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, 16:07 pm
@poppa69-202: Pooppa you have the biggest chip on your shoulder that you cannot see the wood for the Forrest! You are actually embarassing your native land instead of bringing us around to canonise the mighty crusaders! You are full of it when it comes to insult our country and teams, not having enough class to stop at stooping to using Aids as a means to try and poke fun at our “abhorent” country! Let me remind you however, that those “kuk” props were the ones that put their campaingn at stake in 2011, for those “mighty Crusader forwards” by accepting to play the Crusaders at Twikenham so that the Kiwis could make some money after the Earthquake disaster! Unlike the Crusaders flying direct to London, the Sharks had to fly to Durban and then Twikenham and then unlike the Crusaders going into a bye, we had to play the Stormers after traveling to the Antipodes and back and then again to London, try that for mileage! So the 100 000 kms traveled by those mighty forwards in 2011 is more than the mileage the Sharks had to fly to the final? (have you worked that one out yet?) yes its their fault they last the first few games but if you check team sheets in those games we were missing key players incidentally Beast was one of those players. It was more the game plan that sucked than the players, if you were watching, as soon as Plum changed game plan and Beast, Alberts, Jordaan and Deysel came back we got to the Final. Congrats to the Chiefs they were superior on the day, but maybe we should remind you the figure pasted on the Chiefs by the Bulls at Loftus just to bring some perspective to the “mighty” forwards!
And you are so big mouthed about the problems of this country you fail to see what makes this country great! But I wont waste any more bandwidth on explaining it to someone as blinkered and biased as you!
4 Sep 2012, 16:08 pm
@Sharksgirl-251: youve wasted enough bandwidth with your rant ..
now fck off…
your country is fcked, it has a history of oppression , thems the facts sweety
get used to it!
4 Sep 2012, 16:09 pm
I’m coloured
Don’t all panic.
4 Sep 2012, 16:10 pm
@poppa69-252:
And you.
Stop obssessing.
It’s boring
4 Sep 2012, 16:10 pm
@poppa69-249: this is exactly why this blog is not good for you, you come here for the wrong reasons. you expressed a cynical opinion on our props i replied and alluded to fatigue and you jumped on a hobbyhorse of “travel disadvantage” and the careered of about 100 000kms…
you don’t even see how childish you are because you are consumed by t*t-for-tat “returning serve” s.hit in your heart and mind.
every waking day you come here to rile up the japies like a cuckolded husband…
take it easy and enjoy the blog for rugby…let go of KKK and Whatever
i pray for you Poeps
Kia kaha
4 Sep 2012, 16:13 pm
I’ve never come across anyone so fixated about a foreign country before.
4 Sep 2012, 16:13 pm
@poppa69-252: classy!
4 Sep 2012, 16:14 pm
@poppa69-252:
And is this the way you address everyone who has an opinion.
4 Sep 2012, 16:16 pm
@Dawn-254: This w anker’s been boring for over a year now. If everyone just ignored him, maybe he’d just f uck off…or better yet, down some drain cleaner and do the world a favour
4 Sep 2012, 16:18 pm
@Transformation-255:
The wrong reasons indeed, but not the ones you allude to.
The reasons are to cherry-pick the worst news, opinion and statistics about SA, then slag off all South Africans for being racist pigs.
4 Sep 2012, 16:19 pm
@Atreides-259:
He’s a troll in the Heavens Game mould.
4 Sep 2012, 16:20 pm
I dont get this 24/7 thing though.
When does he work, sleep eat, do things that other normal people do.
4 Sep 2012, 16:20 pm
@Dawn-260: if the shoe fits…
4 Sep 2012, 16:20 pm
@Dawn-261: Yep. Beats me why people find trolling fun…says a lot about how sad your life must be.
4 Sep 2012, 16:20 pm
@poppa69-252: Pops Pops Pops…..why all the hate? If you hate our country why not spend time on an Aussie rugby blog, or a Pom rugby site?
4 Sep 2012, 16:24 pm
@poppa69-263:
I’m coloured.
Don’t panic.
4 Sep 2012, 16:25 pm
@Dawn-266: but youre a racist pig…
4 Sep 2012, 16:26 pm
@poppa69-263:
Seriously … are you a socialist?
Do you need a cause to battle which is lacking in Australia?
We have plenty of those here to get your communist nuts off on.
4 Sep 2012, 16:27 pm
@poppa69-267:
I’m a racist pig!
4 Sep 2012, 16:29 pm
@nama1-217: bwaahahahaha adi missed tackles was nowhere on support and hid in way too many rucks. you stupid fat ***** go get your racist marble eyes cleaned you dooos fagggot wank ****. hahahaha adi was dropped pretty quick you numb-nut even that useless midget d!ck snor could see it hahahaha go *** yourself you ****
4 Sep 2012, 16:34 pm
@Blitzbok-270:
You shut the Fuckup or I will get you banned.
In fact I think I will.
Sick of your kuktalk
4 Sep 2012, 16:38 pm
@poppa69-252:
Nice way to speak to a lady, do you ever think before you type? And yet you mouth off & judge everyone else on here. Would be funny if you weren’t so sad
4 Sep 2012, 16:50 pm
I’m Afraid of Americans
4 Sep 2012, 17:11 pm
I have always said that Frans Steyn is an above average player. Nothing special. He’s never stood out against any of the top unions. I see some are comparing him to SBW. That’s just crazy. He’s not bad but what’s the fuss with regards his “messiah” like status here? When he couldn’t get his way at home he ran away like a spoilt kid who can’t get his way. I hope he’s adjusted his attitude since then. I’d pick him for the Boks as JDV is over the hill but a world beater? I’m still waiting to see that.
4 Sep 2012, 17:14 pm
@KeurboomPark-273: ek weet, when i was in Cape Town recently, they said i must stay clear of USA…
4 Sep 2012, 17:25 pm
@poppa69-235: Hey poopy, Apartheid was one of the worst things humanity has ever invented and perpetuated. But this is about your hypocrisy of criticising anything South African while you moved to and live in a country which killed off the native population of a LARGE island and placed the remainder in “reserves” (which were Homelands in all but name). F*cking loony tunes hypocrite.
4 Sep 2012, 17:27 pm
@Dawn-254: He is still bitter we hosted the most successful rugby, cricket and soccer world cups
4 Sep 2012, 17:28 pm
@Blitzbok-270:
Hey, don’t call me fat.
Vokkin dom kont.
4 Sep 2012, 17:30 pm
@poppa69-267: Charming way to speak to a lady. You’re one helluva mind f*cked-up nasty piece of work.
4 Sep 2012, 17:34 pm
@Transformation-275:
Romney is a Nazi
4 Sep 2012, 17:38 pm
@W.P-274:
You can be very glad that there are no Shark supporters on this thread currently.
They will cull you when they see that you have spoken ill of their hero.
4 Sep 2012, 17:39 pm
@W.P-274: Don’t agree he was like a spoilt child. He looked after himself when he wasn’t treated right. Fair play to him.
4 Sep 2012, 17:40 pm
@KeurboomPark-280: Hope to god he doesn’t win.
4 Sep 2012, 17:43 pm
@nama1-281: Ahem….what am I, chopped liver?
4 Sep 2012, 17:46 pm
@mikeybrass-283:
There will be WW3 if he does
4 Sep 2012, 17:47 pm
You guys need to relax about racial issues…like it or not but these hostile comments that keep on surfacing (on all S.A. sites; not just this one) are detrimental to this country.
Rather focus your energy on predicting a good old hiding for the Aussies.
4 Sep 2012, 17:49 pm
@Marty-286:
Well said. Racist parties will kuk in the next election. Time is on our side. Yes it is.
4 Sep 2012, 17:50 pm
@KeurboomPark-287: What parties aren’t racist?
4 Sep 2012, 17:52 pm
@Skeppie-288:
DA, Cope, UDM are not racist. Nor anti Islam.
4 Sep 2012, 17:54 pm
@Skeppie-284:
Let’s see.
Your last comment before this one was made at 16H20 (p. 265)
This one at 17H43.
An hour and 23 minutes apart. Were you actually taking part in the discussions when W.P. made his comment? NO!!!
I clearly said,” there are no Shark supporters on this thread currently.”
4 Sep 2012, 18:21 pm
@mikeybrass-276: “Hey poopy, Apartheid was one of the worst things humanity has ever invented and perpetuated.”
It was not even the worst thing in South African history. The Concentration camps combined with the scorched earth tactic was far worse and far more influential for a bigger group of people in South Africa (At least percentaqge wise). I do not want to go into it, but people in South Africa compares Apartheid to the holocaust. Have one of these people ever been to a German concentration camp?
I think Apartheid was one of the worst things in the world at the time, but people really need a bit of perspective.
4 Sep 2012, 18:34 pm
@Horings-291:
“The Concentration camps combined with the scorched earth tactic was far worse and far more influential for a bigger group of people in South Africa (At least percentaqge wise). ”
You’ll have to go into it.
4 Sep 2012, 19:02 pm
Paul Jordaan looks set to become the next big thing locally. Been impressed by him. Great turn of pace and tackles well too!
4 Sep 2012, 19:21 pm
Sorry to the folks that replied to my hit and run post earlier, been helluva busy.
As far as some questions go I don’t think there is much wrong with the Boks. This view is supported by WP’s performance this past weekend funnily enough…
WP apparently ‘turning a corner’ was dismissed by Allister in saying their game plan, or game strategy (call it what you will) has not changed from last week (or even last year) to last Saturday.
What was obvious for everyone to see though is 5 tries scored and a snotting against a good Blue Bulls team.
His (Allister’s) reasoning following the game was the fact that the team showed better discipline, and better execution contributed to them achieving a better balance in their game between attack and defense.
Pine Pienaar (Bulls coach) confirmed as much when he said WP beat them at their own (kicking) game on the day.
Personally, I have no doubt Groom was the catalyst for WP (and something I have been on about for about 3 years now on Duvenhage being overrated) and combined with the inexperienced WP tight 5 (average age of 24 with more than a couple still U/21) fronting up physically, this balance Allister talks about was achieved.
As far as the Boks go, I will also maintain the game plan is not the problem, tweaks in selections in crucial positions will help Meyer achieve the balance. What was it he said; ‘Game plans between 80% of teams are the same’.
He (Meyer) is going into his 6th test only this weekend – he does not have the benefit of 3 to 6 months seasons with squads or pre-seasons or anything like that to find the right combo’s.
That said, he gets to choose the cream of the crop so I am not saying he deserves a 2 or 3 year grace period, but hell, he deserves some time to get it right, and once he does, you will see a toffee snotting like WP dished out on the weekend.
I don’t have a problem with Meyer’s game plan, I do believe his selections need some attention though but given time on the job, injuries to crucial playing personnel, pressure of the competition, I am still backing him 100% to get it right, and I believe he will, very soon.
4 Sep 2012, 19:27 pm
@PissAnt-294:
Al that said, my one gripe with SA coaches, they are usually forced into these changes through injuries or call-ups to higher honours.
You won’t see many of them pro-actively go out and make it happen.
And its this issue of change by default not design I wish we can get out of. But we are way too conservative for that.
4 Sep 2012, 19:32 pm
SA coaches are just the most chicken arsed bunch of hopeless goddamn cowards I ever come across.. Not ONE coach in this country is proactive unless you look at Cheetahs, Griekwas and occasionally Sharks
They cower behind this goddamn fear of losing syndrome and are too damn chicken to ever call the right moves..
And top of the heap are the national coaches they are the most cowardly bunch of rear guarded chickens I ever come across…
4 Sep 2012, 19:39 pm
@nama1-292: The “I do not want to go into it” is w.r.t. the apartheid vs holocaust debate, which is not really a debate. W.r.t. the concentration camps. At least 12% of 100,000 African people in concentration camps died, while a quarter of boers that was sent to the concentration camps dies. The 12% is only the documented percentage of deaths and it is also a fact that circumstances was far worse in the “African” concentration camps, so it will not be a surprise if more than a quarter of the 100,000 African inhabitants actually died. These numbers may not seem that much, but population numbers in those years were obviously much less.
If Apartheid leaders were “Hitlers” then the Bafokeng tribe would not have been able to establish itself as the richest tribe in Africa in an independent state created by these evil leaders.
The last point to make is how long did it take for Sharpeville to be copied by a similar event in a supposed democratic country. Was Sharpeville (which is documented as the pinnacle of Apartheid) then as bad to be labeled as “one of the worst things humanity has ever invented and perpetuated.” If it was then the ANC is surely also “one of the worst things humanity has ever invented and perpetuated.” AGAIN: I AM NOT SAYING IT WAS NOT A TERRIBLE PART OF OUR PAST, only some perspective is needed.
4 Sep 2012, 19:40 pm
@PissAnt-294:
PA, i’ve saying this for a while for people to just have more patience with Heyneke. He was only appointed in January. Because of that he had to make a scramble to find suitable assistant coaches – because surprise, surprise – they were already under contract and at an advanced stage of preparations for the Super rugby season. So who did he turn to in desparation – the Bulls of course. Again, no surprise there.
The poor oke is only into his 5th test. He hardly had time to work with the Boks before the end of the Super15 and the first England test.
What he does need though is a quality win on Saturday to relieve the pressure. Because I don’t see it happening in NZ.
4 Sep 2012, 19:45 pm
@I am a stormer-298: Jislaaik, the two of you is giving me hope that there is some support for Heyneke in the Cape. Where is Todd Louden these days. I know the crime in SA did influence his decision to go back to Aus, but Pretoria is a bit different to Cape Town. He can go and live there if crime is an issue for him.
4 Sep 2012, 19:51 pm
@I am a stormer-298: whole bunch of arsewipe excuses.. this dude was supposed to be the MESSIAH this rugby fraternity been waiting for.. all I see is a donkey walking backwards down the slippery slope to nowhere .. very fast indeed.
Clutching at goddamn straws since day one and now he’s clutching more frantically than ever.
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