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
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176 Comments
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7 Jun 2012, 16:26 pm
I remember the disappointment of the Sharks fans when F.Steyn was selected ahead of Barritt at 12 to play the Tahs in the 2008 S14 semi.
This disappointment was only aired after the game, as many supported the decision to install F.Steyn at 12.
How the times have changed…
7 Jun 2012, 16:28 pm
I hope Frans Steyn is fit and ready! Last year he did look slighlty over weight!
7 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm
Go Bokke.
@race of tan(race of tan)-2: Fransie is looking in very good shape compared to when he came home just before the WC last year. Even then over weight he was still our best player in the wc.
7 Jun 2012, 16:35 pm
‘England haven’t won is South Africa in 12 years ‘
Id like to know when last England sent over their full strength side for the June internationals?
I think this is going to be a very different Eng/Bok test series from what we are used to seeing on SA soil.
Going to be a lot tougher.
7 Jun 2012, 16:41 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-4: we dont count strength on tours, how often have we sent out-on-their-feet teams to the NH on end of year tours?
do we get credit for that when we count wins/losses then?
nope.
7 Jun 2012, 16:49 pm
Geez, England management must be having sleepless nights trying to analyse the Bok gameplan….. I know a team has to play to it s strengths…However, sometimes Plan B is needed… will be intertesting at least…Go Bulle.. I mean Bokke
7 Jun 2012, 16:53 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-4: Definitely will be a lot tougher. A lot more interested in us playing a full strength side than when they send a under strength side here.
7 Jun 2012, 16:54 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-5:
At least its our first team that usually gets sent to on these NH tours. Even if there is a perception that they are worn out.
The poms usually send out-on-their-feet second stringers. Remembering that this is the end of their season.
7 Jun 2012, 16:56 pm
@line break(line break)-6: Think they were looking some of the Bulls games. Well what I read on Sports24.
7 Jun 2012, 16:57 pm
What position has Frans been playing in Europe this season?
7 Jun 2012, 16:58 pm
England have only played the Boks once in South Africa since they beat us here in 2000, which was the 2007 two-test series, when we klapped their ‘b’ team by 50 points on both occasions. So saying that they ‘haven’t won a test in South Africa in 12 years’ is slightly disengenous.
7 Jun 2012, 17:08 pm
@Puma(Puma)-3: Agreed – F Steyn’s distribution skills at 12 were phenominal at the WC, let a lone the long range kicks he can convert in close games (M Steyn didn’t go for the one 55m penalty as it was out of range for him). I point to his absence for the loss against the Wallabies (screw the ref – we should have won the game even with his controversial decisions).
With regards to this boring game plan everyone thinks HM is going to implement, who knows…maybe he’s fooling everyone and the boks will come out running everything!
7 Jun 2012, 17:28 pm
Heyneke will have to get the results right from the start to justify his blue bok squad.
7 Jun 2012, 17:41 pm
@GermanBok(Marty)-12: We sure did miss Fransie in that quarter that is for sure. However, we should still have won it had it not been for the shameful reffing by Lawrence.
Well you know I had not even given it a tought that we may run it? We never know, but with the rain forecast I expect a tight game. Think we will play it safe for this test anyhow, just not enough time to prepare. Meyer has only really had the team for 5 days to be fair. We just may see a different game plan at Ellis Park once we have had a game together. Should be dry up there as well.
7 Jun 2012, 17:41 pm
@Puma(Puma)-14: tought = thought
7 Jun 2012, 17:44 pm
@GermanBok(Marty)-12:
A refreshing idea. Let’s hope. I am sure all SA S15 franchises must be very nervous about a “moer hulle” gameplan.
7 Jun 2012, 17:46 pm
@doc 15(doc 15)-11: So true doc. I see this happens rather often. Why not just say …in so many games…
7 Jun 2012, 17:51 pm
@willievz(willievz)-1:
I still think it was a stupid move at the time.
7 Jun 2012, 17:51 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-16: Yes for sure, so hoping no injuries.
7 Jun 2012, 17:57 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-4:
It’s an embarrassment, really, such a kind of bombastic, made up nonsense.
Truly 3rd world sub standards of journalism
7 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
“Brad Barritt says nullifying Frans Steyn will require a collective effort not an individual one”
Sounds like an excuse already, the game hasn’t even started yet
7 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
Oh here we go again. The messiah, the last bastion of hope. Funny he couldnt do anything against top opposition when he played against them. I remember him having a horrid Tri Nations a couple of years ago when Jean was injured, knocking on balls, slipping tackles. Please spare us. Fransie should be the last thing the English should worry about. Oerrated Guppie. He’ll prove his worth playing for the Sharks and the Boks. Now there’s nowehere to hide!
7 Jun 2012, 18:00 pm
Coach Lancaster.
Sounds more like an delivery truck full of cheese than a rugby coach
7 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-5:
The EOYT format required now a full (available) strenght squad with matching financial clauses to ensure it
The 2007 tour included maybe one or two from the Poms’ RWC squad and it was an exception
7 Jun 2012, 18:03 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-23:
Mind the gap. Lancaster is a down to earth, humble family guy. Unlike his stuck up predecessors.
7 Jun 2012, 18:04 pm
When is the last time ENG beat us at Twickenham?
The arrogance from the poms urks me.
If it doesn’t rain on match day then ENG will get their arses kicked.
7 Jun 2012, 18:07 pm
Coenie in a Bok jersey. Best image ever!
7 Jun 2012, 18:08 pm
@ Jinx,
I don’t know him personally but ENG in general are arrogant cnuts.
7 Jun 2012, 18:09 pm
John Smit not in Bok jersey. Heavenly image
7 Jun 2012, 18:11 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-28:
Their rugby culture, in particular
Bunch of snobs.
In the North the people are very mellow. Mince pies and curly fries.
7 Jun 2012, 18:12 pm
I see on twitter someoen made this comment which is farking hikkarious
“John Smit, the only h00ker Keohane didn’t have”
7 Jun 2012, 18:12 pm
@Puma(Puma)-14:
Bryce Lawrence had a shameful refereeing at Durban in 2009 when he helped the Boks to beat the British Lions?
No one here protested then, no one will protest if Steve Walsh will do the same on Saturday?
A half decent Boks Team should have squashed the Aussies on that day anyway
But they didn’t,,,,
7 Jun 2012, 18:18 pm
I wonder how many times we going to hear “steyn to steyn”
Playing next to each other.
Sounds like Rock&Roll band
7 Jun 2012, 18:23 pm
I saw Kyknet had piece on Darren Scott, never knew all that personal stuff about him.
Good bloke, I’m happy he’s on his feet again with Ballz radio.
7 Jun 2012, 18:34 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-33: sounds more like they in the clothing business, there is a steyn next to a steyn
7 Jun 2012, 18:35 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-32: so it wasnt the lack of non white players that made us win on that occasion?? but this time the ref helped us>> bwahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
7 Jun 2012, 18:38 pm
@ sharkslover,
Hondo loves the look of the bench, I wonder why?
7 Jun 2012, 18:45 pm
Clive Woodward did everything he could to avoid playing in SA after they bagged that win in Bloem. Although the Boks went up north every year with a depleated side to get slapped around by England, we never had the pleasure of their company for a long time leading up to their ball hair win in Aus.
Could it be that Sir Clive thought that exposing his team to the nasty old Boks at home would be damaging to English confidence.
Maybe he desperately wanted to tour the republic but the BIg Boys on the IRB scheduled the games in this way. It just seemed that over a long period of Time the Boks played at Twickers very regularly, but hardly ever had the home advantage.
I like this 3 test plus midweek games very much.
I wish we could do the same. Play England 3 times, maybe convince them to play atr least one game up north away from the confines of LandRovers, Port and tweed at the Twickers car park, and maybe think about allowing Northerners access to their National team.
Midweek games could be against English clubs, The Boks have already done this, losing to Saracens and Leicester.
Playing one offs up there seems a waste of time. Series build a momentum of interest.
Just a thought.
7 Jun 2012, 18:58 pm
Give Steyn a blunt and he will be smokin’
7 Jun 2012, 19:08 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-28:
You making us look timid. I won’t comment on such a statement.
7 Jun 2012, 19:10 pm
Frans Steyn was undoubtably the only influencial player in the Bok team at the RWC. It must have been soul destroying for the team whe he was injured.
The kid has an X-factor in the midfield that is only matched by the Kiwi teams.
7 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm
Who will win the first Test at Kings Park?
Boks by 1-7
270
Boks by 8-14
262
England by 1-7
115
Boks by 15-plus
72
England by 8-14
42
England by 15-plus
22
I check the Stormsader fans are hoping for an England victory…
7 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm
South Africa playing at home are firm favourites.
7 Jun 2012, 19:31 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-42:
predawn
7 Jun 2012, 19:33 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-42:
When you first started with the Stormers are anti Boks charade I found it funny as I thought you were clearly taking the pis(s). then after a few days it became mildly irritating as I thought you were overplaying it a bit. But now you just come across as a tool.
It’s time for you to move on to a new act buddy, this punchline is wering a bit thin now.
7 Jun 2012, 19:41 pm
Har har har de har Predawn
7 Jun 2012, 19:41 pm
@Golden Boy(Golden Boy)-45: why not challenge you stormer mate re the insulting nic re the sharks and dog food??
7 Jun 2012, 19:43 pm
Oh hell Predawn has now facing the wrath of Dawn
7 Jun 2012, 19:51 pm
I have to say I look at this England team and see Barritt and Botha and it is just kinda pathetic. They could have had Matt Stevens as well making it 3. That would be 1/5 of the team SA born, bred and rugby trained.
So it just kinda looks pathetic.
Barritt and Botha would not have ever SMELT a Bok jersey. So what is all the fuss about? Barritt is not and has never been close to Steyn’s class, nor ever even near Jean’s kind of experience and history. He is an average player that on the odd occasions has played above his ability. They are simply NOT world class.
This goes for MOST of the English team.
Sure, if the rusty boks with a few newbies don’t arrive to play, they will MAYBE lose. But even then for the English to even HOPE of winning their average players and average team will need to play together like they have never played before.
It is as simple as that for them. Good luck for then if they manage to do it and the rusty boks arrive and do not play to their potential.
BUT if the Boks do arrive and get a head of steam, then this very average English outfit will get blown off the park.
And the simple reason is that AVERAGE players like Barritt and Botha who could not make it in SA know that the Steyn et al are in a league that they will never be able to reach. Mentally they know this.
7 Jun 2012, 19:53 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-47:
Sorry S_L but I do not support the Stormers…but thank you for trying to place me in a box so that you could hurl insults..seems things are always black and white for some people
As for Epol, I think he is a chop as well. Only slightly less embarrassing than that sham skoppie
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