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, 08:41 am
Great news Beast is fit to play.
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-48: Seriously?
12 Nov 2012, 08:41 am
@Sasuke-43:
Eben is going to end up being one of the most legendary locks the game has ever seen.
He is already coming into his own as a “defensive” lineout specialist, in the sense of stealing or disrupting opposition throw-ins.
12 Nov 2012, 08:42 am
Well, at least we’re back to 5 wins out of 10 games this year. That’s 50%.
Of further significance is that we have just won our first away game under Heyneke. Congrats guys.
To be honest, while I was hoping for an 80% win ratio in year 1, a record of 7 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses isn’t close to “firing’ material for a new coach after his first year in charge, all things considered.
That’s what we’re aiming for now.
12 Nov 2012, 08:43 am
Heyneke has completely ruined Hougaard, imo our most naturally talented back. He isn’t getting into the game on the wing and the coaching team have weighed him down like a ton of bricks. Should have been given an extended run at scrumhalf and allowed to play his natural game.
1.Beast/Guthro
2. Strauss
3. JdP
4. Bakkies
5. Etsebeth
6. Louw
7. Alberts
8. Vermuelen
9. Hougaard
10. Lambie
11. Rhule
12. JdV
13. JdJ
14. Pietersen
15. Taute
12 Nov 2012, 08:43 am
@Spiesisworthless1-54:
With Hougaard at 9 you could write off Lambie’s chances of becoming a star flyhalf.
12 Nov 2012, 08:44 am
C’mon Vrede!!!
You can’t seriously apply the word ‘excellent’ to any facet of the boks game plan!
They operated purely on sheer stubbornness and pride and any consequence of that was by bloody default.
12 Nov 2012, 08:44 am
@Sasuke-43: I hear you on Kruger making the calls but I like Flippie these days and im not a bulls supporter.He bring a alot of beef.
12 Nov 2012, 08:45 am
@Tacitus-53:
Nothing like a dose of apologism to get your week started.
12 Nov 2012, 08:45 am
@goodstuff-41:
i will say i liked the way jean called the team in close and settled them down with a good team talk. it was clear they were rattled up to that point and was probably the one time i’ve seen him show good outright leadership as a cappy.
12 Nov 2012, 08:46 am
@WP-Forever-58:
57% year 1
75% year 2
80% year 3
World Cup trophy year 4.
The thing is, we could achieve all of the above, and the haters would still want him fired just because of the style of game he advocates.
12 Nov 2012, 08:48 am
@Tacitus-60:
I’m sorry, Tacitus.
I don’t buy what you’re selling.
Springbok coaches should not be judged on whether they win the World Cup or not.
That is a typical cop-out used by coaches to buy themselves time.
And it outright contradicts what Meyer himself stated his intentions were when he first set out on this path as Springbok coach.
The Springboks must consistently achieve a 80% win rate.
Anything less is simply not good enough.
12 Nov 2012, 08:49 am
@Sasuke-51:
ja… he’s a little too fancy for my liking.
this isn’t gymnastics.
but what do i know…
12 Nov 2012, 08:49 am
“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.”
Why do the keo writers continue this line of Vermeulen punting when it’s hard to see what exactly he does that’s so amazing at the breakdown? It’s a myth. He used to turn over ball for Province at one stage, but even that dried up. He’s good with ball in hand, and puts in some big hits, but this ever-repeated story of him being a third breakdown specialist is just a fable that Ryan & Co can’t bring themselves to stop saying.
Watch the game, and then write about what you see. It really is a simple business. But don’t get caught up in writing what you think players are good at, or what other people tell you. Just what you see.
12 Nov 2012, 08:50 am
@garth-10:
Seriously? A loosehead at tighthead, a nr 7 at tight lock, nobody that can read and manage lineouts our greatest strength (not something you teach Eben over a beer after Tuesday practice). Can’t have Fourie and Louw on the field at the same time – a waste and you will lose out on gainline momentum.
Backline not too bad but Rhule needs a season of SuperRugby first to iron out his game.
Heyneke is not getting it right, but rather him than waht you have put forward!
12 Nov 2012, 08:50 am
@The Beast-57: Yes true he provides great bulk something that Eben is missing but Eben makes up for it with his explosive strength and mobility. A combo of Eben and Flip will be great but then Eben needs to start learning how to call and analyse line-outs.
12 Nov 2012, 08:50 am
@The Beast-57: I believe that if you have two best locks at 2+m tall, the opposition will loose at least half their lineouts if those two locks are Bekker and Eben.
One jumper up front and one at the middle to back end, then have Flouw cover the back of the line for the eventual over throw.
Viriaty in lineout calls can be coached and planned ahead, Olso a fit Bekker can be much more physical than powder puff Kruger. Kruger playing just like Matfield without the genius lineout play. All lineout but nowhere in the field.
12 Nov 2012, 08:50 am
@WP-Forever-61:
Yes, and how many have achieved that in our illustrious history? I believe under Heyneke we will get to an 80% win ratio – which is more important to me than a World Cup title.
I thought we’d get to 75% already in year 1. I am disappointed that we did not.
Interestingly, if we win the next two tour games, then all that seperates us froma 75% win ratio this year are two drawn games.
Some perspective required, I reckon.
12 Nov 2012, 08:51 am
@Tacitus-55
ienaar took most of the initiative away from Lambie against the Irish though.
I think a Hougaard/Goosen combo could become the catalyst for an evolution of our game-plan. Very excited to see that.
12 Nov 2012, 08:51 am
Chicco atually had a decent5 game ,
Play JdJ at 13 drop Taute, if you can not get the ball to the wings , why drop Hougie, fix centres first before fixing the wings.
We need a 12 , call Jan serfontein.
Marcell played much better when he came on , Alberts was as flat as Vermeulen.
8 Arno, 7 Marcell, 6 Louw
12 Nov 2012, 08:52 am
@Spiesisworthless1-68: Of course the coaches would have to come to the party first.
12 Nov 2012, 08:52 am
@The Beast-57:
yip
flip is maturing nicely.
12 Nov 2012, 08:53 am
@Spiesisworthless1-68:
Goosen yes. Hougaard should stay as far away from scrumhalf as is possible.
Pienaar is a stop gap, but another 2-3 year stint for Fourie du Preez would take us to the next level. Imagine him settling in the rookie Goosen with his experience and tactical appreciation for the game.
That’s what Heyneke’s really aiming for, I reckon.
12 Nov 2012, 08:53 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-62: lol true but he is effective, most of the time it takes two guys to bring him down and his mobility is great, he makes good ground. But i kind of agree with you, he will make a great No 5 once he starts calling the shots in the line out.
12 Nov 2012, 08:54 am
@katman-63: I agree Vermeulen biggest dissapointment so far, give the youngsters a chance
12 Nov 2012, 08:55 am
Based on injuries to beast etc.
1 Guthro
2 Strauss
3 JDP
4 Flip
5 Eben
6 Flouw
7 Marcell
8 Vermeulen
9 Pienaar
10 Lambie
11 Mvovo
12 JDV
13 JDJ
14 JP
15 Taute
Good balance of attack and tactics. Alberts to sub MArcell at 60min, props to also sub with Heinke/ Cilliers, Bakkies on the bench, with Jantjies/ Kirchner/ Hougard on the bench.
12 Nov 2012, 08:56 am
@katman-63: Morning boet.
Mallet did mention Vermeulen and Strauss in the post match talk, basically saying the same thing that Vrede just wrote.
I think Vrede just copied and pasted it.
The fact is, very few people looked up to the job on Saturday.
12 Nov 2012, 08:57 am
@capebull-74: Don’t get me wrong – I think he’s a decent 8. But this rubbish that Ryan and Cardinelli waffle week in and week out about him being a third fetcher in the team is nonsense.
If you want a good no. 8, look no further than Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. I know he played on the flank against Wales, but in my opinion he’s the best 8 in the world at the moment.
12 Nov 2012, 08:59 am
@katman-77:
Better than Parisse?
12 Nov 2012, 09:00 am
@Tacitus-60: Unfortunately you are contradicting yourself now.
When HM was chosen you kept saying that it didn’t matter who he chose as long as the results were there.
Now you want to “build” to the next world cup?? Sies man.
Now I’m not advocating HM to step down but you cannot deny the guy has failed according to the standards you yourself set for him.
Dismally.
12 Nov 2012, 09:00 am
@Tacitus-72: I wonder what kind of shape Du Preez will be in when he returns from Japan, Jaque Fourie too. Those guys are getting on and I’d prefer us to build for the future now. They’ll be too over the hill by the time the 2015 RWC rolls along, imo.
As for Hougaard, I truly believe that if he’s allowed to play his natural game and the Boks are not constricted by a limited game-plan we could get the best out of him. We saw in SR how great he was at scrumhalf for the Bulls.
12 Nov 2012, 09:01 am
@katman-63:
to be fair his defense was outstanding and he did win one or two penalties. its his link play and ability on attack which requires work.
and perhaps the speed at which he does things.
12 Nov 2012, 09:01 am
@goodstuff-75: Beast is fit and will play on Saturday. He traveled with the team to Scotland.
12 Nov 2012, 09:02 am
@WP-Forever-78: I would say so. Lobbe has been tremendous all season, probably the form 8 in the world.
12 Nov 2012, 09:02 am
@stormersboy-79:
Thanks for putting into words what I was trying to say.
12 Nov 2012, 09:02 am
@Spiesisworthless1-80: Agreed Hougaard should be second choice to Pienaar with players like Reinach and Van Zyl coming through as third choices.
12 Nov 2012, 09:03 am
@stormersboy-76: Then Mallet must start watching the game too. Show me where in the Irish game Vermeulen stole, or even slowed down the ball.
I’m sick of these urban legends about players that get repeated without half a thought. De Jongh being too small is another one. CJ being a versatile prop is another. Elton being “not ready” is another.
12 Nov 2012, 09:03 am
@stormersboy-79:
It’s a “get out of jail free” card. Typical copout.
Meyer also said they would make South Africa a “fortress” and not lose any home games.
12 Nov 2012, 09:03 am
@katman-77: Lobbe was immense on Saturday.
Didn’t he miss the 4 Nations tournament?
12 Nov 2012, 09:04 am
@stormersboy-30: correct
12 Nov 2012, 09:05 am
@WP-Forever-78: Yep, and Read and Harinodequy and Heaslip.
12 Nov 2012, 09:05 am
@Spiesisworthless1-80: I agree we should forget those guys, but they are lengthining their careers by the little ruggas they play over there. They play half the rugby our players are currently playing.
They might come back with still some milage in the tank.
12 Nov 2012, 09:06 am
On another note, the Elton Jantjies furore of last week now seems utterly childish in the light of the trench battle that was the Irish test.
It’s easy to cry for new talent to be blooded on an end of year tour when wins are taken for granted, but given our performance on end of year tours over the last 10 years, and given the depleted, tired team that we’re taking over, Meyer was entirely correct to go the conservative route as far as his backup selections were concerned.
A storm in a teacup yet again.
12 Nov 2012, 09:06 am
@katman-86: Fair comment. He hardly stood out on Saturday, and yes, I agree with you 100% on the CJ, Elton (a disgrace) and De Jong comments.
How good was Heinke when he came on? Great to see.
12 Nov 2012, 09:06 am
@katman-90: Read is the best 8 by a country mile. So sad that Pierre Spies who is the perfect human specimen could not be on this list. But the man is a girl in a man’s body. Too soft and too bloody delicate.
12 Nov 2012, 09:07 am
@stormersboy-88: Nope played all the games if I recall correctly.
12 Nov 2012, 09:07 am
@stormersboy-88: No, he played. And he was immense.
12 Nov 2012, 09:08 am
@Tacitus-92: The storm was I believe more about JDj but also that a poor form STeyn was selected over a godd in form player.
Steyn is in no stretch of the imagination a better defender than Jantjies. Also light players get gaps much easier in the north. Did you see Earls ghost past Hougard, the man looked nailed to the ground!
12 Nov 2012, 09:08 am
@stormersboy-79:
See post 67.
I’m disappointed that we didn’t get to 75% in year 1. I expected more. But nothing can be done about that.
12 Nov 2012, 09:09 am
@stormersboy-93: Heinke was great. I remember when PDV was still U/21 coach he said that Heinke was the strongest bugger he ever coached.
12 Nov 2012, 09:09 am
@katman-96: Who was it that didn’t want to come over?? I forget now.
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