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, 05:48 am
Playing like dumb dragons.
Let’s give DeJonge a chance against scotland and move Taute to full back. Hougaard to be benched for Mvovo and JDV to retire. Can we then teach all players how to offload in the tackle and how to to run into space, it’s like they see the opposition and just want to run over him which may work at schoolboy level but at international level most players can tackle and besides when their is no offload what’s the point of battering it up only to go to ground and slow the momentum.
12 Nov 2012, 06:22 am
Speaking of ‘balance’… just what is this Kleinveldt guy doing playing test cricket?
12 Nov 2012, 06:25 am
@bryce_in_oz-2:
Bowling no-balls?
12 Nov 2012, 06:28 am
I would like to see Jordaan playing outside De Jongh. that sounds pretty damn excisting to me. I just dont see de Villiers as a playmaker- he never offloads, always crash bash…
12 Nov 2012, 06:36 am
@Slartibartfast-3:
And giving away an ODI run/rate…
@SjamBok-4:
JDJ is no distributor… never was… never will be…
12 Nov 2012, 07:04 am
@SjamBok-4: Sounds exciting and Jordan has SO much promise, BUT how often do you see JDJ pass?? Jordan would never get the ball
12 Nov 2012, 07:05 am
Hey Ryan, serious question. I appreciate your putting across your viewpoints on playing to our strengths and also reporting on HM’s fear of starting JdJ due to his size.
Has anyone questioned him on why this same fear is not expressed when comparing Mvovo to Hougaard?
I don’t see what world Hougaard is bigger than Mvovo and his form does not warrant a start on the wing. IMHO
12 Nov 2012, 07:06 am
@bryce_in_oz-2:
keeping oz in the game
12 Nov 2012, 07:09 am
Can some1 post or give a summary on the article in the rapport discussing Rhule saying HM has asked him to work on his kicking game?
12 Nov 2012, 07:16 am
The issue is that the coach is k@k. Wrong gameplan, poor player selection.
The team should be:
1. Beast (Pat)
2. Biz (Schalk)
3. Heinke
4. Alberts
5. Etsebeth
6. Fourie
7. Louw
8 Duane
9. Hougaard
10. Goosen (Lambie)
11. Rhule
12. Steyn (Jordaan)
13. De Jongh
14. JP
15. Taute
12 Nov 2012, 07:17 am
@papaown-7:
“Has anyone questioned him on why this same fear is not expressed when comparing Mvovo to Hougaard?”
brilliant question. im sure we all know the answer – FH is his chomie from the bulls full stop. Using HMs size logic FH should be nowhere near the boks set up. dittto Ruan
I dont buy this whole size thing theres more to it, JDJ and Aplon consistently carve up bigger opposition in the Super15 . And Super15 is where the bulk of southern hemisphere international players are picked from.
HM is just to stuck in his way to admit his wrong or change .why else do the boks start of every first half kicking the ball away and then when it all goes to custard they start playing with ball in hand. He just believes in his plan so much so he cant see the damage its doing
12 Nov 2012, 07:28 am
@garth-10:
Right, so you would prefer to run on with 3 injured players then, interesting.
12 Nov 2012, 07:40 am
@Slartibartfast-12: I think you have misinterpreted my post. The bracketed names are those which I’d play now that the 1st choice player is injured.
12 Nov 2012, 07:41 am
Thankfully France, N.Z. and England made the w-end rugby worthwhile while the rest were poor seconds.
12 Nov 2012, 07:42 am
who let the kenners out the cage..?..
12 Nov 2012, 07:46 am
Until HM starts to select specialist players in there respective positions the die will always run flat. Taut is a fullback and misses the 2 or 3 opportunities that might be created at outside centre, which is a specialist position.
Alberts is not up to international rugby. Maybe carrying an injury, but deffinately weakens th back row desperately looking for that Juan smith style player.
12 Nov 2012, 07:51 am
@hardcore-16:
Until HM is replaced we will be regressing!!! It actually doesn’t matter who he chooses the style of play is dull and outdated… We will be pulling our hair out for another four years if things don’t change quickly. It was so funny listening to Nick Mallet when he said both of Ireland’s centres would never make the Bok side as they don’t fit HM’s size target. The smirk on his face was priceless… saying to HM he is a p rick…
Our cricketers are going to end fighting to stave off defeat if this continues…. The run rate is too high and will leave enough time for Oz to bowl us out if they can get a big enough lead…
12 Nov 2012, 07:54 am
I must agree.
If size was the issue Krusty the clown Zane should also go. On second thought, I have never been so irritated by a player like him. He gets great counter attacking chance and what does he do……kick it up……my gosh Dagg would have made million meters in same situation.
I’m tired of the “we are building” kuk every one dish up for old HM…….
If you can not pick a winning team ( read also beat the all blacks to pieces) from a S15 campaign where 3 teams went to play offs and one went on to the final………then you are an idiot!”
Too many lover boys in the team just easing out a salary.
Oh…and Zane is kuk! For all the Nik naks supporters….you know little about rugby if you support this type of fullback at bok level!
12 Nov 2012, 07:57 am
Fark 22 no-balls so far!
Kleinveldt 11
Philander 8
Morkel 2
Steyn 1
And costed us at least one wicket…you don’t win a match bowling like this!
12 Nov 2012, 07:58 am
@garth-10:
And you have no idea your tight-head from your loose-head…
12 Nov 2012, 07:59 am
The 2 Aussie century makers have negated the opposition ones as this cricket test heads towards a tame draw.
Been watching since 5am but have to leave it now as I have bigger fish to fry on this new day of a new week.
12 Nov 2012, 08:00 am
@garth-13:
This is what confused me…
The team should be:…
12 Nov 2012, 08:01 am
@Slartibartfast-19:
Yep Kleinveldt’s style/pace is like a poor-man’s hybrid of Kallis and Philander… so just what is he doing there… is he at least an all-rounder as the Protea’s can rarely bat past 6?
12 Nov 2012, 08:02 am
@bryce_in_oz-20: Ooops. I normally bite others **** for the same
12 Nov 2012, 08:05 am
@garth-24:
And whats-more mate… rugby in the modern era is 22man 85min rugby… the bench dynamic is just as important as the starters…
12 Nov 2012, 08:15 am
I would like to see some changes for the Scotland game
Beast back (if he is allowed to play)
JdJ at 13
Mvovo at 14
Heinke on the bench instead of CJ
Hougaard on the bench
Jantjies on the bench instead of M.Steyn
Taute on the bench and coming on at 60 mins for Kirchner.
12 Nov 2012, 08:16 am
@bryce_in_oz-23: Yip he can bat a bit. Big-hitter of the ball.
12 Nov 2012, 08:17 am
Wow, lots of comments concerning peripheral aspects about my post with no real input. Petty.
12 Nov 2012, 08:18 am
kleinveldt bowling like a jamaican guitarist at the moment.
12 Nov 2012, 08:20 am
@garth-10: Sorry but you lost me in the first few lines,
Pat is a tighthead. Heinke is a Loosehead, so you can have either him or Beast as starters. Pat can start at 3 though.
Did you mean:
1. Beast (Heinke)
2. Schalk
3. Pat
12 Nov 2012, 08:23 am
@garth-28:
Nothing personal Garth, I see little gain in comparing my own favorites with someone elses. But just to humor you/me can you explain why you want to drop Doc Dup and why you want to include an obvious out of form Hougaard at 9?
12 Nov 2012, 08:23 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-29: Fizzling out into a draw it would seem.
Reload and start again in a week or so.
12 Nov 2012, 08:24 am
@Sasuke-26:
gurthro if fit and leave mvovo in ‘the wider squad’.
12 Nov 2012, 08:24 am
@Sasuke-26: Taute on the bench and coming on for last 60 mins for Kirchner.
12 Nov 2012, 08:25 am
@stormersboy-32:
and to think it started with a bang…
ho hum…
12 Nov 2012, 08:29 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-35: Ja it would have been useful to have a decent spinner on this pitch. Could have taken one or 2, and then the whole innings is turned on its head.
Shoulda coulda woulda….
12 Nov 2012, 08:29 am
@garth-34: So you agree?
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-33: So Gurthro to provide cover for Beast?
12 Nov 2012, 08:30 am
@stormersboy-32: Just hope we bowl them out soon so that Smith, AB, Rudolph can get some more batting practice.
12 Nov 2012, 08:31 am
Smith bowling. Out of other ideas?
12 Nov 2012, 08:32 am
I will rest Alberts this sat and play Marcell.He looked hungry and fresh and then Williem could be well rested for the english.What do you guys think about Eben at 5 and Flip at 4.I think Flippie will be better in the hard stuff than Kruger and Eben is better at lineouts anyway.
12 Nov 2012, 08:35 am
Th calls for JDV to go is really in port taste, he was the only player besides Hougard/ Peterson that could get us go forward ball from a backline play. He is strong and still has speed. He just needs a 13 that actually knows where to run the lines.
We are not attacking well because we have a poor backline coach! Lounbcher is a idiot, as a player and as a coach.
12 Nov 2012, 08:35 am
@The Beast-40: I agree that Alberts looked flat this past game, and to be honest, he’s been off form for some games now. I think he needs a rest.
12 Nov 2012, 08:36 am
@The Beast-40: Eben was great on Saturday in the Line-outs but that was because Kruger was calling the Line-outs very well, varying them throughout the game. Can Eben carry the responsibility of calling the line-outs? I am not sure. But I agree it is a role he should grow into in future.
Problem with Bekker is that he calls 80% of the line-outs on himself, the opposition has worked this out. Kruger might not be the toughest of locks but his work in the line-outs is great.
12 Nov 2012, 08:37 am
@garth-10: When someone accuses a coach of being stupid and dumb ,and they themselves, pick a loosehead at tight head , I wonder
12 Nov 2012, 08:37 am
@stormersboy-36:
yip, i had a bad feeling when jp suffered his freak injury.
bad omen imo.
@Sasuke-37:
no, if fit i would play gurthro and let beast provide cover.
beast’s last big season was 2009, he was really good that year. he needs to get the hunger back.
12 Nov 2012, 08:37 am
@The Beast-40: Yup, Kruger was useless. Weak on defence and attack, did nothing at lineout time and made no impact.
I would take a fit Bekker anyday over this average Joe. But in the meanwhile I would select Flip and Eben. Eben doesn’t even have to change his playing style, just needs to call the lineout plays!
12 Nov 2012, 08:39 am
@goodstuff-41: Agreed JDv had a really good game, breaking tackles and gaining valauble go forward ball. He made Darcy his b*&%h
12 Nov 2012, 08:39 am
@The Beast-40:
i just want more physicality from our 4.
12 Nov 2012, 08:40 am
@goodstuff-46:
our posts are at oppositie poles!
12 Nov 2012, 08:40 am
Shocking decision to pick Kleinveldt over Tahir for the first Test which is now coming back to bite them in the proverbial. Not having a specialist spinner is criminal.
As for the rugby…what uninspired codswallop we dished up. The second half might have been better, but there are fundamental flaws in this Bok side.
I’m concerned we might lose to Scotland AGAIN.
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