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, 13:02 pm
Probably need more depth at 10 too.
Cilliers and Jantjies would have been great drafts.
16 Oct 2012, 13:03 pm
Pienaar too.
16 Oct 2012, 13:05 pm
Transie sugeza maaaaan, ndiya yazi uba nithetha ngeli gusha lenu????.????
16 Oct 2012, 13:05 pm
Transie sugeza maaaaan, ndiya yazi uba nithetha ngeli gusha lenu????.????
16 Oct 2012, 13:06 pm
Funny thing is most (WP/Bulls) fans agree Lambie’s a quality player.
But Sharks want us to believe he’s brilliant, being undermined and that Butch is just as good as Jantjies but Lambie is just a bit more brilliant then any other guy playing in a 10 shirt in RSA.
GTFOH
16 Oct 2012, 13:07 pm
@Transformation-248: What a joke. Next he’ll be washing people’s feet. I don’t buy this sentimental Oprah-style media repenting. He had his chance to come clean and say sorry during the trial. That’s when it really counts.
16 Oct 2012, 13:13 pm
Transie, eSoccer City, bendi thukwa ngama bhulu pha ngoba bendinxibe I-jersey emnyama! Kubi pha chap, ezinye iboys zakwitshana, iyimess.
16 Oct 2012, 13:28 pm
@mpundulu-257:
I’ve missed you pundie.
You’ve been scarce ever since you said the ANC would never give Bra Julius the boot and that white white people didn’t understand the dynamic.
How have you been?
16 Oct 2012, 13:31 pm
@puff-249: And out of those three I reckon only Herbst has a bright future.
16 Oct 2012, 13:35 pm
@Skeppie-259: SO far agreed although Redelinghuys very young, BUt Chadwick keeps dissapointing.
16 Oct 2012, 13:38 pm
@gunther-258: Hiyas Gunts, Good luck for Saturday boet, gonna be a very tough match,
Of course i am hoping my Sharks kick butt, But eish eish it’s the Bulls, LOL
So as much as a wanna Say Sharks to win i know over confidencce aint good, Bulls know how to play knock out matches, it’s in their genes.
May the best team win…
16 Oct 2012, 13:40 pm
@gunther-258: Organising his “tender” for the catering for Mangaung.
Lots of planning goes into such a thing.
Hopefully the information bill will be implemented soon.
16 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@sharks_lover-260: Yeah Chadwick has dissapointed. Not too bad in first phase but his defence and carrying is not the best
16 Oct 2012, 13:42 pm
@sharks_lover-261:
Hiyas bro^5.
@stormersboy-262:
I thought Pundie was one of these VIP banker nobbies?
oh well where there’s a will there’s a way.
16 Oct 2012, 13:44 pm
@Skeppie-263: Yeah and extremely slow
16 Oct 2012, 13:44 pm
@gunther-264: VIP Banker nobbies?, what the hell is that?
16 Oct 2012, 13:45 pm
@mpundulu-257: uthini na apha kum? awungomntu wokuqala ukundibalisela ngalo mba, kuthiwa bekunzinyana pha ukuba unxibe ezimnyama!
wena usinde kanjani bangakongameli?
16 Oct 2012, 13:46 pm
Meanwhile while jub jub is getting his supply of KY gel I see that the Lions have made 11 changes to the team that lost to the Bullies. Now some fat guppy with obvious enmity towards Elton will say that it was he that lost the game and not the B team.
Pfffffft dulictioud Guppies.
16 Oct 2012, 13:47 pm
@gunther-264: The company is owned by a relative……
16 Oct 2012, 13:47 pm
@XhosaKid-266:
easy now he’s not in the chequebook delivery business like you.
which reminds me i haven’t received my new card yet.
Mrs Gunther will be very naar if Gucci knock her old one back because of your tardiness.
16 Oct 2012, 13:48 pm
@Transformation-267: Fellas, ndilwa namadlagusha everyday but andisoze ndinxibe ezimnyama against the Boks, NZ is a country, not a team, I just don’t get it?
16 Oct 2012, 13:49 pm
@stormersboy-269:
you know Pundie?
has he explained the dynamic to you?
16 Oct 2012, 13:50 pm
@gunther-270: LOL!!!,
, you are an itiyot
16 Oct 2012, 13:52 pm
@RL-268: Hawu RL why so much anger towards the famous sharks? A tad bit green that side?
16 Oct 2012, 13:53 pm
@gunther-258: Speaking of the carpenter savant, I see he’s been nailing all sorts of sht to the mast at a lavish wedding in Zim. http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/malema-zim-is-an-inspiration-to-africa-1.1403740
16 Oct 2012, 13:54 pm
@gunther-272: Yes he has but I never seem to get it.
16 Oct 2012, 13:56 pm
Xhosakid: le chap inguMpundulu yaseTsomo yafakwa lixhego layo lomoya yokungalithandi eliqela leziTsibabhokhwe ngelaxesha lengcinezelo…
mna nawe ke mhlekazi sikhule kumakhaya ohlukileyo kwelakhe ndisitsho nje nam ayikho into eyakhe yathi mandipavele ezinkewu zaseNZ.
16 Oct 2012, 14:01 pm
@stormersboy-276: HIyas M
16 Oct 2012, 14:02 pm
@David-101:
100% correct.
16 Oct 2012, 14:03 pm
@sharks_lover-278: Hey fella. Howzit?
Your jersey still fit? I’ll be on the lookout for you in the stands on Saturday!
16 Oct 2012, 14:03 pm
@Skeppie-274: Ignore it, he like a few others have to insult the Sharks to make them feel like men and make them feel good about themselves.
16 Oct 2012, 14:04 pm
@stormersboy-280:
fits kust fine thanks, lol actually i lost around 12 kg’s so jersey even better 
16 Oct 2012, 14:05 pm
@stormersboy-280: Seems like weather not gonna be good come Saturday, Bulls better bring their snorkles etc lol
16 Oct 2012, 14:07 pm
@sharks_lover-282: Good on you! You could even fit into that Stormers jersey you had a while back!
16 Oct 2012, 14:08 pm
@sharks_lover-283: ja despite the weather looking bleak last week the game turned out ok, from a viewers perspective~
16 Oct 2012, 14:09 pm
Here is an interesting article
Interesting take on SARU by Greame Joffe. He has decided to take them on head-on and whilst one admires his firm stance and his irrevocable support of the Lions, everybody does not share his vision and / or his clear Lions based bias. What I do agree with is that we all need better answers from SARU regarding the whole situation!
Here’s what he has to say:
I fully understand that the Lions/Kings Super Rugby saga has been flogged to death, but the sooner SA Rugby can answer the questions posed in previous columns, the sooner the issue can be put to bed.
The rugby public has a right to know the truth.
I received an email from Andy Colquhoun (GM Corporate Affairs and Strategic Communications Manager at SA Rugby) last week, which I thought would answer some of the questions, but unfortunately his response was not for quoting.
I replied saying that I find it rather strange that you object to my remark about SARU “taking the fifth amendment when the questions get tough”, yet you invoke it by stating that your response is not for quoting.
Andy’s response was that it is for the CEO or president to be quoted on these matters, not himself. But I can forward questions to him and he shall arrange to have them answered.
Hmmmmmmm…
Not sure why he then replied to me in the first place with an email which got a “thanks Andy” from SARU president Oregan Hoskins.
Anyway, I have forwarded the following questions and await a response from CEO or president of SA Rugby.
1. On January 31, 2012 – did the unions vote in favour of a proposal that the bottom team in 2012 be relegated and appear in a promotion playoff at the end of the 2013 campaign OR did they vote for the Kings inclusion, not at the expense of another SA union?
2. What else did SARU put on the table?
3. Why was the onus on the Unions to come up with a solution – when in fact SARU put the cart before the horse with a “16th” franchise?
4. Did SARU and Jurie Roux not say “no other SA team would fall out of the Super Rugby for the Kings inclusion in 2013”?
5. What changed?
6. Were any of the Unions that voted the Lions out promised any incentives from SARU ie Test matches, money?
7. How much money has SARU put into the Kings since becoming a shareholder?
8. Is SARU compensating the Lions and their fans in any way?
9. Is SARU taking any disciplinary action against Mark Keohane or the Kings for being an unaccredited agent/manager of Luke Watson?
10. Why is the onus on the provinces to confirm that an agent acting for a player is properly accredited? Surely, the onus is on SARU?
11. Why did SARU not look at including the Kings in the Currie Cup 3-4 years ago?
12. Was there any government intervention in the Kings decision?
13. Is the government and SARU involved in a sec 21 company to assist with growing talent in the Eastern Cape?
14. What dates will the Super Rugby promotion/relegation playoff be next year and the format?
15. If Kings finish in the relegation spot, will the goalposts be moved again?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it seems as if SASCOC and their CEO, Tubby Reddy is still clocking up the air miles. In his latest SASCOC column, he says: “I am currently in China for debriefing with Team South Africa’s kit supplier, Erke.”
So, you telling me during Tubby’s month long stay in London for the Olympics and Paralympics, he wasn’t able to have a debrief with Erke officials? No, rather spend more public money to go to China (business class of course) for another holiday and I just wonder how many SASCOC officials or family members have gone with him this time?
Yet, SA swimmers are told to pay for part of the costs if they want to go to the FINA World Short Course Championships in Turkey later this year.
Where is the SASCOC police?
Are they also hiding behind bus stops and bushes trying to catch drivers on their cell phones for a little extra Xmas pudding?
In April this year, the Sunday Times were made aware of the SASCOC abuse of funds and I was told by the editor that week that they were about to blow the lid on all of the abuse but they were just waiting for one more piece of information regarding Tubby and co’s travels to a volleyball meeting in Africa.
Five months later and still no SASCOC abuse of funds story in the Sunday Times.
I have repeatedly emailed the editor and also left messages for editor-in-chief, Ray Hartley but got no reply from either.
Last week Tuesday, the Daily Dispatch, a member of the AVUSA group (the same as the Sunday Times) published a story about the abuse of funding in the sports ministry and spending on the Olympics.
Two days later, the Daily Dispatch issues a retraction and apology, saying the report included inaccurate facts and analysis.
Hmmmmmmm…
Back at the other ranch, sports minister Fikile Mbalula has been engaged in a war of words with suspended Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola for calling him an apartheid-style minister.
Mr Mbalula said, “we want to place on record that we stand by our decision to intervene in Cricket SA when we received alleged reports of mismanagement, fraud and dereliction of duty.”
Mr Minister, how much more do you need to receive re: SASCOC before you call for an independent inquiry?
16 Oct 2012, 14:09 pm
@katman-275:
he’s a beauty.
I see a lot of Pundie in him.
@sharks_lover-282:
12 kgs?
that’s like one of keegan daniels legs.
I hope you are being sensible.
16 Oct 2012, 14:11 pm
@katman-245:
It has been a while; the last time I was here you’d just had the first (a boy, I think).
Myself, I’ll probably skip the family and become a professional opinion flip-flopper on a small yet vociferous blog staffed by illiterates and dwarves.
It’s a compromise, but so it goes.
16 Oct 2012, 14:15 pm
@sharks_lover-282: how did you lose a whopping 12 kays sharkie, diet?
16 Oct 2012, 14:15 pm
@stormersboy-285: True bro, but i am worried about Saturdays match,If there is a bad part of the Sharks game it is consistancy, and infaCT friday they surprised me because it is usually against the so called weaker teams that they tend to lose concentration.
The Bulls for example will destroy a team 90-3
The Sharks will be 40-3 up then go to sleep and win 55-9 or something like that, it’s that killer instinct which sometimes lacks.
For me i have no doubt in my teams abilities and to play the kind of rugby we have seen of late, ,y worry is will our players be mentally prepared in full?? We know the Bulls are going to come try Bully us upfront, we know their game plan, we know they will be trying to set up driving maul aafter driving maul.
NOw if we allow them to niggle us and bully us upfront?? we in trouble, if we keep our minds on the play and dont fall into the niggle trap?? then yes i have no doubt the Sharks should win the match.
And by biggle and Bully i am not saying they are going to play dirty, Fact though is we have so many aces up our sleeves but when the mind is not prepared even that is not enough.
16 Oct 2012, 14:15 pm
@gunther-287: Either he lost a leg or he lost a 2 year old offspring.
16 Oct 2012, 14:15 pm
@transformation-277:
Le chap iyayiqonda phofu iNZ le iyopavelayo yayi ngenye yamaqele abangela ba amadlagusha aqhubekeke ngokucing’ba umbhoxo yobola yabo kuphela? Ifuna ukhunjuzwa ba le NZ yayo yavuma ba kushiyeke abantu bayo abantsundu ngasemva, to please lamabhulu. As much as ndiwuthanda umdlalo wayo, soze undibone ndipavela iNZ idlala neSA, ubomi. Perhaps, mhla yaze yaba nomdlali onesduko…. According to my uncle though, uNonu nguMpandla.
16 Oct 2012, 14:16 pm
@Transformation-289: Unrefrigerated week-old bunny chow?
16 Oct 2012, 14:16 pm
@gunther-287:
FO hehehe
16 Oct 2012, 14:17 pm
@katman-293:
Katman , Eish talk about a decent bunny chow? aint had one in years
16 Oct 2012, 14:18 pm
@gunther-287: indeed
…12 kg off 150kg still leaves a lot of Sharkie though
16 Oct 2012, 14:19 pm
@stormersboy-284: No man bud, no way is Sharks_Lover ever going to wear a Stormer jersey.. Black and White forever… that is it…
16 Oct 2012, 14:19 pm
@Transformation-296: Gaan borsel jou tande jy praat weer KAK
16 Oct 2012, 14:21 pm
@Transformation-296: Of which 45kg’s is hot air?
16 Oct 2012, 14:21 pm
@mxhosa-292: hahahahahahaha lesser of two evils i guess.
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