What Bismarck’s loss means
21 Aug 2012
RYAN VREDE writes that Bismarck du Plessis is the most significant of all the Springboks’ injuries to date and further erodes the hope of them winning the Rugby Championship.
I wrote at the time that I didn’t believe the absence of Schalk Burger, Jaque Fourie, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha and Fourie du Preez (who was courted for a Test return) among a clutch of uncapped players (Duane Vermeulen and Johan Goosen for example) would be terminal to the Springboks’ cause against England. There were competent replacements available who subsequently got the job done. Neither did I feel it would hinder them against Argentina last week, even with Pierre Spies and JP Pietersen added to that injury list.
It was their unavailability against Australia and New Zealand that most concerned me, although I still believed the depth was sufficient to beat the former and mount an appreciable challenge against the Blacks. But Du Plessis’ loss is a hammer blow. To understand it’s significance you have to take into account the tangible and non-tangible impact.
Technically he is the most complete hooker in the game. He is a brutal defender who has also grown as a breakdown scavenger in recent years. Indeed Heyneke Meyer highlighted this as amplifying his value, especially in light of the absence of a specialist openside flank. On attack he is a force at the gainline, a constant source of go-forward. His work-rate in both these facets of play is unmatched by any hooker on the planet (I know this because I’ve seen the Springboks’ analysis of all their competitors in this regard). Furthermore, his set piece work is excellent.
Away from the technical competencies, his game intelligence and temperament under pressure has improved markedly, as has his discipline, which was a point of concern early in his career. He has also become an accomplished leader. Meyer’s estimation of him in this regard has grown to the point where he had considered him for the captaincy. Finally, his experience will be sorely missed. Forty six caps into his Test career, Du Plessis’s presence at crunch times would have been a boon for a youthful and largely inexperienced Springbok pack.
Seldom will one player’s absence be decisive to the outcome, and I’m not suggesting Du Plessis holds such sway at this point in his career. He was, however, the heart and soul of the side and embodied every quality Meyer sought in his players. He has the capacity to galvanise those around him through the standard he sets. He is a match winner.
His replacement, Adriaan Strauss, is a fine player but he isn’t in Du Plessis’s class. That said, Strauss faces a decisive phase in his Test career, where his success or failure will have a significant bearing on the Springboks’ fortunes. In the context of their game plan he is an important cog. His lineout feeds will come under the microscope and with the Springboks’ rolling maul being one of their primary weapons, Strauss’s accuracy will be central to their ability to set this in motion. It is also a facet of play where the Springboks have traditionally had the edge over the Wallabies and Blacks.
In addition Strauss will have to rein in his fondness for lurking in the loose. It is a strategy that suits the Cheetahs’ approach but the Springboks will need him to get stuck in at ground zero in the coming Tests.
In Monday’s press conference in Mendoza Meyer described Strauss as world-class. That offering and other examples of his professed faith in him is not lip service. He has an extremely high regard for the player, whom he brought to the Bulls as a youngster and whose loss he deeply lamented when he returned to the Cheetahs. Strauss owes it to himself and Meyer to take the opportunity that now presents itself.
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579 Comments
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21 Aug 2012, 23:40 pm
@fitz1ella-395: Wont agree on Fourie. Elstadt I agree with. Danie Rossouw in the making, although not as athletic, but he will probably not lose as many balls in contact.
You always talk up the youngsters. My question is, do you stand by them through the years?
21 Aug 2012, 23:42 pm
@Humphrey-398: @Humphrey-398: you’re a moron.. that’s why its you who are ACTUALLY the dumb fck provincialist here while others are looking at INDIVIDUAL talents and putting them to BEST use.. unlike schmucks such as you and Heyneke Meyer…
I’m out.. son is waiting.
21 Aug 2012, 23:45 pm
@fitz1ella-400:
that first side u picked could even give the ABs a run if they actually attacked them as well.
21 Aug 2012, 23:45 pm
@fitz1ella-402: check your post 391 and tell me you don’t have a provincial bias…
21 Aug 2012, 23:46 pm
@fitz1ella-400: Fourie in combination with Elstadt and Etzebeth means we will not win any lineout balls. Did they not play together for the Stormers against the Force or Reds this year, where the lineouts were terrible.
Beast, Strauss, JdP -scrums to them. Lineouts have been mentioned. Daniel adds some flair and skill.
I will take the second team and take your loose trio.
21 Aug 2012, 23:48 pm
@Horings-405: And I did not even mention my team has less choking ability. We are playing a “final” against the ABs, right?
22 Aug 2012, 00:05 am
My assessment of what the loss of the listed names in the article means, with 10/10 extremely damaging, and 1/10, um who cares:
Bismarck du Plessis 9
Schalk Burger 7
Jaque Fourie 7
Danie Rossouw 4
Bakkies Botha 5
Fourie du Preez 7
Duane Vermeulen 6
Johan Goosen 8
Pierre Spies 2
JP Pietersen 8
22 Aug 2012, 00:11 am
@hanneslom-407:
I would have given Spies a 1 and added Rattle Brussouw with an 8
22 Aug 2012, 00:19 am
@hanneslom-407: You should have given Botha and Burger a higher score, physical players like those two win you games. It’s questionable to give Goosen that a high a score whenever he has never even played test rugby.
22 Aug 2012, 00:27 am
@whatever-408: @Big Hit-409:
funny – did consider what both of you suggest…
to me, the 8 for goosen because it robbed us of the chance to blood him, then again, meyer was going to play it safe either way…
spies, ok, i can also settle for a 0
22 Aug 2012, 00:29 am
Shall we call this the Hurtimpacto meter?
22 Aug 2012, 00:30 am
or the SoreScore
22 Aug 2012, 00:55 am
@hanneslom-407:
2 for Spies or is it .2 ?
22 Aug 2012, 05:30 am
Come on guys get it right for Spies, its -2
22 Aug 2012, 05:59 am
After dominating SB teams for the last decade I wouldn’t pick any Bulls players in the forward pack. That’s the sad reality.
22 Aug 2012, 06:43 am
@hanneslom-407:
A fair damage assessment, here is a revised one:
Bismarck du Plessis 9
Schalk Burger 8
Jaque Fourie 7
Danie Rossouw 6
Bakkies Botha 7
Fourie du Preez 3
Duane Vermeulen – An unknown quantity at test level
Johan Goosen – An unknown quantity at test level
Pierre Spies 0
JP Pietersen – 5, flagged in 3 easy tries through by the Poms recently
J Smith -8, sadly is done with rugby
Brussouw – 6, he needs two big, beast loose forwards to operate effectively
22 Aug 2012, 06:50 am
@CoachPete-414:
A real bust, must be some medical reason he avoids contacts for so long?
A remnants of his blood clot in 2007?
22 Aug 2012, 07:12 am
@Hondo-417:
Amazing he has played rugby at such a high level?
Not sure whats wrong but never seems to go flat out
22 Aug 2012, 07:33 am
Lure of coaching too great for Graham Henry
DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
Last updated 16:38 22/08/2012
With the dust finally settled from his World Cup success, Sir Graham Henry admitted he couldn’t resist the chance to start coaching again and didn’t hesitate to answer Sir John Kirwan’s request to join the
Blues.
Henry’s position as technical
advisor was confirmed today in a powerful coaching lineup headed by Kirwan that also includes All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne as the forwards coach and Australian Grant Doorey as the backline boss.
22 Aug 2012, 07:41 am
@Transformation-419:
Seems the Blues are acquiring some high profile big hitting coaching talent. Had to google this Grant Doorey fellow, seems he has the nous also to get the Blues back to where they belong.
22 Aug 2012, 07:44 am
@Transformation-419:
well there go the blues
expect the kiwis to play to script
he might struggle going against ws though
it’ll be a case of who sinks to the bottom faster
when filth meets filth…
22 Aug 2012, 07:46 am
…there’s only one winner… and it aint rugby…
22 Aug 2012, 08:30 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-422:
Who may I ask is this “only one winner?”
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-421:
It seems to me you are the lucky talisman of Nz Rugby, whoever you accuse of being filth usually go good……..hehe……keep it coming matey.
22 Aug 2012, 08:37 am
AB skills coach as forward coach. What a difference to what we expect in our forwards.
22 Aug 2012, 09:03 am
@Transformation-419: Very good news this.
22 Aug 2012, 09:03 am
@Te Rangatira-423:
negative cynical play is the winner. you know, the bad stuff… the bad guys… unsporting contests, rigged outcomes, empty hollow victories… in no way enjoyable to the vast majority of the rugby loving and watching spectators in the sh and probably the north too.
hehehe well i have been on the money with my filth calls havn’t i. i called it at the chiefs so expect the blues to come good too. only difficulty of course is gh going head to head with ws in the lowest common denominator stakes.
its anybodies guess who’ll come out tops there. add to this the ever and ever desperate blackadder and you’ve got your recipe for an unsporting spectacle supreme right there.
good thing i’m done with sr. who you do you support tr? if its the hurricanes or highlanders i wish you all the best going forward.
22 Aug 2012, 09:04 am
@Te Rangatira-420: And they will get there….happy days for the absolute and undisputed Kiwi franchise champions of my heart.
22 Aug 2012, 09:09 am
expect that litlle slug rene ranger to thrive under gh.
22 Aug 2012, 09:15 am
@Te Rangatira-420: It is about time the Blues are back to where they should be ( at least top 4) … So who is this Grant Doorey fellow … need to know my opposition !
22 Aug 2012, 09:17 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-428: Now that is a player that i hope reaches his potential next season .. exciting player
22 Aug 2012, 09:18 am
@Hondo-416: Has Juan smith now officially retired ?
22 Aug 2012, 09:20 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-426:
I will miss your unbiased opinions, Houston come Super Rugger time, the mighty Blues could do with your cheating filth calls next year, the more utterances of “hollow victories” from you would be music to my ears.
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-427:
Thankyou Pedigree……. Stormers v Blues final next year.
22 Aug 2012, 09:23 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-427:
i will say this, i respect the way in which the nzru / wider kiwi stakeholders / backroom boys / behind the scene people have acknowledged and identified the problems at the blues franchise and having now reached a turning point, have put in place measures and a rescue plan aimed at fixing it.
the blues have languished and this was a long time coming.
contrast this with our sorry arsed saru mini wigs / wider sa fakeholders / backdoor boys / behind the obscene people – and the way in which they have responded to the sorry lions saga.
they have languished… and the cavalry is a long time coming…
22 Aug 2012, 09:24 am
@stew-430:
oh he will
i do not doubt that
22 Aug 2012, 09:26 am
@Te Rangatira-432:
hehehe
so you’re a blues fan then.
enjoy it, tr.
22 Aug 2012, 09:29 am
@stew-429:
Some Aussie dude who seems to have a good resume. The Blues will need to find the right cattle now if they are to make top four, a first five would be the top of the list, decent locks, a no8 and bring back Nacewa.
22 Aug 2012, 09:34 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-435:
yep Houston, not counting my chickens yet the real business is done on the field, but good start with putting some decent coaches in the setup.
I hope your team does well too, Houston.
22 Aug 2012, 09:40 am
@Te Rangatira-436: Or Evans ????
22 Aug 2012, 09:43 am
I see that Goosen will be available for FS this weekend.
22 Aug 2012, 09:46 am
@stew-438:
I was thinking of poaching Horell from the Chiefs and one of those Highlanders first fives, I like Sopoanga. Nick Evans boat has sailed
22 Aug 2012, 09:46 am
@Te Rangatira-432: For me at least
, Super rugby is all about TWO teams….The Stormers (1) and the Blues (2). I couldn’t give a flying feckonfridays about the rest (but will always admire a good performance from any team – with the Cheetahs topping my ‘best of the rest’ charts)
I am keen to see any new player signings that ‘might’ still pop up in Auckland.
I must be honest, my best year of Super rugby ever, was 2011. Blues and Stormers in semi-finals, with the chance of a final between the 2 at Newlands – living the dream I was. (Until the Reds and Saders woke me up)
22 Aug 2012, 09:49 am
Lions upset with Coetzee
2012-08-22 07:44
Cape Town – Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk is upset after Western Province and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee hinted he might look at luring a few Lions players for next year’s Super Rugby competition.
WP take on the Golden Lions in a Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Saturday and with the Lions out of the reckoning for next year’s Super Rugby, some of their players could be the target of other unions. Players like Elton Jantjies, Pat Cilliers, Franco van der Merwe, Josh Strauss, JC Janse van Rensburg and Jaco Taute could well be targeted.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Lions-upset-with-Coetzee-20120821
22 Aug 2012, 09:50 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-433: Don’t expect this to change anytime soon. In fact, expect the incompetence to reach NEW levels of the ‘totally absurd’ in the coming years. I know I am, which is why nothing the fools at SARU say, do or promise will upset or shock me any longer.
22 Aug 2012, 09:52 am
“I really like Allister a lot, but I’m absolutely stunned that he made such an opportunistic statement. Where is the spirit of sport and the respect between us? What’s going on here is not sport.
“What happened to us was not our decision.
“I’m asking politely that they (the other unions) just portray a little bit of etiquette,” said De Klerk.
22 Aug 2012, 09:55 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-441:
I appreciate good rugby, Pedigree, the hard stuff coupled with some exciting back play, can’t say I support any teams outside North Island of Nz. I lived down Hamilton for a bit and played in the local club comp there and went to school in the Counties region and played there also, so follow the progress of the Chiefs, but I live in Auckland and my family is from Northland so my heart is with the Blues.
22 Aug 2012, 09:57 am
@David-439:
looking forward to seeing him play
not expecting much though
he’ll need a few games to get up to speed
22 Aug 2012, 10:00 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-444: oh sherbert….now KdK is begging other unions to leave his players alone
it’s the professional era KdK etiquette is for AMATEURS…
22 Aug 2012, 10:04 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-446:
I’m looking forward to seeing him carve up too. The sooner he gets up to speed the better for the Bok. Heres hoping HM will give him free reign when he makes it in the test side…….I think I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.
22 Aug 2012, 10:05 am
@Te Rangatira-440: With coaches like Kirwin and Henry they got the feelin that they will want to play with an etablished first five – i expect they will be on the hunt
22 Aug 2012, 10:06 am
shame, De Klerk sounds like a beggar.
what is happening to the lions will go down as sarus biggest failure ever.
i welcome the kings and look forward to seeing fresh match ups but i am saddened that saru and the lions management let things get so bad.
actually, the lions management deserve to be publicly flogged for their part in allowing this union to hit rock bottom.
its defo not the kings fault, they want inclusion just like any other franchise would so i dont blame them at all and even though i trust cheeky not at all, i think he has been very smart and hopefully will build the kings into a strong franchise.
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