Boks to seize Loftus lifeline
24 Sep 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that Heyneke Meyer’s Springboks will record their first victory against Australasian opposition when they return to Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.
Consider the excuses for the recent run of results: A new team is building; they’re missing key players due to injuries; wins Down Under are rare; and their once flawless goal-kicker is horribly out of form.
These are excuses that may explain why the Boks are under-performing, but are we to accept that things are so bad that the Boks cannot beat the Wallabies and All Blacks in South Africa? Certainly not.
These are desperate times in the sense that the Boks are desperate for a winning result. They haven’t won since that opening Rugby Championship game in Cape Town. Their last three results have been a draw, a loss, and another loss.
Forget about winning the Rugby Championship title, that opportunity has come and gone. The Boks need to do whatever it takes to get back to winning ways, and in terms of the two matches that remain in this competition, the first in Pretoria represents the best opportunity.
The significance of where they are playing shouldn’t be understated. The Boks have a remarkable record at Loftus Versfeld, especially against the Wallabies. Since the first game played at this venue in 1963, the Boks have beaten the Wallabies in each of the five Tests.
What will also encourage the Boks is that the Wallabies are missing some key personnel. Injuries have taken their toll this year, and the team that plays at Loftus will be sans David Pocock, Will Geina, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor to name a few.
The Wallabies traditionally struggle on the Highveld, and only recently broke a 47-year losing streak. Kurtley Beale’s last-gasp penalty in a 2010 Test played in Bloemfontein gave the Wallabies their first win at altitude since 1963. It showed that they are capable of winning in that difficult environment, that not every game played on the Highveld is a guaranteed win for the Boks.
Meyer and company will be mindful of this as they plan for the coming match. But then again, Meyer will be desperately hoping that Loftus works its magic, that the partisan crowd lifts the Boks, and reduces the Wallabies to quivering wrecks.
A loss at this stronghold would be a disaster. The Boks have already lost the last five Tests played against the Wallabies. They need to break that spell. If they can’t do that against a young Wallabies side, playing at the fortress that is Loftus Versfeld… well then where can they do it?
The Boks will win this Saturday. They will break their losing streak against Australia, and record their first win against Australasian opposition under Meyer.
I wouldn’t be as confident if this Test was to be played at sea level. Up on the Highveld, Meyer’s Boks will use their Loftus lifeline. They will beat the Wallabies and take some much needed momentum into the following fixture against the All Blacks.
Mediocrity should never be tolerated, and Meyer himself has been open regarding his ambition to attain an 80% winning record. His current stats are nowhere near as impressive, but this coming Saturday could be seen as a start.
If the Boks can beat the Wallabies, then there is another big opportunity the following week when they host the All Blacks in Soweto. New Zealand may arrive in South Africa having already won the title, and so may not possess the type of motivation needed to beat the Boks at altitude.
Two wins in these last two matches would give Meyer a 50% record against the Australasian teams. It is a record that is no worse than what Jake White achieved in his first year in charge (2004), and is better than the Peter de Villiers-driven side of 2008 that won just two out of six.
Two wins for the Boks wouldn’t be significant in the context of the Rugby Championship or in terms of climbing the world rankings, but it would restore the status quo.
For a side that is missing key players and struggling for form, Meyer’s Boks will certainly view a two from four return against the Australasian sides as a satisfactory outcome.
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130 Comments
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24 Sep 2012, 05:27 am
Just because it isn’t acceptable doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Not to be a negative dragon.
24 Sep 2012, 05:33 am
“Consider the excuses for the recent run of results: A new team is building; they’re missing key players due to injuries; wins Down Under are rare; and their once flawless goal-kicker is horribly out of form. ”
I would have thought you could throw the outdated Game plan or even the inability to execute HM’s gameplan, or both into the excuse basket
24 Sep 2012, 05:42 am
EXCUSES EXCUSES that is all that one needs to know about Bok Rugby, EXCUSES, I keep waiting for the Ref excuse…bound to come sometime soon. I actually thought the Boks played well in Dunedin, but the AB’s also played well and showed that their resolve is as good as anything the Boks bring to the park. But I was so disappointed with the SA approach – kick and chase, and then kick and chase and then just kick the bloody thing. How boring, obviously rocket science does not exist in SA rugby and yet you have wonderfully gifted players, BUT you have idiots as well. THUGS to be more precise, how Greyling didnt get a RED card is a mystery, it was blatant and callous and anyway he helped the AB’s push to score out past 7 points thus denying SA a bonus point. As for the article – not sure what Cardinelli is on about, the AB’s will bring their game to Soweto and they will be looking for a win to keep their winning record going against SA and to push it to 16-0 and then when they go on the EOYT they will win 4 more and have the record for most wins. As for HM as the coach of the Boks, I think if he loses the next 2 games, the knives will be out, Cardinelli talks about a new team, players not available, well blow me down and call me Jacob Zuma…the AB’s went through a similar scenario but somehow or other we seem to get it right and bring in new blood and develop them and nurture them into the AB culture and game plan, I dont or have never seen that happen in SA rugby. So only 2 more games for the AB’s and then the RC is in the NZRFU cabinet along with the S15, Freedom Cup, Webb Ellis Cup, Bledisloe Cup and the Hillary Shield. Thats enough for now.
24 Sep 2012, 05:43 am
@Te Rangatira-2:
hehehe, cheers Te Ranga, we need to use them all, any others you can think of?
I notice the “ref was picking on us” was missing as well………
24 Sep 2012, 05:43 am
The Bokke have a remarkable record, wouldn’t have thought so the Ab’s haven ‘t lost there since the 70′s and average around 40 points over the last 3 or 4 tests there. If the Bokke can’t beat a depleted Aus team at home using their 9th captain of the season there is something seriously wrong with their rugby.
24 Sep 2012, 05:45 am
@JohnPierre-3:
wow arn’t you fantastic. I suppose you all have 20″ d icks as well?
24 Sep 2012, 06:13 am
@NZINCHINA-5:
There is nothing wrong with South African rugby or its players
The problem is there are players who can play the game very well but some are not picked and some in the wrong positions
Most important we have a idiot of a coach who has a one dimensional game plan easy to predict and will not let classy players play their game.
The write coach 9anyone even a kiwi ) and the correct selections and a real attacking game plan
We would be tough to beat and you know it
24 Sep 2012, 06:14 am
@whatever-6:
Here we are again holding up the flag late at night against the enemy
24 Sep 2012, 06:17 am
@whatever-4:
No matey can’t think of any legitimate excuses…..oh perhaps the old adage “the better team won on the day”
24 Sep 2012, 06:21 am
@CoachPete-8:
lol.
The local South African blog cop.
Yeah he tries his best.
24 Sep 2012, 06:22 am
You guys rely on your goal kickers, it’s fine when their hitting them but when their not you lose, it’s that simple, Our team has never had top kickers so we to try and score tries
24 Sep 2012, 06:23 am
@JohnPierre-3:
Some of these things noted are not excuses but basic facts
Had M steyn and F steyn kicked their goals
Had Kirsher passed well to Habanan and Greyling not dropped the ball near the line
had HM kept Greyling off the field
Boks would have won and you all know that true
24 Sep 2012, 06:24 am
@SAussie/QldRed-11:
You have won with kicking too
24 Sep 2012, 06:46 am
Coach there are so many coulda shoulda woulda calls made on this site about how the Bokke would do this and do that, sorry mate I don’t buy into it. Its time for the dreaming to end and the winning to start.
w
24 Sep 2012, 06:51 am
@NZINCHINA-14:
Yep…the ifs..buts…maybes v Realities
24 Sep 2012, 07:10 am
Te Rangi they need to stop talking and start producing results. I think Meyers already goosed though on trying to get 85% and emulate Henry, 1 bad season and there is no catching up.
24 Sep 2012, 07:34 am
@NZINCHINA-16:
Meyer put undue pressure on himself making a statement like that an ,80% or whatever it was winning ratio, but I suppose he was playing to the masses, making them feel everything was in capable hands
24 Sep 2012, 07:38 am
@SAussie/QldRed-11:
So when is Link taking over the reins at the Wobblies?
I see Cooper is preparing for his move to league telling all and sundry how toxic the Wallaby camp is and he is only allowed to play rugby from Febr to May…
24 Sep 2012, 07:48 am
@Te Rangatira-17:
TR, don’t get fooled by all the negative press from mostly weepee supporters on this blog. The Boks are in capable hands and they are making progress, slow as it may be…
24 Sep 2012, 08:19 am
@Slartibartfast-19:
Yes Slarti, I try not to buy into the provincial bias and make a judgement on what I see in front of me. It was the Bok v Oz game in the first half that I saw Meyer beginning to make some headway with regards to where he wanted his team to go and the way the Bok forwards played against the Abs came as no surprise to me cause history shows that the Bok are a proud team that play the toughest brand of rugby especially vs Nz
24 Sep 2012, 08:26 am
@Te Rangatira-20:
It is a very tough job building a team when you at the same time competing at the highest possible level and I take my hat off to anyone doing it. Imagine if he selected all the newcomers every man and his dog are proposing on here and lost badly, there will be no end to it…
You only have to remember what we had in the previous 4 years and then look at the number of new players/caps in the current team to understand how hard his job is. We will get there…
24 Sep 2012, 08:37 am
@Slartibartfast-21:
I understand where you’re coming from and can see what Meyer is trying to achieve especially in the collisions, but whats the point in winning the forward battle, territory and possession when there is no coherent attack with ball in hand only a myriad of kicks.
24 Sep 2012, 08:46 am
Our kickers normally couldn’t hit a barn if they were in it. Yes we have won that way but I guess you have to get lucky some time. Almost every embarrassing loss has been because of poor kicking, As for Link, IMO Deans was one loss away from getting the sack, he might not be now and I reckon he’s done a pretty job considering injuries, mind you some players like Dom should have picked in the first place, there was such a back lash here in Aus with mind numbingly stupid tactics that we couldn’t do much worse, Sat will be interesting, looks like we finally putting together some forwards with a bit of mongrel but if your kickers are back from the dark we will lose for sure
24 Sep 2012, 08:49 am
@Te Rangatira-22:
Time for us to realise that greatness only comes with hard work, we have issues at 9, 10, 13 and 15. In none of them do we have tried and tested back-up to step in so it is going to be a slow process.
The problem is bigger than just throwing your own favorite in there and think it will fix everything. Bar one or two selections the Meyer has been close with his team and the people he added this time around is again a step in the right direction.
24 Sep 2012, 08:54 am
@SAussie/QldRed-23:
SAUS, I get the injury excuse but the lack of a gameplan in most tests this year is much more of a concern, the team seems to have grown very little under Deans in the last few years.
24 Sep 2012, 08:55 am
@Te Rangatira-22: that is why he must set the Goose loose:
24 Sep 2012, 09:02 am
Terangi yip was a big call, I doubt the Henry/Smith/Hansen AB coached side s records will ever be surpassesd they were too just too good.
24 Sep 2012, 09:07 am
@Slartibartfast-24:
Yep, I agree with you there about putting in the hard work if you want to achieve your best and the way you have put it has me thinking about the processes needed to come up with the right selections. Yet in the positions you have mentioned where the Bok have no tried and tested replacements, Meyer has been unwilling to throw anyone else in except Pineaar and Goosens few cameos so how can anyone else put their hand up and stake claim for a BOK jersey in those positions if the coach is selecting the incumbents based purely on the attitude that he can coach them back into form.
24 Sep 2012, 09:11 am
@RL-26:
Yep…time to unleash him
24 Sep 2012, 09:17 am
As long as that useless Morne Steyn and Zane Kircher play, they will not win, Morne Steyn serves no purpose on the bench, they should have Lambie at fullback, Taute on the bench as well as Jantjies, these are the players of the future.
I would also relieve Jean de Villiers of captain’s duty he is rubbish.
24 Sep 2012, 09:22 am
@Slartibartfast-25: Its a hard one to answer, There were times when I definitely thought we could have played better and some of the selections were mind boggling, ie Rocky Elsom in the WC, out of form and no game time, Cooper over barns in the WC, another bad choice, Kurtley Beetle in the Rugby Championship, horribly out of form, but then again we beat Wales who were on fire 3 times, We lost horribly to NZ and we I have to say it we beat you guys and Argentina so Deans had to be doing some things right.
Would Link make a big difference, I don’t know, I guess we have to wait until he’s coaching to see, I think the depth has improved, I remember I think 2005 under Eddie Jones where we had a similar injury toll and we got slotted everywhere we went so things have improved,
I was PEED off when you guys lost last week to the AB’s, that never should have happened but thats sport, you miss kicks and the AB’s will win every time, they are just that good, I actually expect you guys to win the next two, I’m not that confident in my team, maybe if JOC was back in the back line we might have had a shot at it but not with the present crew.
24 Sep 2012, 09:32 am
When you look at the for and against results for the 4 teams, SA have done quite well in my opinion and with 2 home games to go, they will improve even more.
Aus will be battling on Saturday to stay close, which will give SA confidence going into the final match against the AB’s.
I totally ignore the missed opportunities by SA, they happen to all teams. NZ has had plenty go astray as well, but tend to be ignored after winning the game.
Assuming we don’t come unstuck against the Puma’s at La Plata, I am not at all confident NZ will extend the winning streak passed Jo’Burg.
All the promise I saw in this team at the beginning of the comp is slowly being eroded by their patchy performances, and they are getting worse.
24 Sep 2012, 09:39 am
32. Brads
And if the kiwis dont turn in a performance this weekend the agies will turn them over as well.
24 Sep 2012, 09:45 am
Brads have some faith mate, you are starting to sound like a Saffa supporter. We’ll put the Argies away this weekend collect the silverware and then take the Bokke in Soweto.
24 Sep 2012, 09:48 am
The article has nicely set up HM .. if he wins its with home advantage, if he losses then he is shite ..
However as this is SA website I will state the usual cliche that the Boks can take both teams. An adjustment at FH and a tinker with the K&C tactics and we should be comfortable. I have seen little from Oz and only the odd spark from AB this year to worry about.
24 Sep 2012, 09:48 am
@Slartibartfast-24: first Morne and Kirchner to go – then EOYT JDV retires with Brussow coming in as the permanent captain.
Stick with the plan do not let up on the Morne and Kirchner must go campaign.
24 Sep 2012, 09:54 am
34. A little presumtuous aren,t we.
I,m going for the argies by 8 points at home.
24 Sep 2012, 09:56 am
@RL-36: Brussow will only cover for Flo, remember HM obsession with size.
I think FdP is due back to Boks EOYT ? in which case it will probably be him and Biz as Capt long term … difficult choice to make as who else is there ?
24 Sep 2012, 09:57 am
?..it,s as if selecting brussouw has become a test of will and ego vs the coach regardless of the fact that brussouw was the poorest of all the looseforwards this past weekend.
24 Sep 2012, 09:58 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-37: A great call BVZ but I doubt the ABs with their clinical/cynical edge will allow the Pums the latitude the Boks so generously gave them in the Forwards… Whos the ref ?
24 Sep 2012, 10:01 am
40. But the game is on a purpose built soccer pitch, so does that mean the field is smaller like mendoza?
The kiwis will not get the width they want and the argie pack will be at them hammer and tongs.
24 Sep 2012, 10:07 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-41: I agree but the AB are VERY good at the cynical stuff, they have a great awareness of where they are on the pitch and how far they can push it … Its for the Boks (and Oz and Puma) to get more savy.
Unfortunately the stupid elbow on Reeche will set the Boks back another 4-5games with the refs in terms of “intent” and this alone will hamper their forward effort. The idiot should never be allowed near the Boks again and it should be publicaly stated so we can repair the PR damage.
We all know Reeche was fouling where he was and maybe a lack of faith in the officials punishing him led to the act … reaching here ! But they need to find a way to fix Reeche and Read without the “old fashioned” ..
24 Sep 2012, 10:15 am
34 what you can manage a draw over there but we’ll lose by 8, place the bet you won’t be collecting.
24 Sep 2012, 10:19 am
howdy all.
firstly, congrats lions fans on your win against my sharkies.
must say, keegan was magnificent but the difference between the two teams for me was elton, what a player.
another player who has caught my eye in a BIG way is that rhule chappie for FS. the kid is awesome! big, strong, devestatingly quick and fearless to boot.
he is a far more balanced runner than JdJ imo and can step off BOTH feet and seemingly passes both ways.
he is destined for big things imo.
24 Sep 2012, 10:19 am
@Doughnut-42:
That is a bit unkind “the AB are VERY good at the cynical stuff”
I assume you mean playing to the Ref?
Surely that is a mark of intelligence. Better that in my opinion, than watching your team box on until half time to get reprogrammed for the second dig.
24 Sep 2012, 10:20 am
What a foolish survey.
Could we please get a 4 option stating that the Boks will lose both home tests?
24 Sep 2012, 10:21 am
@NZINCHINA-43: still being an arrogant disrespectful fool i see.
its guys like you that attract the vitriol when the abs lose buddy, justsaying.
24 Sep 2012, 10:22 am
44……he needs to learn to pass. Wonder how long the cheetahs can hold onto him before the sharks try to buy him.lol
24 Sep 2012, 10:25 am
Rich from you Ranger, go read your posts before the 2010 Tri nations you had it in the bag, im backing the best team in the world to win in Argentina is there a problem with that?
24 Sep 2012, 10:26 am
46. Wow
Bitter much.
For the record it is the boks playing and not the supercrappy lions.okay.
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