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, 09:51 am
Both Christian Cullen and Anton Oliver portrayed Mitchell in the most unflattering light in their respective biographies – presenting a man who beneath the bluster and macho veneer was riddled with hang-ups and insecurities.
According to Oliver and Cullen, Mitchell promoted a binge drinking culture, enjoyed ritually humiliating those who hadn’t performed and was generally ‘old school’ in thought, word and deed.
Add to this he has the record for the most defeats in Super Rugby with his time at the Force and then took take that record further with the Lions haha.
And some okes on this site were calling for him to coach the Boks after he won a Currie Cup in a World Cup year hahahaa.
hahahahaaa a
9 Nov 2012, 09:51 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-148: A person that doesn’t appreciate ‘hard love’, isn’t necessarily ‘weak’. He or she just responds/reacts better to stimuli that is more positive in nature.
9 Nov 2012, 09:51 am
yes i did transformation…. proof that white people in sa can also play soccer… there should be more white players in bafana bafana
9 Nov 2012, 09:51 am
@Transformation-136: Oh, lots of pleasure believe you me. No meddling politicians who know sweet f-all about sport interfering in things that do not concern them.
That’s not when they’ve got their snouts in the trough though.
9 Nov 2012, 09:53 am
@BrumbiesBoy-154: Sorry, should read “That’s when they’ve not…”
9 Nov 2012, 09:57 am
Sexton, earls, d’arcy?
So when Jdj sees this lineup and hears HM talk about ‘bigger’ players, how must he feel(no ho-mo)?
Its no wonder this shittball called steroids continues to roll downhill gathering momentum in rugby.
9 Nov 2012, 09:59 am
yes, just look at how big Lance Amstrong got by using steroids pffff
9 Nov 2012, 10:00 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-149: Thing is, he’s had his chances to “learn” from his mistakes and doesn’t seem to have been able to,
9 Nov 2012, 10:01 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-152:
Happy to see you survived the Linkin Park concert.
9 Nov 2012, 10:03 am
@Transformation-139:
Computer says no.
9 Nov 2012, 10:04 am
How funny (and frustrating) it will be when Earls ghosts past “Statue) Taute.
9 Nov 2012, 10:04 am
@suffer_guy-157: I’m going to give you a few hours to go and do some research on Doping in sport (the various disciplines/the various doping agents etc). When you return, you might not look so stooooooooooooopid.
9 Nov 2012, 10:07 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-162: Yes, was about to chip in on that one but you seem to be doing Ok?
You also go to Linkin Park?
9 Nov 2012, 10:09 am
@Jeraldjay-159: We only heard about the incident quite a while after it had happened, but I can tell you about the wind…….before and during.
Very tragic.
Linkin Park are the bizness though…..always have been, always will be
Next up for me RHCP. (No Gaga….that’s for sure)
9 Nov 2012, 10:09 am
@suffer_guy-157:
Let me guess.
You fell into the cauldron when you were a baby?
9 Nov 2012, 10:11 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-152:
REKENAAR SE NEE !
9 Nov 2012, 10:13 am
@BrumbiesBoy-154: but you are saffa!
9 Nov 2012, 10:13 am
@wp_boytjie-151:
exaclty,
i would never have let him near the bok setup.
9 Nov 2012, 10:15 am
@fishdish-156: dude, paddy wallace is 1.81m 83kg
9 Nov 2012, 10:17 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-164:
Yes very tragic and could have happened to anyone.
The victims husband is taking legal action against the City of Cape Town and Big Concerts.
They claim to have all their paperwork in order (engineering certificates) so we have to wait and see what happens.
Yes, I also have my Chilli Peppers tickets. Cant miss that one.
9 Nov 2012, 10:19 am
Jeraldjay, sad thing is, she was dying to see linkin park and it never happened – see what i dd there?
9 Nov 2012, 10:20 am
@stormersboy-163: Hell yes
I have the bruises (that will teach me not to mix it up with the ‘emo kids’ next time), zero voice, still ringing ears and photos to prove it.
The wind just about screwed it up massively though.
The Jhb gig is going to be huge, no wind to move equipment round, fuckup sound etc.
9 Nov 2012, 10:21 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog poo-171: Areyouoncrack? If so – have another dose.
9 Nov 2012, 10:23 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog poo-171:
I heard the ETV sports guy tweeted that “she was dying to see Linkin Park” and is currently in big sh*t, even after apologising.
9 Nov 2012, 10:23 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-172: Ja was intense. The crowd was great too though.
9 Nov 2012, 10:24 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog poo-171:
Who the feck are you
You scheme you funny?
9 Nov 2012, 10:25 am
@Jeraldjay-170: They quite literally threw caution to the wind IMHO. After earlier gusts clocked hellknows how many km’s per hour, caution should have been their watchword.
Act of God though – for insurance purposes?
9 Nov 2012, 10:25 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-173:
Oops the nic thief caught me off guard.
******……
9 Nov 2012, 10:26 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog poo-171:
No-one’s laughing feckface
9 Nov 2012, 10:26 am
just don’t trust these energy drinks. First a “Monster” killed a kill in Britain and now Lucozade!
9 Nov 2012, 10:26 am
Linkin sminkin.
Lets get Barry Mannilow out here.
Her name was Lola…
9 Nov 2012, 10:28 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-177:
That won’t happen.
The wind was nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year .
9 Nov 2012, 10:29 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-177: This is going to be one long chain of pass the buck.
The fact is, scaffolding like that is safe in high winds. The problem comes in when you wrap a banner around it, basically creating a sail, which in that wind was always going to stress the structure’s stability.
So the fault lies in some PR person not having the sense to see that this is going to be dangerous and not taking the banner down IMO.
Either way it doesn’t bring her back, so help those hurt, some quite seriously from what I have read.
9 Nov 2012, 10:30 am
@Jeraldjay-170:
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-164:
What about Jon Bon Jovi ? You guys going to watch?
I see old Sugarman Rodriques is also playing Grand West next year.
The old man is still kicking- about 100 years old, lol.
http://youtu.be/3oYwMBHI39g
9 Nov 2012, 10:31 am
@Jeraldjay-178: I seem to have given birth to a rather imbalanced child…..
Well you know what they say about imitation.
@gunther-181: Why do I get the feeling you might have been at the Engelbert Humperdink opskop earlier in the year?
9 Nov 2012, 10:33 am
Quando quando quando…..
9 Nov 2012, 10:34 am
@Robzim-184:
I’ll give Bon Jovi a miss.
Rodriques I wouldn’t miss for anything.
9 Nov 2012, 10:34 am
@gunther-186:
Copacabana…
9 Nov 2012, 10:37 am
Who can forget Josh Sithole bashing out Rodriques at the Heidelberg.
9 Nov 2012, 10:39 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-185:
I’m thinking of starting a topless carwash on the Camps bay strip.
Are you available?
9 Nov 2012, 10:39 am
@gunther-189: Good times.
9 Nov 2012, 10:39 am
@gunther-182: @stormersboy-183: I do think someone is going to pay though….. I heard that Lucozade removed their banners immediately after the ‘tower’ collapsed…..trying to save some PR face.
To me though, the incident could have been avoided…somewhere in the ‘hours/minutes/seconds to disaster’ chain, someone slipped up.
Utterly tragic
@Robzim-184: Oh helllllllllllllllllllllll yes. Their songs were the anthems of my youth. I have seen them perform before, 1995 (eish), and I will be there to see them again.
9 Nov 2012, 10:44 am
@gunther-190: If you can afford me….
*I was always a little underage at the Heidelberg, Pig n Whistle, and what was the name of the brilliant place in Obs, on the corner? Sunday nights rocked there as well…….Anyone?
9 Nov 2012, 10:45 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-193:
Heidelberg.
9 Nov 2012, 10:46 am
Rodriques is quite an interesting guy. After his success he went into hiding and was a petrol/gas attendant for a while.
They don’t make acid like they use to…..
9 Nov 2012, 10:47 am
rumble in the jungle…
http://www.grassrootsrugby.co.za/
9 Nov 2012, 10:48 am
@gunther-194: No… the other place. C’mon. Used to be a hotel I think…..On the Main Road left side, as you head towards CT.
9 Nov 2012, 10:48 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-197: Smileys?
9 Nov 2012, 10:52 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-192:
yes, its the old ‘for want of a nail’ proverb at play.
and (to quote the clever people on the interwebs):
‘describes a situation where permitting some small undesirable situation will allow gradual and inexorable worsening. The rhyme is thus a good illustration of the “butterfly effect”, and ideas presented in chaos theory, involving sensitive dependence on initial conditions; the initial condition being the presence or absence of the horseshoe nail.’
all it needed was for someone down the bottom of the chain to speak up and ponit out the seemingly small dysfunction with the view to it being very likely of causing the eventual much larger outcome.
9 Nov 2012, 10:54 am
@stormersboy-198: Sheeez, **blushing**, now you’re asking me…. I remember the ‘nightclub’ in Rondebosh, Rita’s? (I think), 2nd floor Main Road building opposite the good shawarma place…..
Then The Heidelberg was the cozy inimate ‘get hammered’ place with Josh the magical music man.
Then this other place….damn, there was a sort of upper level in the place as well, also full of students…
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