By Etienne
October 30th 2008 @ 12:36am
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Thoughts on the Springbok touring party
I like Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf. I know he’s been vocal about playing 9, but he has two choices: risk being a Chris Whitaker, warming the bench behind Fourie du Preez for most of his career, or taking a shot at being a Steve Larkham, who moved from 9 to 10 to become one of the best flyhalves of the past ten years.
Pienaar’s pretty much the complete package as a rugby player.
He has the kicking game, distribution, running game and goalkicking to be a great flyhalf, but I mostly like his decision-making.
I’m also curious to see how John Smit will do at tighthead. Apparently he’s played there a bit while he was in France and did well. If that’s the case, if he held his ground at tighthead in the French Top 14, then I think he will do well there for the Springboks packing down next to two powerful scrummagers in Bismark and the Beast.
The two best specialist tightheads at the moment, Brian Mujati and Jannie du Plessus, are both very good but not so dominant that I won’t give Smit a chance ahead of them based on his value as captain.
If South Africa had a Karl Hayman, that would’ve been another story.
What I don’t like about the squad is the lack of mentoring and backup. Ruan Pienaar could’ve used Butch’s mentoring and backup. And if Smit doesn’t cut if at tighthead, the Springboks only have one other tighthead to take over.
There are a few players who can consider themselves unlucky to have missed out.
I think Stefan Terblanche is the best 15 in South Africa at the moment. Even if he’s not going to make the next World Cup, he could’ve been very valuable on this tour.
Jean Deysel’s a monster, but it may be a good idea to give him another season of Super 14 rugby before capping him. His time will come, though.
All in all, I’m quite excited about the tour. If Pienaar and Smit slot in effectively at 10 and 3, it’s going to be a good tour.
I’m curious to see where Frans Steyn will be playing, though. It could be 12 - with Jean at 13 - 14 or 15.
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Benjamin said | October 30th 2008 @ 3:24am | Report comment
Smit only played 3 games at 3 for Clermont. It is huge risk by PDV, especially given that Mujati is a weak link. van der Merwe smashed him to bits recently and if Smit is similarly beaten then there is no adequate support. Ignoring Botha and du Plessis was a big mistake. SA have not had a dominant scrum in years and this is a real opportunity missed by PDV.
USRugbyFan said | October 30th 2008 @ 9:21am | Report comment
1) Larkham moved from fullback to flyhalf.
2) IIRC, Smit played tighthead when he was the SA U20 captain and than moved to hooker when he hit the Super 14. He might be rusty for the first couple of games, but I think (hope) he’ll do alright.
Brett McKay said | October 30th 2008 @ 9:31am | Report comment
USRF, Eitienne is actually right about Larkham, but in a roundabout way..
When he first came into the Brumbies squad for the ‘96 season, he was the 3rd or 4th choice No.9, and quickly moved to the outside backs. He played at 13 in the Brumbies first ever S12 game, eventually moved very successfully to 15, and from there went to flyhalf, as you’ve correctly stated. So 9 to 10 is right, by via 13 and 15 along the way…
I am however still struggling with Smit playing thighthead, unless he’s “let himself go” Matt Dunning-style since I last saw him running around!!
TembaVJ said | October 30th 2008 @ 9:37am | Report comment
I cant wait to see the best 10 in the world take to the stage from the bench, I would select Earl Rose at 3, 10 and 15 at the same time
. Earl Rose…. what a joke. He is the only selection that I am not happy with.
van der Merwe said | October 30th 2008 @ 9:57am | Report comment
What about future Protea captain, Chiliboy, Temba? He comes on in the final minutes of the Currie Cup final, throws a skew ball and then goes on to commit an accidental obstruction when the Bulls are in the opposition’s 22… He’s certainly earned his call up, that’s for sure.
Brüssow is supposedly the best fetcher in the country, but to be honest I would rather have seen Deysel selected. He’s easily the most brutal flank I’ve seen in a long time. My ideal back three at the moment would be 6. Burger 7. Deysel 8. Kankowski. Unfortunately, I doubt Ryan will start over Spies as PdV has an attachment to the latter, who played in his under 21 side, apparently. Spies will probably start and move to wing later in the match.
USRugbyFan said | October 30th 2008 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Brett, thanks, I didn’t know that. Learn something new every day I guess.
TembaVJ said | October 30th 2008 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
I cant imagine Larkham at 9….
VDM Chilli has been out the season but is a good player and puppet has to include as many quotas as possible.
John Smit has never let us down and has now done pretty much everything a rugby player wishes to achieve in his career, this move will pump new blood into him and get back a bit more fight. He needs to be on the field but so does BDP. I say lets wait and see, if he does not stand out by the time they play the English they can always call CJ or Botha who is a train trip away.
Earl is an absolute disaster waiting to happen and I agree with some that Deysel needs one more season at S14 level, if Brussow doesnt empress Deysel will be used for Lions tour.
If we are lucky Luke Watson can make it back by that time… we need his puking, no one would want to tackle him now!
Etienne said | October 30th 2008 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
There’s a lot of noise about Earl being the backup 10, but I don’t think people need to stress. I doubt if he’ll make the match 22, except maybe for Scotland. I think Frans Steyn will be the backup 10 in the match 22. I suspect Earl’s inclusion is more a case of giving him some exposure to the Springboks and maybe a run from the bench against Scotland when (if?) the game’s in the bag.
I also think John’s strong enough to play 3. I think his biggest challenge will be technique, so hopefully they’ll be doing scrum after scrum after scrum before the first test to prepare him. Balie Swart has a fair bit of experience playing 3 in big matches (RWC95 semi and final) despite it not being his preferred position (he played loosehead for most of his career), so should be able to help John a lot.
Benjamin said | October 30th 2008 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
Temba, players can only be called up due to injury. Thus if Smit has a hard time PDV will be left either Mujati. I respect Smit as a player but his selection at 3 indicates that he is no longer the best hooker in SA and surely the captain must be the best player in his position. i couldn’t imagine his move across the scrum doing much for the morale of J. du Plessis or Botha. Smit struggled in France and now appears overweight, there is the possibility that his career could be reaching its zenith.
Etienne, that’s a good point about Swart.
brad said | October 30th 2008 @ 11:07pm | Report comment
Smit is definately not the best player but is a very good captain and the boks understand and respect that. He could never make it in France as his leadership was not needed thus he had to rely on his playing skill and was frankly the 3rd choice hooker after Ledesma and the romanian Timku/tincu? Clermont realised that and sent him home very quickly.
Benjamin said | October 30th 2008 @ 11:30pm | Report comment
Brad, just to clarify, the hookers at Clermont are Mario Ledesma, Benedict Cabello and Mirko Lozupone. Marius Tincu is the starting Perpignan hooker. He is a very, very fine player.
TembaVJ said | October 31st 2008 @ 9:03am | Report comment
You are right Benjamin but we don’t have an experienced captain to replace Smit, Matfield is not a good captain IMO. Jean DV would be next on the list but is not a very experienced international captain. Smit should be grooming him to take his place in the next year or two.
Benjamin said | October 31st 2008 @ 9:23am | Report comment
That’s a pretty fair comment Temba but ultimately if Smit struggles at 3 (the cornerstone of the whole team) the NH ELVS may severely prejudice SA chances of success. Having said that he may be a big success - who knows? It’s interesting that you refer to the lack of captaincy because White contrived to develop an experienced team, much the way Woodward did and all of a sudden as soon as Smit was absent the team collapsed. SA had van der Linde, Botha (pre-injury), Matfield, Smith, Burger, James, JDV and Montgomery and yet nobody stepped up to the plate. It’s a preplexing situation.
TembaVJ said | October 31st 2008 @ 9:34am | Report comment
Matfield has captained the boks a few times but I just don’t like his style of captaincy even though he led the Bulls to S14 title. Schalk Burger good player he may be but captain NO! CJ is a work horse I don’t think he has the leadership qualities required. James and Monty are history. The team has a lot of senior players that help lead but as far as real leaders go Smit and JDV. Johan Muller (Sharks Captain) is captain in the John Smit mould, calm and always calculating but find him a spot in the team? Maybe Drop Bakkie Botha? I don’t know those would be my pick for the next captain. Muller - JDV, not Matfield or Fourie Du Preez….
Maybe Earl Rose will captain the Boks?
Benjamin said | October 31st 2008 @ 10:00am | Report comment
I appreciate what you’re saying Temba, every team needs workhorses/soldiers but I expected more from such experienced players. I recall reading that Muller was looking toward moving to Europe. He certainly did well during the 07 European tour and the 07 3N but PDV has planted his flag with Bekker.
Earl Rose. Very good, that raised a smile. Perhaps Luke Watson may be the next captain?
TembaVJ said | October 31st 2008 @ 10:19am | Report comment
The problem as you point out with the senior players is that the leadership group does not contain any real leaders + those guys have won a world cup and lack fighting spirit. Habanna and Matfield are 2 very clear examples of this both top of their game last year and this year not performing. I refuse to believe that in a couple of months they have lost all their form and/or people have learned how to read them.
It’s a fine balance but it is worrying that there is no one to take over from John Smit.
TembaVJ said | October 31st 2008 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I remember in this years 3N tour in Australia when Matfield was captain how frustrated he got, shouting at the referee, standing right on top of the poor bloke (cant remember who the ref was) and trying to intimidate him. It just showed me that he does not have what it takes to be a calm and collected captain. So who then?
Benjamin said | October 31st 2008 @ 10:37am | Report comment
I think Habana specifically was frozen out of the game by PDV’s plan but having said that he didn’t actively seek the ball either - perhaps he’s only allowed to play on one side of the pitch? His form wasn’t great in the S14 either but all players go through a funk. Matfield’s form could be attributed to his French sojourn, however conversely he was up against very little credible opposition in France. It’s a fine balance, you’re right, and the litmus test will be this tour. Personally I’m inclined to think that PDV’s game has isolated a lot of players by taking them out of their traditional roles.
I agree with you about Matfield’s captaincy. Who next? I would also look towards JDV over the longer term. None of the incoming players in the forwards like Spies or Kankowski strike me as having leadership ability either, which is problematic as back row is a good area to have a captain.
brad said | October 31st 2008 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
benjamin he was at Clermont when smit was there. We actually get coverage of Top 14 and Heineken cup in SA
van der Merwe said | October 31st 2008 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
“the NH ELVS may severely prejudice SA chances of success.”
As I understand it, they are very similar to the ones used in the Currie Cup. So, I doubt they will be a factor.
Benjamin said | October 31st 2008 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
Brad, no disrespect but you’re completely wrong. Tincu has been at Perpignan since the 2005 season.
van der Merwe, firstly the Springboks have played the majority of their season under the short tap and not all of the Springboks had much of a run in the CC, and secondly I was referring to scrum illegalities where the short tap is replaced by the full penalty. If Smit struggles then it could cost SA dear.
Colin N said | October 31st 2008 @ 10:46pm | Report comment
The breakdown has also been a problem in the NH. The players have seemed to adapt fairly well to the stricter laws in the NH, will the SH.
Benjamin said | October 31st 2008 @ 11:11pm | Report comment
It depends on who he refs are Colin. The GP refs have been stricter but will a SA/Australian or French ref be the same?