Pat must play, Morné must rest
22 Oct 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Currie Cup semi-finals showed why Pat Lambie is ready for the Springbok flyhalf responsibility, and why the other contenders are not.
Lambie went into the 2012 Test season with plenty to prove. New Bok coach Heyneke Meyer wasn’t convinced that he had what it took to hold down a starting position. The biggest concern was Lambie’s tactical kicking accuracy and game management. Meyer felt that Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner held the edge in this department.
It was also around this time that Meyer made it clear that Morné Steyn was his preferred flyhalf. According to the Bok coach, the team would need Steyn’s composure, as well his goal- and tactical-kicking precision if they hoped to win Tests consistently.
Over the course of the season, however, Steyn has failed to display the strengths that helped the Boks win the series against the British & Irish Lions as well as the Tri-Nations in 2009. Ironically, it’s been his lack of accuracy that has cost the team matches in 2012.
Following the disappointing draw to England in Port Elizabeth, Meyer admitted that Steyn would need to find form in the subsequent Super Rugby games if the Boks were to improve. They turned out to be prophetic words, as Steyn continued to struggle over the next few months, and this had a negative impact on both the Bulls and the Boks.
When Steyn was eventually axed, Meyer explained that the flyhalf had played virtually non-stop for three years, and so he required a mental break. But only a few weeks later, Steyn was asked to lift the Bulls out of the Currie Cup relegation zone and into the play-offs.
It was a task that Steyn responded to at first. He proved instrumental in the Bulls’ crucial win over the Lions, a result that propelled the Pretorians into a semi-final against the Sharks. However, it was in this latter game where his shortcomings, both physical and mental, were again exposed.
There are many who feel that Steyn will add value on the Boks’ end-of-year tour to Europe. I have to disagree.
It’s a difficult tour where conditions prescribe a tighter and more tactical approach. Steyn’s supporters will say that he fits the bill, but my argument is that Steyn is suited to this role only in theory.
If you look at where Steyn is mentally, and how he has consistently struggled to regain his once prolific kicking accuracy, how can you even consider taking him to Europe and asking him to win three Tests in a row?
Steyn was not solely to blame for Saturday’s loss to the Sharks, but it was because of his poor kicking and game management that the Bulls battled to get out of their own half.
He’s never been known as a dirty or ill-disciplined player, and yet, he finished this game with a swinging arm that connected the face of Sharks fullback Louis Ludik.
The Bulls were about to lose, to exit the Currie Cup, and Steyn reacted badly. It’s not too much of a stretch to judge this action as a response to his seemingly endless struggles of 2012. It’s very clear that he needs a mental break from rugby.
Lambie made a massive statement with his excellent goal-kicking performance at Kings Park, as well as a fine display of game management that played a big role in the Sharks’ overwhelming territorial advantage.
Looking at the performances of both flyhalves in Durban, you’d have to say that things couldn’t have gone better for Lambie in a Bok context. Lambie rose above the pressure, while Steyn succumbed to it. On the basis of that game, it’s clear which player you’d back to win the Boks’ Tests in Europe.
The flyhalf position has been a talking point ever since Johan Goosen went down with a season-ending injury at Soccer City. Goosen is the future at No 10, but it is Lambie who can provide the Boks with another strong option. And in the modern game where the schedule is relentless and serious injuries are a reality, you need two strong options.
The other semi-final in Johannesburg also highlighted why Lambie is the best available choice. Elton Jantjies may have already played for the Boks this season, but I’m not convinced that he has the temperament, nor the skill set at this stage of his career, to handle the ultimate responsibility.
Jantjies missed three early kicks at goal, and these misses were massive in the context of a rain-affected game. Indeed, if you compare Jantjies’ misses in Johannesburg with Lambie’s early penalties in Durban, you could say that Jantjies blew a similar chance to establish early momentum, to build a commanding lead and set up a convincing win.
The sight of Jantjies being flattened by the diminutive Gio Aplon will not inspire confidence. His lack of physicality has long been considered a shortcoming, as has his defence which was exposed in that Test against the All Blacks at Soccer City.
He’s a confidence player, and only takes the ball to the gain line when he receives it on the front foot. When his forwards aren’t enjoying that sort of momentum, he slides back into the pocket.
The obvious response to this statement is: which flyhalf doesn’t?
Of all the players who have played flyhalf in recent seasons, Lambie has stood out as a player who continues to take the initiative despite the failure of his forwards. The game I’m referring to is the 2011 Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand where he played one of his better games in a Bok jersey. He responds well to that sort of pressure.
Goosen is injured. Jantjies’s is a talent that has yet to be fully developed and refined. Steyn has lost confidence and form and can’t be expected to win games for South Africa in his current guise.
And then we have Lambie, who has led the Sharks to back-to-back wins with superb all-round displays. Lambie, who in all likelihood will lead the Sharks to another Currie Cup title in Durban this Saturday. Lambie, a match-winner.
Really, it’s not a difficult call to make.
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463 Comments
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22 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@willievz-348:
I agree, but I can hope. I must say that injuries over the season have decimated our potential run on side.
22 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-340: Yes… Latent lesbianism suits me just right… Maybe you too, my girly…
Then you me can truly revel and rebuild some spicy Cape Pride together… Specially after the Sharkies manshame your Brokebacks to humility on Sat
22 Oct 2012, 13:23 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-347:
Hahahahahaha………….have you seen the movie “Gamer” and those folk that play Society
22 Oct 2012, 13:24 pm
@David-343:
Before it goes….POP…
22 Oct 2012, 13:25 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-334:
The class of person that eats at his fine establishment you wont find on KEO.
So he should be fine.
SL, relax buddy, not worth it. They want you to get upset. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
22 Oct 2012, 13:27 pm
@Fern-341: Lol… Might just do that… and then toodle on down to a proper Rugby Club just yonder of one two braais on the outer fields… And cleanse myself proper…
22 Oct 2012, 13:30 pm
@willievz-348:
They were a few cuts above the Lions last year in the final as well, remember?
What happened?
Yes, they were beaten. All the Boks in their team notwithstanding.
Prepare for a repeat on Saturday.
22 Oct 2012, 13:31 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-347: Yes… I take option C if I may… As an experienced and innovative Global Janitor I feel I am not as appreciated as I should be in my home country…
My malignment and insignificance makes me want to strike…
Viva…amaCleaner!
Phambili amaSharks
Pansi isistabani…
Viva.. amaCleaner!
22 Oct 2012, 13:32 pm
testosterone overdose. the beta males trying to mark their territory, missing the mark and pis sing on each other. nou gee dit ‘n groot gestink af
22 Oct 2012, 13:37 pm
@HG,me and some maats are going to Baz and Maputo over Dec on the Symphony cruiseliner for a long boys weekend.1 maat’s wife wanted to come along untill she heard that I was going:-)
22 Oct 2012, 13:38 pm
SL blowing gaskets already…
beeyoootiful!
22 Oct 2012, 13:43 pm
@mamma_lou-359: The picture in my minds eye of you, KeurBoom and Doggybender gets clearer every post… Thats if you girly’s aint one and the same…
Its this picture of slightly hairy legs and armpits
Frumpy skirts
slight rolls around the tummy
and ever so slight traces of hair lips…
Prime CapeDyke womanhood…
Such a pretty picture, it makes me want to cry and commiserate with you girly’s…
So much so, a sympathyshag could be in order… But I will need a couple of lagers to get the beer goggles working optimally beforehand, ‘Kay?
22 Oct 2012, 13:45 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-361:
Die ou se senuwees is nou al klaar en dis nou maar eers Maandag.
Donderdag/Vrydag se kant dan is hy heeltemal in sy moer.
22 Oct 2012, 13:46 pm
@Fern-360: Lol… Excellent… Fark her… Some tours are not for women… They must know their place…
Obviously what goes on tour stays on tour too…
22 Oct 2012, 13:46 pm
@nama1-363:
ek wag nou net vir die “BOOM!!”..
22 Oct 2012, 13:51 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-365:
Die boom is al klaar gerook.
22 Oct 2012, 13:52 pm
unrelated, but perhaps a good diversion. Did anyone wtach the goldfields story on carte blanche last night? I found it incredulous. It also seemed to implicate Ashwin Willemse as a beneficiary. I then realised that hadn’t seen him on super sport this weekend. Coincidence?
22 Oct 2012, 14:06 pm
@Heavens Game-362: The computer and the reality, says no
@pompies2-367: Yes! Very scary that. His earnings from the payout would have been massive. He, Gayton, that model chick and one other I think were in the highest earning group of beneficiaries? Insane stuff that – a bloody disgrace, and then one wonders why workers are unhappy.
22 Oct 2012, 14:10 pm
@pompies2-367:
no, but could you give me the abriged version?
in two or three sentences.
22 Oct 2012, 14:10 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-368: Yes… of course… because reality tells me that quite possibly no beer goggles in the world will work in this case…
Farken cane train might be the way forward, but its gonna be a long shot…
Other than that, I cant really help you my girly… Sorry
22 Oct 2012, 14:11 pm
@WP-Forever-366:
22 Oct 2012, 14:13 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-368:
ag nee man, ek het so baie van ashwin gehou.
say it aint so…
22 Oct 2012, 14:20 pm
Just learnt Morne has been cited !!!!
22 Oct 2012, 14:21 pm
province must play groom and schreuder at half back saturday and they run straight over the lambie child and his new bokkie elect inside pardner like they are speed bumps en route to the try line
22 Oct 2012, 14:26 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-369: has to do with goldfields getting mining rights is an “interesting manner” Somehow Ashwin was linked to the deal as a beneficiary. The whole process seemed like an invitation for Thuli to attend.
22 Oct 2012, 14:26 pm
@Rockn Rolla-373: With his clean record he will get 2 weeks at most. The first test is in 3 weeks’ time.
22 Oct 2012, 14:27 pm
@assagai-374:
You have toooo many speed bumps……as in bumps of speed !!!!!
22 Oct 2012, 14:29 pm
@Horings-376: Hiyas Horings, bad lock on saturday boet,
22 Oct 2012, 14:30 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-368: somewhere in the region of a few million apparently.
22 Oct 2012, 14:31 pm
@sharks_lover-378: Ja, what can I say. If we lost only due to bad luck I would have been a lot happier.
22 Oct 2012, 14:33 pm
@sharks_lover-378: Sharks looking good, though. Hopefully Lambie will be MotM to put pressure on Meyer.
22 Oct 2012, 14:33 pm
@Horings-380: You sayinf ref?? or poor play by the Bulls?
22 Oct 2012, 14:33 pm
@Horings-376:
What a shame…….then again if he were banned for the duration of the tour we would be seeing Tian Schoeman (The Bulls U21 Flyhalf) starting on tour
22 Oct 2012, 14:34 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-372: Ek sal wag tot die storie ten volle uitkom. Maar dit lyk nie goed so ver nie. Can’t understand why goldfields would enlist Gayton as their go-to man. Were the results guaranteed? Seems suspiciously like it was, which makes the whole application process a farce.
22 Oct 2012, 14:35 pm
@Horings-381: Thing is Horings it’s more than just Lambie thats been getting a raw deal, take you pack on saturday?? JC Stander on the bench?? you top loose forward this year,
The Sharks also have a player leaving, but they dont bench him because of it. Sykes for example is going to the KIngs as he is for some time now wanting to go back to run the family farm.
I still say BUlls have a fantastic team . it’s in the coaching where things have crashed.
22 Oct 2012, 14:39 pm
@sharks_lover-382: No, ref had absolutely nothing to do with it. Maybe a couple of decisions that went your way, others went our way. In any case if we got the decisions to go our way we would have kicked the ball to Ludik or Venter/JJ would have knocked the ball on.
Bulls were even worse than against the Crusaders earlier in the year. Luckily I did not see the Super 15 Sharks game in Durban.
22 Oct 2012, 14:51 pm
@sharks_lover-385: That is a difficult one. The CC is not the most important tournament anymore, so to not play a guy who will not feature in the Super 15 is reasonable. Arno Botha has come through quite well and CJ was picked when Arno was not available.
Coaching at the Bulls is a big problem. Our gameplan is well “documented” on keo, but the other big worry is our scrums. All of our props are penalised regularly for breaking their bind. Hougaard cannot box kick. You cannot tell me this extremely talented player cannot get this right. Kirchner’s inability to counter attack. He tried his best on Saturday to counter, but when will he decide to pass when counter attacking.
These are all issues that can be coached. I think the one thing that is uncoachable is Steyn’s attacking play and decision making.
22 Oct 2012, 14:52 pm
@pompies2-367: ashwin was there, he did the analysis for Bledisloe III
22 Oct 2012, 14:57 pm
@Horings-387: When I think of counter attacking a bad kick, some guys think of Aplon stepping through the entire team but to scan the field and know where your support runners are is the single most important thing in counter attacking. Kirchner does not need to counter himself. If the centres and other outside back are taugth to make themselves available then a good long pass infield is mostly the first option.
Leon Macdonald for example was not the best runner for NZ, but he was part of probably the best counter attacking team in NZ when he played for the Crusaders. It was because of his good decision making and the good coaching the team had.
22 Oct 2012, 14:57 pm
@Heavens Game-362:
BOOM
No not Selbourne hahaha
you’re so far wrong your pissing on yourself now lol
22 Oct 2012, 14:58 pm
@Horings-387: “The CC is not the most important tournament anymore” really?
i thought Heyneke’s mantra goes something like this: “successful Currie Cup campaigns ie winning the darn thing, are the ultimate springboard for sustained super rugby success.”
are you telling us you disagree with Meyer?
22 Oct 2012, 15:01 pm
@Horings-389: watch israel dagg, corey jane, ben foden on any given saturday for premier examples
22 Oct 2012, 15:09 pm
@Transformation-391: It is obvioulsy still important, but take the Arno Botha vs Stander situation. Arno Botha is ready to play Super 15 rugby, but CJ would probably have been the nr 1 choice. Is it better to play CJ or Botha. Obvioulsy Botha, because he will be here next year.
In any case Meyer decided to focus all his energy on the Super 12 in 2005. All the conditioning programmes for the players were redesigned for the players to peak in May. He also did not coach the Currie Cup team in 2006 and 2007. This was because the Super 12 became the most important tournament, even back then.
Currie Cup success is important because it creates a winning mentality. It is the same for the Vod Cup and junior championships.
So no, I do agree with Meyer. He thought Super rugby is more important than Currie Cup since 2005. In 2012 it is even more important to focus on the Super rugby tournament.
22 Oct 2012, 15:09 pm
@Transformation-392: Christian Cullen and Joe Roff were the best counter attackers I ever saw……Dagg is not too far beind them.
22 Oct 2012, 15:12 pm
@Transformation-392: This is why I though Lambie will be a good fullback because of his good decision making and we do not necessarily need him to make the linebreaks, but I think Lambie wants to play flyhalf so we should let him play flyhalf.
22 Oct 2012, 15:15 pm
@Horings-389:
“to scan the field and know where your support runners are is the single most important thing in counter attacking.”
I’ll slightly disagree.
The ingle most important thing to launch a succesful counter attack, is for other players to FALL BACK in support.
Not many defenses will allow a full back to advance 20m or so to where his support runners are after a kick from them.
Watch how the AB players fall back to be in a supportive position when somebody kicks on their FB or wing. When he catches the ball, there is already a player or two behind him who he can pass the ball to if needs be. Our FB has to run to his support players because everybody expects him to kick the ball therefor they don’t fall back.
22 Oct 2012, 15:16 pm
@Skeppie-394: Best counter attacking team: Crusaders of 2002. Back trio: Macdonald, Vunibaka and Caleb Ralph. We need to model that team’s counter attacking style as we have players better equipped than the 2002 Crusaders back trio. We unfortunately do not have Daggs or Cullens born every year.
22 Oct 2012, 15:16 pm
@Horings-395: Thing is Lambie is one of the few backline players we have in SA who operate well in heavy traffic. Most of our 10′s will stand deep in the pocket when it’s not on but he has the rare ability to play closer to the gain line more often and he understands space. He would be wasted at 15, he may do a goood enough job but 10 is definitely a better position for him.
22 Oct 2012, 15:16 pm
@Horings-393: “In 2012 it is even more important to focus on the Super rugby tournament.” i think you are confused, the youngsters in the current blue bulls team knows nothing about a “winning mentality” hence one would think focusing on building that mentality would be important rather than looking at super rugby with a team that hasn’t shown any BMT whatsoever.
22 Oct 2012, 15:18 pm
@pompies2-379: It’s just wrong. And I am chuffed this has been brought out in to the open.
Goldfields se ma. The PR fallout from this (now that regular folk are aware of this) will be pretty big. Internationally as well.
Evilfuckers.
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