has been but we have smashed them on Twickenham numerous times over the last 5-6 years. Other than Kruger, Etzebeth and Coetzee most of the starting line up was involved in those games and all three of those new caps are top drawer players that could’ve arguably earned their starting berths whether there has been injuries to the incumbents or not.
A 61% win ratio clearly indicates that the odds are not that we are going to smash England, although I hope we do. A 2/3 series win would actually reflect the long term historical trend. So even if the Boks lose the first Test England won’t be breaking new ground. Especially in light of the fact that they have 3 imports in their team. If they do manage to win, let England be bit smug, because from Saturday onwards the Boks will only get stronger now that we have really competent analysts and coaches implementing national structures to unify the Bok game plan and selection. Now we just need central contracting to manage the player workload and for politicians to butt out and not rock coaching boat.
8 Jun 2012, 10:51 am
This is hilarious: Ollie le Roux has commented on the great impact our bench will make. He mentions everyone other than Wynand Olivier:
‘And the South African bench is full of players capable of making an impact on the game at Kings Park this weekend. Hooker Adriaan Strauss, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, lock Flip van der Merwe, flank Keegan Daniel and backs Ruan Pienaar and Patrick Lambie are all exciting players capable of providing the spark which could swing the game in the home side’s favour.’
That is quite funny and sad at the same time.
8 Jun 2012, 10:59 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-61:
I doubt most South Africans are dissing Botha and Barritt. I agree that Botha’s story is inspiring. He never gave up. I think most South Africans appreciate the story.
What people are saying is that players that would not make the Bok team are in the England team over their own homegrown players. That is an indication of why we have historically been stronger than England, even our 2nd Tier players make their national squad. No offence to Botha and Barritt. It is just a matter of pointing out reality to the Poms who always scheme they should be ranked higher than SA. They might squeeze a surprise victory now and then when circumstances play into their hands, like this Saturday perhaps, but on average there are very much the underdogs.
8 Jun 2012, 11:06 am
@kinlaw_62(kinlaw_62)-88:
Well, well, well. The gauntlet has been well and truly thrown. Other than Kirchner you are talking rubbish. Maybe you will sneak a win now but we will talk again in 4 years time. 75% to the Boks vs England over that time frame at least. And if they keep our current coaching guys in place for another 4 you won’t smell another Bok win.
8 Jun 2012, 11:38 am
@STBUR(STBUR)-169:
That is EXACTLY the point!
8 Jun 2012, 12:06 pm
@GermanBok(Marty)-168:
…and true.
8 Jun 2012, 14:31 pm
@STBUR(STBUR)-170:
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you know nothing about the England players, which is pretty obvious from your comments. But that is at the extreme edge of my goodwill.
8 Jun 2012, 15:56 pm
Last time I Checked Jean played quite a number of games at 13 early in his WP/Stormers & SA career so the adjustment shouldn’t be to hard Barritt
8 Jun 2012, 16:01 pm
@kinlaw_62(kinlaw_62)-173:
what year did you put 70 past the Bokke at Twickers?
8 Jun 2012, 18:18 pm
2002, and it was 53-3, 6 tries to nil! Though I can’t see that happening tomorrow…
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