True test looms for Lambie
16 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that Pat Lambie may have to steer the Sharks to Currie Cup glory if he’s going to convince Heyneke Meyer of his value as a match-winning flyhalf.
Did Lambie’s performance against Griquas mean anything? Of course it did. It was massive in the context of the Sharks’ season, as it helped the Durbanites bank a potential home final.
It was important in that it allowed Lambie a rare start, and even more significantly a rare start in his best position of flyhalf. But was it meaningful in the context of Lambie’s bid for the Bok flyhalf jersey? I don’t think so.
Lambie enjoyed a great return to the starting line-up last Friday. He was accurate in front of goal, he gave the Sharks direction both as a distributor and tactical kicker. He was solid on defence and innovative on attack. It was a complete performance, and it would have given him plenty of confidence.
But the pressure will mount this week ahead of a semi-final showdown against the Bulls. For all the bluster about Griquas being giant killers, they are never a threat at the back end of the season. They struggle because of injuries and battle to compete against the big five teams who are boosted by the returning Boks.
Griquas are never going to win the Currie Cup with their current game plan. There is too much emphasis on attack, and not enough on defence. This weakness was exploited all too easily by the Sharks last Friday. And yet, John Plumtree’s men would do well to remember that the defence of the better teams in the play-offs will be tougher to breach.
There will be more pressure on Lambie this Saturday. There will be more pressure from a defensive point of view. There will be more pressure on him to win the territorial battle, and there will also be more pressure on him to maintain his excellent goal-kicking form.
It has to be viewed as a great opportunity. If Lambie can excel under such pressure and steer the Sharks to victory, it would serve as a big statement. If he can go one step further and guide the Sharks to another Currie Cup title, well then it would be difficult for Heyneke Meyer to deny that he is the best flyhalf candidate for that November tour to Europe.
We have been in this situation before. Lambie helped the Sharks win the 2010 Currie Cup final, and one of the most enduring moments of that match was of the young flyhalf handing off WP captain Schalk Burger en route to the tryline. Unfortunately, he was used only as a substitute on the subsequent Bok tour. He did well when he started for the Boks at 10 against the All Blacks in 2011, but wasn’t used there again.
Meyer is still undecided about Lambie, and it isn’t hard to understand why. While it’s clear the kid has all the skills, he hasn’t really settled into one position.
Injury has also played a part in this unfortunate situation if you remember that Lambie was crocked in the 2012 Super Rugby competition just when he was starting to fire as a flyhalf. When he returned to fitness, the Sharks had settled on Freddie Michalak as their pivot and so Lambie filled in at fullback for the remainder of the season.
If the Sharks win this weekend and progress to the final, it will mean that Lambie will have three Currie Cup games in total to show Meyer what he can offer as a flyhalf. As I mentioned earlier, the fixture against Griquas was important for other reasons. The two play-off games will be massive in terms of pressure, with each of the four teams leaning on their Boks. If Lambie thrives in that environment, then it will say much for his mental aptitude as well as his physical ability.
Meyer will, of course, be watching the progress of other potential flyhalves closely.
Morné Steyn was better against the Lions last Saturday, but will also need to show that he can perform in the matches that matter. Just as a title win for the Sharks will underline Lambie’s value, another domestic trophy for the Bulls will show that Steyn is not a spent force as a match-winner.
With Johan Goosen ruled out with injury, Elton Jantjies played much of that Test against the All Blacks at Soccer City. The Lions lost to the Bulls last week, but they will be hoping that the reinstatement of Jantjies at 10 gets them back to winning ways. Again, it’s a high pressure environment that could reveal whether Jantjies is in the right headspace to spearhead the Boks’ coming overseas campaign.
I still believe that in the absence of Goosen, Lambie is the only flyhalf in South Africa who has the necessary all-round skills needed to bring the Boks success in a more balanced game plan. But Lambie has to use this semi-final opportunity, and possibly an opportunity in the final as well, to make a believer out of Meyer.
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482 Comments
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16 Oct 2012, 05:27 am
How many international sides out there would pick Morne?…the Philippines?
16 Oct 2012, 05:39 am
@christianels22-1:
Plenty…but not many from the top 5 nations I would think.
16 Oct 2012, 05:57 am
Which top 10 int sides would pick Steyn on current form?
16 Oct 2012, 06:12 am
6(6) WALES
7(7) IRELAND
8(8) ARGENTINA
9(9) SCOTLAND
10(10) SAMOA
If they had the option, all of the above will pick him in their 22 at least.
16 Oct 2012, 06:39 am
“Did Lambie’s performance against Griquas mean anything? Of course it did.”
Pfffffft if Lambie’s match performance sent some kind of message to Heineken then so did Morne’s MOTM performance.
Try another agle JC to get the utility back into Heinekens sights.
16 Oct 2012, 07:34 am
JON CARDINELLI writes that Pat Lambie may have to steer the Sharks to Currie Cup glory if he’s going to convince Heyneke Meyer of his value as a match-winning flyhalf
Kak praat JC. How much times must this kid prove his worth before getting regular game time for the Boks?
Didnt he already show what you asking in the Currie Cup final of 2010?
Handing off Burger enroute to the tryline in a final is pretty much steering on his own.
Morne Steyn’s bok career is dead and buried. Get over it.
Unless he can improve his general play and bring his backline into the play.
16 Oct 2012, 07:36 am
Anyone but M Steyn….
16 Oct 2012, 07:39 am
For me I will be happy if either Lambie or Jantjies start but please HM no Morne Steyn.
16 Oct 2012, 07:40 am
@grant10-7: Even Catrakilis will be a better bet than M.Steyn.
16 Oct 2012, 07:41 am
Morne must add more to his game, the problem is his limp effect on the backline his lack of kicking form is just a result of only having one trick!
Sharks will waste the greasy Bulls this weekend!
16 Oct 2012, 07:42 am
hehehe
this laaties gonna see his moer on saturday.
like he has quite a few times before.
then what….
16 Oct 2012, 07:43 am
I also believe the biggest problem at the boks is the the three assistant coaches, namely Recardo Laubscher (backline), John McFarland (defence) and Louis Koen (kicking) all departments showed 0% improvement throughout the international season.
All these coaches should be showed the way out, especially Koen and Loubscher!
16 Oct 2012, 07:45 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-11: Bakkies, to be honest, the Sharks are a much more complete unit than the current bulls. Sorry but can’t see the bulls take it without playing beyond themselves.
Sharks by 10.
16 Oct 2012, 07:51 am
I was never convinced about Lambie until he got his chance at fullback in the WC. He impressed me… although still a 50/50 between Jantjies and Lambie imo but both of them a much better option than Morne atm.
16 Oct 2012, 07:51 am
@goodstuff-13:
sure, no problem.
according to the kenners the bulls were destined to lose a promotion/relegation playoff against the kings after coming stone last on the log.
its gonna be rough, tough and ugly but the bulls will either sneak the win or bludgeon a big margin.
lets see come saturday.
16 Oct 2012, 07:56 am
Not this story again. The kid can play. We know this. Only the Bok staff think he is not ready (or blue enough)
16 Oct 2012, 08:02 am
I see a 500 + thread coming up……. (with 489 of the 500 posts courtesy of Lambie’s mentors; Puma and Sharks_lover)
This should be good.
16 Oct 2012, 08:08 am
Steyn wouldn’t make any decent side he’s hopeless, unfortunately for the Bokke the Goose is made of glass so Morne will get game time which probably means more losses up north next month.
16 Oct 2012, 08:08 am
@17 I doubt that. This debate is stale and boring. But i guess yourself and the two you mentioned will have it out as well as Bakkies defending his love child MS.
16 Oct 2012, 08:15 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-17: Like any WP/Stormers thread where every donkey post their back line for next year?
16 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
@skunk-19: Nah, the whole ‘Super-Pat’ PR thing is stale.
@Hop Hop Spinnekop-20: Relevant at least, considering most posters here seem to be WP/Stormer fans
16 Oct 2012, 08:20 am
The Sharks are going to have to be increase their intensity this weekend. They were good against the Kwas but then again Griquas are never great away from home.
I think the return of Beast, Jannie and Alberts should help in this regard.
The Bulls will suddenly have a newfound spark and i believe will be very very difficult customers come 16.30pm on Saturday.
I read that out of all the kicks Lambie made on Saturday, not one of them was an up an under.
And i for one dont agree with HM that his tactical kicking is lacking. Some of those little kicks in behind the Griquas defense and those long raking territorial kicks were a sight to behold.
16 Oct 2012, 08:28 am
@skunk-16: The fact Lambie has not played 10 is not HM fault ask the Sharks , how many times did he start at 10 since he started with Sharks , they keep on moving him to 15 why , ask that to the Sharks, I also rate Lambie , in three years he played like 3 games cc in 4 years at 10 and you blame HM for that?…..
16 Oct 2012, 08:30 am
he hasn’t done anything significant since 2010. In 2 finals matches and 1 knockout match (at fullback) since then he was exposed as weak, kak if you want. The 2011 knockout match against the saders where he lost the match by gifting Read 7 points, the 2011 CC final where Elton made him his little lamb and the super final this year where he was easily the worst guppy on the field.
An people talk about this alleged BMT. Heineken will do well to stick with Elton.
16 Oct 2012, 08:30 am
And a whole bunch of Keo Sharkies just had a “when Harry Met Sally” moment while reading this.
16 Oct 2012, 08:31 am
@John Galt-22: On jicking I agree with you , I have always said good kicking is a n asset. Even more if you have a strong line out.
16 Oct 2012, 08:33 am
sharks by 10+
i still feel regardless of how well lambie n jantjies play these next few weeks
HM will start morne in the first eoyt match
sad reality we face
16 Oct 2012, 08:37 am
@capebull-23:
lambie played 9 games at flyhalf in S15
and 3 games at fullback, only because they didnt wanna change a winning formula
your comment is stupid
16 Oct 2012, 08:37 am
Jantjies & Lambster is all we need.
But give them the responsibility to run the game and not Pienaar @ 9 or JdV making decisions on their behalf.
Morne still a no-no til he finds the right balance in his game.
Let Steyn R&R with a decent rest and pre-season and let’s see what he comes up with in next year’s Super Rugby.
16 Oct 2012, 08:39 am
@stormersboy-25:
Pat Lambie and Meg Ryan separated at birth,
16 Oct 2012, 08:39 am
Capebull he played flyhalf 9 games out of 15. I doubt that you would say that is insufficient.
16 Oct 2012, 08:43 am
Like Lambie a lot, but think HM was willing to sacrifice the fullback position to get the numbers right. Don’t you just hate politics?
16 Oct 2012, 08:44 am
@gunther-30: lol … the love child. But who could the father be?
16 Oct 2012, 08:44 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-15: So no room in your mind for a sharks win, you have to admit, bulls have at least 50/50 chance.
The bulls are rebuilding, new coaching staff, new players and they are loosing their best loose forward in CJ Stander. They have a lot of young talent waiting in the wings, but they will only come to the senior team later.
It will be good game come Saturday.
16 Oct 2012, 08:44 am
@goodstuff-12: geez, did you see what the ABs did to our backline?
get Nienaber ASAP!
16 Oct 2012, 08:47 am
@gunther-30: City of angels (little cherubs actually)
16 Oct 2012, 08:47 am
@gunther-30: Now that you mention it, good spot!
16 Oct 2012, 08:51 am
@wing_14-33:
Well if time travel were possible we’d go for Bieber or AB de Villiers. (I suspect they are the same person, I mean have you ever seen them in the same place at the same time?)
@Transformation-35:
They asked for him.
He wasn’t interested no?
16 Oct 2012, 08:51 am
@capebull-23: lambie started about 9 games in super rugby and 3 or 4 at fullback and that was when freddie michalak was on fire…he played 10 last year when they KNOCKED the bulls out of Super rugby @ Loftus
it’s a lie to suggest that lambie has played more at fullback for the sharks than at 10.
find another excuse for heyneke meyer!
16 Oct 2012, 08:53 am
@jacoshark-28: jacoguppy, did you know that Elton has played more super rugby matches at flyhalf than Lambie – undeniable fact.
16 Oct 2012, 08:55 am
@gunther-38: there’s no reason SARU can’t make it happen, Mick Byrne the All Black skills/forwards coach has just been appointed as Assistant to John Kirwan at the Blues. Jurie needs to make it happen..
Bulls defence hasn’t been the sharpest in 2 years leaking four try bonus point to the Brumbies and Rebels…
16 Oct 2012, 08:56 am
@RL-40:
and how many of those games has he won?
probably around 10-20%
i think that says enough
16 Oct 2012, 08:58 am
@gunther-30: The way the Shorkies here cream their chinos about Pat on the hour every hour, I’m surprised they haven’t tried to sign Meg too.
16 Oct 2012, 08:59 am
RL and tell us how many of those games in Superrugby did Elton play a match winning game? And Dont say the first game against the Cheetahs…
16 Oct 2012, 09:00 am
Jantjies and Lambie both brilliant!! And both should play above Morne…
16 Oct 2012, 09:00 am
@Transformation-39: Transie , you just confirmed what I said. Its not a Bulls thing or Hm thing don’t make it that.
Lambie has been playing for Sharks what 3-4 years now , why are they always moving him .
I say play him at ten , he could be the Bok’s next 10.
16 Oct 2012, 09:01 am
@Transformation-41: There was talk a little while back that Nienaber’s new contract with the WP, allows him to consult for the Boks as well (at times I guess). I seem to recall Rassie having something to do with it. It was mentioned that SARU would foot the bill for a portion of his contract at WP (or something to that effect), in order for him to assist the Boks at times.
Not sure if this IS what happened in terms of his new WP deal, but there was definite talk of this at the time Nienaber’s future was under discussion.
16 Oct 2012, 09:01 am
Redlion
Just like goosen has played as many super rugby games as Kurt Coleman. Whats your point?
16 Oct 2012, 09:02 am
@katman-43: This site’s ‘Super-Pat’ adoration group, has absolutely nothing on those who do his praise singing on Sharksworld.
It’s poetic……
16 Oct 2012, 09:04 am
Transie : Even the Sharks web site lists Lambie as Fullback/ Flyhalve
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