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, 15:47 pm
@Puma-394: And that’s why you need to bench Keegan. Because you HAVE the ‘made for wet weather big boys’ back.
16 Oct 2012, 15:47 pm
@katman-378: Richie just told him he couldn’t have beers with them after the game
16 Oct 2012, 15:48 pm
@sharks_lover-393: Good team. I like that loose trio. Also somehow think Alberts will be on the bench. Great to have PSDT back too and also Sykes if he is fit. Though if Odwa is out injured I think Plum just might go with Viljoen at the back and play Ludik on the wing like he done against Stormers. Viljoen, Ludik and JPP very good under the high ball, better than Mvovo. Then sometimes Mvovo does well under the high ball too, so just have to see who Plum selects.
Just hope no injuries, especially if we make it to the final. Also eoyt coming up for some.
Okay back later. Cheers bro.
16 Oct 2012, 15:50 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-401: I know just don’t think Plum would drop Keegan to the bench, also he played great against against your team in very wet conditions…
Okay out of here. Catch up later.
16 Oct 2012, 15:55 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-395: No I would not want Viljoen for this game at the back, but just saying Plum might play him there with Ludik on the wing like he done against Stormers in the semi. At the time thought he was crazy, but it was a master move. It worked well. Viljoen that day in the wind was great. In the wet he has too much handling errors.
Okay now really out of here.
16 Oct 2012, 16:01 pm
lambie’s truest test
doesn’t that just say it all
who’s living in who’s head..?…
morne and the bulls own your thoughts
16 Oct 2012, 16:09 pm
What’s the difference between Big Foot and an intelligent Bulls fan?
Big Foot’s been spotted several times.
16 Oct 2012, 16:11 pm
i see its not just lawrence but THREE KIWI REFS in total who are out of rugby for good.
fark
i just might reconsider my boycott of super rugby next season
if the ref are at least honest in their approach it goes a long way towards levelling the kiwi teams cheating.
16 Oct 2012, 16:12 pm
@JAWESOME-407:
16 Oct 2012, 16:31 pm
Gunther, I’m too scared of mangaung, so no catering there. Remember, there was a crazy chick on keo prior and during the WC who kept harping on about Julius leading a genocide against all whites? Lol
16 Oct 2012, 16:32 pm
Madoda, yitoni ngoku, Transie kutheni ingathi unyana wakho akandithandi! Thetha naye chap.
16 Oct 2012, 16:36 pm
EP Kings: 15 SP Marais, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Wayne Stevens (captain), 12 Shane Gates, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 David Bullbring, 4 Reynier Bernardo, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Andre Schlechter, 18 Wayne van Heerden, 19 Mpho Mbiyozo, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Michael Killian.
16 Oct 2012, 16:40 pm
@The very reverend J. Jones-397: Job’s good as yours. I’ll also put in a word with the wee fella.
16 Oct 2012, 16:40 pm
@Atreides-402:
16 Oct 2012, 16:45 pm
Bullbring? Solid surname
Engels the old Bulls player and Falie from OFS.
Go Kings!
16 Oct 2012, 16:48 pm
@mpundulu-410:
ja pundie.
there are lots of crazy chicks on keo.
so my people are safe from you?
16 Oct 2012, 16:49 pm
@grant10-412: Killian on the bench when he was sometimes a regular with the Lions? Either Alan doesn’t rate him as highly as the Lions or he has better players
16 Oct 2012, 16:54 pm
Gunther, I’m not sure if they are safe mate, I’ll speak to my people and get a sense of what’s what on the ground.
16 Oct 2012, 16:55 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-408: The conspiracy goes deeper than that and you know it. Even Joubert was in the pocket of the Kiwis at the world cup, he’s probably retiring at the end of the year courtesy of a cash injection from AIG. And don’t even mention Drunk Walsh becoming an Aussie so that he can eventually start reffing NZ vs SA games.
Continue your boycott and stop watching any games involving NZ teams, coaches, refs, players. So I guess that means just Currie Cup and Bulls/Cheetahs/Stormers games for you
16 Oct 2012, 16:56 pm
@mpundulu-411: ngowuphi lowo?
16 Oct 2012, 16:58 pm
@mikeybrass-417: I think Killian just coming back from an injury? Transie will know…
16 Oct 2012, 16:59 pm
@gunther-416: he is talking about Helen…
16 Oct 2012, 16:59 pm
@grant10-421: I like Killian. Thought I’d wind up RL who is easier than a 5 week kitten with a string of wool and currently tighter than Madonna’s g-string
16 Oct 2012, 17:00 pm
@mikeybrass-417: just coming back from injury…
16 Oct 2012, 17:00 pm
@RL-201:
You do know that everytime you type “guppy” God kills a puppy
16 Oct 2012, 17:02 pm
chops chutney at the britannia.
thats the ticket.
16 Oct 2012, 17:02 pm
@grant10-412:
Thought Killian was the Lions answer to Drew Mitchell, now collecting splinters in PE
16 Oct 2012, 17:04 pm
@Rockn Rolla-425:
Bono: For every time I clap my hands, a child somewhere in Africa dies.
Man in crowd: Well fookin stop doin it then, ya evil *******.
16 Oct 2012, 17:06 pm
@Transformation-424: A player I have always enjoyed watching. Solomon will bring out the best in him. He has the knack of making ordinary players play well.
16 Oct 2012, 17:07 pm
@mpundulu-418:
shot for that.
there aren’t many of us left.
be a shame to lose any more .
16 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm
@katman-428:
That a complete display of “God Syndrome” from the short-*** Irishman, not so?
very full of himself indeed
16 Oct 2012, 17:15 pm
@Rockn Rolla-431: Indeed. I reckon even the Edge cringes at the sht he says.
16 Oct 2012, 17:18 pm
@Transformation-422:
I miss her.
16 Oct 2012, 17:21 pm
@gonzo-419:
joke all you want gonzo…. its still true….
16 Oct 2012, 17:22 pm
@gunther-433:
Maybe she finally succumbed to exsanguination.
16 Oct 2012, 17:22 pm
@katman-432:
LOL you can hear the Edge cringe by the way he plays when Bono speaks off on tandem, you hear all that aggravated strumming
16 Oct 2012, 17:26 pm
Lambie has his chance to show his class, once again. He has shown it enough times, and is rated by most rugby kenners around the world. It is just the neanderthals that think you also have to be butt-ugly to be a good rugby player in SA. If he had big ears and a sloping forehead he would have been first choice bok flyhalf ages ago…
16 Oct 2012, 17:26 pm
@Rockn Rolla-427: Killian is well and truly an Oupa – he is on the retirement package.
16 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm
@mako-437: oi man – is it true or is it not true. Did you sign for the Kings?
16 Oct 2012, 17:32 pm
Transie ndithetha ngomxhosa kodwa unyansile kathi uNonu ngum Mpandla.
16 Oct 2012, 17:34 pm
Gunther there were never many of you but we certainly don’t want to lose anymore of you to London or Perth. You are our guys.
16 Oct 2012, 17:35 pm
@WP-Forever-435:
indeed.
you never miss a period until it’s gone.
16 Oct 2012, 17:36 pm
@mpundulu-441:
howdy pundi, how goes it in the friends of the youth league?
16 Oct 2012, 17:37 pm
What the hell ever happened to Helen? After she talked all that mess about the ABs before the WC, she belted, crazy chick. Gunther get her back chum.
16 Oct 2012, 17:37 pm
@rangerman-443:
You don’t get the dynamic.
16 Oct 2012, 17:38 pm
@WP-Forever-445: i know.
its my burden really.
but my sources tell me juju is going to the slammer for a looooooong time.
16 Oct 2012, 17:39 pm
@mako-437:
A Bluff couple — Tyronne and Rebecca Richards both bona fide rednecks, had 4 children.
They went to the doctor to see about getting Tyronne “fixed.” The doctor gladly started the required procedure and asked them what finally made them make the decision. Why, after 4 children, would they choose to do this?
Tyronne replied that they had read in a recent article that 1 out of every 5 people in this country are Blue Bulls, and they didn’t want to take a chance on having a Blue Bulls baby,
16 Oct 2012, 17:40 pm
@phil72-447: uhm, i know i said you were a loveable idiot but i retract the loveable part after that sad attempt.
up your game, i will give you one more chance.
16 Oct 2012, 17:42 pm
not so good at translating the voice in your head are you?
16 Oct 2012, 17:45 pm
@rangerman-446:
Indeed.
He can take up woodworking again.
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