Hougaard to wing it for Boks
4 Sep 2012
Heyneke Meyer is set to pick Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf and shift Francois Hougaard to the wing for Saturday’s clash against the Wallabies.
Hougaard has failed to improve as both a distributor and a tactical kicker, and it would appear that Meyer has finally decided to move the talented player into a position where his other skills would be better utilised.
Starting Pienaar at No 9 will also give the Boks a stronger kicking option, and alleviate the pressure on struggling flyhalf Morné Steyn.
‘I’ve always said that we will have a horses-for-courses attitude,’ Meyer told the media in Perth. ‘Hougaard gives you something different on the wing while Ruan is a little bit more experienced and he has a brilliant kicking game so he can take some of the pressure off of Morne Steyn. It is not a definite thing but we are looking at that option.’
That being said, a strong showing by Pienaar could force Meyer to consider a permanent change in personnel. The same could be said of Francois Louw, who joined the side on Monday after playing for Bath over the weekend. Louw is likely to feature at openside flank and will be looking to change the mindset of Meyer who initially felt Louw surplus to requirements.
‘I want the option of a specialist openside, maybe on the bench,’ said the Bok coach. ‘Northern hemisphere refs are normally a bit more lenient at the breakdown and I want us to be covered there. But I’ve said before that the whole team needs to be able to compete on the ground and at the breakdown.
‘Our problem against Argentina was not just taking the opposition’s ball at the breakdown, it was protecting our own ball at the breakdown and that is not just the openside’s role that is the whole team’s responsibility. We need to be more effective at the breakdown, our body height should be lower and we should clean out more effectively.’
128 Comments
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4 Sep 2012, 10:01 am
Hougaard and his Dragon wings
4 Sep 2012, 10:04 am
Think this is a win-win situation.
Better for the team and execution of the current gameplan and better for Hougaard.
He’s a far more devastating player when given a bit of space.
4 Sep 2012, 10:13 am
Good move. Hougie is devastating on the wing, epitomy of mongrel. He also does a bit of a back bend when he runs similar to the great Frankie Fredericks(200m Namibian champ), but still ightening quick!
The next good move would be to give Lambie a chance with Ruan Pienaar!!
4 Sep 2012, 10:15 am
@Kietzphat-2:
That is IF the backline can give him the ball in space!
4 Sep 2012, 10:16 am
I heard abt this on 5fm as well this morning
4 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
I personally feel that you get better wings than Hougie. Allthough he is an extremely talented player and te problem with naturally gifted rugby players are that because teire so talented they get moved a lot because they can cover everything. They don’t develop to their full potential when the are constantly moved arround. (Brent Russel, Pat Lambie, Ruan Pienaar)
The old saying: “Jack of all traits and master of none.” comes to mind.
I’d rather you bench Hougie, put on a specialist wing and bring him from the bench at 55 either at scrummy or the wing depending on the problem.
He will make a much bigger IMPACT than when he starts out of his posistion. Just my humble thoughts.
4 Sep 2012, 10:24 am
@pokkel-4:
That is a big ‘if’.
4 Sep 2012, 10:29 am
@race of tan-3: That brought back memories. Frankie Fredericks from Namibia. Was a great runner.
Hope Meyer surprises us even more. Play Lambie this week against Oz. Would have liked JDJ on at 13 too. Then we would have no captain, so not such a great idea. Unless Strauss can play.
4 Sep 2012, 10:31 am
@papaown-5: Most of us read it on SS yesterday already. So no news really.
4 Sep 2012, 10:39 am
Hougaard’s “problems” at scrumhalf are due solely to the coach’s insistence that he attempt to impersonate FdP, when even FdP himself wouldn’t cut it in 2012 if he played like the FdP of old (which he couldn’t in any case, because he is too old). But if Meyer is too stubborn to change the game plan (and he most certainly is), then Hougaard is better off at wing.
4 Sep 2012, 10:40 am
“‘Our problem against Argentina was not just taking the opposition’s ball at the breakdown, it was protecting our own ball at the breakdown and that is not just the openside’s role that is the whole team’s responsibility. We need to be more effective at the breakdown, our body height should be lower and we should clean out more effectively.‘
this was a problem in the english series heyneke, whose responsiblity is it to sort out? if you & “attack coach” van graan can’t get it right, get a consultant!
4 Sep 2012, 10:47 am
@lukie-6: I totally agree with you…..
4 Sep 2012, 10:47 am
@Transformation-11:
If the Boks had issues at the breakdown against the Poms and the Argies then the Wallabies will add a whole new dimension to their shortcomings.
He employed Van Graan’s as a safety net just incase the Bok gig doesn’t go according to plan.
4 Sep 2012, 10:48 am
@kaksioek-10: Frankie Hougaard is in die kak, how does one emulate a GENIUS?
Pure genius
10 Dec 2009
Fourie du Preez has established himself as the finest player on the planet.
Rugby genius. The concept is not easily defined, and should you arrive at a suitable definition, finding players who meet all the criteria is rare. It’s a relative concept, certainly, but there are attributes which are absolute. Fourie du Preez lists some of those when I ask him what he would define as genius.
‘It’s a player who reads the game and makes the right tactical decision 99% of the time after assessing the situation,’ he begins. ‘That said, you get some sharp decision-makers who don’t have the skills to execute what they see in their mind. Geniuses are able to do both, and their ability is amplified by the fact that they’ve studied their opponents.
‘Then there’s the issue of consistency. To be considered a genius you have to be able to deliver high-quality performances week in and week out against high-quality opposition.’
4 Sep 2012, 10:49 am
Seun: Pa, ek dink my meisie is te oud vir my.
Pa: Hoe so?
Seun: Sy sê sy het al gesien hoe die WP die currie beker wen.
4 Sep 2012, 10:49 am
Meyers team:
15 Zane Kirchner
14 Francois Hougaard
13 Jean De Villiers
12 Frans Steyn
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morne Stwyn
9 Ruan Pienaar
8 Willem Alberts
7 Jaques Potgieter
6 Marcell Coetzee
5 Juandre Kruger
4 Eben Etsebeth
3 Jannie Dup
2 Liebenberg
1 Beast
16 Burden
17 Cilliers
18 Flip
19 Flouw
20 Lambie
21 De Jongh
22 Mvovo
4 Sep 2012, 10:50 am
@kaksioek-10: how can anyone mimic Neo?
“Du Preez has, at times, looked like he was reading the game in a Matrix-type code, not dissimilar to the manner in which Keanu Reeves’s character in the sci-fi blockbuster did, and he seemed to have the ability to supernaturally elevate his spirit and make tactical decisions based on information attained via an aerial view of the action.”
no way jose!
4 Sep 2012, 10:51 am
@Puma-9: And it was in RAPPORT newspaper on Sunday as well!!
4 Sep 2012, 10:54 am
@Rhys7-16: I somehow doubt it will be Potgieter at 7. Will be Alberts. Think Vermeulen will start at 8 with Alberts 7 and Coetzee 6. Flo will be on the bench.
Should have been to start:
Coetzee
Alberts
Flo
Though Flo only flew in on Monday night and that flight for the UK takes forever. He might feel the jet lag a bit.
4 Sep 2012, 10:55 am
My team:
15 Pat Lambie
14 Gio Aplon
13 Jean De Villiers
12 Frans Steyn
11 Bryan Habana
10 Elton Jantjes
9 Francois Hougaard
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Marcell Coetzee
6 Francois Louw
5 Andries Bekker
4 Eben Etsebeth
3 Pat Cilliers
2 Tiaan Liebenberg
1 Tendai Mtawarira
16 Craig Burden
17 Jannie Du Plessis
18 Juandre Kruger
19 Willem Alberts
20 Ruan Pienaar
21 Juan De Jongh
22 Lwazi Mvovo
4 Sep 2012, 10:56 am
@CharlesM-18: hahahaha. I know we get old news here.
4 Sep 2012, 10:58 am
This is a red herring – can’t remember the last time boks sent the ball down the line to the wing. Maybe it’s because the forwards standing in the backline can’t pass well enough or because their ‘move’ is to run back into the opposition forwards every time….just saying….
4 Sep 2012, 10:59 am
@Puma-21: I suppose these “journos” think we don’t read other sites as well
4 Sep 2012, 11:08 am
@CharlesM-23: Probably…
4 Sep 2012, 11:16 am
@nikoli-22: this is no red herring, hougaard is good at chasing kicks!
4 Sep 2012, 11:20 am
So it is official we will play starplayers out of position to fit the game plan but we would not change the game plan to fit the starplayers in their preferred positions? This is k@k for saffa fans and for the players themselves… I’m ashames..
Backline-15-lambie 14-habana 13de villiers 12-steyn 11-mvovo 10-goosen 9-hougaard( this is a attacking backline with a stern defensive technique-wouldnt hawies fourie done wonders with them!)
Forwards-8-vermeulen 7-alberts -6louw 5-kruger 4-etzebeth 3-cilliers 2-strauss 1-beast(this is a devestating forward pack with attacking flair and breakdown execution- wouldn’t gert small/gary gold loved to work with them?)
Subs- 16liebenberg 17-greyling 18-potgieter 19-coetzee 20-pienaar 21-de jong 22-kirchner(meyer you could have kept momentum with them)
4 Sep 2012, 11:25 am
Stegmann broke his arm in the 42-6 defeat at Newlands on the weekend – the same arm that he broke in Vodacom Super Rugby action back in May and will now spend the next few months frustratingly on the sidelines
Whats new?
When are the bulls going to terminate this guys contract or atleast not offer him a new one.
4 Sep 2012, 11:40 am
@Sasuke-27: agilt-t*t will be here to rebuke you!
4 Sep 2012, 11:45 am
@xtremebull-26: Yes I am with the person here that said if Hougie was left to play his natural game at scrummie he would be great. I feel that too. Just forget the name of the poster here.
Now if we had that backline with a different game plan we could do some damage. Though with that 9 and 10 think we would need a faster 8. Just change your 8 there to Coetzee and put Vermeulen n the bench. Then sorted.
And that is just with the players we have there on tour already??? MInd boggles that some are just left out the team that could change our style of play.
Anyhow that is wishful thinking bud. Just can’t see Meyer starting with that backline with his game plan.
4 Sep 2012, 11:53 am
About time. Hougaard had more than enough time to make the jersey his own and he failed unfortunately.
Hopefully Pienaar has a good game. The backs should look better this weekend. Bekker needs to step up too.
Hopefully that headless chicken aka Jacques Potgieter doest feature in the match 22.
4 Sep 2012, 11:53 am
Is Hougaard a better wing than either Habana or Mvovo to be selected ahead of them?
No doubt he is a good player in that position especially from broken play and with ball in hand. Imo he is much better suited there coming of the bench when he is fresh and the opposition players have 55/60 minutes of game time behind them already.
4 Sep 2012, 12:03 pm
This is only creating two problems instead of one. One: A bok wing firstand foremost, has to chace highballs, now we pick a midget to do it
Secondly: Pienaar’s first instinct is allways to slow the game down. He’s not as bad as he used to be, but that’s not saying much. Pay attention to the way oppsition forwards read him. There’s allways two of them, watching and waiting. On the odd chance that he clears quickly, they don’t commit to the ruck.
More often, when he starts having a conversation with the ref, standing upright and looking left, right and left again, starts a sign language conversation with the flyhalf, then and only then do the opposition forwards hit the counter ruck and turn it over. It’s like taking candy from a baby.
Pay carefull attention next Saturday, we concede 2-4 turnovers in this way each game with Pienaar at 9
4 Sep 2012, 12:18 pm
Meyer may be a lot of good things but a great manager he is not. His handling of Daniels has been nothing short of appaling but I am afraid he has reached new lows with this latest stunt. What a way of telling your country’s wingers that they are no better than a bloke who has been playing scrumhalf for the whole season. I wonder what this will do to Hougie’s already low confidence.
4 Sep 2012, 12:19 pm
@Transformation-14: @Transformation-17: – this is the most cringeworthly thing, who wrote this??
4 Sep 2012, 12:19 pm
@Stiff-arm-32:
I havent seen much of this you are describing in the recent games when he came on… Much quicker ball from the rucks when he came on. He reads the situation much better imo
4 Sep 2012, 12:20 pm
@kaksioek-10: ya, this pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter too
4 Sep 2012, 12:22 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell-34: Ryan Vrede!
4 Sep 2012, 12:31 pm
@Transformation-37: haha, his article on pierre spies was even worse.
the one where spies says he will be the worlds best 8.
never happened.
4 Sep 2012, 12:32 pm
@Transformation-37: hahaha, good grief
4 Sep 2012, 12:33 pm
@rangerman-38: The Cognitive Evolution of Spies”
i s.hit you not!
4 Sep 2012, 12:40 pm
@Transformation-40: is this the famous article where he rattled off all his physical stats? like that he can sprint 800m without slowing, lmao
4 Sep 2012, 12:42 pm
@Transformation-40: that was fkt up
4 Sep 2012, 12:47 pm
Bok backline will remain sterile and impotent as long as they hand the 10 jersey to M Steyn….
That is the problem….far more so than Hougaard , who gets the bullet because he couldnt protect M Steyn….M Steyn should be able to look after himself.
start Lambie on Sat Meyer…
4 Sep 2012, 12:49 pm
So now Mvovo will get the axe?
Bloody unfair seeing he got farkall ball !!
4 Sep 2012, 12:52 pm
@grant10-44: everyone must accomodate Morne it seems
4 Sep 2012, 13:20 pm
Pienaar only looked better because Hougie was so dreadful……He’s not the answer imho, he always takes one step too many before passing and always runs across the field. I also don’t buy the idea that he has such a brilliant kicking game either……..Hope to be proven wrong but history has a nasty habit of repeating itself. I honestly don’t think RP has it in him……where is Sarel ?? I would even play Jano before RP…… As for Morne, if we think he’s been struggling with Hougie, just wait ’til RP is at 9 !!
Meyer has painted himself into a corner by bringing RP back from Ulster (must have promised something !!) when we have better options here….
4 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
Hougaard hasn’t done a single thing to warrant selection in this team. He’s picked ahead of Mvovo based on?
He was picked as the SA scrummie based on?
Meyer and FdP hyped Hougaard for a long time and now he, as many before and after, simply isn’t living up to the hype.
We urgently need a decent scrummie in SA and we simply don’t have one at the moment. Sarel Pretorius should’ve never had his stupid stint with the Waratahs otherwise he could very well have been the recipient of the SOS call and I reckon he would’ve stepped up to the plate… unlike the two that are trying now.
4 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
Sound as if HM started getting worried about his job if he dropped an icon of uselessness such as Mvovo
Should bring Lambie at 10 too, the Boks might then walk over the Aussies as if it was a transparent media
4 Sep 2012, 13:36 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell-45:
it is poor man management….
no excuses for HM on that score….
Without any shadow of a doubt M Steyn is killing our backline…..
first we have Jantjes being dropped without touching a ball….and even having to sit and watch the rubbish boks played at PE…..AND NOT EVEN COMING ON….
now we have Hougaard being sacrificed at the altar of M Steyn as he didnt protect him….
WTF man !
Then we have Mvovo sitting out on the wing getting very few opportunities….now he gets shafted….
I wont even get started with Meyers treatment of Brussow….
I certainly am not impressed….he needs to be more open and honest….
Both Jantjes or Lambie should be at 10 this weekend….
Steyn should be back in Pretoria…
4 Sep 2012, 13:38 pm
similarily he has treated Daniel with total disdain….
Lambie must be wondering what the hell is going on….
Come on HM…up your game dammit…
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