Plenty for Meyer to ponder
26 Nov 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that while the Springboks made significant strides as a defensive unit in Europe, their attacking and kicking execution was well below standard.
The Boks have succeeded as far as they have obtained results. A three-from-three return has seen them finishing the season with a record of seven wins in 12 Tests, and the No 2 ranking in the world.
The stats make for encouraging if not completely satisfying reading, but then another stat will evoke the necessary sense of perspective.
The All Blacks are No 1 in the world, nearly six rankings points clear of the second-placed Boks. They’ve already swept aside three opponents on their current tour of Europe, averaging 42 points a game.
They are likely to beat England this weekend, and following that their tour will be hailed as a success both in terms of development and results.
The Boks ticked one of these boxes recently, but did they check the other? I would argue that certain individuals have impressed on this tour, as have specific areas of the Bok game, but what has also been evident is a lack of progress in other key departments. Take the results out of the equation, and it’s a real mixed bag.
Let’s start with the positives. The loose forwards have been immense on this tour, with Willem Alberts living up to the hype generated by Meyer himself earlier in the 2012 season. Francois Louw has lent the Boks a game breaking defensive quality at the breakdown, while Duane Vermeulen is the other very significant piece to the back-row puzzle.
Meyer is in a good position knowing that Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies should all be fit by June next year. But at this point, you’d have to say that Louw, Alberts and Vermeulen have taken their opportunity as far as establishing a well-balanced combination is concerned. Burger and Smith are particularly good players, but they are going to need to win back their starting positions via a strong showing in the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
A much improved Bok lineout was the preferred launchpad on the recent tour to Europe. The maul proved highly effective, and the lineout itself provided the team with some terrific attacking ball. It was unfortunate that this Bok side could not exploit such dominance by maintain their attacking momentum beyond two or three phases.
Adriaan Strauss and Eben Etzebeth completed outstanding breakout Test seasons with some influential performances at the lineout and collisions. Strauss complemented Louw and Vermeulen with his breakdown prowess, while Etzebeth starred through his contesting at the lineout and aggression on defence.
Where the Bok forwards have struggled for consistency is at the attacking breakdowns and at the scrum. These are just two of the reasons why the attack has failed to function.
Meyer and his skipper Jean de Villiers are right to say this tour has witnessed a significant growth in the defensive department. However, it should be noted that the Boks were guilty of putting themselves under defensive pressure over the course of the three matches. Through a misfiring attack and an inconsistent tactical kicking display, they have spent more time tackling than they would have intended.
It was a masterstroke bringing Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar back into the mix, and he should play a big role as a decision maker and tactician in the year to come. Unfortunately, Pienaar had a bad game against England, and this in turn placed undue pressure on the rest of the team. Pat Lambie struggled to assert himself with the tactical boot, and overall the Boks lost the territorial battle.
On the eve of the tour, I wrote that it would be a defining one for Lambie. I said that Meyer needed to back him in all three matches, and that after an extended run the Bok coach would have a clearer idea of Lambie’s potential in that pivot position.
Lambie started all three matches at flyhalf, and while he wasn’t always consistent, he still made some big contributions.
In difficult conditions at Twickenham, he battled to control the game and was guilty of some very basic errors, and yet, there were also several instances where he booted the Boks into good positions.
He also allayed fears related to the Boks’ goal-kicking form (they had averaged just 51% prior to this tour) with a perfect display at a stormy Twickenham. That cannot be downplayed in a Test where the Boks won by a single point.
For all of that, I would be surprised if Meyer declared Lambie’s tour a complete success. He has done enough to ensure that the period of assessment will be extended into next year, and yet, there is much to sharpen.
The inconsistencies up front may have compromised the efficiency of the backline, but there were more than a few instances on the past tour where the backs failed to make the most of their attacking opportunities.
This is something that Meyer needs to address in the coming months. Injuries have prevented much continuity in selection, but that back division hasn’t played with any discernible freedom or confidence, and that has led to too many missed scoring chances.
This tour has underlined why the Boks are well behind the All Blacks in the rankings, and why they may continue to struggle in the elite clashes (read against Australia and New Zealand) in 2013.
The kicking game requires attention as does the Boks’ inability to finish try-scoring opportunities once they’ve attained the necessary field position. They may have finished the year with three wins, but they are not yet operating at a level where they can challenge for the No 1 spot.
Follow JC on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
19 Comments
26 Nov 2012, 05:27 am
Heineken Dragons!
26 Nov 2012, 05:50 am
Totally disagree about Pienaar being masterstoke. His performance this year has meant it was a mastermistake! His true strength is in tactical kicking and supposedly in Europe. On this tour his kicking has been a total flop and he put Lambie under undue pressure by his slow distribution.
Compare what Lambie does (for The Sharks) with ball delivered quickly.
We have the talent but we have a lot to fix.
26 Nov 2012, 06:51 am
@Maljan-2: who would you have paid given the scrum-half conundrum?
Hougaard is not a scrumhalf. I think he had a good game on the wing at Twickenham. He ran elusively and he gained yards.
Van Zyl is as good as Ben Youngs in my book.
Duvenhage is another Scrumhalf that runs the game very well.
Mcloed is not bad either.
26 Nov 2012, 07:11 am
Ruan had a shocker on saturday!! I dont think in any of the games he was a good as this article points out. His service was slow and predictable. Which put alot of pressure on Lambie. Lets face it the way we play now we will never win the world cup. The All blacks are leagues ahead of us. Even with all of our top players coming back.
26 Nov 2012, 07:18 am
Forwards did ok, good to see Cilliers bring energy to the game and HvM did a good job.
Pienaar is not the future, he almost single handedly f…d the boks at Twickers, get rid of him and play a specialist who can tackle and change the tempo of the game. If i ever see a turnover then put on up and under by no9 I will cry.
When did the Boks secure clean ball of first phase … hardly ever. I feel Lambie did ok but we need some invention at 10 and that is Goosen.
Lets hope FS is back and fit as JdV is looking tired ..
The rest so so .. the debate on JdJ remains, teh bok game plan does not involve a 13 of his size.
NEW BACKLINE COACH PLEASE !!!!!
26 Nov 2012, 07:32 am
New gameplan and almost an entirely new backline would also help.
26 Nov 2012, 07:36 am
I am thinking Pretorius, Goosen, Swiel, JDJ, Jordaan, Aplon, Frans need to be in the mix so we can play proper 15 man rugby.
26 Nov 2012, 07:37 am
@patch-4: Agree .. he kicked a penalty dead, kicked straight out, up and under on a turn over on eng 22 .. and does not help his fwds secure ruck ball. In addition he is sh*t scared of the rough stuff ..
We have FH who can tackle, run and stands up when pressure is on. He just needs an educated boot and some experience.
26 Nov 2012, 07:38 am
Don’t forget about Le Roux and Coetzee either.
26 Nov 2012, 07:40 am
@Tbozknows-3: Give them all a clear picture of what Bok coach wants and the 2013 S15 to deliver … state now Ruan will not be selected so others know they are in play.
26 Nov 2012, 08:13 am
The future of scrummies must be between hougi reinach and van zyl… Point. Whilst the flyhalves must only be between goosen lambie and jantjies in no particular order… As for centers either fransie pair up with de jong, mapoe, pietersen or engelbrecht-in particular order… And then lastly taute need to be the incumbent for the fullback role with lambie second and kirchner 3th… All in all next year have to be
9-hougi 10-goosen 11-habana 12-fransie 13-de jong 14-pietersen 15-taute
20-reinach/van zyl 21-lambie 22-mapoe…
Habana need to be managed and I think mapoe is more then capable of settling in for the outside center/wing berth with lambie covering flyhalf and fulback… Minor adjustments to the pack(major conundrum on the loose-trio) but next year we will be in a beter position for dominance!
26 Nov 2012, 08:16 am
@3. Tbozknows – anyone of Sarel Pretorius, Mcleod or Vermaak would be a better option than Pienaar. Hougaard’s only problem is his box kick – his technique is wrong and lends itself to being charged down. But otherwise, he’s a very good scrummie! Hougaard and Pretorius would be my choices.
26 Nov 2012, 08:43 am
Cardinelli, if your merry troop of Stormers forwards who were the shining light of everything good about the Boks, why were they monstered at the breakdown in each and every game.
Little wonder our wings and JdJ etc hardly saw the ball in 3 test matches.
Flo, at the breakdown was huge, as was Alberts, who was forced to hit rucks because Eben is told to stand off as a runner. Vermuelen was massive in D agains teh Poms but did very little else to suggest he is a classic no 8. He is a blindside flanker. End of story.
Its absolutely no surprise that whenever the Boks were good at the breakdown, Pienaar and Lambies’ games improved immesurably. (except for Pienaar against the Poms, he was diabolical against them.)
I actually thought Lambie played alright. Trying little chips and grubbers behind the defensive line etc. Oh and his place kicking was the difference on Saturday.
26 Nov 2012, 09:19 am
@Maljan-12: Mcleod was the worst Super 15 scrumhalf in the country this year. He is diabolically bad. It’s a wonder that the Sharks did as well as they did with his awful service and woeful decision-making. And Plumtree clearly knows it, as he was dropped during the CC.
26 Nov 2012, 10:12 am
@ArtVandelay 14 – you picked on someone’s vocab on another topic. Perhaps you should brush up on your comprehension. Read my post again (12) and see who I recommend! I am in agreement that McLeod didn’t have the best of seasons, but at least he would still get the backline going better than Pienaar who is putting the brakes on the Bok’s at the moment!
26 Nov 2012, 10:50 am
I hope Lambie gets an extended run at flyhalf. There’s something special about the guy. He will get better. With him and Goosen in the mix our problems at FH have been resolved largely.
I have always been a supporter of Pienaar, but he has not been able to ignite the backline attack. Safe option, but not fire lighter option. We need some hardegat scrumhalf ala Gegan, Joost. I think Hougaard could be that one.
26 Nov 2012, 11:13 am
Hi Guys,
Just a quick thought. Before the game, Heyneke clearly stated that he put Jantjies on the bench to give him exposure to a strong northern hemisfere team in their conditions. He also said that it will be good for the players development to play at Twickers in front of almost 80 000 people. All good points, but Jantjies did not get ANY game time. Heyneke must watch out for setting himself up to fail. Don’t make statements and then change your mind. I understand that the game was on a knife’s edge, thus sticking to the guys on the field.But then he should not have gone through all the trouble of making those statements before the game. I dislike politics in sport, but Heyneke should know that there allways going to be certain elements that will have their knives out for him. He should not be handing them the ammo. Don’t get too much of a sense of security, White had 4 years, Divvy had 4 years, but that does not mean Heyneke WILL have 4 years. Think back, Ian Mac, Carel, Markgraaf, Nick Mallet and Harry Viljoen, to name a few.
26 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@MG-17: I think just about everyone is as frustrated about Jantjies’ lack of game time as you are. And I think HM realize what you’re saying about the knife’s edge he is balancing on. I suspect that is the reason why he failed to do in this tour what he promised 6 months ago. He said he would use this tour to build his team by giving a number of players, that could be in his squad in the future, a chance. But considering his situation, where the Boks did badly in the Championship, he had to play the safe card by using players that he thought would pull it through.
I suspect he is just as frustrated. Poor idiot. Probably feel slightly vindicated after 3 wins, but in 3 years he’ll be very annoyed with his decision.
Strauss’ biggest headache at this stage would be that the injured ‘stars’ coming back will have to compete with players that were actually the standout players this year. In other words, he won’t be filling gaps, just dropping his news ‘stars’.
27 Nov 2012, 02:40 am
It really is about time that Sarel pretorius is given a chance. He is a one man defensive team, his sniping around the fringes is legendary, and he is fit and fast to clear out rucks double time. his kicking is OK, but it is his sniping that forces teams to be honest on defnce, buying space for the rest of the backline. Most importantly, his decisions are consistently good, and he reads open play brilliantly.
It is very frustrating for me not seeing him given a chance (imagine what it musrt be like for him!). I cant believe that those Waratahs never made him first choice – that to me is an indication of their lack of coaching ability.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.