Boks striving hard for cutting edge
14 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, reports Springbok forwards coach and technical analyst Johann van Graan says the evolution of their attacking game will take time and is dependent on a range of factors.
The Springboks’ attacking method has been widely lamented as being overly pragmatic and bordering on conservative. Their focus on gaining territory through tactical kicking has, however, reaped considerable reward. Their time spent in the opposition’s 22m compares favourably with the All Blacks, the difference being how clinical the world champions have been once there.
On Monday Heyneke Meyer lamented the ‘unacceptable’ return of tries considering their opportunities in what he described as the ‘goal zone’. ‘The top teams in the world get points when they get in there,’ he said. ‘It may be a coaching or inexperience thing, but it has to improve. We get in the right areas and we get clean ball, but we don’t convert.’
I’ve maintained that the the focus of the criticism of the Springboks has been wrong. How they get into the opposition’s 22m has been targeted, but what they do with possession while there is the real problem.
It would be remiss not to note the affect injuries, (particularly among the back division) have had on the team’s attacking potency. There has never been a settled combination, while three different flyhalves have started, with Elton Jantjies coming on as an early replacement at Soccer City.
However, how they resolve this deficiency should be a matter of great concern. They’ve desperately lacked imagination, flair, unpredictability and precision when shifting the ball wide. Van Graan, who is also involved in the attacking play, said they had a vision of a preferable outcome, but stressed that there are prerequisites for them to get there.
‘You don’t get the end result immediately, its a process. As soon as you get into a winning habit, combinations settle and you gain experience as a team, you can start evolving,’ he said. ‘There have been some massive moments in our game development, with Bryan Habana’s try in Soweto being a prime example of where we want to go with our game. But game development is about tweaking the small things and surprising the opposition like that.’
The Springboks have relied heavily on their rolling maul as an attacking weapon. However, denied the territory they covet against Ireland in the first half on Saturday, they looked impotent and rudderless. They recovered well and were able to hurt Ireland with their rolling maul. But Van Graan warned that this facet of play will come under stern examination against Scotland at Murrayfield once more.
‘It is a big part of the our game. Our base is so vital and the tight five work hard to keep that base up. Once it is then they can’t sack you. From there it’s technique and synergy. It’s when we use it and where you use it,’ he said.
‘You also have to show respect to the opposition, most of the northern hemisphere teams stop the maul quite well by blocking off your middle and back options, and give you the front ball. They hit and sack you there. So you have to be clever and perhaps take a risk.’
He also noted the Scots’ focus on stifling the recycle at the breakdown. They succeeded in patches early in the game in this regard against the All Blacks, before the tourists stepped up their tackle fight and consistently got over the gainline to deny them a crack at the contest.
Van Graan continued, extolling their hosts’ other strengths.
‘They’ve shown that once they get into the 22m, it doesn’t matter how good the defence is, they can keep the ball. They did that quite well against the All Blacks. They’ve also got some big runners in the backline and their mauling and lineout is one of their big strengths. We’ll have to be clever in countering that,’ he noted.
167 Comments
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14 Nov 2012, 09:17 am
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-101::lol: there are lots of people out there like me trying to make a difference, we are mostly ignored by society as the the loony fringe ”fcked up, nuerotic and emotional” I believe the phrase is.
14 Nov 2012, 10:34 am
@Brads-150: Well said Brads.
Well it makes sense I suppose – the management seem to think that any kind of chip ‘n chase, up and under ‘n chase, or grubber ‘n chase is the way they want to play…….
Sigh… this is why Meyer always says there’s nothing wrong with the game plan, it is the execution that is at fault.
In laymans terms: when we skop the ball we are not good enough at getting it back again……
Here’s a thought Heyneke; why not KEEP the ball. I know its a novel idea, but having worked so hard to secure the ball we then think its intelligent to kick it away with the sole purpose of getting it back again.
Not only is this strategy stoopid, it is also about as exciting as watching a weed grow…..
14 Nov 2012, 10:37 am
I see that the Scottish ******** have stated the following:
”We’ve beaten both teams (South Africa and Tonga) before and I’m sure we will do again.”
we need to destroy them so badly that they decide to stop playing rugby.
Now this, boys, makes me furious.
For the Scottish to even think that they have a chance is not a good sign.
I hope we put 50 past ‘em
14 Nov 2012, 11:07 am
Just announced. Apart from Steyn, not a bad team.
15-J Taute
14-JP Pietersen
13-Z Kirchner
12-P Lambie
11-J de Jongh
10-M Steyn
9-F Hougaard
8-D Vermeulen
7-W Alberts
6-F Louw
5-J Kruger
4-E Etsebeth
3-J du Plessis
2-A Strauss (c)
1-H van der Merwe
16-C Ralepelle
17-G Steenkamp
18-CJ van der Linde
19-F van der Merwe
20-M Coetzee
21-J Vermaak
22-E Jantjies
23-L Mvovo
14 Nov 2012, 11:08 am
@Finfan-154: LOL, you almost had me there.
14 Nov 2012, 11:40 am
@Finfan-154:
Funny one.
That is one k ak backline though.
14 Nov 2012, 11:55 am
@Finfan-154: just play Vermeulen Prop ( he is slow enough) and the team is perfect
14 Nov 2012, 11:57 am
@capebull-157:
I would still have Vermeulen (prop) in team than missing in action Britney any day of the week…
Spies may be fast, but he runs away from action…
14 Nov 2012, 11:59 am
@Gumboots-158: Arno boet, Arno
14 Nov 2012, 12:04 pm
@capebull-159:
Ano who? I think he has played about two games for the Bulls and you want to make him a bok. Are you HM?
14 Nov 2012, 12:11 pm
@Gumboots-160: No but, I can not take this poster prop anymore.
He was voted IRB player of the year in a team that incuded
Eben,
Goosen, Kolisi , Taute, ect
By the way , you don’t seem to have a problem with Rhule in the team ??
14 Nov 2012, 12:16 pm
Team announced
Juan and Gurthro to start but no Jantjies on the bench
Heyneke you racist *****.
Morne is super waste
14 Nov 2012, 12:23 pm
@capebull-161: Well it’s a pity he is going to spend most of the next 3 years sitting on the bench for the Bulls
Spies gets to be your captain and 8th man until 2015…..Arno, well bless his little heart, he will have to move somewhere else to get gametime, won’t he?
He won’t even make the Bok squad next year, if he spends the whole S15 sitting on the bench or playing 15 minute cameos out of position. (And don’t come with this sh yte about if ‘Spies is injured’ – he was injured now, he will never be injured again. Spies will also not be rotated…..)
What are the Bulls going to do?
14 Nov 2012, 12:50 pm
@Finfan-154: Bud – that would actually have been an awesome team! Maybe Elton at 10 – that would have been very interesting to see. Like Lambie at 12, Taute at 15. Even de Jongh at 11 makes sense. I would have loved to see those combos
14 Nov 2012, 20:44 pm
What makes it so difficult to teach a Springbok rugby player to offload in the tackle or to spot a gap?
****, these guys probably count under the 100 top rugby players in the world.
Or is it more difficult to change the bulldoze and place the ball mindset. Something that just takes over when a player receives the ball?
14 Nov 2012, 20:52 pm
@MaximusLudicrusHumorus-132: Funny doctor S Well needed
9 Dec 2012, 20:36 pm
Poor rye.
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