Boks’ response must speak loudest
30 Aug 2012
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers said they had to be accountable for their poor showing in Mendoza and said that accountability must be exhibited through their forthcoming performances.
The Springboks produced their most woeful effort under coach Heyneke Meyer to date, stuttering to a 16-16 draw in the second Test of their Rugby Championship campaign last week.
They have subsequently taken lots of heat from the South African public and media and are under immense pressure to improve in the Tests that remain, their next assignment coming in Perth against Australia next Saturday.
De Villiers stressed the importance of identification and elimination of the errors they’ve made and called for a significant improvement.
‘We need to learn from our experiences, and we’re growing as a team, but you can’t keep making the same mistakes,’ De Villiers said at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Thursday.
‘By Saturday next week we will know if we’ve stepped up or not. We’re building as a team. Our discipline needs to improve, our execution, and our set-phases have taken a step backward. We maybe need to improve 40 percent but the margins are very small in Test rugby.’
De Villiers added time had healed some of the wounds of that result and allowed them to gain a measure of perspective on it. He also refused to completely accept that their attacking play, which was a point of great criticism for its sterility, was fundamentally flawed.
‘We’ve put that game behind us. Looking at the game again I feel better about it,’ he said. ‘There were actually a lot of positives from the game. We believe we were a better team than how we played on Saturday. Even though there has been a lot of criticism of our attacking play, I thought that was actually quite good. The attack was quite good at times.’
Meyer’s game plan is widely perceived to be conservative and has been the central focus of his detractors’ vitriol. He needs it to come together against the Wallabies or face deepening and more scathing criticism thereof. While De Villiers accepted that they deserved to be questioned for their execution of that game plan, he, however, gave it the vote of confidence on behalf of the squad.
‘It’s a new coach trying to get a message and game plan across to the team,’ he said. ‘We will all stand up for what we believe in. We believe in the coach and what we’re doing is right.’
297 Comments
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31 Aug 2012, 12:43 pm
I note NZ has pulled ahead of SA on the paralympics table…………..
31 Aug 2012, 12:43 pm
@Transformation-142: I doubt it.
Apparently he has signed an agreement with the NZRU that only allows him to disclose certain information.
That doesn’t prevent him from planning the demise of the Boks and the Wallabies though
31 Aug 2012, 12:43 pm
@BokkeYouBeauties-145:
It’s the same the World over BYB.
Few ( if any) players ever say what they really think to the media.
31 Aug 2012, 12:44 pm
@cane-147: Well I can tell you right now that you won’t draw with them
Anyone watching the paralympics? Talk about humbling and making one feel like an absolute tosspot for whinging about irrelevant sh y te like the Boks kak gameplan. These athletes are something else. And the sportsmanship shown, special.
Good on the Poms as well, they are filling the stadiums once again, absolutely brilliant.
31 Aug 2012, 12:45 pm
@cane-153:
RIDER TO THE ABOVE:
Except Luke………………………………………..and look where that got him.
31 Aug 2012, 12:46 pm
@Transformation-37: Brad Thorn is 37, Botha is 32, if Thorn was 32 NZ would try to get another 5 years out of him.
31 Aug 2012, 12:46 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-148: what is the place for, blogging?
31 Aug 2012, 12:48 pm
@Big Hit-156: how old was carl hayman when he left? did they not struggle with tialata and fastrack the franks?
different mindset!
31 Aug 2012, 12:48 pm
@willievz-152:
farking keewees!
31 Aug 2012, 12:48 pm
@Delki-151: I don’t care if Finland end up
on top of the medal table. All of these athletes are inspirational beyond belief.
I’m in awe actually.
31 Aug 2012, 12:50 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-154:
Just a week or 2 after the Olympic’s……………………………you would think they (The Poms) would have been ” all sported out” by now.
But no.
They just can’t get enough.
Best Olympic’s in living memory for me. A credit to GB.
31 Aug 2012, 12:50 pm
@Bokhoring-150: it was a far-fetched example to illustrate how ludicrous our situation is.
31 Aug 2012, 12:52 pm
@Transformation-157: Yes, but it seems they do a helluva lot of reporting on games in the various leagues as well. Seems to be very jacked up, with valuable info all round. Looks like a feckinggoodresource, just as Gtown said. Will definitely be logging in there regularly.
31 Aug 2012, 12:53 pm
@Transformation-159: Indeed.
Farkin kewees.
Bilateral relations with Argentina, trying to beat the enemy.
31 Aug 2012, 12:53 pm
@160 Agree.
Needed to get in my dig though. Saffers almost unanimously THINK they have more talented sportsmen than UK and NZ but whenever there is a major competition such as Olympics or paralympics, both these countries finish ahead of SA on medals table. SA only really shapes at rugby (well sort of), cricket and golf. Not much else.
31 Aug 2012, 12:54 pm
@Delki-165: And boxing.
31 Aug 2012, 12:54 pm
@cane-161: It has been unreal. I’ve watched some swimming, wheelchair basketball, athletics etc – and the crowds are rocking it bigtime. Athletics stadium looks full.
I doubt there is going to be an Olympics that will even run GB close on the ‘infuckingcredible’ scale.
The finest we will see in our lifetime.
31 Aug 2012, 12:57 pm
@Delki-165: Not true of all of us mate. Believe me. Some of us are very aware of just where we fit in sports wise in the grander scheme of things.
Sadly, a few of my fellow citizens seem to fabricate a lot of hype about SA sport in general.
In fact, we are perennial underachievers.
31 Aug 2012, 12:58 pm
@willievz-166: And swimming
31 Aug 2012, 13:03 pm
Any paraplegic rugby teams around that we can ship Kirtchner off to?
31 Aug 2012, 13:04 pm
@willievz-164: yesses! and how did we agree to this?
31 Aug 2012, 13:06 pm
@willievz-166: @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-169:
Your Cricketers ………………………………………………..wow.
The Pietersen plant in the English Team was a master stroke.
patience, patience, patience………………………..GLORY.
31 Aug 2012, 13:06 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-96:
players who ‘have their confidence damaged’ easily are not mentally tough
that’s the point
31 Aug 2012, 13:07 pm
@Delki-165: in your mind our swimmers are kak?
31 Aug 2012, 13:07 pm
Who’s hot and who’s not in the world of rugby, bo surpise seeing Bekker on the list
http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,16016_8034337,00.html
31 Aug 2012, 13:08 pm
@gunther-103:
well, i do like ron jeremy’s work
31 Aug 2012, 13:14 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-168:
I would disagree Doggie.
I think SA is a rampant over achiever in sport generally.
Cricket and Golf in particular.
Rugby………………………………………….You should be doing better.
31 Aug 2012, 13:14 pm
@cane-172:
you think us too similar to you kiwi’s, cane
we’re nothing like you
31 Aug 2012, 13:17 pm
@cane-172: Our cricketers have always had the potential (and we have always been blessed with a few special players over the years), but finally we seem to have struck gold with our coaching setup.
Gary just gets it.
Gary is very different to our previous coaches……(compared to those who launched the “Brave cricket” campaign and the like
Now if we could just find a ‘Gary’ for the Boks.
31 Aug 2012, 13:17 pm
Sorry guys Etzebeth is a great athlete and amazing physical specimen but he has more braun than brains – to run the 5 lock position you need a cool head that doesn’t get affected by the opposition. Also look at the size he already is at the age of 22 he can only get bigger and stronger which would steer him even more into the enforcer role. Therefore i’ll keep him at 4 without a doubt.
Kruger on the other hand shoes a clamer more collected presence which he has proven at the bulls this season his my 5 lock man for the next 4 to lets hope 8years for the boks. Etzebeth and Kruger also slotted in very well as a combo against the English especially if you consider they both only played 11 games of S15 rugby and were hen handed the reigns for the bok engine room. Big up to both the rookies. And I hope to see the both of them team up again against those out back red necks in Perth on the 8th.
31 Aug 2012, 13:21 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-176: so you love bakkies and admire hedgehogs?
oh dear
31 Aug 2012, 13:21 pm
@lieflingblou-180:
well then play kruger at 5 and bakkies at 4 with eztebeth on the bench as backup for 4 and 5.
31 Aug 2012, 13:21 pm
@cane-177: Nope. If you look at what we do at Junior level, in all codes: soccer, athletics etc etc etc, we underachieve when it comes to making the step up.
Cricket and rugby – we are expected to do well, and yet for what we have had available over the years, have underachieved. (For a variety of reasons)
Golf – no complaints there.
BUT: in the broader sense of sporting achievements – we can, and SHOULD be doing a lot better. We have the numbers, the resources (sometimes misdirected and mismanaged of course…)and the natural talent to do a lot better on the global stage. I really believe this.
31 Aug 2012, 13:22 pm
@poppa69-181:
i bet you’ve seen all the ‘hog’s’ early work
31 Aug 2012, 13:25 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-183: you need more kiwi coaches…
we are great at sitting on our @rse sports, we just have to upskill your sitting at home watching finals mentality
31 Aug 2012, 13:25 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-178:
The Pieterson plant in the English Team was absolute brilliance.
I tip my hat to you cheating thieves.
Planning, planning, planning…………………………………followed by patience, patience, patience………………………………………..then BINGO.
This is the type of thing we expected from East Germany back in 70′s.
31 Aug 2012, 13:27 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-184: The “hogs” early work?
he was quite handy with bat in hand I hear, but then I always thought Rodney Hogg was a good cricketer..
oh wait, you meant someone else right?
31 Aug 2012, 13:29 pm
Josh Strauss (File)
Related Links
Earlier start to Super Rugby? Jake: Meyer’s style not ideal Bok fans welcome fresh faces Cape Town – Lions loose forward Josh Strauss will join the seven-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders for next year’s tournament.
The Lions were excluded for the 2013 edition, making way for the Southern Kings following a SARU decision earlier this month.
Strauss will return to the Lions for their promotion/relegation match against the lowest
31 Aug 2012, 13:31 pm
Reading on the Twitter machine that Josh Strauss signed to play for the Crusaders in the S15 next year but will be back for the Lions in the relegation match. Not valid sources though… but if there is smoke….
31 Aug 2012, 13:31 pm
@cane-186: as I said “kiwi coaching” on the bleddy agents angle
what with Gatland, Deans, Plumtree, Mitchell, GH with the Argies, they again are playing catch up..
31 Aug 2012, 13:33 pm
@poppa69-185:
I would take a Kiwi coach or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 in our rugby setup. The Kings have been very clever with their coaching appointments. Kiwis all round, including a skills coach.
They must be the only Saffa Super rugby team with a skills coach. And while many may laugh at the Kings and taunt them, I say THEY are the ones on the right track.
31 Aug 2012, 13:33 pm
@grant10-188: Lions CEO says it’s a kuk story but let’s wait and see.
31 Aug 2012, 13:34 pm
@grant10-188: good move for him if true, have always liked his approach and think he should have been given an opportunity for higher honours..
will be behind Reid though so may not get a lot of gametime..still, should come back to SA afterwards a much better player
31 Aug 2012, 13:37 pm
Josh Strauss joins Crusaders
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17 minutes ago
Cape Town – Lions loose forward Josh Strauss will join the seven-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders for next year’s tournament.
The Lions were excluded for the 2013 edition, making way for the Southern Kings following a SARU decision earlier this month.
Strauss will return to the Lions for their promotion/relegation match against the lowest finishing SA side next year.
31 Aug 2012, 13:37 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-191: any coincidence the Boks in 07 WC had Sheryl Calder and the improvement showed? Bokkkes imo have not had the same “ball skills” (hence Bakkies love of the hog) as the Australasians, and this lets them down imo
31 Aug 2012, 13:37 pm
@grant10-188: @Hop Hop Spinnekop-189: Damn. Was hoping he would sign with the Blues. The Blues could have done with him, but then again, I have no doubt the Blues Crew are wide awake and are hopefully signing a few forwards and a 10 as I type.
31 Aug 2012, 13:41 pm
@cane-186:
such a chop
i’m just patiently waiting for the day a disgruntled ex nzru employee publishes his/her damning expose on all your dirty little shenanigans in the world of rugby.
my money’s on the employee being the son of an expat saffa who emigrated to hobbiton in the 90′s
31 Aug 2012, 13:43 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-196: As Poppa says he will come back a better player ….so good for him and SA Rygby.
Pity M Steyn cant go to Blues and work with coaches to remedy the skop en jag tendencies….
I saw some earlier comments….I am also a
31 Aug 2012, 13:43 pm
@grant10-188:
i dont believe this
wow
wow
wow
farking lions executive and board trough feeding scum
wow
31 Aug 2012, 13:45 pm
@grant10-198: sorry…also a Quin Roux fan…hope he is not lost to WP / Stormers rugby.
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