Halfback horror hampers Boks
24 Nov 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the poor execution of the kicking game as well as indecision with ball in hand contributed to another disappointing Springbok attacking performance.
Even if the weather was fair, you wouldn’t have bet on defence-oriented teams like England and South Africa playing an adventurous brand. What would have been expected was a high level of accuracy, and a degree of consistency that may have allowed either team to build some defence-compromising momentum.
It was not to be, as England and South Africa delivered attacking performances of the lowest order.
Only one try was scored in this contest, and even that was down to luck rather than sustained pressure. The Boks enjoyed many a venture into English territory, but their poor hands, lack of accuracy at the breakdown, and shocking decision-making culled many a promising movement.
Ultimately, it was a ricocheting ball that fell favourably for the try-scorer Willem Alberts. It was a big moment in the game, with Pat Lambie converting the try to extend South Africa’s lead to 10 points.
But just as the Boks had struggled to build and finish their opportunities, they made a pig’s ear of closing out the match. Their halfbacks put them under pressure with some territory-costing mistakes, and the visitors were fortunate that this very poor England team was not able to capitalise.
Ruan Pienaar had one of his worst Tests in a Springbok shirt. Some may argue that the conditions made it difficult to control the ball or kick tactically with any great accuracy. But it wasn’t just Pienaar’s execution that was at fault, but his decision-making as well.
Pienaar’s first attempted clearance was charged down by the English. Why he didn’t pass the ball to Lambie, who was safely back in the pocket, only the scrumhalf will know.
Pienaar struggled to recover from that early blunder. He made another mistake when a subsequent clearance failed to find touch, and England were allowed to counter-attack given nobody had chased the kick. The end result was a penalty goal for Toby Flood.
The Bok scrumhalf would miss touch again after an England kickoff, and again this handed the hosts possession and territory. It has been a successful tactic in the past, but on this occasion, Pienaar battled to get sufficient hang-time on his box-kicks, and the chasers were rarely given an opportunity to compete and reclaim possession.
Pienaar was consistently poor, while Lambie was just inconsistent. The conditions weren’t conducive to throwing the ball around, but there were several attacking opportunities deep in English territory where Lambie made the wrong decision to grubber, chip and skip pass.
Things didn’t go the Boks’ way at scrum time, but the lineout was in fantastic form. While the forwards blew hot and cold at the attacking ruck, there was enough momentum created in English territory for the Boks to have scored several more tries.
England were not only poor with ball in hand, but in front of goal as well. Flood missed two kickable opportunities early on, and that ensured that they didn’t get full reward for their territorial dominance. It also ensured that a couple of Pienaar’s errors went unpunished.
The Boks overplayed the kick-chase tactic. There was a clear example where Pienaar unleashed Francois Hougaard down the left hand touchline, and then followed in support. When Pienaar collected a pass from Hougaard, he then decided to launch the garryowen. It was but one of many instances where the Boks surrendered possession cheaply, and another example of their lack of synergy.
Lambie produced some neat touches in the second stanza, with some well weighted probes earning the Boks good field position. Unfortunately, the Boks could not keep the ball for more than a couple of phases before knocking on or conceding a penalty.
Unsurprisingly, England’s best try-scoring opportunity was from the counter-attack. Pienaar collected one of the many wayward England lineout feeds and found Lambie in support. Ruck ball was recycled quickly, but the Boks failed once again to make this chance count.
Instead, a pass landed in the clutches of England centre Manu Tuilagi. The Boks were fortunate that England’s skills let them down later in the movement.
England enjoyed more and more chances as the clock wound down, and again, Pienaar and Lambie were guilty of a brain explosion apiece.
The Boks had a scrum on their own 22, and Pienaar showed a poor appreciation for the laws by kicking the ball dead. Lambie then contributed with an elementary error, sending a kickoff into touch.
There were other players who underperformed and lost their concentration at key moments of this contest, and not all of the blame can be laid at the halfbacks’ door. However, the Boks are fortunate that England did not capitalise on the majority of Pienaar and Lambie’s mistakes.
It was a performance that would have done little to advance either player’s cause for a permanent starting position.
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146 Comments
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24 Nov 2012, 22:46 pm
@SIumtown-98: **** off ******** Thats not me again . Some d00s is taking my nick and being an ***.
24 Nov 2012, 22:48 pm
@Slumtown-101: lol
24 Nov 2012, 22:48 pm
@Kaizan-100: Not me some dumb twat using my nick
24 Nov 2012, 22:49 pm
@Slumtown-103: haha no worries man. This site is full of trolls.
24 Nov 2012, 22:54 pm
@Kaizan-104: lol
floaters i call them.
25 Nov 2012, 00:10 am
Now poor Lambie must take some of the blame because Pienaar was utter kak.
Lambie was not great but he was not a “horror” show either.
That would be Pienaar.
25 Nov 2012, 00:25 am
Ricky Januarie plays better rugby than both Pienaar and Hougard.
25 Nov 2012, 03:06 am
HM continues with a kicking gameplan without the players available to him to execute it. So disappointing.
25 Nov 2012, 03:43 am
The Boks wasted so many attacking opportunities by kicking away the ball – if it wasn’t Pienaar kicking then it was Lambie. I fail to see how kicking everything back to a team creates more pressure than mixing it up. The Boks need a 9 that gets the ball out quickly… time to put the box kick to rest. The All Black scrummie maybe does two box kicks a game most…
25 Nov 2012, 03:53 am
So happy I left SA. Would’ve been in jail long time ago. Dealing with dumb South Africans is something no one should have to do. Few trying to make a difference but when you read comments made by the vroue-slaners and kroeg-vliee then there is no hope. HM should resign and go over to Australia or somewhere else. He doesn’t need to be told what to do by kennisgestremdes. Same goes for players. Good for you Jake. Peter Div, we will take you in with open arms too.
25 Nov 2012, 03:57 am
@Big Jack-110: Good riddance.
25 Nov 2012, 04:06 am
Snivelling …. You should be happy
25 Nov 2012, 04:10 am
@Big Jack-112: I am klein Jackie
25 Nov 2012, 05:39 am
@Bokhoring-23:
Then you obviously didn’t watch the games he did play. Nearly every game he played in the S15 his attacking ability was on display and ditto for the Boks. He made several line breaks that no other flyhalf has made in years. Did he deliver complete performances? No. Will he live up to his promise? Who knows. He is 20 and just made his debut but his ability is clear to see for all but the most cynical.
25 Nov 2012, 06:12 am
Lambie was OKEY yesterday, but Pienaar was UBER pathetic…
25 Nov 2012, 07:03 am
Ruan P: same old, same old. Confidence player of note. He starts k-a-k, he ends k-a-k. He starts well, he ends well (although to be honest, even when playing well – by his standards – he is still slow and k-a-k, just a little less k-a-k).
No more Pienaar please. EVER. Dankie.
Lambie had an ok game, hell, Carter would look k-a-k next to Pienaar, so no harsh words for the Lamb after that performance.
For the haters
Duane Vermeulen…Duane Vermeuelen…Duane Vermeulen. The defence fuckingRESTS. Finally.
25 Nov 2012, 07:26 am
jacques rudolph should be dropped…waste of space…
25 Nov 2012, 07:30 am
@Transformation-117: I don’t really want to talk about cricket
Whatafuckingdisaster.
Sidenote: What was with Heyneke throwing cheap smirks at the end of the game, as though he had just unearthed some hidden secret. I wouldn’t be smirking if I were him…..idioticflowerpot.
25 Nov 2012, 07:33 am
@Transformation-117: uyibukele iTonga?
25 Nov 2012, 07:36 am
@Transformation-117:
Agree.
Been saying it since after the England series. They’ve given him all the chances in the world. He is just not up to it in the test arena.
What’s your verdict on the Boks performance yesterday?
25 Nov 2012, 07:38 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-118:
Throwing cheap smirks?
Jissus you are a bigger nutjob than he is.
25 Nov 2012, 07:52 am
@Transformation-117:
Here you go Transie. Meyer raving about the Boks defence again.
“Our defense was awesome. There wasn’t any space and it was a wet ball. But our discipline was very good. We talked about it before the time and we really did well with that. We only conceded one try on the whole tour and I am very happy about that.”
25 Nov 2012, 07:56 am
@nama1-120: boks haven’t made any progress in their attack since the 1st game vs england. last game of the year & we still played like we are scared of losing than intent on annihilating the opposition…ruan played his best FdP impersonation gister kicking all our possession away…
25 Nov 2012, 08:04 am
@Transformation-123:
How many tries scored by the Boks in the 12 test matches this year? Any idea?
One against Scotland last week and a lucky packet one yesterday. Can’t remember if we scored against Ireland.
25 Nov 2012, 08:06 am
@nama1-122: he is right…against these staid northern hemisphere attacks our defence looks s.exy, we monstered england in the collisions & only because they’re as unambitious as we are on attack.
25 Nov 2012, 08:07 am
@nama1-124:
Sorry.
One against Ireland (by Pienaar)
Two last week (by Strauss)
One yesterday.
4 tries scored on this tour.
25 Nov 2012, 08:20 am
@skopdiekan-9: Skop The English loose trio ran into Lambies channel all day His defence immense
25 Nov 2012, 08:33 am
@Mr Gambino-66: First name Carlo?
You a made man?
Capo di tutti capi?
25 Nov 2012, 08:39 am
@Slumtown-93: Very weak on defence.Are you the real slumtown?
25 Nov 2012, 08:46 am
@nama1-106: Well said Nama.A lot to
discuss later.Particularly about ZK
25 Nov 2012, 09:57 am
True, Pienaar didn’t have a good game with the boot but our scrums were a mess. I don’t profess to be a scrum expert but the overhead cam at Twickenham gave a perfect view of what looked like extremely illegal scrumming by the England loose-head. Surely that pedantic school master of a referee could see that ?? It seemed like he walked onto the pitch determined to find something wrong with the Boks….and he’s the best the NH can supply ??
25 Nov 2012, 10:28 am
@Nama1-126:
HM said, “Attack puts bums on seats, defence wins trophies”. Well at this rate, by the time we win a trophy, there’ll be no one there to see it!
25 Nov 2012, 11:15 am
The game was not a display of quality running rugby. However I think Lambie tried things at 10 of which I was impressed with his performance.
England were pumped and deserved more than they got, however it also showed how England have a long way to go. They tried to play an expansive game, which they cannot execute. They are not the Ozzies or the AB’s. The sooner they realize that the better.
25 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
Thought Lambie wasn’t too bad – notwithstanding the kick into touch at the precise moment of the game from kick-off, was inexcusable for a test fly-half – but his place kicking, which is critictal in these conditions and with these tactics, was pretty good.
But as for Pienaar, whose talent I have supported for a long time, but no more – it looked like he was trying to lose the game for us single-handedly: just appalling execution, self-play and decision-making – he is too consistently erratic to play a position that holds so much responsibility.
25 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
Lambie tried things. The team needs a bit more consistency as a unit.
They get that right then Sky’s the limit. England are not that good and it showed.
25 Nov 2012, 11:24 am
@J.B. Cowper-134: Pienaar had a nightmare game. We need a replacement trained up.
Possibe Replacements:
Vermaak of the Bulls
Piet Van Zyl Cheetahs
Charl Mcloed. Sharks
Hougaard (for me, this man is not a scrum-half, and he would have been worse than Pienaar at 9)
25 Nov 2012, 12:33 pm
@ryecatcher-129: yep that was me – i know his defence aint great but Pienaars is equally atrocious – at least Pretorius attack will be miles better. Give me Sarel over Ruaan any day thanks.
25 Nov 2012, 12:34 pm
@Tbozknows-136: Charl McCleod is just as bad. He makes crucial mistakes at the most innoportune of times. I dont rate McCleod at all.
25 Nov 2012, 19:00 pm
I dont like Ruan Pienaar. Anyone seen him trying to tackle? He looks afraid
25 Nov 2012, 19:12 pm
its time to put pienaar out to pasture
25 Nov 2012, 21:29 pm
WP are Currie Cup CHAMPIONS !!!! Champions, Champions, Champions !!!!
25 Nov 2012, 23:42 pm
Exactly right! Pienaar was so p iss poor it was scary……….we have plenty of better 9′s around, someone who is abrasive and snipes around the base and who………….never gets his bloody kicks charged down……what is it with this plonker??
25 Nov 2012, 23:43 pm
And I’m sick of his hung puppy, “the whole world is against me” look.
Grow a pair Pienaar!
25 Nov 2012, 23:46 pm
@Big Jack-110:
Doos comment!
26 Nov 2012, 06:55 am
@Transformation-123: At least FDP kicked well, Ruan kicked poorly. he was terrible against a average team, England have improved but they have a long way to go. The Aussies showed these boys up for what they are. They try the expansive thing and get caught, they need to go back to their own traditional ways.
26 Nov 2012, 14:00 pm
U must have been watching a different game, bambie was below average at best! over rated little boy!
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