Goosen lights up Loftus
29 Sep 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that the Springboks – for the first time in ages – successfully mixed brutal defence with scything attack. It’s a cocktail that will become more potent in the months to come.
What a difference a multi-skilled flyhalf makes. Johan Goosen, in his first start for the Boks, turned in a thrilling display at Loftus Versfeld.
The plaudits will be shared with a Bok pack that pummeled the Wallabies into submission, as well as with Ruan Pienaar, who shouldered much of the kicking responsibilities (for goal and tactical). But for option-taking, execution and innovation… there isn’t a superlative that does Goosen justice.
When last did we have reason to feel excited about a Bok team, and here I’m talking about playing style, not just the ability to grind out ugly wins consistently?
The game plan at Loftus wasn’t very different to what we’ve already witnessed in 2012. What did make all the difference was that the man starting at No 10 was able to use that forward platform to bring his backline into the game.
There have been some clinical forward performances this season, but none as complete as what was on show in Pretoria. The Bok lineout troubled that of the Wallabies, with Eben Etzebeth affecting several steals and Andries Bekker banking possession on the Boks ball.
The Boks won the collisions and this forced Wallabies playmakers like Kurtley Beale to play well behind the advantage line. At times the Wallabies crabbed across the field, and at other times they went backwards in search of space.
There was always a Bok forward flying up, looking to smother a would-be Aussie attacker. And on top of that, there was the threat of Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw.
Vermeulen and Louw affected some important breakdown turnovers. Louw in particular was successful in slowing the Wallabies’ ruck recycle to the point where the visitors battled for any significant attacking momentum. It was one of Louw’s finest performances in a Bok shirt.
This all translated into the perfect platform for Pienaar and Goosen, and the Bok halfback pairing didn’t waste this opportunity.
It wasn’t perfect – the Boks did leave a few tries on the park – but it was the intent, the ease with which men line Goosen cut the Wallabies’ line, that made Saturday’s performance so exciting to watch.
Suddenly men like Bryan Habana were in the game a lot more. Jean de Villiers was an attacking threat in that inside centre channel, and this too will go down as one of his more balanced showings.
The Boks scored two great tries in the first half, and looked to have created a third with De Villiers and Goosen combining to set up Zane Kirchner. It took a kamikaze-style tackle by Adam Ashley-Cooper to deny Kirchner his second try, a valiant effort that unfortunately forced Ashley-Cooper to leave the field.
As the Bok forwards began to enjoy more momentum, they began to look for the offload. Rarely have the Boks played with such confidence. Sometimes the offloads came off, and sometimes the Wallabies managed to spoil effectively and kill the go-forward.
I’m not suggesting it was the perfect debut for Goosen. He missed his first two shots at goal and subsequently surrendered the kicking duties.
There were examples of Goosen taking the wrong option on attack, but then that was to be expected of a 20-year-old in his first Test start. Overall, it was an encouraging performance by a player who, as he so emphatically stated at Loftus, has the ability to bring balance to the Boks.
Habana’s run-away try in the 61st minute put the result beyond doubt, and also banked a four-try bonus point. Again, this should serve as a marker, a sign that the Bok attack have progressed. From the stagnant side that struggled against Argentina in Cape Town to the complete package that thumped the Wallabies in Pretoria – it’s been quite a leap.
The quality of opposition was poor at Loftus, but give credit where it is due.
And rejoice. The evolution of the Bok playing pattern has finally begun.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Loftus Versfeld
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54 Comments
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29 Sep 2012, 18:53 pm
Heyneke Meyer – take a bow!
29 Sep 2012, 18:55 pm
I hope Meyer doesn’t start talking about bringing the human being back because of the missed kicks.
29 Sep 2012, 18:56 pm
MOTM, Bryan Habana.
But you could’ve given it to any of Etzebeth, Louw or Vermeulen.
29 Sep 2012, 18:57 pm
Where is the i love bakkies guy, I want to see what he has to say?
29 Sep 2012, 18:58 pm
@JA-JA-4: He said: morne steyn deserves a break. he has been played in to the ground.
29 Sep 2012, 18:59 pm
@BULLET-1: I know he finally listened to the fans and the attack has looked better than it has ever been in the last 2.5 years, with Goosen at fly half England would have been hammered!!
29 Sep 2012, 18:59 pm
wow how long did it take HM to listen to the public and the media we may not be professional rugby coaches but some obvious decision he could have made early one ….. Argentinian to get their first win of the comp by beating the aussies
……. Jeans tells a lie on state tv that the boks kept to the same game plan as previously”" hahaha
29 Sep 2012, 18:59 pm
Was Lambie on the field
29 Sep 2012, 18:59 pm
For quiet some time now, our backs seemed non-existent to the point where some people were already writing Habana off. But with Goosen in, our backs looked threatening.
Side complaint: I don’t think Hougaard in the wing is our best option, we need a proper wing there.
29 Sep 2012, 19:01 pm
taute fullback and de jongh in midfield
lambie back to currie cup even the niknaks man outplays him
29 Sep 2012, 19:02 pm
aplon ,pietersen on wing
29 Sep 2012, 19:02 pm
@lesiba-9: Yep. Use him as Super sub, then at least he can cover 9 and 11. He makes an impact off the bench was one of the obviouse good thinks seen at the RWC 2011. Look at the impact Smith makes for kiwis when he came off the wood.
29 Sep 2012, 19:04 pm
goosen / jantjies
devilliers
de jongh
habs
pietersen/aplon
taute
die kak sal spat
29 Sep 2012, 19:04 pm
@saru1983-10: Ja, that was a great try by de Jongh
29 Sep 2012, 19:05 pm
lambie did 2 good kicks for touch under pressure, but only that.
i hope that plums will let him play as flyhalf and keep loudik as fullback
29 Sep 2012, 19:06 pm
I nominate Francois Louw for Springbok captain… he looks talismanic.
29 Sep 2012, 19:08 pm
@Guns-12:
Agreed.
29 Sep 2012, 19:08 pm
lambie is too small and without the speed of an aplon just isnt suited to play fullback
could be a good flyhalf though
29 Sep 2012, 19:08 pm
The Springboks play a more balanced game and suddenly we improve.
Now we need to sort out our goal-kicking…
29 Sep 2012, 19:09 pm
@saru1983-18: Completely agree.
29 Sep 2012, 19:11 pm
imagine the impact taute,pietersen and habana will have running the ball back at the opposition. Big,powerful,fast and skilfull
29 Sep 2012, 19:16 pm
No surprise here, we all knew that any of Goosen, Lambie or Jantjies at 10 would be able to get the backline into action, something that Morne Stain is woefully inadequate at doing.
There is hope now that Stain has lost his permanent spot.
29 Sep 2012, 19:16 pm
How wonderful to read a story like this. I couldn’t see the game, but if what has been written is true, then the Bok fans finally have something positive to look forward to. What a difference a balanced fly-half makes. Hooray!
29 Sep 2012, 19:16 pm
Hougi is current kak.
29 Sep 2012, 19:23 pm
@Riaan26-23: Yes, it was great. Watch the game! There should be no turning back for Meyer.
29 Sep 2012, 19:24 pm
Keolings already giving team lineups
So tired of who play where what how
29 Sep 2012, 19:25 pm
whats gonna happen when steyn recovers
please please move taute to fullback
29 Sep 2012, 20:41 pm
Guys, Lambie has no future for the boks at fullback (lack of speed) or flyhalf (Goosen and Jantjies both preferred options there).
He will be a wasted talent (like Brent Russel) unless he is brought into the no. 12 position – be the successor of de Vielliers. You could have a set backline with Goosen, Lambie and Jordaan as centres, Rhule and Hougie (I think he is dynamite at wing) as wings and Taute as fullback. Kaizan might think this is lightweight by I reckon that will be the best potential attacking line-up for the future.
29 Sep 2012, 20:58 pm
@Marty-28: I feel sorry for all the Lambster followers … NOT.
Guppies have finally seen that their dandruff free boy is no 15 and the penny has dropped again showing them that he is not on the same planet as the Goose or Elton.
I for one will not be lobbying for the Lamb to replace Kircher, better the deveil you know.
29 Sep 2012, 21:03 pm
@RL-29:
Yes Kirshner has been very solid and if not injured he would have stayed on
29 Sep 2012, 21:15 pm
@RL-29: You’re delusional pal. What has Elton done?
29 Sep 2012, 21:22 pm
@JA-JA-4:
well done to goosen, he is a breath of fresh air.
but importantly it shuold be said we left about 20 points worth of kicks behind on the pitch tonight.
@kaksioek-5:
ja, more or less.
29 Sep 2012, 21:32 pm
@Marty-28: to quote Jake White, “The best 15 players seldom make the best team….” (I might be paraphrasing).
The point being – whilst it is tempting to select your favourite individuals, you have to consider the BALANCE of the team… Lambie and jordaan might be talented individually, but imagine Sonny Bill Williams and Nonu running at them all day.
A good backline should have a mix of of big guys, quick guys, youth and experience… Not just seven 21 year olds who are all 5ft 10.
29 Sep 2012, 21:37 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: Word for word, via copy and paste. Don’t worry – Morne will get plenty of rest
29 Sep 2012, 21:39 pm
Meyer won’t change one single thing about this team for the next game unless forced by injury. And rightly so. Given the injuries to Frans, Bismarck and JPP, this was the best starting 15 and match 22 he could have picked. I’m happy as a pig in sht. Youngsters like Goosen and Taute will just get better as the nerves settle, our pack was huge (and there’s Bismarck and Coenie to look forward to), Habanero is smoking hot again, Pienaar was excellent and I doubt Hougaard will have another average performance like that again.
29 Sep 2012, 22:03 pm
@kaksioek-34:
29 Sep 2012, 22:47 pm
All the best, Argentina! Do some damage
30 Sep 2012, 00:49 am
has anyone else noticed that our wingers and fullbacks try to go over the line high and get pushed out. lwazi and zane did this. if they had dived before the line’ momentum would have carried them over. i dunno why they are trying to put the ball down two feet over the line.
30 Sep 2012, 01:13 am
I thought Baele had a better game than Goosen and behind a pack being smashed.
30 Sep 2012, 01:13 am
OK so Pat Lambie didn’t shine for his 20 minutes on the pitch-
Doesn’t change the fact that he has a very rare commodity in Springbok or any team ranks, RUGBY INTELLIGENCE. And he is a NATURAL BORN LEADER. Give him a run at 15 for a few games mense
30 Sep 2012, 05:42 am
I don’t understand. What does Lambie bring to the team? I think its weird that people want to chuck out Kirchner although he had a good game and scored a try. Lambie is someone’s wet dream.
30 Sep 2012, 05:45 am
Same old South Africans. Takes multiple losses to Get the right decisions made then we celebrate like crazy and pat ourselves on the back.
30 Sep 2012, 10:45 am
What’s with all the hate towards Lambie? He didn’t have a chance to touch the ball besides 2 clearing kicks. Besides that he did nothing wrong.
He’s only 21, and has performed well in every test at international level, especially at the world cup last year. He’s only been given 35 minutes of gametime in 400 minutes of games played. How the hell is he supposed to shine? He is being severely mismanaged by Meyer.
He should either be released to develop further at currie cup level or developed for the springboks. The Championship is over, what doe Meyer have to lose??
Kirchner has done well, performing way better than his other tests, but he still isn’t world class. He doesn’t have the potential that Lambie has shown in the limited time he has been given. He is 28 years old. Lambie is 21. Kirchner is not the future for the boks, lambie is. Give the kid a shot.
All those who seem to hate him, where is this criticism coming from?
30 Sep 2012, 12:57 pm
@aleric-43: Gotta say all the praise for Kirchner is good, but him actually having an effect was expected with a backline going forward. He is a one trick pony with a simple join and crash move, which will always work effectively when the backline dominates their opposites. Lambie should play inside center.
30 Sep 2012, 13:27 pm
@Rugby Student 41#
Kirshner had a good game but, has had 3 bad performances.. He was playing in his back garden and was not under pressure much.. Lambie came on when Ausises had nothing to loose and started to attack. Would have lambie over kirsher anyday, Lambie has rugby smarts and plays the situation – kirshner will play a to get rid of the ball, yesterday he was just behind the half way line, when he caught the ball, and instead of taking a look and see what to do, he took a big hoof at the ball, rolled all the way out of play.. All he had to do was chip it 30yards or up and under, he got flusted and just smashed the ball. But wow the Boks have kept Habana isolated for years,, Goosen has just shown us again what a true world class player Habana really is…welcome back Dragon.. and when Pitersen returns just imagine.
30 Sep 2012, 17:26 pm
Goosen lights up Loftus??? One exciting break and he is better than Brian Habana with his hatrick?? Elton Jantjies got involved in two exciting moves in the 5 minutes that he was on the park and was prevented from taking the final conversion… because winning isn’t everything in rugby.. selling dumb ideology is the greater goal.
There weren’t shielding Goosen by taking him off kicking duties.. they were trying to sell a lie of supremacy
30 Sep 2012, 17:30 pm
@youknowwho-46: Shaun you are such a loser. Why are you living in the country of your conquerors?
30 Sep 2012, 17:32 pm
the criticism being shown towards lambie is purely bcause of the godlike status he njoys amongst his fan club when he is nowhere near the class they percieve him to be.
too small and slow for an international fullback and
has been exposed for a lack of pace.
not the best tackler in the world.
3rd best fullback
3rd best flyhalf in Africa
now some people r backing him as a centre bcause they cant find a position for him.
he is a utility back at best jack of all trades type player good hand feet and other skills but nothing special
and thats the absolute truth love it or hate it
30 Sep 2012, 17:35 pm
ill pick up and under kirchner over lambie at fullback everyday of the week and krusty is kak at least he has guts and heart
lambie just doesnt cut it as a rugby player too soft and gentle
30 Sep 2012, 17:49 pm
@kaksioek-47: Very rich of you
Define loser you twat… your mother lost when she gave birth to you and she still seems to be losing. You can at least repay her by making her the beneficiary of your life insurance policy… and then you can find a kerb to jumb off.. head first
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