Wayward Boks must kick on
1 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes of all the opportunities the Springboks have spurned in 2012, the missed goal-kicks have proved most costly. It bodes badly for a close contest with the All Blacks.
There is good reason to feel encouraged and inspired following Saturday’s performance at Loftus. The Springboks were at their fearsome best as far as uncompromising physicality and defence was concerned, and they also added another element to their game. With the introduction of Johan Goosen, they now pose a realistic attacking threat.
I’m not sure what point Heyneke Meyer was trying to make after Saturday’s match when he lamented the missed try-scoring opportunities. The Boks converted five of eight try-scoring chances, and that is a good return in Test rugby, especially in a competition as defensively-oriented as the Rugby Championship.
It was also the first time the Boks had managed to put five tries past top-ranked opposition since they thumped the Wallabies in September 2010. Mission accomplished. Right?
I understand that Meyer wants people to realise that these tries are the product of a game plan that has been in place since the first Test of 2012. What’s changed is that the Boks are starting to execute efficiently.
Meyer is right to say it will be tougher to score tries against the All Blacks, but I cannot understand his lack of concern regarding the goal-kicking.
He has always placed an emphasis on goal-kicking, and that hasn’t changed since he became the Bok coach. It was the reason Morné Steyn was backed for as long as we was, as Meyer believed Steyn had the ability to win matches. If Steyn could come through a bad patch of form, he would be an asset to South Africa once more.
But Steyn has struggled consistently this season, and has left Meyer with no choice but to pick someone else. That someone has proved a revelation, unlocking attacking strengths that most South Africans believed non-existent. But as good as Goosen has been for the Bok attack, the problems in front of goal have continued.
Goosen went into the Pretoria Test with an ankle injury, and this affected his goal-kicking. The responsibility was then passed to Ruan Pienaar, who succeeded with three from seven attempts. In total, the Boks were successful with three from nine attempts. It’s just not good enough.
The Boks aren’t going to score five tries against the world champions. The South Africans are capable of beating the All Blacks, and recently showed in Dunedin that they have the forwards and the defensive structures to match the New Zealanders. With Goosen at 10, they will have a flyhalf who can ask attacking questions, but they won’t run riot as they did in Pretoria.
The simple truth is that these clashes are always close contests. One kick can win the game. The Boks didn’t take their chances in Dunedin, leaving 21 points on the park through wayward goal-kicking. They can’t afford to make the same mistake when they host the All Blacks in Soweto this week. They can’t afford to miss one kick, let alone seven.
The All Blacks arrive in South Africa having already won the Rugby Championship. Will that detract from their motivation, will it make them easier to beat?
They arrived in 2010 for the final game of the then Tri-Nations, and still managed to edge the Boks in front of nearly 100 000 fans at Soccer City. The Boks must take nothing for granted. They must take every opportunity.
Their recent goal-kicking form doesn’t inspire confidence, and Meyer must treat this as a matter of urgency.
Frans Steyn injured the same troublesome ankle in training last week and was forced to miss the Pretoria Test. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was ruled out of the Soweto finale, or at least excused from any kicking duties.
Goosen’s own ankle problem stopped him from kicking last Saturday. Will it be that Pienaar is asked to continue this week? If so, he will need to be far more accurate.
Meyer claims that Pienaar ‘stepped up’ at Loftus Versfeld, but the reality is that Pienaar missed four kicks (10 points), while Goosen missed two (six points). That’s a total of 16 points that went begging. That’s more than the total of the three tries that Meyer lamented.
The Boks have been poor in this department over the course of the competition, converting just 19 of their 37 shots on goal (a record of 51.3%). It’s unsurprising that wayward goal-kicking prevented them from edging Argentina in Mendoza, as well as winning the Test in Dunedin.
Morné Steyn has goaled 13 out of 20 (65%), which is a poor return for a first-rate international kicker. Some of the individual penalties that he’s missed have also been crucial ones.
One more goal in Mendoza and the Boks may have avoided an embarrassing draw. More success in Dunedin (Steyn kicked one out of five on that occasion) and the Boks would have recorded a famous victory.
Had Steyn converted these kicks, we may have seen the Boks still competing for the Rugby Championship crown at this late stage, rather than just playing for pride. But then Steyn is not solely to blame for the Boks’ erratic and unreliable goal-kicking, as the other goal-kickers haven’t been any better.
Frans Steyn is viewed as a freak, even in Test rugby circles, due to ability to convert long-range penalty attempts. But his stats in the 2012 Rugby Championship don’t make for impressive reading (two from six) and bring the overall goal-kicking average down.
Goosen has converted one from four attempts, and Pienaar three from seven. Last Saturday was the first time Pienaar kicked in the Rugby Championship. His two from four return in the first half was enough to keep the scoreboard ticking, but in a closer contest perhaps the kicks he missed would have been scrutinised as bad misses.
What sort of form is Pienaar taking into a tight clash with the All Blacks? Meyer claims that kicking coach Louis Koen will address the problems in the build-up to Saturday’s game, but the stats over the course of this tournament, of all four kickers used, don’t inspire any more confidence in Koen than they do in the kickers themselves.
The All Blacks are the benchmark, and history will show that South Africa rarely beats New Zealand by outscoring them in terms of tries. It has so often been the case that goal-kicking edges these massive match-ups, and in that respect Pienaar, or whomever takes on the responsibility, will have a decisive role to play this coming Saturday.
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594 Comments
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1 Oct 2012, 13:16 pm
@STBUR-187: OKidokie macaroni, lets dance
1. Jy het a vokken vakansie for a brain. Laat me extrapolite. Whitey is not rightey, just cos lefty is loosie, and righty is tighty. Sien?
Talk a wark on the wilder side – what is there – i tell you the problem you have sexuale tendencies for your domestic worker, and she snubbed you.
Now nations must fall and races must be under the carpets?
vergeet dit.
1 Oct 2012, 13:17 pm
@stormer in a D cup-200:
I’m sick alright Stormer.
but at least I know it.
1 Oct 2012, 13:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-194:
But the world doesn’t work like that. Our constitution in fact could not exist without racial discrimination. People vote according to colour. They utilisize political power to favour their group. It is the reality of the world. Why do you think the liberals had to enforce “racial laws”? Because people deep down want to associate with their own. It is natural.
If you are a goffel obviously you love it because the world doesn’t expect you to play by the same rules, hence our racist constitution so you can be majority and be a racist. If you are a liberal white you suffering pathalogical altruism. You see the world changing and in a failed attempt to “adapt” you are trying to fit in but all you are doing is sowing the seeds of your own destruction. The rest of the world is not playing by your rules of “let us get along”. Everyone but white liberals are out for themselves; SA’s constitution is right there in writing.
And yes, all races have dodge characters. But I would rather deal with my own race’s dodge characters because then I don’t have to hear eternal bleating about how I “owe” them something because of their skin colour.
1 Oct 2012, 13:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-199:
All on Keo.comedy get a fair hearing Doc.
That’s why I love it so.
1 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@poppa69-195:
There is blood on your hands. You are very smug about “how the shoe is on the other foot”. That statement implies you acknowledge there is discrimination by racist blacks against the whites but that it is ok. Huh? Because another guy will post a reply to me saying two wrongs don’t make a right? So which is it?
You guys want to butter your bread on both sides.
1 Oct 2012, 13:26 pm
@cane-196:
If my concern for my people, their safety, prosperity and survival and the rejection of the hypocrisy that abets and encourages their fate makes me a savage then I am a proud savage.
You on the other hand… you don’t even have the personal courage to admit what the consequences of your beliefs are. You are right, you are not a savage. Savage implies a degree of personal courage. You are a coward.
1 Oct 2012, 13:27 pm
@STBUR-203:
“But the world doesn’t work like that. Our constitution in fact could not exist without racial discrimination. People vote according to colour. They utilisize political power to favour their group”.
Just like your colour did for 400 yrs STBUR.
1 Oct 2012, 13:28 pm
I see Amazon have released a jigsaw puzzle of the crematorium at Dachau concentration camp. I suspect there would be several bloggers on this site who would see nothing wrong with that.
1 Oct 2012, 13:29 pm
Patrick Lambie is the new Wynand Olivier…. 16 Games and no tries…….. don’t think he will ever score one?
1 Oct 2012, 13:30 pm
@PielNeus-201:
That is a wonderfully astute reply. Just like your moniker. But like I said to one of these supposed NZers my posts are not really for your likes. You are just the mirror so that others can see.
1 Oct 2012, 13:32 pm
@cane-207:
So why are you not boycotting modern SA if you acknowledge that their constituation is racist and discriminatory “just like we did for 400 years”?
1 Oct 2012, 13:33 pm
@STBUR-206: luister your problem is one of
Your argument is just as Hitler’s reasoning – someone you admire perhaps?
just answer the question, yes or no?
1 Oct 2012, 13:33 pm
@phil72-209:
he’s scored plenty against your sorry lot.
1 Oct 2012, 13:34 pm
Guys, sorry if i’m going off-topic and discussing rugby instead of politics and nationalism but i have a question. It’s on everyone’s favourite topic though, referees
The TMO on Saturday south african and from memory it was a local in NZ too? Did we have local TMOs last year? And am I the only one concerned about local TMOs if they are about to get more and more power? I have two concerns
1) pressure on local TMOs not to appear biased and giving the benefit of the doubt to the visiting team
2) NZ winning a game based on a controversial call by a kiwi TMO and all hell breaking loose and calls of corruption against us
Also, congrats to SA for moving into 2nd best team in the world
1 Oct 2012, 13:36 pm
@stormer in a teacup-208: That is criminal. Disgraceful.
1 Oct 2012, 13:36 pm
@STBUR-205: theres no blood on my hands at all, and you can keep repeating it it wont make it any more a fact… I have never been to SA, so how would I know? the shoe on the other foot analogy is about you understanding how many many people must have felt during those years, or does that fact escape you? I abhor racism on any level, but then I am a lilly liberal and like to believe that all are equal… its a strange concept I know
@stormer in a teacup-208: have been to Dachau, very sombre experience.. surreal almost..
1 Oct 2012, 13:36 pm
@stormer in a teacup-208:
Do you ever get upset about the fact that the **** still often deny the Rape of Nanjing? If not, stfu.
1 Oct 2012, 13:39 pm
@phil72-209: Apart from the fact that neither of them has a Q in their name there are no other common features.
1 Oct 2012, 13:41 pm
@STBUR-206: That’s where you and this ‘bleeding liberal’ differ. You worry only about your ‘people’ (including those who are not worthy…..the scum, or are there no white Afrikaner scum in your bubble?).
I worry about ALL decent people – the end.
Indoctrination is a fuckertoberidof……..
1 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@gonzo-214: Good point, especially when so many of the calls are “Try or no Try” as opposed to “Is there any reason”. The onfield refs are leaving a lot to the TMO’s and the calls end up being 50/50
1 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@STBUR-206:
“”If my concern for my people, their safety, prosperity and survival and the rejection of the hypocrisy that abets and encourages their fate makes me a savage then I am a proud savage”.
I said earlier, SA is a Nation so complex, we outsiders can only wonder how you exist at all.
But YOU seem to have the idea, that you and yours, are more special than others.
We have them in NZ as well.
They are everywhere.
Call them what you will …………….Sharia’s, Black Power, KKK, Fundamentalists, ***- holes, Broederbond, Rednecks…………………………………..
Not many Brain Surgeon’s among them, would be my guess.
1 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@poppa69-216: i have also been to Dachau.
i wont trivialise it by trying in a limited way to find a euphemism for it because some things cannot be described by a rational mind.
1 Oct 2012, 13:43 pm
@STBUR-217:
Relax
Your people will be fine
No need to bring out the armaments yet
1 Oct 2012, 13:43 pm
@PielNeus-212:
Hitler was an idiot. He didn’t have enough people to conquer the world. Actually the two people I would go back in time to kill (for symbolic purpose of course because often one death is not enough to stop the course of events) is Hitler and Karl Marx. They are both equally responsible for the suicidal pathological altruism that is so prevalent in the West.
I have no interest or desire to oppress anyone. I have just had it with the pathetic hypocricy and double standard that non-whites are allowed to have by white liberals. Because there is nothing the “other” can do to us if my own people are not the ones sowing the seeds of our extinction.
Patient, “let us not offend anyone”, p.u.s.s.y.-footing around is not adequet to get us out of this self destructive rut.
You want us all to get along? Then stop pretending there is something wrong with a white person such as myself to want my people to be safe, prosperous and the existence ensured. I am not trying to kill anyone. What I find strange is that you don’t seem to be believe that race groups can live together in harmony either and that is why you must deny our existence? It is only once we accept that we are what we are and have a right to exist that true dialogue can begin. But dialogue and reconciliation was made impossible the day they drafted our constituation. Who are the real racists here?
1 Oct 2012, 13:45 pm
@poppa69-216:
Why dont you come for a visit
Please
1 Oct 2012, 13:45 pm
@rangerman-222: in whole hearted agreement Rangerman
1 Oct 2012, 13:47 pm
@poppa69-226:
A visit to SA may go some way to dispelling the myths you have buzzing around in your head, and quite possibly alleviate some of your obssession.
1 Oct 2012, 13:49 pm
Hitler = altruist? even PielNeus cannot understan, liewe heksie what is the time in your planet?
Nog a point – constitution says all equal, yes or know? reg of knie?
1 Oct 2012, 13:49 pm
Meantime, aluta continua
My strike continues
1 Oct 2012, 13:49 pm
@STBUR-217: I get pissed off about plenty – “scientific whaling”, people starving, climate change deniers, religious fanatics etc. I could go on for ages. We change the world through logic and by being good role models. Two things that are often beyond me.
1 Oct 2012, 13:50 pm
@poppa69-226: How did Dachau come into it today?
1 Oct 2012, 13:51 pm
@STBUR-211:
You got a VOTE STUBBY?
Does it count?
That’s more than you gave them.
1 Oct 2012, 13:52 pm
@Skeppie-231:
Pops said he has been to Dachau, but never to SA.
So I invited him.
Not that the two destinations are comparable.
Or maybe he thinks they are.
1 Oct 2012, 13:53 pm
@stormer in a teacup-230:
Only money changes the world
It drives everything
This way and that, right way and wrong.
1 Oct 2012, 13:53 pm
@Dawn-225: I have no doubt youre probably right there Dawn, we could organise a get together at firemans, Im sure just with all the keolings who want to meet me it would be a magic evening and the place would be chockers..
1 Oct 2012, 13:53 pm
@cane-221: thats a common mistake cane.
some of them are highly intelligent as were many of the nazis.
1 Oct 2012, 13:54 pm
@Dawn-229:
What do you do with your spare time Dawn?
No Work.
No Money.
Vote for a return to work at the next meeting of the Proletariatets!
What exactly are you strikers after?
1 Oct 2012, 13:54 pm
@poppa69-235:
I would take you to Firemans
It is not representative of the demographic
You gotta SEE the place
You will love it.
1 Oct 2012, 13:55 pm
@Skeppie-231: um, I wasnt the one who brought it up..
1 Oct 2012, 13:56 pm
@Dawn-238: would you be my guide?
1 Oct 2012, 13:58 pm
@poppa69-216:
“I abhor racism on any level, but then I am a lilly liberal and like to believe that all are equal… its a strange concept I know”
You do not believe in equality. If you did you would not be uncomfortable with someone like myself wanting my people’s future ensured. You would also be appalled at the racism built into our constitution. You are a cheap political points scorer because in the short term it raises your social gravitas by saying it is ok to discriminate against x.
“the shoe on the other foot analogy is about you understanding how many many people must have felt during those years, or does that fact escape you? ”
So it is *** for tat? If that is the case why was Apartheid not ok because that was a outflow from the horrific experiences of the Afrikaners/Boers under the British? So how that works? We can do back in time for ever.
And there is blood on your hands because you tacitly (and smugly) support discrimination by the majority blacks and the minority whites. And if someone complains you say “you have it coming”. What sort of stance is that?
As is evident liberal whites discriminate the most of all people. You are the ones that are oppressing others as it is your framework of political ideology that has made this farce of an SA consitution possible.
Why are you not boycotting SA due to its racist discrimination against whites?
I like how you plead ignorance of what goes on in SA when it suits you. Because if you don’t know the situation then how can you support the discrimination that whites are facing under our constitution? There doesn’t seem to much of a logical or even moral basis for you opinions.
1 Oct 2012, 13:58 pm
Goodnight all,
And God bless most of you.
1 Oct 2012, 13:58 pm
@cane-237:
Money!
1 Oct 2012, 13:59 pm
@poppa69-239: I am just asking, seems a strange topic and was wondering how it came up.
1 Oct 2012, 14:00 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-219:
By “my people” I am quite broad; Any white European. Afrikaner is just locally applicable because they are the ones that the goffels and you white liberals like to hate on the most.
Well I can guarantee you the goffels don’t care about you either dude. They would be more than happy for us to disappear of the face of the Earth.
1 Oct 2012, 14:02 pm
@STBUR-245:
What is the matter with you???
1 Oct 2012, 14:02 pm
@rangerman-236: Correct. For every 50 thickasbench blind followers, there is a being with superior intelligence getting the followers to follow…..
There have also been brilliant scientists, physicians, researchers, ‘thinkers’ and the like amongst even the most detested groups of sickpsychofucks. Just imagine if those who had something special to offer the world, had focused on good and not evil…
Fact is though – in order for the wackjob groups/organisations to survive, the ratio has to be 500 totaldribblingfuckingmoronic foot soldiers, for every charismatic and hyper intelligent leader.
1 Oct 2012, 14:03 pm
@cane-221:
It has nothing to do with being more special. It has to do with survival. It has to do with you being happy with the situation where a government, its constitution and its majority citizens are actively trying to eradicate another group.
Why is this sort of concerted effort to destroy another ethnic group ok in the case of SA?
1 Oct 2012, 14:04 pm
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1 Oct 2012, 14:05 pm
@STBUR-248:
Where is the evidence that whites are going to be destroyed.
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