Pressure builds on Bok kickers
3 Oct 2012
Heyneke Meyer says that the Springboks cannot hope to beat the All Blacks unless their goal-kickers start converting pressure into points more consistently.
Over the course of five Rugby Championship Tests, the Boks have been successful with just 19 out of 37 shots on goal (a record of 51.3%).
They missed out on 21 points through failed goal attempts in the Test played against the All Blacks in Dunedin. This cost them the game. They then missed six goal kicks in the subsequent Test against the Wallabies, and while this didn’t stop them from winning, it is a point of concern within the Bok camp.
Johan Goosen missed his first two goal attempts at Loftus Versfeld, and Meyer later explained that a bruised heel had been giving the 20-year-old trouble all week. The responsibilities then passed to Ruan Pienaar, who was successful with just three from his seven attempts.
At present, it seems as if Pienaar is set to continue as the team’s primary goal-kicker. Meyer said that no final decision had been made as yet, and that after the Wednesday afternoon training session they will know if Pienaar or Goosen is ready for such a responsibility.
Meyer admitted that the past performances have been poor, and that they can’t afford to let the All Blacks off the hook in Soweto like they did in Dunedin.
‘If we get into a position to win, then we have to win,’ the Bok coach said. ‘We played so well in Dunedin but in the end it’s who wins on the scoreboard that matters.
‘I can’t speak for them, but maybe the All Blacks underestimated us in Dunedin. They won’t do so again. It will be harder to win this Saturday than it was in Dunedin.
‘We have to take our opportunities this week. The All Blacks are a quality side and to beat them you have to be kicking at least 80%.’
Many are expecting the Boks to play an expansive game against the All Blacks, and feel that performance against the Wallabies was a sign that they’ve changed their game plan. But Meyer, for the umpteenth time this week, stressed that nothing has really changed.
‘We will look to put them under pressure, and then we will look to convert our points. It’s only a matter of time before those kickers find their groove.
‘It’s been difficult now that Morné Steyn and Frans Steyn are out. That’s two of our kickers gone. Johan is still learning and he had that injury. And then when the responsibility passed to Ruan on Saturday, he wasn’t mentally prepared for it.
‘We do have a number of options like Jaco Taute, as well as Elton Jantjies and Pat Lambie on the bench. They have all been kicking well in training, but it’s how you kick under pressure that counts.’
The Boks will need to play themselves into opposition territory before they can force the All Blacks to make errors or concede penalties. Meyer said that they haven’t forgotten how important the tactical kicking battle will be in a clash of this nature.
‘If the All Blacks throw it around, that will suit us in terms of the game we want to play. But we know how good they are in terms of the kicking game. Having a guy like Dan Carter at No 10 gives them a lot of options, he lends them a lot more composure too.
‘We have a lot of respect for the All Blacks and what they are capable of. This is why accuracy is so important. In terms of tactical kicking, you have to be accurate when you are kicking on a back three that includes Israel Dagg and Cory Jane.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
11 Comments
3 Oct 2012, 14:11 pm
I’d rather have a flyhalf with 75% kicking and an all-round game that can create tries as opposed to a kicking machine like Willem De Waal , Derick H etc.
Maybe a bit tough to say pressure builds on Bok kickers if no one besides Steyn have had a few games to prove themselves and find form and rhythm.
3 Oct 2012, 14:20 pm
@wp_boytjie-1: agree with you….
People forget even when M Steyn was kicking well in 2010 and 2011 we were still losing most tests against the kiwis and aussies….
3 Oct 2012, 14:41 pm
I dont believe the bad kicking will continue if Goosen takes charge. He was just too emotional in his first game..He’s a great kicker. Before (even after for a while) he got injured he lead the kicking stats in Super rugby. Pienaar loses all confidence if he misses one kick… So Goosen’s not Saturdays kicker, due to his bruised heal, there is another solution….
Let Lambie (Limbo) kick, drop Kirch. Lambo is one of the coolest customers under pressure!
3 Oct 2012, 14:56 pm
How can Ruan not be mentally prepared for kicking??? He’s hardly a rookie, with his experience it shoudn’t faze him at all IMO
3 Oct 2012, 15:01 pm
Dangerous to go into a test against the ABs without a kicker. However i reckon it is time to let these players get more experience and hope they can swim under pressure.
THe only option is to bring on Lambie to kick, although i think Kercner has been playing rather well for the Boks!!
3 Oct 2012, 15:10 pm
@Atreides-4:
I think he meant he wasnt expecting to be the kicker on the day…
3 Oct 2012, 15:57 pm
i think they just need to chill out on the long range 60m attempts , just find touch and back the line out and maul . At least any penalties won after that are within a 30 meter range. If they still can’t kick those then bring back Morne ASAP. On the other hand the ABs goal kicking is also unreliable so it could even out
3 Oct 2012, 16:38 pm
You can be absolutely assured Dan Carter is going to be converting close on 100% and if we don’t do the same, conversions will swing the match result in their favour – if Frans was OK and doing ALL the kicking I would be optimistic about Saturday, but the other two don’t have the temperament and that is our weakness.
3 Oct 2012, 21:59 pm
Goosen to be starting kicker on Saturday.
3 Oct 2012, 22:12 pm
Hougaard should be at 9 and Goosen at 10 and Goosen should take all the kicks.. even if he misses couple or 3..
Pienaar and Kirchner our two weak links. And Hougaard is way out of position at 11… Lambie no great shakes at 15 either..
Not such a fantastic setup to go into a do or die who holds the bo baas status of world rugby in your own home turf game.
5 Oct 2012, 06:19 am
@fritz ellen; ja out snotkop; because you say so. Asseblief man, to go into these games without a reliable kicker is a massive risk. What’s your answer; “Goosen should take all the kicks”. Very klevva. Not!!
It’s actually simple, Get a reliable kicking coach who understands Goosen and who Goosen trusts. He’s a young guy and could be swayed by any Louis, Vlok or Percy who talks to him. Heyneke needs to man up, take charge and show that he knows something about high level player management. If Goosen/Pienaar/Lambie whoever fails; the Boks and Meyer could fail. Remember the Lions when ugly Jenkins kicked the snot out of the Boks because Carel couldn’t find a kicker?
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