Springboks must lift game against England
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South Africa will be better prepared and have an altitude advantage when they seek a series-clinching second Test win over England at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Super Rugby commitments meant new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer had only six days with his squad before the first game last weekend, which the green and gold won 22-17 in Indian Ocean city Durban.
After playing in familiar sea-level conditions, England must adjust to the 1800-metre venue where South Africa won the World Cup for the first time in front of Nelson Mandela 17 years ago.
The lack of time together showed as South Africa improved on a poor first half performance to score two tries and then keep England at bay when the tourists belatedly exhibited some adventure.
“This team is not even five per cent toward where I want them to be,” was the blunt assessment of Meyer this week as Johannesburg experienced a typical winter weather combination of cool, sunny days and cold nights.
“You can see the squad is much more relaxed this week and the training sessions have been sharper. However, we have to lift our intensity because England will improve from the first Test.”
A Super 14 and Currie Cup winner with Northern Bulls, Meyer advocates continuity and the only change from the Durban starting line-up was enforced with Patrick Lambie replacing injured Zane Kirchner at fullback.
Lambie came on at halftime in Durban and Meyer praised his performance while admitting there was room for improvement in the tactical kicking of the exciting 21-year-old Coastal Shark.
“Patrick is a good kicker, but I want him to do better and he is working hard on the issue. However, we are not losing much when it comes to tactical kicking with this change,” stressed Meyer.
The coach who has signed a four-year contract up to the 2015 World Cup in England said he knew the opposition better now, but the emphasis was on improving his own side.
“We have set high standards for ourselves and while training has gone better and the players are more relaxed, the thing that matters is what happens on the field this Saturday.”
There are also natural expectations that ace goal-kicker Morne Steyn will be back to his best after a rare off-day at Kings Park, where he succeeded with only four of seven shots at goal.
England coach Stuart Lancaster, another post-World Cup appointment when Martin Johnson quit following a limp last-eight exit to France, has laid the blame for the first Test loss among his backs.
Injuries ruled out fullback Mike Brown and inside centre Brad Barritt and only two players — right wing Chris Ashton and scrum-half Ben Youngs — stay where they started at Kings Park.
© AFP 2013South Africa: Patrick Lambie; JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee; Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Pienaar, Bjorn Basson, Wynand Olivier
England: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Jonathan Joseph, Manu Tuilagi, David Strettle; Toby Flood, Ben Youngs; Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (capt), Tom Johnson; Geoff Parling Mouritz Botha; Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler
Replacements: Lee Mears, Alex Corbisiero, Tom Palmer, Phil Dowson, Lee Dickson, Owen Farrell, Alex Goode
The Crowd Says (9) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 16th 2012 @ 4:21am
biltongbek said | June 16th 2012 @ 4:21am | Report comment
I know a lot is made of the altitude, and our players are used to playing there, but when you take in consideration that only 4 of the starting XV plays there regularly as a home base.
As far as improvement, the front row needs to ensure that they get the technicalities executed, Kruger and Etzebeth need to improve on their lineouts and compete on the opposition throw, they also need to manage the maul better than last week.
Spies needs to improve on his work rate and accuracy in defence, Coetzee needs to come onto the ball at pace.
Hougaard has a lot of improvement to do, sharper skills behind the ruck is required and better execution from him.
Morne will hopefully kick better to goal, JP Pietersen must look for a little more work.
June 16th 2012 @ 7:05am
Salada said | June 16th 2012 @ 7:05am | Report comment
The biggest question is will the re-jigged English backs be able to run the ball against such solid defence? They have a speedster in Joseph which has to help Ashton get away, and with Foden restored to his best spot England could fly in Jo’burg. If they’re not stopped before they take off. The Boks, like most home teams, have a better bench – Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, although not too sure what Olivier brings to it. Also, Coke Park, the old Ellis Park, is one tough venue for visitors. I doubt Morne will wait too long before trying a drop. Get on the board first – it never hurts.
June 16th 2012 @ 11:09am
Joshy said | June 16th 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Really? That is one of the worst Bok benches I’ve seen in a long while. Now that lambie is rightfully in the starting 15 after that clown injured his knee, the only player of any value is Flip.
Strauss – Yes, tries his heart out and has had a good super rugby season. Really struggles on the international stage, as was proven against a make shift Barbarians side in 2010.
Kruger – Average prop in super rugby, was dominated in the b grade bok team last year by a non threatening Wallabie scrum.
Daniel – Has some nice aggression, which he needs because you can clearly see he was once a center at junior level but was too slow. Very selfish player, never passes and like a lot of Sharks players, thinks he can do it all.
Pienaar – Will often stand at the back of the ruck and stare at the ball when being counter rucked. One of the least physical players you will ever see.
Olivier – 35 test games, 1 try – against Italy. I do not need to say anymore.
Basson – Lightweight and weak. Fast and can catch the highball, that is all.
Such a shame, I mean… you could have players in Aplon, Joe Pietersen, Brussow… This certainly isn’t the strongest 22.
June 16th 2012 @ 9:28pm
Original Ben S said | June 16th 2012 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Who should be on the bench then? Aplon and Pietersen couldn’t both be on the bench, and Pietersen is as yet uncapped, and Brussow, despite being a very good pilferer, simply is not an impact sub.
June 19th 2012 @ 12:29am
Ivan said | June 19th 2012 @ 12:29am | Report comment
Coenie is a good impact player, I suspect HM may even give chilliboy a run on the bench for the 3rd rubber,
Brussow wont make it into the team now yet.
Burger, Kolisi and Vermeulen will come into the squad, Kolisi is a daniels type player but better i would think.
in the backs I would prefer to see Juan de Jongh over Olivier – hes got a good step and can distribute, But ultimately I would rather HM plays JP at 13 outside Jean, and gives Aplon a run at 15 with Basson or Mvovo at 14.
the balance was all wrong when Kruger came on, lighter prop, with Daniels, and spies – thats too light to bully england.
HM almost fluffed this, but as a springbok supporter we are pleased at that first 40, and we’re quite confident that SA can put 80 of those together against NZ and Aus.
June 17th 2012 @ 1:16am
Original Ben S said | June 17th 2012 @ 1:16am | Report comment
The amount of errors in the first 5 minutes is unreal. Struggling to believe my eyes. First try is just one of those things, I suppose, but the 2nd try was directly down to Hartley. He has started to tackle without his arms, going low and just trying to halt momentum. Good in some instances, but totally fluffed a one-one-one with Du Plessis for the try. Promising response from England. Tuilagi already crashing about and Robshaw so committed at the ruck. Should be a good game.
June 17th 2012 @ 3:36am
Photon said | June 17th 2012 @ 3:36am | Report comment
Cracking test match, Poms are officially my 2nd favourite team
June 17th 2012 @ 7:00pm
Ben S said | June 17th 2012 @ 7:00pm | Report comment
Not really sure what to make of that… In the first half there were so many English errors I haven’t been that frustrated or angry since the Robinson/Ashton period. Just couldn’t believe it – felt like turning the TV off, but the players kept on plugging away and it was a good game in the end. I’m still really not sold on Lancaster, but this should be a good learning curve from the players. Some brutal hits in that game and a typical SA v England Tests. Could be a good rivalry over the next few years.
June 19th 2012 @ 12:04am
Ivan said | June 19th 2012 @ 12:04am | Report comment
Always a good rivalry, two teams that like the proverbial ‘bad boy’ tag. I doubt NZ wouldve been able to contain that SA pack in the first 20, it was fantastic to see – And i suspect that had Alberts try been disallowed, SA wouldve kept the hammer down for longer. Still something we battle with here, the killer instinct that NZ has, we seem to feel sorry for our opposition when we’re winning.