Shocking Springboks must break shackles
27 Aug 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day newspaper column, says Heyneke Meyer’s game plan and playing philosophy is simply not good enough.
The All Blacks lacked accuracy in attack against the Wallabies, but that was all that was missing from a New Zealand display that made South Africa’s match against Argentina look like something from the Dark Ages.
If what the All Blacks produced in Auckland was high octane, then in Mendoza there was nothing more than grunt and growl. It was a shocker and the Springboks were the most shocking of the two teams.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has spoken of the need to win every weekend. He has spoken of mental toughness and the search for excellence. He has spoken of the potential greatness of players. Actions have always been more significant than words and the player actions in Mendoza, just like in Port Elizabeth in the third Test against England, were a contradiction on everything being said. The 20 minutes we saw against England in Johannesburg’s second Test was a hint of the potential within our rugby, but even that 20 minutes looks a decade ago when compared to the intensity and pace of the effort from New Zealand, the current world champions and without doubt the team setting the standards.
I thought the Australians were woeful as an attacking unit and there was no threat they’d get five points let alone a victory. They defended bravely and showed a desire for the scrap but they were simply beaten up in the collisions and given a rugby lesson.
This is a very good All Blacks team, stronger now than when they edged France to win the World Cup last October. Richie McCaw and Dan Carter will be managed carefully through to the next World Cup but the succession plan of Sam Cane and Aaron Cruden is already in motion. Very little else will change from now to 2015 so those who talk of the All Blacks being a side in decline in 2015 think again. The back three will be at their peak and so too a midfield that will include Sonny Bill Williams. The All Blacks have integrated as many players new players into the system as the Boks have. Two new locks, a new loose forward, a new scrumhalf and variations on the wing. The only position where there is no definitive answer in relation to 2015 is at hooker. They’re in a healthy position and they’re not making any excuses about World Cup hangovers, lack of desire, retirements, inexperience or players coming to terms with the demands of international rugby. They’ve set standards, especially on defence, and to keep two sides of the standing of Ireland and Australia scoreless this year is the kind of action that accompanies any talk of excellence.
The All Blacks were not precise in their attack in Auckland, but that will always be a possibility with the type of high risk, high tempo and absolutely enthralling game they play. In Auckland they offloaded in the tackle 30 times and most of the offloads were effective in advancing the play, sustaining flow, continuity and ensuring momentum. If you tuned in at 9:35am to Auckland and happened to be watching the same rugby channel 12 hours later you could excused for thinking that what was on offer from Mendoza was part of the ESPN Classic packages. My god it was awful.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, on reflection, spoke of the physicality of South Africa and Argentina, whom the All Blacks play next in Wellington. He said it was like watching two rhinos go at each other all afternoon.
His reference to rhino reminded me of former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen’s rhino reference to the then Springbok coach Harry Viljoen. Macqueen and Viljoen are good mates and they were on a Safari outing when they saw Rhino. Macqueen said: ‘Look Harry there’s your team … big, strong and f**king dumb’.
The Boks certainly moved on from the dummy tag in 2007 thanks to the approach and thinking of some very special players, but the limited quality of player on display in Mendoza is no excuse for the kind of rugby produced.
Meyer, as coach, picks the side and determines game strategy and playing philosophy. What we saw in Port Elizabeth and Mendoza is simply not good enough, in intent, in ambition and in principle.
No player picks himself and not one Springbok in Mendoza would make a current World XV. That’s a reality but it is no excuse to draw to Argentina because no Pumas player would make a World XV either.
Mendoza should be a watershed moment for Meyer, who doesn’t want for rugby intellect but needs to be challenged to break his own shackles of conservatism.
The obvious reaction is to take fire at the players, but that would be misguided. Meyer is the one in charge and a team is a reflection of a coach. If the coach expected more of his players in Mendoza then I – like every South African rugby supporter – expected more of Meyer at this juncture.
860 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 17 18 » Show All
27 Aug 2012, 17:40 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-590: So you prefer the tik induced coaching box Macarena that Meyer has perfected in 5 shoty games?
Honestly dude, your prejudice owns you. Just remember: Onnerbroekies for Xmas…
27 Aug 2012, 17:40 pm
It fascinates me how some people claim that Mallet rode on the coat tails of what Carel had built ?
Between August 1997 and December 1998, under Mallett’s guidance, the Springboks went on a record winning streak of 17 consecutive test wins. As part of the unbeaten run the Springboks won the Tri Nations Series undefeated and beat several teams by record margins, including a 52–10 against France in Paris, a 68–10 win over Scotland in Edinburgh, a 33–0 defeat of Ireland and a 96–13 against Wales. The run ended when the Springbok team was defeated by England at Twickenham at the end of a long tour on the 5 December 1998.
In rugby a week is long , (ask Meyer) how does this continued run of success of Mallets equate to what Carel had accomplished ? Mallet is and always will be his own man, perhaps too much so. The people not wanting to give Mallet credit for what he achieved are simply in denial, he walked his talk .
27 Aug 2012, 17:45 pm
listen to the insight of Mallett in this interview. amazing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdeWgPygL5g
27 Aug 2012, 17:45 pm
I’d give HM a chance to learn some valuable lessons. But he must pick TALENTED individuals. Players who are technically brilliant, four dimensional gladiators. Brain dead brawn will be the death of the Bokke. Keegan Daniel is the best rugby player in the squad at the moment, and this is based on the absurd omission of Heinrich Brussouw – the genius.
27 Aug 2012, 17:49 pm
@Nils-588:
No Nils, The All Blacks are not cheats. They do whatever it takes to win, even if that are allowed to do things that other teams are not.
If they were really cheats then by now they would have been in trouble.
The problem lies with the aura that New Zealand rugby holds. There is an underlying reticance to crack down on Kiwi illegalities when they are committed, simply because there is surely no way that New Zealanders do anything wrong.
Consider the Irish referees of Kiwi games two years ago. It was clear to everyone that the All Blacks received huge prefential treatment of the referees. Numbnuts De Villiers was crying conspiracy. There was no conspiracy, it was just this culture within rugby that everything Kiwi is right and beyond question.
If the IRB had any balls, they would deal with this issue head on enforce equal treatment of New Zealands rugby.
I don’t think that it would weaken New Zealand rugby at all. It would just create an environment where everyone knows that we are playing on a level field.
27 Aug 2012, 17:51 pm
Morne Steyn is not a talented rugby player.
27 Aug 2012, 17:52 pm
@DEE DAH-598: meyer is a rookie in international coaching, he is no better than dave rennie, ewen mckenzie, stuart lancaster
27 Aug 2012, 17:52 pm
@Transformation-599:
He does want to win every game. That is why is always looks frustrated. What he wants and what he has are two different things. As opposed to the past, we aren’t dealing with “building for the World Cup” garbage. Instead, he is building for world domination.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
27 Aug 2012, 17:54 pm
@Humphrey-593:
i agree, flew 2 sydney for the olympics in 2000, was buggered for a week.
@mpundulu-594:
well, if it makes you happy to thinks so, still, its a way better option than joining a sangoma at a toi-toi rally at a mine shaft and wacking police officers. In my humble opinion anyway, probably not in yours.
27 Aug 2012, 18:01 pm
@YoMama-608:
World domination does not start with Potgieter, M Steyn and Kirchner. Period.
27 Aug 2012, 18:05 pm
@Jinx2-610:
Or Aplon, Neon Deon and Grant.
27 Aug 2012, 18:06 pm
@Jinx2-610: truth
27 Aug 2012, 18:08 pm
@victoriabok-611:
Aplon would be an ideal impact sub in ANY team. Taute, Pienaar, Jantjies = massive talent.
27 Aug 2012, 18:10 pm
@YoMama-608: also rome wasn’t built on kak selections, read jinx2′s comment!
27 Aug 2012, 18:11 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-609:
> i agree, flew 2 sydney for the olympics in 2000, was buggered for a week.
The rule of thumb with jet lag is you’ll need a day for each hour of time difference to recover
27 Aug 2012, 18:11 pm
Come on korporaaltjie,you are better than this.I know that you are passionate about Meyer and the Bulls but I never figured you as a racialist making sweeping statements to shock.I know that we have been laying into Meyer a bit,but that’s no reason for you to lose your cool.Just saying.
27 Aug 2012, 18:12 pm
@Jinx2-613:
WP plays the same type of rugby as the Boks, and Aplon imo has been useless in last two games.
It is not just about individuals, talented as they may be, it is how they are used (if at all).
27 Aug 2012, 18:13 pm
@Transformation-614:
Cheers. Goosen is the next uber generall at fly half. But a Piennar/Lambie axis would provide creativity and strength at this time in the Championship.
27 Aug 2012, 18:14 pm
@PissAnt-617:
WP plays k@k rugby.
27 Aug 2012, 18:17 pm
@Jinx2-610:
True.
Awaiting Burger, Brussouw, Goosen, Jantjes, Lambie, Bismarck, Pieterson, Taute and many more to be available.
27 Aug 2012, 18:20 pm
@YoMama-620:
Agreed. People hate Burger, but he is creative in the way he destroys the opposition’s mental model.
27 Aug 2012, 18:20 pm
@Jinx2-613:
Hougaard would be better on the wing than Aplon, he’s stronger too and gets over the advantage line as well
27 Aug 2012, 18:21 pm
607
Simply refer to the 4th sentence of my 1st post.
27 Aug 2012, 18:22 pm
@victoriabok-622:
Yes, Hougaard in my starting 15. On the wing. Habana at 13.
27 Aug 2012, 18:23 pm
@victoriabok-622:
Hougaard, Habana and Pieterson are incredible footballers. They HAVE to start.
27 Aug 2012, 18:27 pm
@Jinx2-618:
This is what we all say before we crucify him for making some mistake along the way. And he will.
We have all elevated Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Hougaard to God like status in the infancy of their careers.
The problem is that we leave them at their potential stage.
Yes, we are blessed to have these guys. That is what makes South African Rugby one of the best. But they will never become great players if we fail to continue developing them.
Right now this is what sets the All Blacks apart. They also have naturally gifted players but they focus on continuing developing them and the players around them.
27 Aug 2012, 18:27 pm
Im not too concerned about Potgieter. Burger, Vemeulen, Kanko, Smith (if he ever comes back) is all above him in the pecking order.
Morne steyn too is biding his time, until Goosen is ready.
Kirchener is a bit of a problem. We do not have much options at 15. Meyer clearly doesn’t rate Appels due to his size so the only other person i can see there is Taute.
But i still maintain, we lack innovation in our game plan. Im not saying saying we should start throwing it around and hope for the best, not at all. Springbok rugby has always been successful playing a forward orientated game plan. What im saying is that within that ‘structure’ we should allow players to express themselves. We have some very talented backs but they simply cannot do anything when their sole purpose is to tackle and chase up and unders. Our back line needs to start playing some rugby and we will see a different bok side. Unpredictability is what sets the AB apart from the rest and clinical execution. We should stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.
27 Aug 2012, 18:29 pm
@Jinx2-621:
..and if you watch him closely, when allowed to play his own game, he has a lot more to offer than domkrag voorspoed. With that being said, we also don’t get dominated at the breakdown when he (and Brussouw) are playing.
27 Aug 2012, 18:31 pm
@Jinx2-621: Schalk Burger will be a phenomenal 8 imo. He has the grunt to compete and the skills to link with the back line. I wish he can have a full season at 8 he will great there. Similar to a kind of role Kieren Ried does with the Crusaders and AB
27 Aug 2012, 18:31 pm
@Mustard-627:
I wish Mark Keohane and his lemmings were of the same thought as you and I.
27 Aug 2012, 18:31 pm
@YoMama-628:
Are we talking about Schalk?
27 Aug 2012, 18:32 pm
Yip
27 Aug 2012, 18:34 pm
Ja. He is a born leader. A man like that in Dunedin, and five or six of the youngsters will play their best game. BMT.
27 Aug 2012, 18:34 pm
@victoriabok-622: Aplon best position is Fullback not wing. When you have brilliant defenders like JPP and Habana (not when his shooting out of course) on the wings, you can get away with a smaller FB. And in open space there is no better counter attacker than Aplon.
27 Aug 2012, 18:34 pm
@touch.pause.engage-602: Nick Mallet did have a good tenure as coach, but as his time as Springbok coach grew longer and longer his provincial bias could no longer be hidden and in typical fashion when something can no longer be hidden, the explanations also dried up. Heyneke Meyer must be very careful not to go down the same road.
Mallet would have won that 18th test if he wasn’t so stubborn and proud so as to refuse to acknowledge criticism he had received in the public and media and to replace an out of sorts Percy Montgommery with an in-form Andre Joubert. Instead because of pride and stubbornness, I think Joubert came on with a few minutes left – too late.
His other mistake to follow up on that one was to drop Teichman before the 1999 world cup for a questionable form Bob Skinstad. Although it cannot be proven, I am almost 100% certain that cost South Africa the world cup. Mallet himself has admitted to this mistake.
Unfortunately, it was a big one because he also alienated the Natal players (who apparently threatened to walk out on him a week or two before the world cup was due to kick off) hence the reason he hardheadedly insisted on playing Jannie De Beer ahead of Henry Honiball. It kind of worked out – lucky for him. Wasn’t great for team morale though.
So all in all I would say this about Mallet. The guy knows his rugby, but in my opinion has a lot of issues relating to his subjectivity on player selection and his inability to listen to and internalize criticism. Unfortunately due to this, I pray he never coaches the Springboks again.
Mallet had a heavy bias toward WP. If the Stormers were reaching finals and semi-finals of super rugby on a regular basis I would have understood, but the Stormers were abysmally poor at that time. In 1997, WP did not even qualify to play Super rugby yet when Mallet started to unravel, the majority of his Bok team came from the Stormers.
27 Aug 2012, 18:35 pm
I also believe the great platers show their enjoyment on the field. You can see their passion is tied to the pleasure of playing and making their own decisions.
27 Aug 2012, 18:36 pm
players (sp)
27 Aug 2012, 18:36 pm
Some of these moegoes look like they are at a funeral for 80 minutes.
27 Aug 2012, 18:38 pm
Guys, guys guys ….
NO ONE would have handled the onslaught better on Saturday. OK – maybe a bit better, but not much more.
Face it guys. Sometimes with ALL the rugby that is played one team rocks up and plays 150% out of their skins. For the weak team it is usually a massively physical effort which takes the stronger team by surprise. It is usually a mental thing as well.
It has happened across the board – hell the ABs got it from the Irish. A week later O’Driscoll was a broken man as the ABs got the riot act from the coach and supporters and put 60 points past the Irish. This was AT HOME to the All Blacks.
I do not understand all this emotional hysteria???
The Boks are UNBEATEN this year FFS!!
27 Aug 2012, 18:39 pm
We should aim for smarter and not harder.
It sounds like a cliche but the game at the highest level has become very technical; you need to understand the various aspects and then work out a way to frustrate the opponent and how you can push the boundaries/ take initiative
By merely hitting the tackle bags harder we will not advance
The forwards are coached to sometimes be the 1st receiver and I must say it is so diabolically boring. Players 8-9-10-12 must constantly be talking and constructing plans as the game unfolds. We have not made the transition and it seems that we are still waiting for the opposition to initiate so we can try and do something.
How do you get these coaches born again?
27 Aug 2012, 18:41 pm
@The Analyst-639:
Fair go. We stood up at the end. But some pedestrian selections were evident. Keegan Daniel made the difference. Leadership and brains.
27 Aug 2012, 18:42 pm
Meyer will survive. He will reinvent the gameplan. No concerns.
Biggest issue IMHO is 100% predictability from 9-10-12-15
Hougaard to 11
Habana to 15
Pienaar to 09
Lambie to 10
Steyn to 12
De V to 13
27 Aug 2012, 18:42 pm
@Jinx2-638: Yep – I commented to a mate of mine as well that they look like they all enjoyed the nightlife a bit too much the night before the game. Maybe some of those hot South American ladies kept them awake on purpose the whole night.
Really – the game looked very slow. Argentina were very effective at slowing it down when they wanted to. We played the whole game at the pace of Argentina’s choosing.
Its a bit embarrassing really. This Pumas team has been given an opportunity and they have grabbed it with both hands. The Boks took years before we looked like valid opposition in the Tri-Nations. Pumas – two games in, already looking like they are in it to play. Embarrassing….
Axe half the team. If they dont want a Bok contract – then send them on their way. That’s what I say. Some guys are a waste of space and only getting selected on name weight. Bryan Habana is one, Jannie Du Plessis is the other.
27 Aug 2012, 18:42 pm
De Villiers looks like I could outrun him. Stampkarkak
27 Aug 2012, 18:42 pm
@Sheriff-640:
Ask the Cheetahs. They have the coaching model that fits your theory. All they need is 5 Bokke
A great rugby philosophy to be copied.
27 Aug 2012, 18:43 pm
@Jinx2-633:
One of the Boks’ problems is a loack of leadership in the pack, a year ago you had John Smith, Victor and Schalk, all captains providing stability under pressure
27 Aug 2012, 18:44 pm
@The Analyst-639: It was a pathetically poor display by the Springboks. I think that is what everyone’s issue is. These were the games we needed to get 10 points from. Instead, we have 6.
27 Aug 2012, 18:45 pm
@The Analyst-639:
Also, understand that for Meyer to walk in and change things overnight is IMPOSSIBLE. It will take him 4 years at least with structures being put in place all the way to the bottom of the rugby ecosystem in SA, including coaching and management structures and continuity.
It SHOULD NOT be Meyer in isolation. It should be the rugby structures in SA as a whole that needs to be scrutinzed.
Until we do this and give the coach THE BEST framework and resources to work with, they will always be scrambling to give the rugby public the results they want. In NZ, Carter and McCaw are managed for the good of the All Blacks, NOT their Franchises.
Meyer is the best we have in SA. Give him his chance.
27 Aug 2012, 18:45 pm
@victoriabok-646:
Bring in Juandre. Bekker is verby.
27 Aug 2012, 18:47 pm
@Dusky-635:
Good summary.
It seems the biggest issue with SA coaches is maturity of lack thereof. I agree with you, Mallet had his chance and should not be coaching SA again.
My thoughts about him is that he needs ‘anger management’ ; when things are not going his way he gets nasty with his players. He is arguably SA’s most self-assured guy and in a country where self-doubt is rife, he gets the thumbs-up from me in that dept.
I see some parallels between him and John Mitchell.
Pages: « 1 … 8 9 10 11 12 [13] 14 15 16 17 18 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.