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, 09:05 am
@katman-43:
Oh comon Katters, youve displayed similiar levels of pant creamery over one Jaco Taute in the recent past.
Its always going to happen when a youngster displays certain skills that has given the fans something to s(cream) about.
16 Oct 2012, 09:06 am
@jacoshark-42: he has also played one super rugby season more than Elton!
16 Oct 2012, 09:06 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-49: Ah yes, the Lambie of God… That place is a nuthouse.
16 Oct 2012, 09:10 am
True test looms for Lambie – Will he be able to tie his own shoe laces?
16 Oct 2012, 09:10 am
@John Galt-51: Not even remotely. I’ve kept my comments on Taute rational and restrained. I’ve sung his praises in a dignified manner. Lambie gets the full Biebermania front row treatment. And frankly, that’s a little icky coming from adult men.
16 Oct 2012, 09:11 am
@katman-43:
cream chinos is never a good look.
next thing they’ll be popping the collar on their Monsieur Pricee jerseys.
16 Oct 2012, 09:12 am
Lambie, he’s no less immortal than Goosen or Jantjies. I mean seriously, what did people think, that Goosen is going to suddenly and single-handedly transform the Bok backline. I think it is great news for the boks that we have a glut of talent at an important position.
16 Oct 2012, 09:13 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-47: i just don’t get how everything that is supposed to make us improved is seen as a stumbling block by our administrators…
- manage the game time for the boks – “no we can’t the unions own the contracts”
- get the coach the best defensive coach in the country – “no we can’t, western province won’t let him go”
- get kankowski for 2 games in RC (the same way kiwis got SBW) – no we can’t the insurance costs too much.
16 Oct 2012, 09:13 am
@RL-52:
Im not surprised
he plays in a lions team where tackling and winning is clearly not a priority
hes a good player, im not denying it
but we’ll only really be able gauge next season with the stormers
when winning is a mentality and is expected
the pressures are vastly different from the lions S15 campaigns of keeping the score down
16 Oct 2012, 09:14 am
@Transformation-41:
lets get the Public Protector involved.
16 Oct 2012, 09:16 am
@phil72-54: Careful now Phil….
The protectors of the real(a)m(bie) are busy pulling on their elbow guards and knee pads as you type.
As soon as their bigdaddywheels can manage it, they will be here to educate you.
16 Oct 2012, 09:17 am
@capebull-46: read carefully, he has played MORE at 10 this year than at fullback, so for meyer to see him ONLY as a fullback is strange. is he going to bench jp pietersen for bjorn basson? because he played 5 games at centre and he now sees him as only a centre?
16 Oct 2012, 09:19 am
@gunther-60: i actually wish thuli was finer, i’d befriend her…
16 Oct 2012, 09:19 am
@katman-55:
Like when you and someone else on this site had a long running argument about who saw him first and noticed his superior skill before the other?
Rational and restrained indeed.
Anyhoo its all just hot air, the Sharks have been lacking a FH that can get thier backline firing for ages now. If you think about the short term drivel we had to deal with before Lambster. Andy Goode and the like…ugh. Little wonder there is some panty throwing from the front row.
Personally, Im very interested to see how Jaintjies does next year with a more defensively orientated team. Hope he doesnt get restricted too much.
16 Oct 2012, 09:21 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-49: yoh!
SuperPat
3DPat
Lambieghini
16 Oct 2012, 09:21 am
@THE MAULER-44: don’t worry about comparing the win ratio of the guppies to the Relegated Lions.
Elton in a Stormers jersey is > than the Lambster in a guppy jersey.
16 Oct 2012, 09:21 am
@Transformation-63: You must fancy yourself as some kind of oil painting, no?
But I heard Thuli loves a man who can wield the google, so go for it.
16 Oct 2012, 09:22 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-61: wait until Puma gets here… then you’ll see “creamchinos”
16 Oct 2012, 09:23 am
@John Galt-64: Forgot about Goode, the only flyhalf in the modern era with a comb-over.
16 Oct 2012, 09:24 am
@katman-67: hahahaha @ “oil painting”
if she had claire mawisa’s looks and her brains…straight up friendship!
16 Oct 2012, 09:25 am
RL I am not comparing team win ratios… I am comparing player winning performances… Hell how many times did Mitch drop Jantjies for Butch?? Last year it happened a lot… This year against the Highlanders the Sharks played kak but if it wasn’t for Lambie who scored all th points they would have lost…
16 Oct 2012, 09:27 am
@katman-69: the skullet…
16 Oct 2012, 09:27 am
I agree Elton in a Stormers jersey could change things… Stormers could even go a step further…
16 Oct 2012, 09:30 am
@Transformation-58: Waking up in the mornings is a stumbling block for our administrators…..
I’m going to try and find out if Nienaber’s contract with us includes doing consult work for the Boks at times. Maybe there is someone on here who recalls the whispers at the time better than what I can
16 Oct 2012, 09:31 am
@THE MAULER-73:
they could go a step backwards too
ive seen better players crack under the pressure of a packed stadium expecting miracles of a kid
im hoping he comes through strong next year, it can only benefit the boks to have all 10s playing regularly, fighting for top honors
16 Oct 2012, 09:38 am
Dr What you say is right and wrong..
All coaches play a gameplan that they believe is one that will win them tropheys.
The kicking game of the Bulls have done just that… won tropheys.
Its also true that all competitors want to counter this winning formulae, This is where we are now other teams have caught up with the kicking game of the Bulls, the game plan now must be changed to a new style.
In the same manner the Stromers have been working on a defence type of game , this has resulted in them playing not to lose games but, it was shown as a plan that focus is on not to lose rather than winning.
Lions and Cheethas played , running everything , this seemed to be working in cc for Lions but not Cheethas.
This leaves us with Sharkies , they seemed to have found the balance between all of the above, their latest results show this.
16 Oct 2012, 09:38 am
As much as some of us Sharks fans would like to think otherwise. EJ is still ahead of PL. But they are both light years ahead of MS.
16 Oct 2012, 09:45 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-74: Despite McFarland’s presence, SA Rugby’s Director of coaching Rassie Erasmus is keen to apparently have Nienaber consult to the Springboks and it is understood that a counter offer is in the process of being finalised where Nienaber may spend part of his time with the Stormers and the rest with the Springboks.
Not sure if this ended up being the case.
16 Oct 2012, 09:45 am
@katman-67:
lilly isn’t going to like that.
Expect a summons to the people’s court.
16 Oct 2012, 09:47 am
@THE MAULER-71: Elton always delivers match winning performances – it is not his fault he is not surrounded by Boks at the RL.
Can you imagine the damage Elton can do with 10 or 11 Boks playing with him and not against him.
Think guppy think a little.
16 Oct 2012, 09:47 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-74:
Get googling my angel.
16 Oct 2012, 09:51 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-78: NIenaber is actually being silly not making himself available to the Boks, even if only on a consultancy basis, Sharks might have the better style of all round play yes, and i know you might argue that?
But noone can doubt WP’s defensive structures? Proving Nienabers abillity as a defense specialist.
Boks need to fact, He should not be thinking twice of the oppotunity to coach at international level
16 Oct 2012, 09:53 am
Personally i think Lambie should have been given a shot at flyhalf for the Boks with Morne Steyn on the bench.
What kind of coach dumps a fairly solid flyhalf and plays a novice v the ABs?
We have not lost to the ABs that big for years even with M Steyn at the helm!!
M Steyn should never have been dropped out of the 22 just benched with Lambie getting the nod at flyhalf!
16 Oct 2012, 09:54 am
Funny how Goosen, who plays in a team where defence means nothing, is annointed as the saviour of the boks’ backline woes…. Yet Janties credentials as a bok fh will be judged next year, when he playes for a team whose play is more structured and defense oriented.
@transformatio-70:
Aahh! Claire Mawisa, intle ke lontombi… But I know guys that wouldn’t mind a friendship with Thuli, bengakhange batshinsthe niks.
16 Oct 2012, 09:54 am
@skunk-77: game breaking, distribution, kicking – elton
defence, passing accuracy, BMT – lambie
tied.
imo
16 Oct 2012, 09:55 am
@gunther-81: I googled that bit. Will ask a fellow I train with if this IS indeed so. Or you can find out….you know people who know people surely
Then again, the Rassie/Meyer relationship isn’t as rosy as what it was during the English tests, so not sure Rassie’s opinions count much anymore,so by default neither would Nienaber’s
Now, let’s chat a little about the incoming convicts…..
16 Oct 2012, 09:56 am
Who got the MOTM in JHB last weekend?
16 Oct 2012, 09:56 am
@mxhosa-84: Well LAmbie is even more so than Jantjes, but strange we never seen you fight the same fight for Lambie????
OH WAIT I FORGOT??/???? LAMBIE IS TO WHITE
ENOUGH SAID
16 Oct 2012, 09:58 am
@Transformation-62: Did he play 10 or 15 in semis? and who picked those teams ?
16 Oct 2012, 09:59 am
@PissAnt-87: Morne, but lets be honest here PA
16 Oct 2012, 09:59 am
@mxhosa-84: amehlo awaphakelani mhlekazi
andithi ungxolisiwe usisi.
16 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
For all you Lambie/Sharks fans, HM does not rate him as a international fh, get over it!
16 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
PA – We have not lost to the ABs that big for years even with M Steyn at the helm!!
16 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@PissAnt-87: Steyn, but it’s widely accepted that this was done by Joel to help heal Morne’s hurty feelings after Meyer broke up with him.
16 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@sharks_lover-90:
And if Morne outplays Lambie this weekend? Where will we find ourselves?
16 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@capebull-89: he was injured playing fullback for the Boks in PE and michalak was in a vein of form.
what part of this is difficult to comprehend?
16 Oct 2012, 10:01 am
@mxhosa-92: hahahahaha
16 Oct 2012, 10:01 am
@katman-94:
Haha.
16 Oct 2012, 10:01 am
And so the battle begins. Who said the ‘Super-Pat’ PR machine had run out of steam?
Yes we can.
16 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
@race of tan-93:
How big?
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