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.
Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
482 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 » Show All
16 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
@sharks_lover-82:
I sometimes wonder whether Nienaber isn’t responsible for the Stormers attacking problems. It’s all very well blaming Fleck but if Nienabers defensive patterns and tactics are too inflexible it restricts the ability to fluidly free players to develop a creative attacking movement.
16 Oct 2012, 10:03 am
still waiting for you guys to apologise to me … i was called all kind of names when i said rhule was to small and that WP will kill him! Well its was exactly what happened…. Rhule looked like a 6 year old boy playing rugby for the first time …. the REAL Currie Cup started last Saturday
16 Oct 2012, 10:05 am
@suffer_guy-102: Ohfuckoffmurphy. Rhule too small? Nah, that would be your ****. Now stop looking at it, as it won’t get any bigger that way. Focus on things you CAN change.
16 Oct 2012, 10:05 am
PA – 4 tries to 1 big at home. The last time was 19-0 in 2008 with Butch James at flyhalf. . But with M Steyn we seem to atleast get parity with the ABs. I have a hunch becoz HM has gone the way of the bulls , M Steyn is a better fit the current Bok style!!!
M Steyns rediculous up and unders do seem to unsettle the ABs rythm, as was seen at Dunedin!!
Bottom line HM will not last as Bok coach!!
16 Oct 2012, 10:05 am
@sharks_lover-88:
I’m not a Lambie fan. Why would I fight for him? Rather him than Morne Steyn though.
@transformation-91:
I know, amanye amadoda ajonga ngeliso le art.
16 Oct 2012, 10:06 am
@suffer_guy-102: Ah fck, another one with hurty feelings.
16 Oct 2012, 10:06 am
@David-101: it’s called balance…the chiefs did it this year, they were 4th best defensive and fourth best attacking…while the stormers were 1st best defensive and about 12th or 13 best attacking…
balance.
16 Oct 2012, 10:10 am
i just love it when i’m right!!!! this weekend Perez will kill Rhule …
16 Oct 2012, 10:11 am
@race of tan-104:
anyone can kick up and unders??
whats your point
16 Oct 2012, 10:11 am
@mxhosa-105: tl tl tl elantoni?
hey, hayi antsokothile amanye amanene apha phandle.
16 Oct 2012, 10:12 am
@race of tan-104:
Okay I am confused, are you saying we lost big (4 tries to 1) at home because of Morne Steyn?
16 Oct 2012, 10:13 am
@mxhosa-105: on some picasso tip…mmmhhh
16 Oct 2012, 10:13 am
@Transformation-107:
I realise that, McKenzie had a similar problem when he joined the Reds, except they were too vulnerable to counter attacks whilst scoring plenty of tries themselves. He reckoned that he just had to teach the players to attack with having a defensive fallback plan in place.
16 Oct 2012, 10:15 am
@PissAnt-111: he is agreeing with you, apparently the boks have not been walloped with msteyn @ 10, the last time they did it was with butch @ 10 @ newlands…so msteyn is the answer for RoT.
16 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
Transie
I would not disagree with that. Maybe its because EJ is a better goal kicker that wins it in my book. I just hope he outplays MS this weekend. Just so we can move on from Steyn as a bok 10.
16 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
@suffer_guy-108: clint newland will feature for the last time for the Kings in the playoff matches…
cheers clint, thanks for the memories!
16 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
@Transformation-114:
That’s what I am not getting. He seems not to agree with Steyn’s selection but think he is the best choice?
16 Oct 2012, 10:17 am
PA/jacoshark – No not at all what i am saying is that M Steyn should have been dropped to the bench, so when the Goose got injured M Steyn should have come on instead!!
Everyone was baying for M Steyn’s blood so HM made the big call and dropped M Steyn completely and look at the drubbing we got from the ABs!!
Currently the way the Boks are playing M Steyn is still the better fit! Boring typical donkey Bok rugby but it does seem to suit the Boks right now!!
HM tried to go flairy imeddiately and we saw are arses!! I am not too sure how well the Goose was playing before he got injured but once Jantjies came on it was all over for the Boks.
My point was for all the years M Steyn was at the bok Helm we never lost that big at home!!
16 Oct 2012, 10:17 am
With the way that rugby has evolved over the last 3 or so years (defensive improvements forcing flat rather than deep attacking backline play) Lambie on a bad day is better than Steyn on a good day. Its that simple. As was correctly stated, his best position is flyhalf but Meyer’s phobia of youth/”smaller” players has cost South Africa much thus far this season.
16 Oct 2012, 10:20 am
Mxhosa
Musa ukudlala nge art. Maybe its the posh accent… Hayi ubuhle ngoba akananto ngalapho.
16 Oct 2012, 10:20 am
Seemed like Jantjies’ not yet signed by the Stormers?!
That despite the willingness of the Lions to unload their asset
Go figure
16 Oct 2012, 10:21 am
Transformation – he’s strong etc … but a walking yellow card – needs to work on his discipline … go have a look on youtube – he’s been a dirty bugger since his highlanders days ….. also the fact that Kings are allowed only 2 foreign players played a role … wont it be funny if the Kings beat the Cheetahs (probably wont happen with the current squad with all the injuries etc) – Lions & Cheetahs in 1 year !
16 Oct 2012, 10:24 am
Transformation #114 – You got it sir!!
That is all i was try to say in a nut shell, you said it in fewer words. The Boks cannot play like the ABs we do better playing our typical way with a kicking flyhalf. Just think if M Steyn got his kicks in Dunedin, we would have won a test in new zealand!!!
Plus i was also stressing the point that although M Steyn’s tactical kicks are way over done(too many) they do seem to upset the ABs rythm. Whereas in the last game the ABs were allowed to settle into their stride and they walloped us!!
16 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
@mxhosa-105: Yes but you never fight in here for any player but a black player, so please show some BALLS and atelast admit it??
You and Transie can jiggle and jaggle all you want in your language, still shows you to be the racist you are.
16 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
How did that poll end between Fat Bambie and Elton John Cheese?
16 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
@PissAnt-95: PA< just because he is yor NAME SAKE !!!!
hehehee Joking, boet if he outplays him he outplays him, I am not on this crusade of Morne is now rubbish and must never be near a Bok team again.
I do however believe with the BUlls forwards in the past and of course a F DuPreez as 9 halped mould Morne into the 10 he is, 90% of those BUlls forwards have since retired or left to further careers alse where.
The present crop of forwards do not give him the same spaces to play a kicking dictating sought of game, also Du Preez used to take huge pressure off Morne,
MOrne however is struggling to lift his game to play the more expansive type game with lots of offloading etc?
This is why the LIkes of Lambie and Goosen and Jantjes are seen by most to be the better options as world rugby has changed and you cant afford to just kick balls away, the teams like the AB's now use that ball gain against you and you pay for a poor kick.
I will take LAmbie's play as an example, If i may in the last match.
The Kwas defese to start with was actually quite good, Did Lambie not try A deft little kick to break that defense? TRY
A deft little inside pass to Mvovo, TRY
LAmbie did not wildly kick the ball away once, infact he did not kick 1 up and under, not that there is no place for that in the game, there is but its about making the right decisions at the right time and staying calm under defensive pressures.
I can go on and on, and trust me i do not believe for one minute that MOrne should be chucked on the trash heap, But i do believe when a players form is so poor as his was the case another player must be afforded the chace to play.
HM didnt only make bad calls on Morne, one can argue a number of positions.
Transie said something about Jantjes being a better distributer than Lambie and Lambie being a better Passer???? See this is where some dont seem to understand, that is the same thing,
I watched Jantjes now at length and at times his distribution is brillliant, and at times just plain poor as was the case Saturday, It seemed Jantjes was to scared the get tackled the way he threw the ball away.
this is not about knocking Jantjes now but trying to point out a part of flyhalf play that a lot of people dont seem to get and how a flyhalf stays calm when under pressure in. Lambie again showed that on Saturday, Butch showed that on Saturday untill moved.
That was passing when he had to, kicking when he had to, etc Take the right options…
16 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
@race of tan-118:
Aahhh got you! Thanks bud.
16 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
race of tan – #114 which is why i have never seen Butch James have a succesfull 3N campaign!!! He is a running flyhalf, the exception was 2007, Butch was untouchable then!!
Pretoors on the other hand had a few good 3N outings!
16 Oct 2012, 10:30 am
@sharks_lover-126:
Not disagreeing with you. People just want to discard players to the rubbish dump too quickly.
After Nasrec I read how all of a sudden Goosen is too brittle for this level of rugby…
Steyn was in poor form this season so far, there are reasons for that. Strange thing is, this is the first time in 15 years we have 4 players that could play 10 for the Boks!
Our success in this position is how we are going to manage all 4 players, not just 1 or 2 of them.
16 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@David-101: Dave look you could be right? and for me it is about finding that happy medium between attack and defend,Sharks seem to be the team closest to getting that right not so??
example is like fridays Sharks against a attack minded Kwas team, Sharks kept them out so zero tries, and Sharks scored a lot of tries,
Dont get me wrong it’s not all about the Sharks, there are Parts of their game like concentration that wonders off etc thats not good that a mental coach in preperation should be taking care of.
But NIenaber has something to offer Bok rugby and should be used. The attacking backline coaches should work out the nitty gritty as a unit with him
16 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@race of tan-93: talk real kak man.
Lambie played at 10 in the 40-7 slaugter just last year against the Boks.
16 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@PissAnt-129: Agree with that 100%
16 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
@PissAnt-129: @sharks_lover-132:
Further to that, given each player’s individual strengths, we can even change our game plan or approach IN A GAME. Imagine saying that about a Bok team…
16 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
@RL-131: Funny how you dont mention that 90% of that team was non regular starters for the Boks, just before WC time??? so most top Boks rested?
here is that Boks team
1 Dean Greyling
2 John Smit
3 Werner Kruger
4 Gerhard Mostert
5 Alistair Hargreaves
6 Deon Stegmann
7 Jean Deysel
8 Danie Rossouw
9 Ruan Pienaar
10 Patrick Lambie
11 Lwazi Mvovo
12 Juan de Jongh
13 Adrian Jacobs
14 Bjorn Basson
15 Morné Steyn
So tell me with a very makeshift team you Think Jantjes would have been better and saved the day?? DONT MAKE ME LAUGH DUDE, you like to show non truths or made up stories as TRANSIE pointed out with you yesturday.
RAther show us where LAmbie started at flyhalf with the real BOK team…. as non of the combinations in the Bok team you shout about were used to playing together.
16 Oct 2012, 10:41 am
@PissAnt-133: Boet again i agree, It is for the coach though to beable to see when things are not right and to make changes to make sure the team gets back on track,
Thus i dont blame MOrne but the coach, it always comes back to 1 thing, A player does not select himself.
There is no perfect player and even the one you rate as the best will have his off days,
16 Oct 2012, 10:42 am
@race of tan-123:
A high tempo game is not the only option in modern rugby, but putting all your eggs in the basket called referees whim in the hope you can then kick the ensuing goals is short sighted.
End result, no repeat of Hamilton 2009 in 2012
Relying on points earned from the opposition mistakes is all well and good, but you have to have a plan B.
16 Oct 2012, 10:42 am
@sharks_lover-134: I count 6 guppies in that tea and plenty of other Boks – no excuse Bok jerseys are not cheap – and Tranformer found his evidence guppylover.
16 Oct 2012, 10:44 am
Jon once again perpetuating the South African problem of placing too much emphasis on 1/2 game and not a season
MS has been poor the whole season, why should this be make or break for the Lamb, we know he offers for than MS in the same way we know Jantjies and Goosen do.
16 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
@PissAnt-133: Goosen is a once in a lifetime type player with skills, but he seems to lack 2 things, Option taking as one cant just run everything, so mental strength under pressure wavers and his conditioning, other then that this kids the real deal, conditioning can be worked out but then one must remember he will lose a bit of speed.
Mental toughness with experience that too can be soughted, In both tests Goosen missed kicks, something Lambie got slaughtered for when he in Ireleand missed one kick in very poor weather as a sub.
That alone explains the fickleness of the Bok Supporters for the most, so the Morne hatred is no different lol
16 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
Why all this hype about the 2 FH’s no 3 and 4 in the boks pecking order?
16 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
It took less than 3 weeks to sign a mega millions contract between Altech and one of SA’s leading banks few years ago, compared to the Jantjies’ ‘contract negotiations’ which are already into its 8th week?
How long did it take the Stormers to sign Habana?
16 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
Aha,another thread singing the virtues of the baby-looking assassin who unfortunately has been firing blanks for a good while now.One season wonder comes to mind.The Goose and Elton the new generals by far.
16 Oct 2012, 10:48 am
@papaown-138: Because everyone is allowed many chances, LAmbie not so, he will get 5 min on the field and if he does not shine like a hallogin lamp he is said to be useless lol
16 Oct 2012, 10:50 am
@Hondo-141: Because there are 1000 demands on that contract
16 Oct 2012, 10:50 am
What about comparing Arno Botha to Keegan or Chilli boy to Burden etc… at least they are all up there
16 Oct 2012, 10:52 am
So tired of Lambie being the next messiah, he is a very talented youngster, but we have better!
16 Oct 2012, 10:53 am
@RL-137: It is still a makeshift team that are not used to playing together as a unit,
I do not however expect you to understand. you do not have the rugby accumen to do so, you just rant and rave about a player you like that plays for your team,that same player cost you team the match on the weekend.
In saying that jantjes very seldom plays that poorly, but then again why should he be afforded excuses???????? you for one always trash lambie even when he is playing brilliantly, So again does your point of view have substance?? NO
16 Oct 2012, 10:53 am
@sharks_lover-124:
I fight for black players because they don’t have enough cheerleaders on this site. Bottom line… you won’t see me fight for Lambie qha! Would’ve happily fought for Brussow/Daniel etc. if he didn’t have enough cheerleaders. Which black players have you for by the way?
If you are interested in knowing what myself and were talking about, you’ll do well to ask, cause it had nothing to do with rugby. As for me being racist, that can’t be, I have lots of white friends….
16 Oct 2012, 10:54 am
Brads #136 – Agree. Problem is HM doesn’t seem to be the type of coach who knows how to utilise different flyhaves styles and strengths as he sees fit. That is an Ozzie knack not an SA knack!!
Eddie Jones/J White were the people to be able to get the best out of our players!]
RL #131 – That was an away game. I was stressing that the Boks have always been able to have parity with the ABs for years at home with M Steyn at 10, that last game was a shocker for SA!!
16 Oct 2012, 10:55 am
@LoanShark-146: He is not the Messiah, so you dont like him so what?? we all have our choices, does it mean the kid should be trashed in here??
thats what this is about, not about his abillity etc
And actually if you kept up to speed? Goosen is the next messiah…
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.