Boks prosper when sticking to strengths
10 Nov 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes a marked improvement at the gain line and in their kicking game allowed the Springboks to bounce back in the second half and ultimately steal another win in Dublin.
JP Pietersen couldn’t have picked a less opportune moment to impede.
The Boks were trailing by nine points with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. All the momentum was with the Irish at that instant, and had the hosts managed to cash in during that period of numerical advantage, the Boks may not have been able to recover in the second stanza.
But recover they did. First they survived the period of sanction without conceding a single point. Then they punished the hosts when Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip was sin-binned to the tune of 10 points, a purple patch of scoring that allowed them to take the lead as well as the initiative.
These were game-shaping moments, and the Boks played them best.
The question is how? How exactly did the Boks hit back? And how does the success of the second half put the nightmare of the first into perspective?
The Boks battled to get into the game during the first half. Their kicking game was off point and their physicality at the gain line was woefully below par.
For whatever reason, they opted to counter-attack on several occasions from deep within their own territory. They also called for complicated set-piece moves despite the fact that they were fielding an inexperienced backline combination.
These are decisions that played into the hands of a depleted, yet well-prepared, Ireland unit.
The Irish have been playing under the new ‘crouch-touch-set’ scrum calls since the beginning of the European season, and this showed as they enjoyed success at the scrums during the early stages.
They also displayed a greater appreciation for Englishman Wayne Barnes’ refereeing style at the breakdown.
The hosts had all the forward momentum in the first half, and because the South Africans kicked poorly out of hand, Ireland were dominating the forward exchanges from inside the Boks’ territory.
To sum it up, the Boks were putting themselves under pressure during that period, and the Irish were building on that.
But the lack of class and experience within this Ireland side was patent if you consider that they didn’t make the Boks pay when Pietersen was sidelined. They also struggled for answers when the Boks went back to a more traditional approach in the second half.
Captain Jean de Villiers should be commended for backing his lineout early in the second period. On three occasions, he turned down a shot at goal, preferring to build some pressure from the lineout and push for a try.
This set piece proved a source of great go-forward for the Boks. The rolling maul was nigh-on unstoppable, and created some point-scoring opportunities as a crucial juncture in the game.
The Boks also tightened up around the park, building through the phases and then showing more precision in terms of their kicking game. They pressured the Irish with some accurate, high-hanging kicks, and managed to win the ball back on several occasions.
Francois Louw was a standout in what was a disappointing first half, and led the breakdown charge once again in the second stanza. The Boks affected some important turnovers in this area, and all-in-all their defence at the rucks was nothing short of outstanding during the final 40 minutes.
So what does it all mean? The Boks must stick to their strengths.
They cannot hope to beat heavyweight teams without first dominating the forward exchanges and then winning the battle for territory.
If they attempt to run every ball from deep within their half, they are going to place themselves under pressure; they are going to give the opposition point-scoring chances.
In the first half, their approach was too high risk and there was no reward. On the contrary, the Boks high-risk approach backfired badly.
The second half was more controlled, clinical, and disciplined. That has to be the norm from hereon in.
Once the platform has been laid, then there will be opportunities to try something out of the box in terms of attack. But not before.
The Boks won in Dublin on Saturday, but hopefully they’ve learned their lesson.
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85 Comments
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10 Nov 2012, 21:35 pm
It was the forwards hacking in the first half that was the problem. So many forwards taking the ball in the backline. Alberts has had one good game this year, Marcel needs to start and alberts come on in the last 20. The forwards needs to be told that they are not the glory boys.
10 Nov 2012, 21:36 pm
Jon rather hou jou bek if you dont kno wat the **** u talking about
10 Nov 2012, 21:37 pm
f u c k
10 Nov 2012, 22:00 pm
@saru1983-2: I concur.
10 Nov 2012, 22:30 pm
Fukkkin Meyer praise singers working at this site. If this had been under PDivvies watch, I’m 150% sure that there would have been markedly different articles on here tonight. You gutless morons at Keo really are showing your true colors tonight. Wankkers the lot of you!!
10 Nov 2012, 22:32 pm
Marked improvement in the kicking game in the second half?
Should read less kicking in the second half.
10 Nov 2012, 22:35 pm
Reading this, I am inclined to throw another glass at the wall….pick up a piece of the shattered material and slit my wrists.
Is this really where we are as a rugby nation?
Ohmyfuckingsoul.
10 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
The Springboks are not playing to their full potential under Meyer.
We need to address the following issues:
1) Offloading in the tackle – we need to do this more and get better at it.
2) Quick ball from the rucks – this still needs to be addressed. Ruan Pienaar may have scored a try, but his performance at scrumhalf today was far from perfect. Ball was too slow and allowed the defense to re-set.
3) Pop passing from the rucks – Instead of passing the ball directly to the forwards from the rucks, we need to start throwing pop passes, so the forwards can run onto the ball at pace. Otherwise they take the pass from standing start and dont gather any momentum…. Our scrumhalf needs to pass the ball to the forwards on the charge. NOT from a standing start.
4) Support at the breakdown – Not enough men committed to the rucks. Not enough support runners available at the breakdown. If we improve in this one area, we will look like a different side. Our forwards are very good but they are not approaching the breakdown with enough ferocity.
5) Use our bench better – Schalk Brits and Juan De Jongh should have had some game time today. We were getting tired towards the end and were often stretched on defense…. Both players would have added a bit more on defense and attack… Not to mention the fact that they need game time for the greater purposes of this tour!
6) Discipline – We were up against a very trigger-happy ref today. We need to adapt our game plan and keep our cool better. We were baited into scuffles and this didn’t help our cause. More composure is needed and better discipline…. If we are infringing at the breakdown and the ref shouts at the player to stop, his team mates should be slapping him on the back so he knows to stop (in case he didnt hear the ref).
7) Player selection – our backline is very very sterile. We need to get one or two more X-factor players in the side. Taute should be a bench player at this stage in his career. Aplon, De Jongh, Jordaan, Rhule, Jantjies…. Any of these players can add some spark to the backline.
If we address the above issues we will improve.
Overall, the Boks should not be happy with that performance. We are better than this and that was not a Bok side playing to their full potential.
10 Nov 2012, 22:37 pm
Jeez this is so uber…
We have become so happy with mediocre… No wonder we can’t move forward if we are constantly wearing blinkers…
10 Nov 2012, 22:46 pm
So where did it go so wrong? Hmm, must be the ‘play Bulls style rugby and bash it up’. Only the forwards were poor.
CJ again showed why he should never have played for the boks in the first place.
Vermuelen once again a passnger (just as well he’s HM’s ‘mate’ otherwise he would never have seen the green and gold). How many times now has he been driven back by smaller players? Worst #8 the Boks have had playing this year.
Barnes didn’t like Louw’s style (not many refs do). Same as in the RWC last year. His existence on the field was nullified.
Wonder boy was good in the lineouts but non-existent in general play.
Taute got his position because he signed for WP (part of the contract I guess).
JdV is the worst captain the Boks have ever had and doesn’t deserve his place.
Kirchner a quota and nothing else.
Houghard is getting caps for doing nothing and occupying a deserving player’s position.
Forwards were poor. No centres, fullback and left wing. HM way out of his depth and devoid of any semblence of using his one brain cell.
Lucky to get the win.
10 Nov 2012, 23:14 pm
5.Golden Boy: Is it because you like golden showers? Your math is letting you down.
7.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food said: Do the planet a favour will you…
8.Kaizan said: Very informed, rational you lift this site considerable.
10 Nov 2012, 23:24 pm
@jet jungle-11: Agreed on all counts.
10 Nov 2012, 23:25 pm
@Kaizan-8: Excellent account.
10 Nov 2012, 23:32 pm
The pathetic Zane Kirchner, was not solid and I really wish people would stop giving him so much credit for such a useless performance. He got himself isolated, never passed the ball, folded under pressure, didn’t do anything inspiring, gave away at least three penalties. He is an asset….to the other team.
11 Nov 2012, 00:27 am
“Boks prosper when sticking to strengths”….seriously?….omfg!!!
11 Nov 2012, 00:27 am
@willievz-13:
Thanks mate
11 Nov 2012, 02:58 am
The Boks sucked against a depleted Irish team. It was a shambles. Spin all you want, but there was no coordination.
11 Nov 2012, 03:25 am
Feels like the keo writers watched a different match, what’s with all the upbeat, delusionally positive reports?
11 Nov 2012, 03:57 am
11. Is it because you are a drol? That’s poor even by your standards. Up your game little man. This fish likes bigger bait
. But I give you a B- for effort. Well done.
11 Nov 2012, 04:17 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-7:
Quick-smart then pal…
11 Nov 2012, 04:22 am
@Kaizan-8:
Agree whole-heartedly on the break-down deficiencies hitting rucks on own ball (including lack of support-runners) and counter-rucking on opposition ball… however these factors and a few more you mention are exactly why RP gets such slow-ball… doesn’t matter who you play at 9… and unfortunately short of RP… there is no test quality 9 that has his passing game (and all-round skills)…
11 Nov 2012, 05:26 am
@OCO-10:
Now let us know about the Shark players…
JPP was pathetic; Alberts non existant; Lambie very mediocre; Doep – did he play? No man! The whole team were mediocre and the coach needs a rocket up his socket… When we criticize we need to take off our provincialistic glasses…
11 Nov 2012, 06:21 am
22. Hehehehe amazing how the black and white tints work on those glasses. Totally agree with you regarding the players. Most sane bloggers here are satisfied with the players. Therefore the only deduction I can make is that these good players are having to adapt to a game plan that is not only foreign to them, but one which is do dated that even the former Itish players now doing commentary know what to expect.
This is the dumbest game plan ever. Any opposition coach knows that you simply have to sit back and wait for the centers to bash it up. If that fails, pick a fb who can catch and counter and some big forwards. Hardly visionary from the so called Alpha coach in South Africa.
For me that is the most frustrating aspect about supporting this Springbok team. It is so boring and one dimensional I even switched channels to watch the football last night. And I hate Man United.
11 Nov 2012, 06:33 am
@Golden Boy-23:
For sure! Teams find it so easy to defend against the Boks… they know exactly what is going to happen. There is no surprise factor at all… the only surprise is if we steal an ugly win…
11 Nov 2012, 06:45 am
24. And what really gets to me is that our journalists such as these morons on Keo and some of the muppets on super sport wax lyrical about the ‘great’ kicking game in the second half. They are doing even more harm to Springbok rugby by willfully ignoring the obvious and blissfully skipping down a dead end street with Heineken leading the way.
This pandemic of Yes Men in SA rugby is at the root of all that is wrong because those who question the coach and his methods are branded as anti-South African by ‘experts’ who really should know better.
11 Nov 2012, 06:52 am
@Golden Boy-25:
It is really hard to be a Bok supporter at present. None of us, except Tac have bought into this outdated game plan, yet the journalists sing from the HM choir sheet. I don’t see a future if we continue like this. He is coaching the natural skills out of the players… When will we have a team that can make the decisions on the field and not take instructions from off the field…
In passing I see Mak Ntini is playing the race card by saying just because Thami is black he is not chosen and it will be great to see who is selected in the place of Duminy… When will this all end…
11 Nov 2012, 07:07 am
Rory hitting a few sixes and Steyn being hit on the body…
11 Nov 2012, 07:08 am
Steyn out… thought it was coming…
11 Nov 2012, 07:09 am
26. Yeah. They really think that we are a bunch of sheep who believe every word that is expelled from their keyboards. We all know that we have the talent in this country, but as soon as these same talented players turn out for the Boks they suddenly look clueless and bereft of ideas and basic skill levels. This coach clearly does not like or value smart players who can make decisions on the field. We therefore come across as these slow lumbering behemoths with not one brain cell between them.
As for Ntini. It’s a bit rich coming from him considering that he was originally selected as a quota. Thami is a good guy and a decent keeper, but you cannot expect to replace a batter with a keeper. AB is doing a decent job at the moment and the balance of the team looks good with 7 batters.
Personally I would have left Thami at home and invested in a young, talented keeper to take us forward. If I remember correctly, Bouch made his debut as a 21 year old. This squad has the real danger of aging like the Aussies did. We therefore need to seriously invest in younger players who will take over from the current players when they move on.
11 Nov 2012, 07:19 am
@Golden Boy-29:
Quinton De Kock comes to mind…
I have said this so many times before that it actually doesn’t matter who he chooses the results will be the same. They play to his game plan and the same results come in week in and week out… Stealing a win or being klapped… I was not a huge PdV fan, but man he was streaks ahead of this muppet… If PdV ignored the players and put his own stamp on the team, things could have been different. The select few even told him who to select and when to select them…thank goodness those players have gone for good… I know the majority of SA think they were great but the results prove a different story…
11 Nov 2012, 07:19 am
450 all out is a very good score. Glad to see Rory in the team. I captained him at Victoria on the under 19 team with Vinnie Barnes and Emerson Trotman our coaches. Back then Vinnie was more of a footballer
. Rory is actually a very good batter. Don’t be surprised to see him batting at 7 if he stays in the team for an extended run. He should definitely bat higher than Vern.
11 Nov 2012, 07:22 am
what utter k@k in this article,
11 Nov 2012, 07:24 am
@Golden Boy-31:
I’m a huge Rory fan. I’m looking forward to see him bowling too. He has been in great form lately… Gary has brought a different dynamic to the team and has unified the team. A few players were not happy with the clicks within the team under the previous coach…
11 Nov 2012, 07:24 am
@Bell-32:
More Klokkie…
11 Nov 2012, 07:27 am
Dekock is class. I think he just turned 20 and he has a very good first class average. Definitely one for the future.
11 Nov 2012, 07:31 am
Jeez Vern’s first few balls are moving all over the place
11 Nov 2012, 07:33 am
33. Definitely a different dynamic to this squad than previous ones. One can see that the coaching staff have the respect of the players and that they value and take on board what Donald and Gazza teach them. The improvement by Morkel over the past year has been fantastic and our batters seem to play to their strengths and not on reputation alone.
They also seem to be playing for the team and not their own averages. Just look at how Kallis has transformed his game since Gazza took over.
11 Nov 2012, 07:36 am
@Golden Boy-37:
For sure… Let’s hope we can grab one or two quickly…
11 Nov 2012, 07:41 am
More Gumboots,
11 Nov 2012, 07:44 am
Goodbye Warner… Caught Kallis, bowled Steyn…
11 Nov 2012, 07:44 am
Big wicket!!! Warner gone
11 Nov 2012, 07:45 am
…and he can’t bowl to lefthanders… ja right…
11 Nov 2012, 07:46 am
This pitch looks much more lively than when the Aussie steamers were on it. Vern and Steyn also moving it both ways.
11 Nov 2012, 07:47 am
Ozzie go crazy as Quiney pulls for two… strange bunch those…
Two sneaky shots past slip so far…
11 Nov 2012, 07:47 am
Aaahhhh…Quinney living a charmed life already.
11 Nov 2012, 07:49 am
Hehehe…much better than our commentary team though. Much more insight from them than our lot.
11 Nov 2012, 07:51 am
@Golden Boy-25: Good post.
11 Nov 2012, 07:59 am
We’ll take them anyway… lucky but a wicket is a wicket… dumb batting actually
11 Nov 2012, 08:02 am
Dean Elgar replacing Duminy…
11 Nov 2012, 08:05 am
47. Just frustrating watching a performance like that and logging on to Keo only to see these headlines or listening to the post game analysis only to hear the comments made by former players.
48. Really bad cricket by Quiney there. It can’t be luck if the fielder was placed there and Mirkel was definitely bowling short and in to his body. Also a good change by Smith. Now to bring in Vern for Ponting. Definitely a caught behind opportunity with hI’m early on.
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