Springboks vs England – 1st Test preview
8 Jun 2012
RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks the winner in Saturday’s match at Kings Park.
It has been 12 years since England beat the Springboks in South Africa, but you get the sense they strongly believe they can snap that streak. Their quiet confidence is likely rooted primarily in this new-look group having had a strong Six Nations campaign, in which they beat France away, extended preparation time and the Springboks’ limitations in this regard.
They also give you the impression they think that is their most gifted squad in years. However, while they have some players of high promise in their back division, I have reservations about their pack’s ability to match the Springboks’ physicality.
The gainline battle is unfailingly key to victory in Test matches and with the the Springboks’ key strike runners all boasting appreciable bulk, they will be expected to boss this facet of play on attack. England’s 10-12 axis of Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt will be targeted, with Frans Steyn in particular asked to test their defensive resolve, a battle I believe he will win.
England, however, will encounter an opponent high on defensive aggression, but, given the aforementioned preparation time, relatively low on synergy. If they can get the likes of Manu Tuilagi into space, the midfielder could ask some stern questions, especially if he isolates counterpart Jean de Villiers, who isn’t accustomed to the defensive demands of a position coaches agree is the hardest to defend in.
South Africa will hope to limit Tuilagi and co’s attacking opportunities to deep in their own territory through a kick-chase tactic. Here’s where there are some concerns. Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will be asked to kick regularly, but this facet of his game hasn’t been strong in Super Rugby. England, if granted broken-field opportunities through poor kicks England have the personnel to punish their hosts. Hougaard must deliver a kicking performance that surpasses anything he has produced this season. His showing in this facet of play at Soccer City in 2010 suggests he has it in him. Here’s hoping he replicates that performance.
The other area of interest is the lineouts, where debutant Juandre Kruger will take command. The Bulls man has been central to the their success at the set piece (no team has stolen more balls, or is own secure on their own feed) and by all accounts has a Matfield-like dedication to studying the opposition’s lineout. Given that the majority of tries in Test rugby in the last two years have been birthed from lineout feeds in or just outside the opposition’s 22, Kruger will be absolutely key to the Springboks’ success. England have a relatively new second-row combination as well, so they may not have the experience and tactical intelligence to exploit vulnerabilities here. I sense Kruger will step up.
Despite Hougaard’s aforementioned kicking concerns, in Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner and Frans Steyn they have enough tactical kickers to limit England to launches from unfavourable field positions. I expect them to succeed in their bid to pressure England into infringements and turnovers in their territory. Morne Steyn’s goal kicking will again be decisive and, with Frans Steyn’s gun boot, England will also be acutely aware of ill-discipline in positions that would not usually be kickable ones.
The Boks also have a far superior bench that will galvanise them as the second half wears on. All this points to towards a successful start to Heyneke Meyer’s reign and an important psychological blow in the three-Test series.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 9
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Wynand Olivier.
England – 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Paul Doran Jones, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Jonathan Joseph
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298 Comments
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8 Jun 2012, 13:00 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-43: Ah, I see you got there first.
8 Jun 2012, 13:01 pm
It’s quite interesting how the sentiment about the English team on this site have chabged from “the poms are rubbish” to “it we will be a close game”. Are all the Bulls and Sharks supporters coming to their senses?
8 Jun 2012, 13:01 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-46: Your accusation and stereotyping only effects post admmission why, in your above statemnet you made no such specification.
“I can safely tell you now, that Heyneke Meyer’s tenure will end in tears for you, he will along with all the poor Afrikaner coaches the boks have had sink us us into disgrace.”
8 Jun 2012, 13:02 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-43: Please provide statistical evidence, I can easily point you to John Williams, ( Lucky Gerry Sonnekus), Makgraaff, Du Plessis, Vijloen, Straueli unless you Afrikaners now reckon PDV is one of you, how ironic?
8 Jun 2012, 13:03 pm
@willievz(willievz)-21: Ag nee fok net nie Dagbreek nie. Julle ouens behoort mos te hou van die “hoofseun-mentaliteit” van HM en sy chronies.
8 Jun 2012, 13:04 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-50: Facts are facts, you state only your own opinion.
8 Jun 2012, 13:04 pm
Lancaster is not Johnson. The dinosaur England, built on belligerence and arrogance, has been replaced by a team with intelligence, humility and a great spirit of cohesion and teamwork. It has what all great teams have: Genuine strength of character.
In that sense the coaches are similar. HM starts with who you are, not what fancy skills you have, and he builds teams with that sense of all-for-one/one-for-all. The problem is that it’s not a just-add-water formula. It takes time to build trust, camaraderie and the consistent excellence that will emerge.
The new bok coach should have been announced immediately post RWC, and should have overlapped with the old one. Aside from player availabiltity consequences it would have allowed a longer runway for building the new cuture that is at the core of the discussion. I, for one, will be much more interested in whether HM has built the foundations of a great team than whether we get the bounce of the ball or not.
The Boks can win the game and the series, but our hope has to be that, win or lose, we see them announce a new era of intelligent, consistent and formidable bok rugby. It may be too much to expect but it is far from impossible.
HM whatever else you achieve tomorrow we would be thrilled to see the post 2007 clown show relegated to history. Please restore our pride and our hope.
8 Jun 2012, 13:05 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-50: As I say, according to your argument it would mean that in future all the black springbok coaches will be useless because De Villiers was useless. What a idiot.
8 Jun 2012, 13:06 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-37: Nah mate, they are losing it and losing it fast. Every question, every opinion, every statement that has the words, Bulls or Meyer in it, is being pounced on. They are taking it far too personally, and I hope they get used to this, otherwise Meyer’s tenure is going to be more stressful for the Bulls fans than what it will be for Meyer himself. Did they expect people to just stop having opinions because Heyneke got the job?
You Bulls fans are not in homogeneous Kansas anymore…
8 Jun 2012, 13:07 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-49: show it, I can show mine, not that I disagree with the black politician incompetencies, O know some of these guys personally and they are useless pieces of shhyyyte.
8 Jun 2012, 13:09 pm
@lockforward.com(lockforward.com)-57: “a team with intelligence, humility and a great spirit of cohesion and teamwork”
Really, humility? Did you not see names like Ashton and Haskell on the team sheet?
8 Jun 2012, 13:09 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-46: ja sure…in any event, Jake and Kitch are/were honorary dutc.hmen
8 Jun 2012, 13:10 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-60: Don’t challenge me then if you agree with me. Regardless of how much it pains you.
8 Jun 2012, 13:10 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-10: Are you claiming to know exactly who voted for which result or are you just sucking this crapola out of your thumb as usual?
8 Jun 2012, 13:11 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-54: John Williams was a English bloke buudy.
8 Jun 2012, 13:12 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-54: Although I don’t appreciate the racial undertones appearing in your comments, I must agree with your assesment of some of the coaches since re-admission. I don’t think the fact that they are all Afrikaans speaking is a coincidence. Most of them obviously displayed the Afrikaner Laager mentatility that Skoppie often refers to. The only exception here might have been Carel du Plessis, but he wasn’t given enough time to prove himself. I would go even further to say that what we needed was a foreign coach to inject some finesse into our rugby, but instead we got HM and his “selgroepie” from Pretoria.
By the way I’m considered as an Afrikaner myself, so hear it from the horse’s mouth
8 Jun 2012, 13:12 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-65: Johannes willemse
8 Jun 2012, 13:13 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-53: you were quick to answer before reading the other post which clearly states the era I’m referring to, some of us don’t recognize the Boks before 1992 for obvious reasons I’m not prepared to go into.
8 Jun 2012, 13:15 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-56: You can choose to be an Ostrich and bury your head in the sand or you can look at the glaring statistics, facts.
8 Jun 2012, 13:15 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-66: He’s a Yoofleaguer. Can’t help it – part of their manifesto.
8 Jun 2012, 13:15 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-65: John Williams was as Afrikaans as Brannewyn and Coke, same way Matfield is, even though they have English surnames.
8 Jun 2012, 13:16 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-61:
fark,
i want eben or coenie to say ‘howzit’ to that ashton preeck so bad…
8 Jun 2012, 13:18 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-72: Ashton is truly the HG of rugby players. To see him chow dirt at the hands of ANY Bok player will be special………
8 Jun 2012, 13:18 pm
@61: Yes. Both have histories of arrogance and ego-centricity, and neither will remain in the team if they are still that way. Haskell is my biggest surprise in their squad. He is a big man, but that’s about the most positive thing you could say about him. He’s going to hand us 3 to 9 points in penalties.
8 Jun 2012, 13:19 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-63: There’s a clip on Youtube where Tuilagi knocks out Ashton – might give you some pleasure
There also a clip where Haskell knocks over a journalist….
8 Jun 2012, 13:19 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-70: Just don’t point any glaring deficiences among his brethren
8 Jun 2012, 13:20 pm
So if we use this information vis-a-vis English/Afrikaans coaches maybe we should then think have an English head coach with Afrikaans assistants? The English guy will bring out and coach for the flair whereas the Afrikaans will be there to get the focus instilled in the team.
8 Jun 2012, 13:23 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-75: The Haskell clip is as fake as he is.
Saw the Tuilagi combination – nice quick hands.
8 Jun 2012, 13:23 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-55: Al die hoofseuns gaan Eendrag toe
Stellenbosch oor die algemeen het ‘n groot heldeverering vir HM, want daar is ‘n moerse klomp Bul-ondersteuners op daai kampus
8 Jun 2012, 13:24 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-65: John Williams was Afrikaans speaking.
8 Jun 2012, 13:25 pm
@lockforward.com(lockforward.com)-74: Looks like you managed to fill the back row berths quite well without him though, and then there’s also Tom Croft. And if you’re still short, we’ll send you some more
8 Jun 2012, 13:26 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-41: John Williams English speaking? HAHAHAHA. Also please look at the degree of intereference suffered by Ian Mac at the hands of Louis Luyt (another well known Engelsman ne?)
8 Jun 2012, 13:27 pm
@trupisero(trupisero)-76: He’s actually trawling the web as we speak for evidence of a decent black politician to put me in my place, but not even Google is that good.
8 Jun 2012, 13:27 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-80:
So what does he speak now?
8 Jun 2012, 13:28 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-83: NM?
8 Jun 2012, 13:28 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-73:
agreed.
will make a good win even better.
8 Jun 2012, 13:29 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-83:
Nelson Mandela?
8 Jun 2012, 13:29 pm
this English team is not a good team, they bearly scraped past Italy and Scotland, all thanks to two charge down tries. all this aside, if we cannot beat this team that they bring out on Saturday afternoon, what chance do we have against Australia and the All Blacks later this year.
8 Jun 2012, 13:29 pm
@lockforward.com(lockforward.com)-57: good post!
8 Jun 2012, 13:29 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-66:
Carel du Plessis was hard done by.
He had a fantastic philosophy, oh what could have been.
(Wasn’t Keohane involved back then in getting Carel du Plessis axed?)
8 Jun 2012, 13:32 pm
@Beertjie(Beertjie)-85: @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-87: Besides the obvious ONE?
8 Jun 2012, 13:32 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-65: Please! John Williams is as Afrikaans as they come in all but his name – in fact – in 1976 a Broederbond plot to oust Morne du Plessis as Bok captain was revealed by the Sunday Times. It was felt that he was “too English”. And hbis replacement was to be? Yes you guessed it, John Williams. Williams is a ******** man!
8 Jun 2012, 13:32 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-90:
Maybe Mark got a Sniff that something was out of Line
8 Jun 2012, 13:33 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-91: Heyneke can be the Mandela of rugby coaches
8 Jun 2012, 13:34 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-68: Aren’t we lucky to have you on board , self confessed ” before 1992 ” I had no interest in Rugby” , but my opion is worth more than gold.
So Mr: know it all , whats wrong with SA soccer, at least Rugby with all its useless afrikaner coaches we won WC 2 and are number 1-4 in rankings.
Bafana still dropping, number 100 here we come.
8 Jun 2012, 13:35 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-92: So now d*u*t*c*h is a swear word? O fok!
8 Jun 2012, 13:35 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-90: no he was busy with something else , we are not allowed to mention.
8 Jun 2012, 13:35 pm
@Beertjie(Beertjie)-94:
I hope so.
8 Jun 2012, 13:36 pm
@capebull(capebull)-95: Soccer’s problem is there is no political interference.
8 Jun 2012, 13:38 pm
@capebull(capebull)-95: You know, in his defence, Xhosa kid is not saying that Afrikaners are useless – your own lager mentality might deduce that but he isnt saying that at all. He is simply pointing out that English speakers have, in the main, been far more successful than Afr speakers since readmission. And that in a rugby culture that is predominantly Afirkaans. Im sure the reasons for this are many and complex, and not simply a matter of language or genetic makeup. Cultural factors no doubt come into play – Id like ot see a study done of this. FAct is, Xhosa kid makes a valid point, and instead of readjusting the chips on our own shoulders, we should ask ourselves why this is? I for one believe that Meyer will bean exceptionally good coach.
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