Gulf between Boks and Blacks
24 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in London, reports Jean de Villiers feels there is a significant difference in class between the All Blacks and his Springboks and that will take some bridging.
The world champions have been denied victory just once in 2012 (they’ve won 19 of their last 20 Tests), drawing with Australia. Their hot streak has featured some sublime performances, and they have become the benchmark against which many measure the Springboks. This was particularly evident when the Blacks put 50 on Scotland and the Springboks stuttered to an 11-point victory in Edinburgh a week later.
These comparisons are, of course, unfair on De Villiers’ young and inexperienced side. The Blacks’ standing now has been years in the making, while the Springboks are in the infancy of their journey. De Villiers was liberal in his praise of the Blacks, but also appealed for some perspective when judging the Springboks.
‘I think that gap is very big still between us and them. But then you look at the Dunedin result and we were in the game in Soweto before they outplayed us and we think that we’re really getting there,’ he said.
‘That’s a special team. They are showing the value of experience and of settled combinations. It takes time to build something like that. We’ve said a lot about soft moments costing us games this season, and experience helps to lower the chance of that. As an experienced player you’ve been there, made those mistakes and learned from it. Its about getting through that rough patch, and if they do the value will be there to see.’
But while the standard of measurement is likely to remain the All Blacks and consistent victory over them, De Villiers stressed the importance of the result at Twickenham against England in the context of their season.
‘The reality is that if you don’t win you’re looking at a 50% win ratio, which is below this team’s standards,’ he said. ‘We’ve only lost three [and drawn two], but it is important for us to win this one so we can go into next year with confidence. We’ve worked hard and had a reasonably successful tour from a results point of view. But we have to step up in different facets of our game, especially the attack.’
In saying that De Villiers touched on a sore point for the bulk of the South African rugby fraternity. The Springboks have scored just three tries on tour against opposition considered inferior, which has fuelled the widely held belief that they are conservative to the point of it being terminal. De Villiers disagrees.
‘There’s always ambition. The opponents don’t always allow you to do what you want. But you get judged by the result and people quickly forget about how you played when you win. History will reflect the score not the style,’ he said.
The Springboks will keep believing that they can replicate the try-scoring feats of the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Bulls (who led the tournament for try scoring in the last two of those years), whose method was identical. De Villiers pointed out that the lower standards of defence in Super Rugby had to be considered, but agreed that that is ultimately was where they wanted to take their attacking game.
‘We’re still very far off that. The way that they achieved that is with exactly the same game plan. It comes down to the decision making and clinical finishing, which is where we’ve lacked. Also those were very settled sides. That is the end goal.
‘We won’t lose focus of where we’re going and sticking to what we’re good at. If we can do that and win, I’m happy. We can’t please everybody. The flip side is that the high expectation is so crucial. Once you lose that and people don’t care anymore, then you’re in trouble. Our standards will drop and we won’t be able to get to No 1.’
315 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 » Show All
23 Nov 2012, 14:34 pm
this gulf should not exist!
23 Nov 2012, 14:34 pm
That gulf will remain as long as the Boks are coached the they are currently. If HM doesn’t get any decent backline coaches etc the Boks will remain very dour.
23 Nov 2012, 14:36 pm
You are the problem!
23 Nov 2012, 14:50 pm
cheating and being allowed to get away with it is the problem.
23 Nov 2012, 14:51 pm
Useless article! We all know that is the current situation.
It should not exist and doesnt have to. But some of the factors are under SARU’s control and some solutions require the provinces losing power. Will that happen?
23 Nov 2012, 14:52 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-4: Definitely one of the problems! But the Boks cant allow AB’s favourable treatment stop them from porgressing. Currently our backline, 9 and 10 are nowhere near where they should be.
Our pack is better than NZ. AS often is the case.
23 Nov 2012, 14:52 pm
@grant10-1: Agree 100% with you Grant.
You forgot your “Dragons” though
23 Nov 2012, 14:53 pm
Off with his head !!!!!!!!!!!!
What a thing to say for the publIc, I don’t like it at all, all this honesty, first Hoohaa, now him. Kiwis must be loving it.
Yaryar mate those bl**dy saffas admitting they inferior, we can really stick it to them during rucks,mauls whatever, totally destroy their confidence.
Sometimes you just need to STFU….
23 Nov 2012, 14:56 pm
As the latest SA Rugby mag points out – a few more penalties kicked and it wouldve been very different.
1 more in 3rd Test v England – win
One more in Mendoza – win
3 or 4 more in NZ – a famous win
Boks couldve been something like 7 wins, 2 losses.
Who was kicking again in those games?
23 Nov 2012, 14:58 pm
@Treehugger-8: hahaha, nah I think its a good move.
Boks are best with underdog tag.
They also emphasizing the youth and inexperience in the side mainly for England to focus on
23 Nov 2012, 15:03 pm
Defeatist Donkey De Villiers…
No ballas… Clearly.
23 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@bokfan1-10: next thing they will be all touchy feely and wanting to discuss how sensitive they are and in touch with their feminine side.
23 Nov 2012, 15:04 pm
@bokfan1-9: You are so deluded. First it’s the cheating and then it’s what could have been if SA had a better kicker.
23 Nov 2012, 15:06 pm
@Heavens Game-11:
“Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood.”
De Villiers has no manhood…
23 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@bokfan1-6:
absolutely agreed.
pre-isolation boks were far superior backline runners of the ball than the all blacks could ever dream to be and post-isolation the 1998 hard running combos of joost & (lem) honiball, pieter muller & andre snyman were devastating to the kissing cousins. throw slaptjips, montgomery and terblanche into the mix too.
were very very dangerous taking it to the line.
@Treehugger-8:
agreed.
23 Nov 2012, 15:08 pm
“A lost battle is a battle one thinks one has lost.”…
The current Bok Captain thinks of Loss…
23 Nov 2012, 15:08 pm
One consolation….we don’t have a player that wears eye liner and ribbons and beads in his hair. Mrgreen:
23 Nov 2012, 15:09 pm
@Heavens Game-11: Come on HG we can say many things of Jean, but he DEFINITELY has ballas!
23 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
@Treehugger-17: HAHAHAHAHAHA, and uses fake tan! (video on news24)
although Estebeth reckons Nonu tackles the hardest of them all, so maybe there is something to it
23 Nov 2012, 15:10 pm
“Carry the battle to them. Don’t let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don’t ever apologize for anything.”…
Jean is an apologist…
23 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
“he battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.”…
De Villiers has had it too easy… never had to struggle at WP/Stormers… walk out and then walk straight back in without ever having to wait in line…
23 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
@gonzo-13: Sorry Gonzo – that is not the complete view of what I think.
The kicking: what I meant was in reply to Jean’s comments like “…a 50% win ratio” and “History will reflect the score not the style”
How close the margins are in Test rugby.
The ABs have won games they should not have due to unsportsman-like behaviour not being penalised and players not being carded off the field. This has allowed them to get to #1 and increase the gap on #2.
However, Im not sure you can say Im “deluded” because I did also say it might be a factor, but cannot be a reason for the Boks not to progress(@bokfan1-6)
The shortcomings in the Boks are no one’s fault but their own.
- selection
- obsession with size
- players in form
- players out of position
- current assistant coaches good enough?
Also:
- Skills – passing off both hands etc
- Running attack lines
- Running support lines
- offloading in tackle
- Running into space, or at least at weak shoulder
Finally areas like:
- Central contracts with SARU (so players can be rested)
- Knowledge sharing between ex-Bok coaches and current ones
- Handover between coaches
- More continuity of coaches
- SARU politics overall (some ex-coaches excluded, Unions have power, Kings debacle etc)
23 Nov 2012, 15:19 pm
@Heavens Game-21: Right, did JPP, Beast, Kanko wait in line? Talent is recognized and then given chance to grow. JDV is one of our most capped centres of all time, has one many games for the boks, some of them because of a moment of brilliance from him!
Last I checked he had to play wing or was on the bench while De Wet Barry was playing #12.
No your facts buddy.
23 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@Heavens Game-21: Plus he has had to suffer three major injuries right before 3 world cups!
“De Villiers has had it too easy…”
Whatever!
23 Nov 2012, 15:24 pm
Mujati’s Bok Concession Denied:
http://ewn.co.za/2012/11/23/First-on-EWN-Mujati-refused-concession
I agree with the Minister – same laws and procedures for all; no exceptions; no favouratism.
What was HM thinking?
23 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@Angostura-25: That artcile has it dwars, it’s not a IRB regulation keeping Mujati playing for us, but rather our own nationalist ideals driven by communit ANC idiots.
They have no practicality only idealism!
23 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@bokfan1-19: have always rated Nonu, on a good day he is superb.
23 Nov 2012, 15:30 pm
@goodstuff-26:
suggest you read the news clip again – you misunderstand what is being stated.
23 Nov 2012, 15:41 pm
@goodstuff-23: Heavens Game doesn’t care much for facts.
Just for talking nonsense and desperately trying to sound macho while he does it.
His racism on previous posts is also disgusting.
23 Nov 2012, 15:42 pm
Disappointing. Only excuses and deflection from Devilliers. He always talks about building towards something and improving but the reality is the Boks have regressed since the 2nd English test. The only thing they’re building towards is becoming a consistent 60-65 % win-rate team with the occasional win against the AB’s.
Loubscher, Van Graan, Koen, McFarland, the team doctor, the physio who relays Heinekens messages OUT
Mallet, Louden/Campo/CarelDup IN
23 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
@SIumtown-29:
Agreed Slummers. HG is a racist twit.
23 Nov 2012, 15:44 pm
@bokfan1-22: Ok, I’ll let you have that. If only NZ had a better kicker too, we’d have won the world cup in 2007, 2003, 1995.
23 Nov 2012, 15:51 pm
in 2013, I would like to see JDV dropped to the bench. Francois Louw looks like captain material.
Frans Steyn at 12 and any one of JDJ, JP, Jordaan or J Fourie at 13.
New coaches would be a welcome change too. Regardless of whether Heyneke Meyer stays or goes Laubscher, Louis koen and Van Graan have all over-stayed their welcome.
23 Nov 2012, 15:55 pm
@SIumtown-29: I call you a liar… Now before I stop laughing at your frustrated impotence go quote my rampant “racism”, ncau
23 Nov 2012, 15:57 pm
@McAwesome-31: Is he? Much like McAwesome is a typically cowardly sheepshagger… yeah?
23 Nov 2012, 15:57 pm
@Heavens Game-34: Haha have a nice day at school HG. Slumtown and Mcawesome are your teachers today!
23 Nov 2012, 15:59 pm
rubbish…the”gulf” only exists because you lot refuse to play, you are obsessed with percentages & gainline skirmishes…you are afraid you will be exposed as to how poor your skills sets are.
“soft moments” se gat…ireland ran the ball 96 times, you lot 44 times…you do that against well coached attacking sides – who actually have REAL backline & attack coaches – you will see your gat like it happened at FNB stadium…
23 Nov 2012, 15:59 pm
@Kaizan-33: What makes “Francois Louw looks like captain material” genius – he stand 7ft tall and shoot lightning bolts out of his a.rse?
23 Nov 2012, 16:00 pm
pops in the dwang again?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10849568
23 Nov 2012, 16:00 pm
@Heavens Game-34: I have nothing to say to you.
I have been truly disgusted by some of your racist comments on here. It saddens me to think that people like you are still lurking about giving white South Africans and Zimbabweans a bad name.
23 Nov 2012, 16:01 pm
@Kaizan-36: Impotent winky… Come to Daddy and see who plays teacher…
23 Nov 2012, 16:01 pm
@Heavens Game-38: I’m afraid I’m not your teacher today HG.
Slumtown and Mcawesome have that honour/ burden.
Go ask them your questions if youre confused.
23 Nov 2012, 16:02 pm
@SIumtown-40: You’ve just said something… And you are wrong… No evidence, unsubstantiated… Typically dumbfuck….
Obviously
23 Nov 2012, 16:02 pm
@Heavens Game-41: That’s just sif bru. Youre a sif ou.
23 Nov 2012, 16:03 pm
@Kaizan-42:
Sorry Kaizan, I’m not teaching HG anything. No point trying to change the mind of a racist like him.
We’ve all seen his racist rants on previous posts. Just let him be.
Im not going to waste my time on him.
23 Nov 2012, 16:04 pm
@Kaizan-42: No confusion here… Just teaching you little twinkies the difference between realism, racism and bigotry… Not that you would understand, being the lily white mlungu ngulubes you all are…
23 Nov 2012, 16:04 pm
“But you get judged by the result and people quickly forget about how you played when you win. History will reflect the score not the style,’ he said.” We hear this all the time, but I have to strongly disagree! Who remembers most of the teams of the 70s besides the great Welsh team with the likes of the exciting JPR Williams and his ilk? Who knows much about most of the teams of the 80s beyond a team like the Wallabies of the likes of the Ella brothers and Campo?
People don’t remember some dry numbers recorded on a piece of paper, they remember swashbuckling, heart-rate-raising stars who mesmerize us with their style. No-one will remember your lot, JdV. They’ll remember the All Blacks magic and style, not just the numbers on a dry piece of paper.
23 Nov 2012, 16:05 pm
@McAwesome-45: Lol agreed. I have nothing to say to him either.
Saw that you are calling an English win eh?… Wanna put your money where your mouth is?
23 Nov 2012, 16:06 pm
@Heavens Game-46: Unsubscribe.
23 Nov 2012, 16:07 pm
@Kaizan-48: I think they’ll win. They just seem hungrier to me. The time feels right for them to get a win against you, Its coming…
No money though, I’m not that confident
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.