Bok halfback pair raring to go
12 Aug 2012
Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher says Morne Steyn and Francois Hougaard are in a ‘good space’ following inconsistent showings during the June Test series.
Scrumhalf Hougaard and flyhalf Steyn are likely to spearhead the Boks when they open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina at Newlands this Saturday. The duo has come under criticism since the 2-0 series win over England, with Hougaard struggling with his tactical kicking game and Steyn disappointing with his goal-kicking.
The latter only managed to convert 13 kicks from 23 attempts over the three matches, which is a success rate of 57%. He also missed four goal attempts in the third Test in PE, which ended in a 14-14 stalemate.
However, Loubscher stressed that the two players have been looking good after the first week of training and are excited to make a positive contribution upon their return to the Test stage.
‘Francois is in a good space,’ Loubscher told keo.co.za. ‘We had a good look into him this past week, and there is a lot of energy. We’re looking forward to get in a great second week ahead of the first Test against Argentina.
‘In terms of Morne, he’s been a professional for a long time. He will know what he needs to work on, and he’ll be looking to pick up form and maintain those high standards that we’re all used to. He’s also in a good space.’
Loubscher added that while Steyn’s goal-kicking has been substandard, his all-round play has been impressive.
‘If you look at most of the tries we scored against England, you will see Morne played a huge part during those attacks. I’m very happy with his contribution in general play and I’m sure he’ll continue to make an impact in that regard.’
Loubscher also expressed his excitement in the return of inside centre Frans Steyn and his partnership with skipper Jean de Villiers. The Sharks man missed the third Test as he got married that weekend and went on honeymoon.
‘Frans is in great shape and plays a massive role in our backline play. He’s a strong ball carrier and helps the team get over the advantage line. I’m excited that he’s back in the team. The fact that he’s so versatile in terms of where he plays is also a big advantage.
‘I’ve also enjoyed Jean de Villiers’s stint at outside centre. I think he’s adapted really well. It’s good to have your leader play out wide as he’s a key decision maker, especially when the team is getting over the gainline.’
By Gareth Duncan, in Cape Town
72 Comments
12 Aug 2012, 13:50 pm
Excited for this season of championship rugby!
12 Aug 2012, 13:51 pm
If we are technically good at the breakdown and get our fair share of frontfootball in the tournament…..the backline will be a threat.
it’s strange really, everyone is looking at hougaard and morne as problems, personally, DeVilliers doesn’t fill me with any sort of excitement.
go figure
12 Aug 2012, 14:02 pm
What is all this ‘space’ all about?It is true that the two mentioned players were on a planet of their own…especially Steyn.One more indifferent performance from Steyn and he should be axed.
12 Aug 2012, 14:04 pm
The only one I am worried about is Morne Steyn. There is no way he should be in the team.
12 Aug 2012, 14:09 pm
Hougaard can be utilised on the wing,but where do we fit in Morne Steyn when things go pear-shaped for him?
12 Aug 2012, 14:10 pm
well, I guess we are all hoping that the last 4 weeks off has been a decent mini break for steyn.
watching the bulls on friday night, I hear bladen mention that, friday was the first time werner kruger was on the bench….for a CC game nogal.
72 consecutive superrugby games.
12 Aug 2012, 14:13 pm
@wnbb-5: He will fit in nicely in the Bulls’ CC team.
12 Aug 2012, 14:22 pm
Actually, I wouldn’t play him for the Bulls either.
12 Aug 2012, 14:25 pm
Backlines fine – depends entirely how hougaard and morne are used – if they told kick-chase it’s useless – if encouraged to attack and take darts it can be a handful.
12 Aug 2012, 14:28 pm
I just hope the Newlands crowd don’t give him the bird on Saturday.I still can’t erase his shocked-look from my memory bank when the PE crowd laid into him.
12 Aug 2012, 14:28 pm
@kaksioek-8:
well, whatever happens he’ll need to get his game back quick because that kid fouche with the bulls looks very underrated.
12 Aug 2012, 14:31 pm
If they want a tactical kicking scrumhalf then hougaard is a pointless selection – if used correctly he could however be a massive weapon.
I figure rhe kickchase is going to go titties up and hougaards execution will be blamed, when it’s the undelying tactics at fault, you can maybe beat england and argentina with kickchase – not new Zealand or australie away, no chance forget it.
12 Aug 2012, 14:31 pm
@wnbb-10:
how quickly they forget….
didn’t he score 31 points against the all blacks at newlands?
doubt that record will get broken in the next 50 years or more
12 Aug 2012, 14:34 pm
You are only as good as your last game Brigadier.
12 Aug 2012, 14:38 pm
@cab-12:
for the life of me I have no idea why everone goes on and on about the kick-chase.
it is a bonafide rugby tactic that reaps reward if executed correctly.
Variation is the key.
did everyone miss Cruden kick the leather off the ball in the super final? Why does no one make an issue of him or carter kicking significantly more than Morne ever did?
because there is far more variation and in my opinion a flyhalf can only vary his game if he gets enough decent front ball from rucks and collisions.
our biggest issue will be increasing our technique at the breakdown. Our forwards have generally been very poor in this regard in the past 2 years.
12 Aug 2012, 14:41 pm
@wnbb-14:
I agree, but my point is, when morne’s good he’s the best I’ve seen us produce since Naas. There may have been more talented but none have produced on the pitch.
12 Aug 2012, 14:47 pm
Brigadier
I disagree it’s a sub-optimal technique that occasionaly works infront if home crowds who pressure the charge on tge ball receiver, but has incorrectly been identified as sa and the stormers success along with an over-emphasis on defence – when it fact tge best sa teams are those who win through frenetic forward play confiscating opposition ball – when the packs are chosen with passengers or tired, kickchase is especially emphasized and it’s weakness highlighted cos there are no other weapons.
Where meyer is fundamentally right is in winning the collisions – u do that and no matter what the opposition know what to expect they can’t stop it – kickchase is long done if it had any merit at all in the first place as being prescribed as tge fundamental reason for SA success – which I don’t accept.
Against nz and Australia away it is bordering on the downright imbecilic, when gifting opposition having an abundance of strike runners posession and counter-attacking ball to attack with. And this is why PdV was the only coach to have beaten nz in nz, in fact twice for good measure.
12 Aug 2012, 15:03 pm
@cab-17:
cab…well one of those wins in nz was with morne playing and the other…think it was Butch and Pretoors and let’s faceit, that game was fast going tits up in the last 10 mintes until Ricky got us the fluke of the century bounce…which I must add that we deserved that day as I thought we were good for the win.
someone can correct me if I am wrong…but no other flyhalf in the history of SA rugby has more wins than Morne against kiwis? Admittedly not a lot but more than anyone else.
12 Aug 2012, 15:10 pm
Yeah I got no problem with morne, he started as a 12 for tge bulls so knows to take it to the line, butch was a great distributor – what I can’t handle is when every single attacking ball we have gets put into tge air rather than keeping tge impotence and momentum going and drilling them into the ground with tge talented forwards we have – aka Bismarck beast albert and kie of 2009.
12 Aug 2012, 15:17 pm
The way forward for SA is to develop depth on their pack with a 5/2 bench split but also players that can come in on eoy tours when 1st string pap. We got tge players at present to pick two first rate bok packs – first time since readmission
1. Beast 2. Bismark 3. Cilliers 4. Elstadt 5. Estebeth 6. Brussow 7. Kolisi 8. Alberts
1. Gurthro/greyling 2. Fourie 3. Coenie/jannie 4. Kruger 5. Bekker 6. Coetzee 7. Schalk/strauss 8. Vermeulen
12 Aug 2012, 15:33 pm
the boks success in this comp hinges on hougaards form, end of.
12 Aug 2012, 16:01 pm
Its a bit unfair that certain players are given the latitude to play through poor form. For others, they are told to work on aspects of their game despite playing well for a table topping team. And there’s unexpressed reservations / bias against something like their gross muscle mass
12 Aug 2012, 16:08 pm
Allow Hougaard to play his natural game, start Lambie at 10 and there will be fireworks.
12 Aug 2012, 16:23 pm
@cab: im glad you have Elstadt there, his like the forgotten man of SA rugby
had a blinder last year playin exclusively at the lock position.
even Bekker gave him his springnbok endorsement in the article in SA rugby early in the year
so wht he had a incosistent season at flank, he was really jus helping the them bt playin out of position
springbok selectors need to take heed of this
and its worth noting that im not a Stormers/wp supporter bt i believe Elstadt deserves a chance
12 Aug 2012, 18:01 pm
I’m interested. What’s this natural game of Hougaard’s that everyone’s screaming for him to be allowed to play?
The only natural game we’ve seen from him was on the wing, and you can’t play that game at scrumhalf. The scrumhalf needs to direct the rest of the backline’s attacking play. That’s different from running onto the ball at pace, or running it up from the back with fancy footwork.
Hougaard can’t do what a scrumhalf needs to do. There IS no natural game that he is being prevented from displaying at scrumhalf. Because you can’t play a strike runner’s natural game at no.9.
12 Aug 2012, 18:13 pm
@Tacitus-25: Directing play doesn’t have to equate to hoofing it in the air, examples being Garth Wright, Joost, Gregan, Marshall, etc.
Natural game = not pretending to be a FdP clone.
12 Aug 2012, 18:15 pm
@Tacitus-25: Hougaard is more Joost than FdP. Don’t force-fit him into a game plan which doesn’t play to his strengths if selected.
12 Aug 2012, 18:15 pm
I totally agree with you Tacitus.I would be more than happy if Hougaard fulfills his scrum half duties first before engaging into fanciful stuff most of the bloggers seemingly expects from him every game.That is totally unfair on Hougaard.
12 Aug 2012, 18:17 pm
@wnbb-28: The whole discussion is about what the duties consist of. Is it letting him play to his strengths which are more like Joost etc or is it turning him into a FdP clone. The latter is unfair on Hougaard, not the former.
12 Aug 2012, 18:25 pm
@Michael-27: Based on what? He has always played as a FdP clone when playing scrummie. He plays like that for the Bulls and for the Boks.
He doesn’t have a strong pass, he kicks REALLY poorly and his decision making and ability to direct the game is the worst of all the SA scrummies. Bulls look better when Vermaak enters the fray and so do the Boks.
He DOES however run brilliant lines, tackles like a demon and has a definite eye for the try line. These attacking qualities where the ones that brought him to our attention… PLAYING ON THE WING!!
12 Aug 2012, 18:26 pm
Playing or executing Heyneke Meyer’s gameplan is more important at the end of the day than debating the rights or wrongs of turning Hougaard into a Fourie du Preez clone.
12 Aug 2012, 18:33 pm
@lepel-30: You answered your own question.
@wnbb-31: Then pick Pienaar and not Hougaard as first choice.
12 Aug 2012, 18:34 pm
Either tailor the game plan to suit a player’s strength or pick the right player for the unchanging game plan.
12 Aug 2012, 18:36 pm
@wnbb-31: If Meyer persists with this kind of game plan, then he’ll need new personnel to execute it.
You either build a game plan based on the players you have, or you pick players who’ll execute your game plan effectively. At present HM isn’t doing either.
12 Aug 2012, 18:39 pm
@Michael-32: I understand what you’re saying, but Hougaard lacks one truly fundamental ability that all the good scrummies need (and this is where he is very different from Joost), good decision making.
Hougaard plays entirely instinctual rugby. Scrummies need to be able to make measured decisions in a split second, Hougaard simply reacts. He doesn’t consider options and when he does, the game slows down to a crawl.
12 Aug 2012, 18:52 pm
@Michael-32:
Picking Pienaar instead of Hougaard at no.9 is exactly what I’ve been recommending for some time now.
Hougaard is a great player, but not a great scrumhalf.
12 Aug 2012, 19:01 pm
You’ll have to excuse me guys but my concentration has been temporarily sidetracked by ‘A Stairway to Heaven’ on the radio. If you don’t understand why, well, frankly, don’t bother asking.
12 Aug 2012, 19:03 pm
Taccie well said. I know we don’t agree often but on this one I agree fully. I’d still have Hougie in my Bok squad. Great talent. Just not wonderful at No 9.
12 Aug 2012, 19:05 pm
is 25th in the medal count at the Olympics good. Or should we have realistically expected mre.
12 Aug 2012, 19:07 pm
and how about Petersen guys. Which Petersen? Well Kevie of course. Arrogant sod. Thankfully he moved straight from Pmb to London and didn’t pass go(Wanderers).
12 Aug 2012, 19:10 pm
@TASSIES-39: Considering that the majority of our athletes are only semi-pro and the rest are actually amateur, I reckon it’s not too shabby.
12 Aug 2012, 19:22 pm
@lepel-41: Yes and that’s the point. I don’t think we should realistically have expected more. This is the ‘world’ we’re talking about. Not a comp with Namibia. What you put in you get out. Our investment is miniscule by comparison with the rest of the world. I’d be interested to know what Kenya and Jamaica invest(money) but in these two examples I suspect raw talent plays the majority role.
12 Aug 2012, 19:46 pm
@lepel-35:
The problem with Hougard is he never had the opportunity to play and build scrumhalf experience at senior level, the Bulls played him on the wing because he’s so talented had to be on the field.
Unfortunately it prevented him from getting gametime at no 9, and building up confidence and experience and ultimately settling in the position
Now everyone expects him to make up the lack of about two years` worth of no 9 experience in one season and to hit the ground running?
If he comes right he’ll be one of the best scrumhalves we’ll ever have, if not we’ve made another Vlok Cilliers or Brent Russel out of a very talented player
12 Aug 2012, 19:47 pm
@TASSIES-42: The Jamaicans haven’t been dominating the world of sprinting forever… it’s a relatively recent thing. They have great talent, but they have world class facilities for their sprinters. Same thing applies to Kenyan distance runners.
Athletics (and many of the other Olympic sports) are just a fun past time, not to be taken too seriously as future career.
12 Aug 2012, 19:54 pm
@lepel-34:
> If Meyer persists with this kind of game plan, then he’ll need new personnel to execute it.
He said he’ll know how the team would look after the Championship, remember the buffet groupies at SARU only appointed him this year, unlike Deans who’ve been the Wallbie coach since 2008 and Hansen has been involved with the AB’s since 2004
12 Aug 2012, 19:54 pm
Johannesburg – South Africa’s Olympic Games team will return home on Tuesday morning, and Lead SA and the department of sport and recreation have urged the public to give them a heroes welcome.
Silver medallist, Caster Semenya, the “Golden” rowing team of Sizwe Ndlovu, Matthew Brittain, James Thompson and John Smith and bronze medalist in K-1 500m kayak event, Bridgitte Hartley, will arrive from London on flight SA 237 at OR Tambo Airport at 08:20.
Other Team SA team members will touch down on flight SA 235 scheduled for 07:20.
Swimmers Cameron van der Burgh and Chad Le Clos, who returned home on Thursday, will be at the airport to join the other medallists.
Supporters have been asked to bring their posters, banners, vuvuzelas and SA colours to welcome Team SA home.
12 Aug 2012, 21:55 pm
With JP injured Hougaard should move to 14. Even HM should be able to get this one right?
12 Aug 2012, 23:43 pm
The only thing this halfback pair must be “raring to” for is a spot as CC starters. They’ve both had a kaas season (Steyn more than Hougi) and they need a good couple of games at provincial level to gain confidence, where their poor decision making isn’t going to cost us a Rugby Championship.
12 Aug 2012, 23:44 pm
The only thing this halfback pair must be “raring to go” for is a spot as CC starters. They’ve both had a kaas season (Steyn more than Hougi) and they need a good couple of games at provincial level to gain confidence, where their poor decision making isn’t going to cost us a Rugby Championship.
12 Aug 2012, 23:53 pm
Hougaard shouldnt be made to kick endlessly and copy/paste Bulls gameplan to Boks. He doesnt take on the opposition around the fringes as much as he should because at every phase he is told to mimic du Preez and slow ball down.
Morne has been shocking for the best part of 12 months now.
SA scrumhalf stock is very poor,fact that Jano Vermaak is in Bok squad is tantamount to that. He basically picked on what premise? He last play consistent rugby about 12-15 months ago.
Boks are in for a long campaign in Castle Championship.
SA will cath carrotts in Aus,NZ. 12-15 point loses.And Pumas can roll us over in Buenos Airies.
Meyer will save his job by a a desperate balls to the walls home win vs NZ in Soweto. Thats it
13 Aug 2012, 01:54 am
Its high time Super Sarel got a shot at scrumhalf. I think he would be able to make the step up to Bok level easily enough.
He definitely has the X factor.
13 Aug 2012, 01:55 am
When does goosen come back?
13 Aug 2012, 02:34 am
I have always respected the South African standoffs in particular. As a kid seeing Naas Botha train in my hometown in New Zealand was a great memory. I believe that the young first five Lambie has so much to offer. We were so jealous of this young talent when he first came into the Super 14. It seems now he is being used like a utility. I sincerely hope his talent isnt wasted that way. Give him a go now and he will be perfectly experienced for the next world cup. I think he offers a better all round game than any of the young kiwi first fives (although Cruden and Barrett have great areas of strength). No disrespect to Morne, but an experienced confident Lambie would make SA a much more difficult opponent to plan for!
13 Aug 2012, 03:21 am
Right now our biggest problem is at 10 and 8
M Steyn is not the answer at all
Spies should not be there at all Not even on the bench
But I guess HM does not have much choice
Hougaard is ok, if he stops trying to do his painfully poor and slow box kicks and breaks more often
Ruan is not the answer at 9 either sorry to say
So we are stuck with Hougaard and Steyn and Spies, the weak area for the boks and the other teams will target this area big time
I just hope they step up and play to international level that is required
13 Aug 2012, 03:22 am
@SjamBok-52:
I think towards the end of the year and then he needs match time
Also we need Vermeulen back ASAP
13 Aug 2012, 03:40 am
To be honest I would even start Alberts at 8 instead of Spies
Especially in the wet conditions of Newlands
Its going to be a 10 man game with forwards playing the biggest part
But then who do you play with him?
Coetzee and Kolisi?
Most likely not Daniels in the wet weather, and for god sake not Potgieter
Pity about Vermeulen He would have been ideal there at 8 and Alberts and Coetzee
13 Aug 2012, 09:45 am
@Gav4rugby-53: You spot on. Lambie should only be allowed a 10 on his back, just like F Steyn should only have a 12 on his.
Must say Cruden has become world class this year and seems to be growing in confidence every game. The loss of Carter isnt nearly as daunting anymore for you guys Im sure
13 Aug 2012, 09:49 am
@SjamBok-51: Im sorry but Sarel is very average IMO. Weak pass, weak defence, average decision making and average kicking game. Only strength is his attack which wouldnt be nearly as potent in test rugby
13 Aug 2012, 09:50 am
@SjamBok-52: September apparently
13 Aug 2012, 09:58 am
Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher still can’t get used to that…
13 Aug 2012, 10:11 am
@CoachPete-56: I would have Morne on the bench and Spies out the squad
13 Aug 2012, 10:51 am
Gav4rugby – SA has a bad habit of holding onto players that have performed in the past. Morne Steyn won us the B&I Lions series and a 3N title! Since then he has never shone so brightly, kicking always good until lately!!
SA doesn’t have the structures to take Lambie and turn him into a world beater. Lets put it this if Lambie was a kiwi or Ozzie he would be in the national team? Enuff said about SA’s weak mentality!
13 Aug 2012, 11:04 am
This kind of psycho-babble and using it to try to cover up the obvious current problems in the team worries me a lot.
Hougaard might still be in a “good space” if he can play his natural game. But when made to use the Human Centipede just so he doesnt get charged down, then I doubt he is in a good space.
Morne is definitely not in a good space, and I cant believe HM persists with him on current form!
Give Lambie a full-on go at 10 and lets see. Frans, Ruaan or Lambie can kick for poles, and all 3 can kick for position (I daresay Frans kicks further and will find Touch) so there is not as much need for Morne as there was.
Let Ruan be 9 for a few games, and Hougie on the wing at 14.
It is time to sort this team out and make some decisions. If nothing else, players like Morne and Habana get a rest and hopefully will sort themselves out
13 Aug 2012, 11:08 am
@CoachPete-54: Coach, I will disagree about Ruan – especially if the conditions are wet like you say.
@Bok fan-61: I agree with you and I would say that 8, 9 and 10 are the big problems at the moment. But they are all Bulls and all played under HM, so not much chance of them changing is there (I mean that as in a coach will back guys he knows). Perhaps if Vermulen was fit he would be in…
13 Aug 2012, 11:31 am
@bokfan1-64: Ja Im a huge fan of Meyer but he is worrying me more and more each week
13 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
Hougaard is not our best scrummie by a long shot. The sooner Heyneke accepts this and moves on, the better for all us.
He is, however, one of our best rugby players and should be included in any Bok 22.
13 Aug 2012, 12:16 pm
@Craven-66: Ja I think wing or 13 are his best options at the moment
13 Aug 2012, 12:43 pm
There is a better (on form) 10 in the squad…
13 Aug 2012, 13:06 pm
@Bok fan-67:
I would pick him on the wing for Saturday’s game against Argentina.
13 Aug 2012, 13:14 pm
It is true that Hougaard have not been playing his natural game and sucked at the enforced kicking game, but what is his natural game? Have we seen him play his natural game at scrumhalf. I think is natural game is better suited to wing or outside centre.
13 Aug 2012, 13:48 pm
@Craven-69: My suggestion exactly! In place of Habana. Hougie always looks awesome on the wing, and scored a few good tries from there last year.
@Bok fan-65: Im not so concerned about HM, he wants to win every Test and not using the “building” excuse, which I really appreciate. He is also just backing players he knows, which any coach does… however, he did talk about rewarding form in selection and so on (altho most coaches say that and then stick to the players they know).
For me its not anythign personal against Habana, Morne and Spies – I dig them all, but we know what they can do and have done, and these tests against the Argies is a golden opportunity to give the newer guys a full chance to show what they can do!
14 Aug 2012, 19:02 pm
@bokfan1-71:
If Meyer was really truthful about rewarding “form” then what on earth is a stupid lumbering ox like J. Potgieter doing in the side? It’s not like he gained any form while off injured? Then Meyer fast tracks him directly from injury back into the 3rd test against England where he looked famously out of his depth.
IF he was really working off form then…..the Hougie, Spies, Morne and Lambie would not have been picked…..all have shown disastrous form of late….and I’m a HUGE Lambie fan.
Sadly – I think Meyer will continue down this “blue” paved road…..all the while trying to steer a sinking ship right into the mud by losing most of the tests against the AB’s and Wobblies for the next 4 years with painful “favorite” picks and a useless outdated game plan.
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