Midfield magic needed
4 Sep 2012
RYAN VREDE writes the Springboks’ midfield pair of Frans Steyn and Jean de Villiers are far more creative than what they’ve shown and need to be encouraged to explore that dimension of their play.
I’ve lamented the Springboks’ pack’s impotency extensively, and, in a game of cause and effect, their struggles are at the root of the broader impotency of the backline.
Over the course of the last five Tests there have been encouraging periods where the heavies have dominated and the backline has buzzed, their early blitz against England at Ellis Park the prime example of this. However, they have lacked consistency and it has reflected in a string of unconvincing performances. Notable in that period has been the muted impact of their midfield pair.
The duo seldom see the ball when the Springboks are in their own territory, the directive being to punt and chase for fear of committing errors in their half and gifting the opposition points. This is understandable given the small margins in Test rugby among the elite sides. However, when further upfield, it is deeply frustrating to see Steyn being reduced largely to a battering ram, whose primary function is to generate go-forward at the gainline. He has had limited success in doing so and will struggle to impose himself in the manner the coaching staff hope against the organised and physical All Blacks and (to a lesser extent) Wallabies.
Steyn’s creative ability is well known and was first exhibited as a young buck in the Springboks’ midfield at the 2007 World Cup. His running lines were excellent and his distribution – short and long – was incisive and created opportunities for his outside backs. I’d like to see Steyn encouraged to rediscover this dimension of his play (in the right field positions) because he has the skills set to be more than he is being utilised as at present.
De Villiers has found adapting to the attacking demands of a Test outside centre difficult. His running lines and timing of those runs are fractionally off and in Test rugby those fractions are the difference between breaking the line and being stopped. He certainly possesses the attacking flair to be effective in the position, but I am concerned that age has depleted the turn of pace he used to have to get him through holes in the defensive line.
De Villiers, however, remains a fine player who I believe will settle into the position and be a competent option. Comparisons with Jaque Fourie are unfair and those who peddle those comparisons fail to appreciate that Fourie was among the best in the position in the game. De Villiers is unlikely to retain the captaincy or No 13 shirt if, as expected, Fourie returns to the Test fold in 2013. Until then, he must explore different dimensions – tackle offloads for example – of his attacking game within the framework of the game plan.
The Springboks’ pack are central to their success and against the weakest Wallabies pack in recent years, they must create the platform for Steyn and De Villiers to be the game breakers they have the capacity to be.
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343 Comments
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4 Sep 2012, 14:17 pm
@grant100-148:
Unemployed again?
4 Sep 2012, 14:18 pm
@nama1-145: D
look, not to say she isnt attractive, but she does herself no favours… with her skin tone she should be wearing dark coloured clothing
just my opinion mind.
4 Sep 2012, 14:19 pm
@poppa69-152:
What are you
A stylist
4 Sep 2012, 14:20 pm
@Dawn-153: nope, just a connoisseur
4 Sep 2012, 14:22 pm
@PissAnt-143:
True.
I think we can agree that the tight five is the best we have at this moment, maybe just Kruger for Bekker.
Now, how do you get all of them to hit the rucks in order to secure clean ball? Some of them are currently not doing it especially Beast. Strauss is not known for it. Jannie is Jannie even though he has been playing good rugby for a while now. Him hitting a ruck is like thrower somebody with a feather.
That leaves only the locks to do the work of cleaning the rucks since none of the loosies will commit themselves to it as they are waiting for the ball in the fringes to carry it up again.
The mindset is wrong and needs to change.
Afa the loose trio goes, there just is no balance if everybody wants to run with the ball or rather bash it up another few feet.
4 Sep 2012, 14:23 pm
a new zeelander saying someone is ugly lol …. its like bill gates calling someone rich ….
4 Sep 2012, 14:23 pm
@poppa69-154:
Surprised you can spell it!
4 Sep 2012, 14:24 pm
Just kidding.
4 Sep 2012, 14:25 pm
@PissAnt-143: So what happens when the other team does exactly the same or better?
4 Sep 2012, 14:26 pm
as Ive said before, the problem with the bok tight five is there is no leadership..
with Bismarck and both experienced locks out, there is no one bringing the collective together
such a simple game…
4 Sep 2012, 14:27 pm
@grant100-156:
there are beauties everywhere buddy.
but your comment is quite funny.
4 Sep 2012, 14:29 pm
Cane is truly obsessed.
The standard of beauty in the Hutts must be sooo kuk.
4 Sep 2012, 14:30 pm
@Dawn-162: nikita is quite pleasant on the eye though Dawnie.
4 Sep 2012, 14:31 pm
Joanne
Howsabout you put Cane out of his misery!
4 Sep 2012, 14:31 pm
@grant100-156: its like saying corrugated iron makes a good house
4 Sep 2012, 14:32 pm
While for more than a week now these moronic followers behave like mad dogs chasing their tails for a way out of this rugby nightmare of failure(predicted), the sure answer is stunning in its simplicity. But it will get worse in the next two w-ends of September(also predicted after Argentina).
From time immemorial their gameplan(rugby policy) has been a simple “subdue the (seemingly less endowed )opposition into submission and then dominate them to achieve our masterful control and rule the world of rugby. This is the mentality of the unable-to-think BULLY(the world over). Accept that universal life has moved on and we live in the era of superfast and skillful gadgets where brains are demanded.
But lo and behold does that gameplan not sound like something we have all heard and experienced for many lifetimes?
Does “subdue the opposition into submission and dominate them to achieve our masterful control” not spell out racism,, and ‘APARTHEID’ to be exact? Are those of the BULLY mentality and unable-to-think brigade not responsible for that too?
Does SA rugby = ‘Apartheid’ then complete the losing equation of a life in SA?
For as long as you have the likes of those northen laager-wagoners like ‘boepie’ H. Meyer dictating the affairs of national interests, for so long will failure stare this motherland in the face.
In the Circle of Life this is balance.
4 Sep 2012, 14:33 pm
thrower = throwing
@poppa69-160:
The fact is that they are out and not available.
Beast and Jannie are both very experienced at this level. Bekker also played quite a few test matches. Among the three of them, they should be able to guide the newcomers for now.
4 Sep 2012, 14:34 pm
@Neilanate-166: you are a trifle strange buddy.
4 Sep 2012, 14:36 pm
@nama1-155: The ruck problem won’t be solved by putting more number into the ruck. Part of the problem lies in the support lines and the other is the lack of proper technique in ruck clearance. Body-manipulation is crucial aspect in this. It’s mostly strength based, but quite a bit of it has to do with technique and recognizing when to employ what technique.
4 Sep 2012, 14:38 pm
@nama1-167: beast is over rated, always has been… Jannie shouldnt be in the side, offers nothing and both of them are weak in their core duties, i.e scrummaging…
Bekker has had too many injuries to even command a starting spot, and has had how many test matches in total? (I presume it isnt more than 10? genuine question)..
there is no one prepared to get stuck in, and as such the rest become stand offish.. there is no communication, no organiser and so they play as individuals..
just my opinion though
4 Sep 2012, 14:42 pm
@Dawn-164:
And how should I do that?
4 Sep 2012, 14:42 pm
@poppa69-94:
A smart guy like you must know the “talent” has been ,is and will be forever suppressed by the monstrously conservative(‘verkrampte’) rugby BULLY? In short their is, has been and will be no “talent” let alone overflow type and numbers. All the Steyns are no more than deficient, selfish bullies of some sort.
4 Sep 2012, 14:45 pm
RYAN VREDE… You’re just such a shockingly bad rugby pundit, its laughable.
4 Sep 2012, 14:45 pm
@rangerman-168:
And you still are that ‘apartheid’ achiever chasing your tail like millions of dalmations(how apt).
4 Sep 2012, 14:46 pm
@rangerman-168: that’s an understatement for ExtraBallas…
he hates SA but wants to celebrate with us when the Proteas reach the summit of Test cricket
and cue the “Dolly” D’ Oliviera bio…
4 Sep 2012, 14:49 pm
@pompies2-169:
Without the proper technique, which we clearly don’t have, I would suggest that we put more numbers into the ruck to at least secure our ball. Isn’t it the reason why HM prefers big, heavy players ahead of smaller, more skillful players? Now why don’t they hassle in the rucks instead of standing around and watching the 2/3 Bok players fighting for the ball and losing it eventually?
In the meantime, HM can go ahead and coach our players the proper technique since the provincial coaches seem unable to do so.
4 Sep 2012, 14:52 pm
@poppa69-170:
An opinion with which I agree 100%. Especially the 3rd paragraph.
4 Sep 2012, 14:52 pm
The biggest joke of the year is the 48 hr. number 1 ranking for the Proteas in the ODI version.
Now they will have to wait for 2 months, 2 years or dare it be said, 20 years?
Without the not-so-white Amla(achieving) and Philander(not selected) top ranking are hard to come by, let alone held on.
4 Sep 2012, 14:53 pm
@poppa69-170: “beast is over rated, always has been… Jannie shouldnt be in the side, offers nothing and both of them are weak in their core duties, i.e scrummaging”
jeepuz popps, the two of them destroyed everything in front of them in super rugby and should be knackered considering the amount of travel and gametime they’ve racked up…
4 Sep 2012, 14:55 pm
Among other things, it is important for a backline player to have size and SPEED. This creates momentum and makes it difficult for the opposition to defend. Never mind handling skills or kicking. This is another conversation altogether. Assuming players have an equal kicking and handling game etc, it’s usually better to select the guy who generates more momentum. Especially in the centres.
Forwards however, are not especially required to have blistering pace. If they have a sufficient amount, they can still easily become world class. Richie McCaw as an example is not particularly fast, but is one of the best forwards in the world. What a forward needs (in contrast to a backline player) is a combination of size and MONGREL. What is mongrel? It is the skills which can’t be coached. It is close-combat. It is the ability of a player to win a battle he shouldn’t have won. It is the ability of the player to cause such a nuisance to the opposition that they make mistakes. It is ugly. It is not thoroughbred…. It is Ashley Johnson, not Pierre Spies.
Pierre Spies should be a backline player.
Ashley Johnson should be a Springbok.
View here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thsrmjigmk4
4 Sep 2012, 14:55 pm
@Neilanate-174: seriously, you are weird.
wake up.
@Transformation-175: its quite hilarious posting on keo.
sure, we have a good barney and we tear strips out of each other at times like all saffas do but every now and then there are some seriously deranged minds on here and this poor fellow is one of them.
4 Sep 2012, 14:58 pm
@Transformation-179: haha, poops is talking k u k.
beast and jannie were outstanding against such highly rated front rows as the highlanders and chiefs.
4 Sep 2012, 14:59 pm
@Transformation-179: the travel excuse? how did the ABs win the world cup when the majority of their forward pack travelled over 100 000 kms each during the super rugby season of 2011? then had 3Ns then the WC?
4 Sep 2012, 15:01 pm
@nama1-176: I’m not a fan of the disproportionate response. The problem has been quantified and now it’s just a matter of applying the correct remedy. By putting more numbers into the ruck, you then limit your attacking play. The importance of the correct supporting lines also needs to be highlighted because is doesn’t just aid the ruck, but also aids continuity in the case of line breaks and offloads in the tackle.
i don’t recall this being a problem at the franchises, so i can only assume that players’ attention and role definition has changed or been redefined for test rugby.
4 Sep 2012, 15:02 pm
@rangerman-182: the highlanders front row highly rated?
hahaha bye bye credibility..
macintosh is kak… should have gone long time ago…
4 Sep 2012, 15:05 pm
@poppa69-185: ok you are right.
they are k u k.
4 Sep 2012, 15:05 pm
Some here shout Boks and Proteas and in the dark of night like a murderer silently call Wallabies and All Blacks and the rest. And that spells HYPOCRITE.
Since when does highlighting the achievements of those whose forebears were denied(Philander,Amla etc.) equate to the being enthusiastic about Proteas? Distortion of a serial liar?
The only decent protea is the one I swiped off the mountain in the reserve 10 days ago. It flourishes presently in a vase of water.
4 Sep 2012, 15:08 pm
@rangerman-186: so who rates the highlanders front row so much? please enlighten me…
4 Sep 2012, 15:09 pm
@Neilanate-187: amla and big vern are ours weirdo.
you can phuuuuck off loser.
4 Sep 2012, 15:09 pm
@poppa69-188: the guys who play in it?
4 Sep 2012, 15:10 pm
their moms?
4 Sep 2012, 15:10 pm
girlfriends?
4 Sep 2012, 15:10 pm
wives?
4 Sep 2012, 15:10 pm
@rangerman-190: cool, so no real substance to your claim
quelle surprise..
4 Sep 2012, 15:11 pm
who knows really, its a funny old world.
but one things for sure, you dont.
then again you are a blues fan. so why would you?
4 Sep 2012, 15:12 pm
@poppa69-183: majority is who? mealamu, woodcock?
the franks ROTATE and are rotated even NOW which is why ben wants to leave the crusaders!
you are delusional if you think what the Sharks were asked to do was not taxing!
no point in talking to a troll, as you were.
4 Sep 2012, 15:12 pm
@nama1-64: you fkin idiot they were kak hahahaha jean and adi was worse than van straaten and jorrie muller bwahahahaha you dont know **** pal fk adi was fkin cockswallop and jean a fkin carthorse we had a **** 2008 you fkin saggy *** fk you are so stoooopid
4 Sep 2012, 15:13 pm
@poppa69-194: likewise your comments about the beast and jannie
in fact you made your name toss there poops.
the sharks pack was awesome this season and once the beast got back from injury, they handled all comers.
it was beautiful.
just beyoooodifulll
4 Sep 2012, 15:13 pm
@rangerman-195: I understand Ranger, you have no real rugby knowledge and as such have to diffuse the situation by being obtuse and redirecting..
again, a simple question, who rates the highlanders front row so highly?
4 Sep 2012, 15:15 pm
@Blitzbok-197: i would like to introduce you to someone named neilanate.
he is also looking for a friend.
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