Boks still in search of balance
12 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, writes the Springboks continue to exhibit the foundation for success with excellent defence, but are no further to curing their attacking deficiencies.
The Springboks would have looked on enviously on Sunday when the All Blacks further underlined the gulf that exists between them and other elite nations in the game. Their benchmark team excelled on attack, running in six tries in their 51-22 victory over Scotland.
They are what coach Heyneke Meyer envisions his team becoming, but while they pale in comparison from an attacking perspective (more on this shortly), defensively they compare favourably with the world champions.
Indeed only Richie McCaw’s superlative team have consistently troubled and unhinged the Springboks this season, scoring five tries against them in two Rugby Championship Tests. However, a review of the Springboks’ Dunedin defeat will show individual errors at the heart of the Blacks’ two tries.
Central to the Blacks’ success against their traditional rivals is their ability to match and often dominate them physically at the gainline. Certainly it would be remiss not to note their unmatched capacity to punish from broken-field situations, but their primary threat is rooted in their array of world-class strike runners, whose power is accompanied by intelligence and awareness in the tackle and the constant presence of support runners. They’ve tormented the Springboks in a manner no other team they’ve faced has.
England scored five tries in the three-Test series during the Springboks’ formative phase under Meyer in June, Argentina and Australia were blanked for tries at Newlands and Loftus respectively, while Argentina crossed the chalk once in Mendoza.
On Saturday in Dublin Ireland simply could not breach the Springboks’ tryline, despite completely bossing territory and possession in the first half and having a one-man advantage just before the break. Ireland huffed and puffed, but the Springboks’ house increasingly appears to be built on a solid foundation and engineered with formidable features like belligerence, physicality (at times brutality), work rate, accuracy, communication, trust and, at times, desperation.
Openside flank Francois Louw continued to underline his value to the Springboks with another strong showing at the breakdown, but it must also be noted that the team has benefitted from Duane Vermeulen and Adriaan Strauss’s contributions in this facet of play. The trio became more prominent as the collective improved their tackle fight in the second half at Lansdowne Road, each effective in slowing the recycle, which in turn regularly allowed the defensive line to set, while Louw forced crucial penalties when Ireland threatened on attack.
I’ve written before that this should be a cause for optimism for the South African rugby fraternity. The world’s best sides have built their success on defensive solidity. However, that cannot mitigate the Springboks’ continued sterility on attack. They returned to their strengths – abrasive and patient forward play – to score their only try of Saturday’s match, but were uninspiring for the bulk of the contest, as they have been for most of the season.
A lack of platform or opportunities (statistically they’ve spent more time in the opposition’s 22m than any team in the world this season) are not problems. Meyer is privately concerned about the lack of X factor in his back division but has concerns about the size of men like Juan de Jongh (among others), whom many believe has that quality. How he solves that problem remains to be seen, but it is a matter of urgency. Expect this to improve moderately should more of his first-choice players be available in 2013, but it is essentially a coaching and selection issue.
Here’s hoping this problem doesn’t become chronic. For now, much confidence can be drawn from their strength of their defensive game.
243 Comments
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12 Nov 2012, 11:09 am
@WP-Forever-198: i really don’t.
12 Nov 2012, 11:10 am
Jeepers but Linkin Park was brilliant!
Atmosphere was lekker crazy aswell.
They well exceeded my expectations.
12 Nov 2012, 11:11 am
Well at least we won! The lineouts were solid and Etxebeth could have been mom, as against the Sharks. Not that the Boks used the ball he won that wisely. Scrums so-so; defence better; I think Taute was ok on defence and probably why he was picked. Kirchner was solid under the high ball and there in defence. Attack; not so much. JdV has got a surprising amount of energy and strength left after a long cc. He made metres, just needed to offload quickly to a flier – Habana, Petersen, Hougaard, JdJ etc. Lambie ok but not the wunderkind; he just needs time and TRAINING; the proper thing; not from some retreaded kick and chaser. The Boks are not bigger, heavier, harder and stronger than their opposition anymore; only the ****.
Tac is funny; there is little sign that Meyer has a grip on test rugby. If another key man gets injured, say Etzebeth, Alberts, Vermeulen, even Pienaar it will be tougher. I think he needs to rest a few players and use his full bench against the Squats. But the new boys must start flat out but sensible, not the dawdle as against the Oirish in the frist half (or the Sharks in the cc). Remember that Reechie is getting a year off to rest, ‘roid, EPO, HGH etc.
Interesting to see what happens to Thompson. Was it Vermeulen who was a little lucky to not be seen when he dropped his knee into Sexton? I also saw that the Oirish were up to a bit of gratuitous raking of a Bok back, well away from the ball, on ocassion in the rucks.
We’ll have to watch them Pommies.
12 Nov 2012, 11:12 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-196: Good morning lady
12 Nov 2012, 11:13 am
@husky-203: with lambie, it was great just seeing an SA 10 who tackled!!
12 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
@Fern-202: Bloody brilliant wasn’t it? I’m sure the Jozi gig was better than the CT one though. The wind really screweditup a little down here. (And the tragedy at the venue as well of course).
They are frikking whacked on stage.
@ryecatcher-204: Top of the morning (almost afternoon) to you kind sir
12 Nov 2012, 11:18 am
Some interesting thoughts here.
My 2 mandela cents.
Rugby is a pro-sport – start there. In pro rugby **** gets real, things are tough, and only the best survive.
Our rugby currently allows for too much mediocre talent to come through the ranks and parade around like pro sports people. Same goes for coaches in this country, it seems to be managed as an old-boys club where mostly ex-players are allowed into the highest spheres of the game.
Because space is limited at the top, only a few will ever make it. But if 1 mediocre player or coach takes up that spot chances are we let the real talent slip through.
On the mindset of coaches – if you were coached in that vein and you have not actively studied modern trends or opened yourself up to new ideas and thinking, chances are you are going to coach players the same way you were coached – we need a new generation of thinkers.
We need specialised programs in schools to identify top talent. This will include SARU and government to get involved – and with transformation that will always be an issue, we need that in government schools. It should be part of the curriculum, students should be encouraged to get active or get involved in sport in any which way they can.
Excellence starts with kids who are impressionable. Just like we go through schooling to see who are most likely to become the best scientists, doctors, or whatever professional, we need to adopt this at school level.
And for **** sakes let’s make sport fun again for kids. One just has to go to any school derby to see how much pressure is put on these kids.
12 Nov 2012, 11:19 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-196: we need a mobile 8 who seamlessly links between backs and forwards giving us metres in momentum ie, dominates contacts and shifts points of attack buy not ALWAYS going to ground…a guy with the requisite skill set to mix it with the backs without stifling the moves, see messam & read.
12 Nov 2012, 11:22 am
Biggest problem in the backs is we have very few players that can actually beat defendes one on one. Quite a few of the tries NZ scored were down to Dan Carter beating an oncoming Scottish defender with deft footwork and then simply offloading.
We just have crashballers, with possibly only Hougaard who actually has footwork. The Irish were clearly trying to step us with Earls and Zebo and a few others. Until we get the balance right between having a few big strong carrying backs and a few stepping players with better lines we wont see any better backline play.
12 Nov 2012, 11:26 am
@Transformation-208: Duane will never be that type of 8, and even his biggest praise singers know this. (Like myself…)
He does offer more than Spies though.
12 Nov 2012, 11:27 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-206:
I stood in line for 2 hours to buy some merchandise and it was worth it.
Awesome live act.
Pity they did not play “Crawling”,but no complaints really.
Weather turned out perfect aswell.
I am sure they will be back sooner than later.
12 Nov 2012, 11:31 am
All this talk about how ineffective our back line is! Now one of the problems here (obviously not the only problem) is the inability of our loosies to link up with the back line and more to the point the lack of skill and attacking ability by our loosies.
Now if we had the likes of 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Liam Messam playng, our back line would look a much better unit!
12 Nov 2012, 11:32 am
@Fern-211: I know when they were in CT they said they were shocked at the size of their SA fan base, and the levels of excitement their visit generated.
I reckon a lot of these ‘bigger acts’ are shocked more often than not as what they find over here
The RHCP’s are going to be blown away by what THEY find out here.
12 Nov 2012, 11:37 am
I was too late for RHCP tickets,but thats fine.
Would never watch lady gaga or adam lambert.
saw bon jovi yonks ago in dbn and they are good aswell.
12 Nov 2012, 11:44 am
@Fern-214: I’m keen to see Bon Jovi again. They rocked when they were here in the 90′s.
But looking helluva forward to the RHCP’s.
12 Nov 2012, 11:47 am
@PissAnt-207: PA, I don’t have a problem if ex-players coach. I feel they can bring a lot to the party, but they need to attend some coaching courses as well. I know Gert Smal did that when he started coaching. When I started coaching I did the Level 1 and 2 courses through Western Province in 2003 and 2004. I played quite a few seasons of 1ste league club rugby, but what did I know about coaching ? That’s why I attended the coaching courses in order to teach the young boys in the correct manner. A few years ago, the IRB started to standardise coaching and to present IRB coaching courses. I did the IRB Level 2 from November 2010 to 2011. I now wanted to enroll for the Level 3 but my union has to make a recommendation to SARU that I’m a suitable candidate. In the mean time I’ve heard that an ex-Bok that played his last first class match in 2011, is currently enrolled for the IRB Level 3 course. This pi+#es me off. I want to improve my coaching but I am prevented from doing it by the bureaucrats !!
12 Nov 2012, 11:56 am
@CharlesM-216:
Not all ex-players are bad coaches I agree, but it almost seems that there is a belief in SA that all ex-players can be great coaches! Same with rugby commentators on SuperSport but that is a different discussion…
What you experienced is exactly what I am referring to mate. I had similar experiences. Your road is just so much harder if you did not represent a union at some stage of your life. It’s like being in the right school before you are considered for Craven Week.
12 Nov 2012, 11:56 am
@Spiesisworthless1-192:
Yeah wouldnt mind if Campese got involved! Anyone who is a top backline coach will be welcome! SA backline coaches are just not the best the boks deserve.
12 Nov 2012, 11:57 am
@Transformation-208: Amen Brother
12 Nov 2012, 11:58 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-210: Barely
12 Nov 2012, 12:00 pm
@PissAnt-217: I agree !!@Jeez-218: Meyer will never get Campese involved. That’s why he has appointed “yes men”. Campo would obviously like a more expansive approach to which HM will not agree. It is a pity though that we don’t have any creativity in the coaching staff !!
12 Nov 2012, 12:07 pm
@CharlesM-221: Charles , I think you are a bit unfaiur here. HM wanted to make a lot of different appointments , SARU emplyed him in Febr , with all best coaches already in jobs. The Bulls were the only province ready to release coaches from contracts.
He appointed Louden at Bulls years ago, and we don’t know what SARU says about BEE in staffing coaches.
Interesting that Campo , coached in Auz was kicked out, coached at Sharkies was kicked out , why ?
12 Nov 2012, 12:10 pm
@LoanShark-212: Play Flo 6, Marcell 7 and Arno 8 , you will see fire-works against Scotts
12 Nov 2012, 12:12 pm
@capebull-222: Maybe I am but when HM says there is only a plan A and no plan B, you can’t but wonder why ? I am not necessarily saying it should be Campo (he might be too outspoken) but I can’t believe there was nobody else available.
I have to admit though that SARU took way too much time with the appointment. Then again, it is almost par for the course (SARU’s course)
12 Nov 2012, 12:15 pm
@CharlesM-221:
The playing style/game plan will always be up to the head coach, but Im sure HM can still appoint a quality coach (with more experience and better credentials) to get the basic skills up to international (NZ & Aus) standard… and get the backs doing the basics brilliantly. That will give them a lot more confidence to attack the gain line when the opportunities come around….
12 Nov 2012, 12:17 pm
@CharlesM-221: If he wont appoint a foreign coach, there are other guys like Alan Zondagh, Carel Du Plessis ect who could add to the backline’s success…
12 Nov 2012, 12:19 pm
@Jeez-226: Yes, but I suppose it all depends on the length of his deputies’ contracts. He can’t fire them and get new guys in at will.
I am out gents: enjoy the day
12 Nov 2012, 12:21 pm
@CharlesM-224: No one knows why they did not act straight after WC, for me get the best man.
I think HM is great with motivating players , Rassie should work on game plan, and they must get 2 coaches front and backs to impliment them. Then you have special coaches , scrums , defence , kicking,
Do you really believe there is such a thing as a plan B in Rugby ?
Take all the teams at moment, Lions/ Cheetas run everything , Wp tackle everything , Bulls kick chase, Sharkies play with forwards and counter with lose ball. I did not see any of them being able to play different when the pressure was on , thats why you lose games cause you can not asapt when your gameplan fails.
12 Nov 2012, 12:27 pm
What more can I say?
The Meyer game plan cannot work against the best in the world; his paradigm and approach will result in the Bok game regressing over the next while.
We have the talent but coached incorrectly.
Look at what a different Gary Kirsten has made with the Proteas- fair enough it’s work in progress but overall the side has improved significantly.
Meyer is a Bulls rugby guy; he needs to be in that environment; the international scene will simply expose his flawed thinking.
12 Nov 2012, 12:33 pm
@Sheriff-229: Ok Sherrif lets fire HM and appoint who?
12 Nov 2012, 12:55 pm
@capebull-230:
I think we need to give Toetie (Allister Coetzee) a chance.
Meyer’s rhetoric will not change: dominate collisions, strong and big ball carriers etc; the challenge is his fundamental and private beliefs and understanding of rugby.
I think Meyer’s talents must be used to establish infrastructure; Afrikaners are good with that sort of thing, structure. But in this game of constant movement he will not move the game forward.
Toetie’s teams have made it to various play-offs and only this year did he rid himself of the shackles and a team of no-names beat a team loaded with Springboks. Therefore, as he has shown himself to be willing to move on from ‘defence will win the game’ he deserves a chance.
Toetie also demonstrated that his teams are integrated and so that will also bring an end to this ‘Ons Afrikaners is die grootste in die wereld’ syndrome.
SA can only benefit.
12 Nov 2012, 13:00 pm
@Sheriff-231: It took Toetie 4 years to win the cc. The Strompies have tackled the life out of any rugby , the tries scored per game consistantly went down from 3.2 in 2009 to 1.7 in 2012. So why would you pick a coach like that . They play more like the Bulls does themselves.
12 Nov 2012, 13:04 pm
Can people please stop complementing Zane Kirchner for being “solid.” He was anything but that. He got penalised for holding on too long, always ran into the traffic, never passed the ball when an overlap was on, kicked possession away and running after it like a headless chicken and above all of that, nearly got found out of position. I cannot see any reason to have him in the team. He’s been absolutely useless from the moment he started. He’s on borrowed time.
12 Nov 2012, 13:06 pm
@Sheriff-229:
Imo there isnt a better coach at the mo to take over from HM… I do believe he just needs to get the balance right and he needs more time. Appointing a better backline/skills coach will be a step in the right direction
12 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@capebull-232:
Given the opportunity he will in all likelihood surround himself with people that can add to his views.
As head coach you no longer teach the guys to catch the ball in the line-out but rather give input on strategic matters: putting together the right combos, game plan, player management
For example: you should under no circumstances sit and bark into a walkie talkie; that is criminal. You do not need to know everything single little detail:
E.g. Assistant: ‘Coach, Jannie se broek het hier by sy gat oopgeskeur, kan ons vir hom ‘n ander broek reel?’
of “Coach, Heinke is dors, kan ons vir hom water vat?’
Coach HM: ‘ Is reg’
12 Nov 2012, 13:20 pm
@Jeez-234:
To prefer Meyer as coach can be likened to prefer an ossewa (ox wagon) to any sedan like a Toyota Corolla
The ox wagon will probably get to where he needs to, but how long will he take?
In an increasingly globalised world things happen fast.
12 Nov 2012, 13:35 pm
@bryce_in_oz-2: @Slartibartfast-3:
People asked the same question about Lance Klusener when he was pummeled by Azhar on his debut in India. He returned in the 2nd innings to take 8 wickets.
Remember???
“Can see it already: I have egg on my face but that’s OK.”
12 Nov 2012, 13:42 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-200: Well said, Vermulen may not be flash but he is solid and puts his body on the line. He has had an off colour Alberts alongside him … would like to see ABotha get some game time ..
Reminds me Spies was carried by Juan and Shalk in their prime !! Imagine had we a Vermulen then ?
12 Nov 2012, 13:53 pm
@pattyfries-233:
That would be like complementing Vermeulen for being solid?
12 Nov 2012, 14:17 pm
447 runs in 95 overs in the day without any bowler even taking a wicket.
WOW
Kleinveld actually had a much better day with the ball today than yesterday. His figures for today was 0/54 in 14 overs (3.9 rpo) compared to 0/27 in 3 overs
(9 rpo). Not too bad if you keep in mind that the Aussies scored at 4.7rpo throughout the day.
Still has much to improve on though.
12 Nov 2012, 14:55 pm
@Doughnut-238: That would have been a night mare.@LoanShark-239: Agreed , its a huge over statement , rather play Keegan
12 Nov 2012, 16:16 pm
@Sheriff-236: He’s got the best record of all the coaches therefore he deserves a shot and support up to a certain point. And considering that its only his first year, stating that other SA coaches COULD do better is folly and short sited if you ask me.
12 Nov 2012, 18:15 pm
(L)
:@
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