Preview: Ireland vs Springboks
9 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks a winner of the year-end tour Test in Dublin.
The optimism among Ireland supporters appeared to be high when I first arrived in Dublin last Saturday, but I’ve since sensed a steady shift to something bordering pessimism, in light of injuries to key and experienced players. They still hope for an Ireland victory, of course, but there is none of the strong belief that had accompanied their ambition in recent meetings at Lansdowne Road.
Ireland have won three of the last four Tests in the city. Experienced and respected men among their media contingent predict that dominance will end, despite acknowledging the Springboks’ own struggles with injuries and their poor form in 2012. I think they’re right, although any Springbok victory will not be accompanied by glowing praise of the beauty of their performance.
The forecast is for cold but clear conditions at kick-off, which will assist the attacking play of both sides, not that either team is likely to thrill in their own territory. The Boks won’t veer from the kick-chase method when in their half, and they will look to put Ireland’s receivers under pressure with committed chasers. The hosts have consistently pointed to the importance of putting their primary punters – Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie and Zane Kirchner – under pressure. I don’t foresee them achieving this, with the Springboks’ pack likely to be dominant and in so doing buying the aforementioned players time to set themselves and pick their spots (they’ll target fullback Simon Zebo), whether that be up-and-unders or kicks into space.
Pat Lambie’s tactical game showed improvements in the Currie Cup, but the pressure of Test matches is incomparable and he’ll be under close scrutiny in this regard. Lambie will also be thrust further into the spotlight if the Springboks succeed in pressuring Ireland into penalties in kickable positions. He has kicked superbly of late and needs to replicate that form on the international stage. Certainly if Ireland find their attacking groove they are capable of punishing the Springboks for infringements, with Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara among the most accurate Test goal-kickers in 2012.
If Lambie wobbles with the boot the Springboks have problems. Statistically no team in the world has spent more time in the opposition’s 22m than they have this year, yet the return in terms of tries scored has been desperately poor. They have consistently conceded penalties or made handling errors when on attack in this zone. There needs to be a dramatic reduction in both counts. The Springboks simply have to be more clinical.
The Bok pack has fronted well in set and general play, even against the All Blacks, who are widely regarded to be the strongest eight in the game. They’ll be too good for the Irish, who’ll miss Paul O’Connell’s physicality and leadership and Sean O’Brein’s industry and potency at the breakdown. If Francois Louw can impose himself at breakdown time (off the back of a good gainline contest) it will further compound Ireland’s attacking struggles. I think he will, with Declan Kidney’s team not possessing enough high calibre strike runners to boss the tackle and render Louw a non-factor.
Expect parity at scrum time, while the tourists will boss the lineouts, where their rolling maul will be a massive weapon.
Overall, Ireland will be a fierce competitor but not one with the quality to take advantage of a significantly weakened Springbok side.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 10
1,019 Comments
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9 Nov 2012, 15:17 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-550: yeses, did i upset you Imi? tl tl tl
9 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
@Krit-594: so kaunda wants more black players in the team.
now!
and thats not racial?
disclaimer: to be fair a lot of what he says is right but kolisi is injured and chili is freshly back from injury (even pdv didnt select him very much).
though provoking article though.
if you arent sick to your guts of the racial agenda being pushed all day long every day.
9 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
What does “tl tl tl” mean?
9 Nov 2012, 15:20 pm
@The Rangerman-602:
At this time on a Friday all posts are restricted to four lines max
You must be the only one who read that tome right through
9 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@Dawn-604:
bored Dawnie.
i think i must hit the road.
9 Nov 2012, 15:22 pm
@kaksioek-593:
hehehe
ja, he is enjoyable at times but does suffer from the same capey one-eyed blinded bias disease.
i dont think the majority of them actually realise half the stuff they say about other players/provinces and how it sounds to others.
@Nils-595:
come on nils, i’ve seen you wet yourself for the kiwis a number of times.
you’ve had your tail up to defend them against, you looked pretty ‘martyr like’ at the time
9 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-606:
defend them against = defend them against me
9 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
@skopdiekan-563: “Gotta be a dumdum who don’t know f’all about rugby”
LOL skop on fire
9 Nov 2012, 15:23 pm
@The Rangerman-605:
I’m just so bored
9 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
@Krit-594:
well he was right about being long winded.
9 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
@The Rangerman-479: Hello Ranger.
Long time passing.How,s the diving?
9 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-606: Nah, mate, the only wet matter you could see was way closer.
9 Nov 2012, 15:28 pm
@Transformation-608:
Get your head out his arse son.
We can’t all be pro rugby bloggers neh?
9 Nov 2012, 15:29 pm
@Nils-612:
alright, if you say so.
i guess looks can be deceiving
9 Nov 2012, 15:30 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-610: kaunda is a xhosa rugby commentator on supersport, don’t know how his bosses will take this non-support for Herr Heyneke
9 Nov 2012, 15:31 pm
Can anyone explain this line to me:
“Least we forget that Heyneke stunted Chiliboy’s growth while he was in charge of the Bulls as well”
9 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@gunther-613: hayi bo, you mean i can’t giggle now?
HTFU
9 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@ryecatcher-611:
Why do you never greet me
9 Nov 2012, 15:32 pm
@Transformation-615: Dont know which is worse…
White Nazis
or
Black Nazis
Supremacy is colour blind?
9 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
@Transformation-615:
fark, who doesn’t have something kak to say about the coach these days.
besides, springbok rugby is not a totalitarian dictatorship… that would be the nzru
9 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
Gigglings about right.
Sorry if I hurt your feelings about the fence sitting thing.
It was unkind.
Airport calls have a great weekend all.
Go ProteaBoks.
9 Nov 2012, 15:35 pm
@Horings-616: he converted that vuilgat derrick kuun from flank to hooker instead of backing chili…that’s what i reckon he means
9 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
@Heavens Game-619: where are they?
9 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
@Heavens Game-619:
Done skommeling?
9 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-620: tl tl tl touche’
9 Nov 2012, 15:37 pm
@gunther-621: no hurt caused, now calm yourself
9 Nov 2012, 15:40 pm
@Dawn-624:
I’m not saying she’s a s.lut but whenever she eats a banana in public, she puts one hand behind her head…
9 Nov 2012, 15:42 pm
@Heavens Game-627:
Self-righteousness is the most shameless s.lut of all.
9 Nov 2012, 15:44 pm
@Transformation-622: So while Chilliboy was injured from 2006-2008 Heyneke should have waited for Ralepelle to recover from his numerous injuries and not make any other plans.
Kuun played at flank until Meyer left the Bulls, although he indicated that Kuun will convert to hooker. It was only in 2009 when Ralepele started to play regularly and that is two years after Meyer left.
I also remember Meyer being highly critical of White when he picked Ralepelle to captain a Bok team at age 20 against the World XV/ Barbarians. I think this whole experience Meyer had was influential in him keeping Kolisi back.
9 Nov 2012, 15:45 pm
@Transformation-622:
nonsense, kuun played at hooker in 2009 only and played half of the super 14 final before being replaced by chlli.
in 2010 he played at flank while botha, maku and chilli were the hookers.
also, in 2009 chilli replaced him at about the 50 minute mark in almost every game.
9 Nov 2012, 15:46 pm
@Heavens Game-628: Some women will spread a lie faster and wider than they’d spread their legs. These women are worse than wh.ores. These women are politicians.
9 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
@Horings-629:
check your facts, one of us has to be off a little.
9 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
Hey Bakkies: Knock, knock.
9 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
@Heavens Game-631: Wh.ores.
Necessary in the nineteenth century for the contraction of syphilis, without which no one could claim genius.
9 Nov 2012, 15:48 pm
@Heavens Game-631:
and exactly which part of the bible is that from..?
9 Nov 2012, 15:49 pm
@Dawn-618: Hi Dawn.Sorry.Hope you are well.Going to Firearms ths evening.?In my youth there was a place
called”the Navigators Den”Very popular with harlots,sailors and myself.
Same vicinity as Firemans (Mechau Street??)Off street,downstairs,great
atmosphere.
Keep in touch and keep talking.Regrds
9 Nov 2012, 15:49 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-633:
who’s there?
9 Nov 2012, 15:49 pm
@Horings-629: “I think this whole experience Meyer had was influential in him keeping Kolisi back.” a bit of rubbish when you consider that marcell, eben, tautre ostensibly don’t need to be held back
9 Nov 2012, 15:49 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-637: Brumbies
9 Nov 2012, 15:50 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-630: let me find out what kaunda meant then..
9 Nov 2012, 15:50 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-635: What men desire is a virgin who is a wh.ore.
9 Nov 2012, 15:50 pm
@Heavens Game-631:
And you are a pervert
9 Nov 2012, 15:51 pm
@Heavens Game-641: Let them call me rebel, and welcome; I feel no concern from it. For I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a wh.ore of my soul.
9 Nov 2012, 15:51 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-630:
well also 2008 but chilli was injured for most that year if i remember.
9 Nov 2012, 15:52 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-639:
brumbies who?
9 Nov 2012, 15:53 pm
@Heavens Game-643: The trouble with my wife is that she is a wh.ore in the kitchen and a cook in bed
9 Nov 2012, 15:54 pm
@Transformation-640:
yes, also kuun played at hooker with maku and james vd walt i think, but chilli was injured.
9 Nov 2012, 15:55 pm
@Heavens Game-646: God knows people who are paid to have attitudes toward things, professional critics, make me sick; camp following e.unuchs of literature. They won’t even wh.ore. They’re all virtuous and sterile. And how well meaning and high minded. But they’re all camp followers.”
9 Nov 2012, 15:55 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-647:
2008
9 Nov 2012, 15:55 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-645: “BrumbiesBoy”… you do*s!!!
Sorry, but it’s Friday afternoon and I’m tired…
Have a good weekend all & enjoy the rugby.
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