Springboks need to dare to be great
Columnist By Spiro Zavos, 22 Aug 2012 Spiro Zavos is a Roar Expert
South Africa's Springboks Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Steyn and Heinrich Broussow. AFP PHOTO / Marty Melville
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The Springboks opened their assault on The Rugby Championship with a comfortable and expected 27 – 6 victory over the Pumas of Argentina, three tries to none.
The victory was based on a 20 – 6 half-time lead, though. And in the early part of the second half, with only a 14-point difference in the scoreline, the Pumas missed three relatively easy shots at goal.
For long periods of play the Pumas dominated the Springboks before conceding the final and third try when Morne Steyn put in a beautifully judged wipers kick which Bryan Habana, the man of the match in my view, plucked from the sky with a tremendous leap to score a try in the far corner.
The Springboks out-muscled the Pumas in the first half. Habana made some searing runs. The defence was robust, sometimes overly so, and hard-shouldered. The scrums were solid. The lineouts occasionally went wrong but in general were solid, too. And Steyn’s goal-kicking was on target, with five successful shots at goal.
In other words, the Springboks delivered a typically forceful, no-frills performance which forced opportunities for Steyn to knock over the shots at goal.
This no-frills game, a Springboks style based on the courage of their restrictions and backed by a powerful, hard-working pack, was much too forceful for the raw Pumas to keep up with.
But it is a game that, in my opinion, will not take the Springboks much further up the ladder as the third best team in the world. The problem with the style is that it is based on Steyn kicking goals and when he is not doing this, kicking away the ball to create pressure and field position for further kicks at goal.
This is the Bulls game. And it is no surprise that the Springboks coach is Heyneke Meyer, the man who devised this game and brought it to perfection in the days of Victor Matfield dominating the lineout so totally that kicking away ball and forcing lineouts made all the sense in the world. The days of the Matfield dominance in the lineout are well and truly gone, however.
Meyer went out of his way after the Test against the Pumas to praise Steyn, “I had the feeling he was going to produce the good against Argentina.” This is a reference to the fact that in the Tests against England earlier this season, Steyn missed 12 out of 20 shots at goal.
In my opinion, a side that kicks the ball away as much as the Springboks (and the Bulls do) needs to be 20 points better than its opponents to win by 10 points. The reason for this is that teams in the last few years , even the Pumas, can hold on to the ball for much longer periods than they could when the Bulls were at their almost unbeatable peak and when the Springboks won the 2007 Rugby World Cup tournament.
Referees are now far more diligent about chasers taking out the catchers in the air than they were five or six years ago. They police the offside law against the kicking side more diligently. And the catchers are getting more rights to set the ball in a ruck after they’ve caught than they were back in 2007. Then, tacklers were allowed to maintain their tackle and if the catcher did not release, he was penalised. Hence Percy Montgomery’s dominate penalty kicking performance in the 2007 Rugby World Cup tournament.
I don’t think it is an accident that the Wallabies have defeated the Springboks in their last four Tests, and memorably in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. The Springboks had all the ball that day but could not do much with it.
Hence Spiro’s First Law of Rugby in 2012: Teams can’t score points giving away the ball to their opponents.
Steyn is a terrific goal-kicker and a generally smart and accurate punter of the ball. But he stands so deep in the pocket and passes with such a lack of finesse that he is incapable of lighting up a backline the way that, say, Carter did with the two set move tries the All Blacks scored against the Wallabies in Sydney.
If Meyer feels he has to have him in the Springboks because of his goal-kicking, I reckon he should be played at fullback.
The Springboks need Rian Pienaar at halfback for the variety and excellent of his passing, kicking and running. They need a fly half who stands flat (Patrick Lambie?) and forces the backline to run on to the ball. They need more pace somewhere in the centres to provide the chances for their extremely fast wingers.
The 2012 Super Rugby tournament revealed a number of potential Springboks who could light up the back line if they were given a chance.
But somehow I don’t believe Meyer has it in him to dare to create a great side. He has a style of rugby he coaches that he is comfortable with, and the players are comfortable with.
Before supporters of the Springboks jump on to me for talking down their team, let me say that the Springboks will be a tough team for the Wallabies and All Blacks to defeat, especially when they are playing at home.
What I am saying really is that if they want to consistently defeat the All Blacks, especially, the Springboks have to get out of their comfort zone and dare to be a great side. They can’t even attempt to do this, in my opinion, with Steyn playing at number 10.
Spiro Zavos, a founding writer on The Roar, was long time editorial writer on the Sydney Morning Herald, where he started a rugby column that has run for nearly 30 years. Spiro has written 12 books: fiction, biography, politics and histories of Australian, New Zealand, British and South African rugby. He is regarded as one of the foremost writers on rugby throughout the world.
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August 22nd 2012 @ 2:22am
Gareth said | August 22nd 2012 @ 2:22am | Report comment
Nice article, however I don’t think the blame should be laid at Steyn’s feet. He does what he is asked – and does it well. I’m sure if he was told to stand flat and create space and use tricks etc – he has the skills and the vision to do it. It’s actually what he was good at prior to shadowing Derrick Hougaard at the Bulls – but for Bulls rugby his kicking needed to become superb (which it has).
We need a more daring game plan. Argentina would have been a good opponent to be more creative – and if things went badly, it would have been a chance for our boys to step it up and show us they are world class – the making of champions.
BTW – as an afterthought…the only reason the Aussies won the quarterfinal is because of a now sacked ex-referee called Bryce Lawrence…
We are going to thrash you Aussies this year!
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:40am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:40am | Report comment
gareth – fully agree. imho morne is a great player and soldier. its not his fault that he follows the game plan set out by the coach. meyer and playerPower in PDV era’s dictated that he kick the ball. who else would u want kicking it with that gameplan?
boks imo need to take control of their own destiny on the field. meyer isnt running around with them during game time and the players need to chance their arm a bit more and start throwing some ideas around and discuss things to try.
i’m enjoying watching habana under meyers coaching but reckon habana has the gas and wheels to do more as do all the backs.
August 22nd 2012 @ 3:20am
Shop said | August 22nd 2012 @ 3:20am | Report comment
Please don’t go there Gareth. Bryce Lawrance was awful that day for both teams. The Boks lost that day because they couldn’t convert chances into points – simple.
August 22nd 2012 @ 3:27am
kingplaymaker said | August 22nd 2012 @ 3:27am | Report comment
‘But somehow I don’t believe Meyer has it in him to dare to create a great side. He has a style of rugby he coaches that he is comfortable with, and the players are comfortable with.’
Sadly this is true and it’s quite amazing that after De Villiers they have appointed a De Villiers clone.
But to give De Villiers credit Meyer seems even worse than him. At least De Villiers could claim that when the force of the 2009 law interpretations came in, it was too late to change the team’s style in time for the RWC and so he had to stick with it (if he would claim that!).
Meyer seems to genuinely believe in this wildly outdated style. Didn’t he see that all four teams that played the kicking style were eliminated in the RWC quarter-finals while the four that played the modern style went through? He seems a fanatical conservative, trying to convince Matfield to come out of retirement and saying that the 34 year old Jean De Villiers should be the next great Springbok captain.
When you watch the Cheetahs you see a team, despite having a limited quality of players as they are all hogged by the big three teams, playing a modern, dynamic style of rugby. The Cheetahs coaching team could have transformed the Springboks into a devastating rugby team.
Who knows where the Springboks can go with Meyer at the helm though.
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:55am
matthew said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:55am | Report comment
I dont think De Villiers is 34 KPM. Think he’s around 30 and his game is still pretty good even though he didn’t do too great against the Argies getting turned over a couple of times and not passing when he should have. Agreed about the Cheetah’s; they’re a favorite of many provincially neutral Saffa’s and SR fans. Even the excellent offloading game the Sharks played in the latter half of their SR season would be a style worthy of emulation by the Boks. Sadly, we dont have attacking tactical nous in the coaching box. No backline coach of any calibre (the forwards coach Van Graan doubles as backline coach I read
)
It’s sad to think, we’ve actually got a few great attacking cattle waiting in the wings but they’ll still be hamstrung when they come through by the stone-age tactical approach of Meyer and his cohorts.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:45am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:45am | Report comment
Cheetahs don’t win a lot o Super rugby titles though.
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:05am
kingplaymaker said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:05am | Report comment
Student you’l notice I pointed out that the three big teams take all the players leaving nothing for the Cheetahs or Lions.
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:56am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:56am | Report comment
It could be argued that the Big Three in SA rugby take “all” the players because they get the results (playing a less “dynamic” style of game) which delivers the money necessary to buy/retain the top players. So while the Cheetahs score style points, they more often than not lose everywhere else.
This aside, the style played by the Cheetahs carries a lot more risk than the high percentage style (and more conservative style) played by the Bulls or Crusaders as the Cheetahs are susceptible to leaking tries on the counter-attack. While throwing the pill all over the park and non-stop running is arguably a better spectacle, it’s a lottery. As shown by the Cheetahs (and possibly the Australian teams) results this year, spectacle often does not translate into favourable results. I have no issue with having a gamble at the Super Rugby level. However, in the results orientated International arena, a more measured, tactical approach is required, which I believe Heyneke Meyer will deliver.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:05am
kingplaymaker said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:05am | Report comment
No, it isn’t. Besides despite hogging the majoity of South African talent those three haven’t won Super XV since the old law interpretations were in place and show no sign of doing it any time soon.
The way they play in fact does not produce result against good teams.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:26am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:26am | Report comment
Bulls beat the Crusaders (most successful super rugby team in the history of the tournament) in round 7 and hammered the Reds (last year’s winners) in round 5. Bulls also managed a tournament win in 2010 (under the new law interpretations). And that’s not counting the achievements of the Stormers and Sharks this year.
August 22nd 2012 @ 8:04am
kingplaymaker said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:04am | Report comment
No finalists in the country with by far the highest playing numbers and the most wealth.
One off victories don’t mean much.
I’m not saying SA teams couldn’t dominate, but not while playing a style outdated by law interpretation changes.
August 22nd 2012 @ 8:08am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:08am | Report comment
KPM – ok its an old gameplan, the use the forwards then kick and pressure, but that doesnt mean thats its out dated. still has its place in todays game provided the execution is good. the beauty about rugby is all the different gameplans and strategies there are to win.
each country has a style that suits it and none of these styles are wrong.
the law changes if anything favour the forward dominated approach, where the ball carrier is advantaged and given every chance to retain possession.
August 23rd 2012 @ 11:45am
Suzy Poison said | August 23rd 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Well KPM, I have disagreed with you in the past, but I do think there is definitely an element of truth to what you are saying. It a very fine line, of allowing players to play their natural game, versus a strict game-plan. You can see Deans is struggling to find that balance, first using Barnes and then swopping back to Cooper. The Cheetahs coaching staff appear to more like Link, (Cooper plays better for the Reds, than the Wallabies) in that they give their players the freedom to “have a crack” but like Student says, the dangers of a turnover in the red zone, are great. It’s probably a too “high risk” an approach for a National side. At the same time it is a fine line, you don’t want to stifle a players natural attacking instincts.
I have just read a very interesting article on a Saffa website. The article is called “Super Sarel relishing Cheetahs style”. Of course former waratahs player Sarel is back playing for the Cheetahs, in the Currie Cup. “I feel like my old self again and it’s nice if the coaches back you. It’s nice to be back and it doesn’t even feel as though I’ve been away. It was a learning curve over there (Australia),” He feels the No 9s are forced to play too much of a structured game in Australia. “The Waratahs play a lot with the forwards and the scrumhalf only has to do the basic things well. It will be interesting to see how the Cheetahs go this weekend in the Currie Cup, especially since Sarel is partnering a fit again Johan Goosen, bound to be some running rugby. Wish I could watch it.
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:18am
Brendan said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:18am | Report comment
Very good article Spiro
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:43am
CamboUSA said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:43am | Report comment
Spot on spiro
Dare to be great ….. I couldn’t have said it any better.
Springboks look no different than last year just younger and still slow .
But with the new coach I see a new excitement brewing .
It’s going to be a huge task to be number 2 in the world twice as hard to get to 1.
But if the wallabies keep showing boring and no grit rugby well they will walk into 2 position .
But I want to say how great it is that Argentina are playing in comp . Go pumas keep
Building up your franchise .
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:46am
matthew said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:46am | Report comment
Agree 100 % with your views on the Boks, Spiro, and great to read an article from you about them. The game-plan under Heineken has been largely uninspiring so far: the atmosphere at the Cape Town test was muted when the final whistle blew and many fans are starting to get annoyed.
It infuriates me when the Boks kick possession away with those stupid box kicks. Steyn might not know any other way, but when the Boks most talented back Hougaard does the same thing every time he get’s the ball you can help but feel cheated.
There’s only been one good 30 minute spell from the Boks since Heineken took over (2nd test vs England) where they retained possession and played with quick ball constantly getting over the advantage line and recycling effectively the rest has been mind numbing dross.
The answer to our flyhalf question is the 20 year old Johan Goosen from the Free State, an exceptionally talented pivot who ran amok in Super Rugby this season prior to his injury. Linebreaker, offloader, brilliant distributor, massive boot. I just hope his body holds up to the rigors of test rugby (if Meyer selects him).
Besides that, I’d play Pienaar at 9- he’s better tactically than Hougaard and a better play-maker. Play Hougaard at 14 and drop Mvovo who’s defensive positioning will be exposed one of these days. Play Lambie at 15, he’s got a potentially good/great career ahead of him Kirtchner will only ever be average/dependable at best. Bring Brussouw in as soon as possible (Boks have been hopeless at the breakdown protecting our own ball and trying to contest ball). Get Schalk or Duane Vermuelen in as soon as possible. Coetzee has been good but he’s still a kid and a bit of jack of all trades who doesn’t have the brute force we need.
Backrow would be
6.Brussouw
7.Alberts
8.Vermuelen/Burger
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:19am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:19am | Report comment
Brussow is injured.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:48am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:48am | Report comment
I think Schalk’s return is a dream. I gather he’s out until the end of the year (i.e. no Currie cup). From what I’ve read, he has hit the point where a return to top flight rugby would be incredibly stupid from a health perspective. However, as you’ve noted, Vermeulen would prove a handy replacement….
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:01am
Tissot Time said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Matthew agree Goosen is the player. Reminds me of DC but at a much earlier stage of development. Lets hope injuries do not plague his career.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:17am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:17am | Report comment
Spiro, I am not going to disagree with you, what you are saying is all valid in theory.
I will take this step by step.
Firstly the Quarter Final, and lets leave the Bryce Lawrence factor out of for this argument.
How does having 75% of possession constitute in kicking possession away?
You see this is where the theory that SA kicks away possession falls entirely flat.
Lets go to the June internationals.
SA had 50% average possession per match vs England, with that they scored 7 tries.
Against Argentina SA had 49% possession.
Of the last 4. Tests that SA lost to Australia, 2010 on the highveldt, we led in the last minute, we decided to pick and drive and the third drive we got penalised for sealing off and Beale kicked a 50 meter penalty. Our away match vs Australia was a Springbok pack with 160 caps of which 150 caps belonged to John Smit and Danie Rossouw, we got pummeled, on the return match Australia won 14-9 and we spilled a umber of chances in the final move of attacks, effectively the same situation occured in the QF.
So during the PDV era, kicking was not the biggest issue, it was the gameplan and a lack of the skills required to finish moves. The team was run by a bunch of senior players who refused to alter their way of attack.
In the period between the Trinations and RWC last year, Pieter de Villiers was called into a meeting whereby he had to explain why he sent such a poor team to the Antipodes for the TrinTions and also why the players seem emotionally uninspred.
His response was that the senior players have a fear of failure and hence are not prepared to risk.
The sporting committee was very concerned about why these players didn’t want to express themselves more on the field of play and questioned his methods.
Heyneke Meyer.
During the Super XV Meyer had a one on one meeting with 104 players whom he rated potential Springboks, he methodically went through a process of assessing player commitment, their abilities and discussed with each of these players what they needed to improve upon to make the National team.
He expressely showed interest in Johan Goosen and named a whole host of youngsters, such as Marcell Coetzee, Lambie, Jaco Taute, Paul Jordaan etc whom he wanted to see in the Springbok jumper in the near future.
Unfortunately for him injuries have curtailed much of his immediate experimentation. Cinsidering that we have a plethora of injuries unavailable for selection, Goosen, Burger, Smith, Vermeulen, Deysel, Taute, Oosthuizen, Pietersen and now Bismarck makes it difficult to simply add a bunch of youngsters to the starting XV.
Lambie has played little rugby this season as he had injury breaks twice during the campaign, Plumtree chose to go for conituity in selection and never played Lambie at 10 during the last half of the Super XV season.
So we now have only three forwards in the Starting XV with more than 15 caps, Mtwarira, Bekker and Jannie du Plessis.
In the backline looking at you 9, 10 and 15 as your pivotal players only Morne Steyn has more than 20 caps. It is unlikely that Meyer is going to risk Lambie who is low on confidence and time at 10.
The option for captain was limited, the only real option was Jean de Villiers.
Gameplan.
Currently the only realistic option Meyer has is to stick to a familiar gameplan even though it is heavily criticised.
Once again the main problem is not kicking, but the intelligence of our attack. Twice on the weekend durung the second half, Jean de villiers chose to run at the defensive line with Mvovo in space where he would most likely have beaten his opponent for the line, and yet both times Jean de Villiers went to ground and got pinged for holding on. We also had a four on two overlap if we attacked left in the first half, yet we went right.
What I am getting to with this long rebuttle, is we don’t have the players that can make the right decisions presently.
Our ball does not get to the wing, as much as I respect de Villiers he isn’t the right man at 13 but for now he’ll have to do. Morne Steyn had a better performance on the weekend, yet he isn’t the “Carter” of SA rugby.
The only way we will execute our attacks with more variation and efficiency is when those youngsters and injured players sart for the Boks, Meyer cannot and will not experiment more than he has already and we will have to make do with a team that for now will be better coached than the previous four years.
Just one last note.
For the first time in four years do the pundits, commentators and media crticise our attack, it was not PC to do it for the past four years, Meyer is all to aware that the SA rugby public wants to see 15 man rugby and more varied attacking rugby.
But it isn’t going to happen in the Rugby Championship.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:35am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:35am | Report comment
Think you’ve covered pretty much everything Biltong. Great response.
Only thing to add: Heyneke Meyer’s development of a team occurs in steps. First he implements a basic plan (i.e. kick and chase). Once this basic plan is mastered, further strings are added to the team’s bow (i.e. a more expansive game, remember the 90+ point hiding the Bulls handed out to the Reds in 2007 to qualify for the playoffs?)
During the 2011 RWC, HM was a guest on a show in the Republic , I think the show was called “Master plan”. See if you can catch an episode or two. The man as a very deep understanding of the game and has a very shrewd tactical brain on him. Placing Heyneke Meyer in the basket as Peter de Villers displays vast ignorance on your part.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:55am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:55am | Report comment
last paragraph above directed at Spiro.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:38am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:38am | Report comment
BTW Biltong, what did you think of Adriaan Strauss’ game over the weekend?
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:02am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:02am | Report comment
Evening student, Adriaan is certainly not the powerhouse Bismarck is, but nevertheless a good replacement, I would like to see him doing a bit more ate rhe ruck though.
He had a solid performance, I was very happy how our scrum stood up to the Argies.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:06am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:06am | Report comment
Evening Biltong, I was impressed with Adriaan’s contribution. I agree that Bismark’s undoubtedly the best 2 in the world at the moment, however, Adriaan seems a capable replacement. In Adriaan’s favour though, is his leadership qualities. I don’t see Jean carrying the captaincy past the end of next year (especially if a certain Mr Pietersen continues to deliver the goods at 13 for the Sharks). HM should be looking to groom the next captain now. That said though, it would be a travesty if Bismark was left out of the starting line-up (when fit) for any reason.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:30am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:30am | Report comment
Yeah, I can’t see Adriaan replacing Bismarck to be honest, but I am very happy that he is there and not Chiliboy.
However Adriaan now has the starting birth for most likely the next 8 tests and he can ensure himself a position in the squad for some time, do you know how old he is?
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:47am
Student said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:47am | Report comment
Strass is turning 27 this year. Bismark is 28. Both are young enough to make the next world cup.
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:06pm
Larry said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
Pieterson was MIA in the super final…
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:52am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:52am | Report comment
biltongbek – gotta agree with student here. imo meyer is doing something right. give him time. i was a nay sayer before the english tests but after the 1st 2 i was impressed what meyer has achieved in such a short time.
during PDV’s era how many times did u ever see a set move go to habana (or any other back for that matter?). i’ll tell you, 2009 thru to 2011, none. not once was there a set move for backs in 3 seasons of rugby. not once was there a move to get the ball to habana and give him a 1 on 1 situation.
however bad u percieve meyer to be he’s light years ahead of what PDV, Matfield, FDP and smit served up. meyer has already done more in 4 tests than playerPower achieved in the 4 seasons previously.
dare to be great? sure but get the fundementals going first.
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:04am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:04am | Report comment
Eveining Mania, yeah look, I actually defended Meyer for a change.
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:24am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:24am | Report comment
evening biltongbek – agree with your line “What I am getting to with this long rebuttle, is we don’t have the players that can make the right decisions presently.” it’ll take time. the more gametime they get the better they’ll get . and i reckon in the boks environment it’ll be accelerated as these players are bringing enjoyment and passion back into boks rugby.
you dont seem too happily excited with the boks prospects? this blog aside (the most positive you’ve given since the mid years tests) usually your anti meyers decisions. i hope your coming round. boks need your support, hell they have mine and they’re an honoured enemy to my beloved AB’s.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:25am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:25am | Report comment
Mate, I always stand behind the Boks and will defend them against BS propoganda, but like I said to you the other day.
I am tired of seeing opportunities being thrown away because of blind belieff in a gameplan.
There must be some freedom to use your God given talents to create some unexpected plays or at the least have some vision beyond a regimented plan.
I can see it, most South Africans can see it, we must get Meyer to see it.
August 22nd 2012 @ 7:32am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 7:32am | Report comment
takes time biltongbek. i’m giving meyer the benefit of the doubt. i imagine he’s establishing a plan A for now and making sure everyone is on board and know the fundamentals. and what a good plan A for boks rugby? its not rocket surgery and its a plan that boks are familar with and used to. once done then i hope meyer will move onto coaching the plan B.
“There must be some freedom to use your God given talents to create some unexpected plays or at the least have some vision beyond a regimented plan.” agree and i hope the players realise this when they’re on the field and realise that meyer isnt breathing down their necks. i cant see these boks players not wanting to express themselves and when you on the field the coach cant do jack.
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:36pm
Sircoolalot said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
Mania you said
“during PDV’s era how many times did u ever see a set move go to habana (or any other back for that matter?). i’ll tell you, 2009 thru to 2011, none.”
That’s not true. I remember plenty of set piece tries in 2009, especially Fourie and Habana scoring. You must have a short memory.
Here’s an example
August 23rd 2012 @ 5:33am
mania said | August 23rd 2012 @ 5:33am | Report comment
sircoot – didnt watch these games. how about vs the AB’s or in the triN?
August 23rd 2012 @ 3:06pm
Sircoolalot said | August 23rd 2012 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
Yep they scored tries like these in the 3 nations as well
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:16am
Johnno said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:16am | Report comment
Biltongbek if south africa could get a full strength squad and all the overseas players eligible for selection too they would be formidable team , id back them to almost beat the ab’s nothing in it
15) Frans steyn
14)Habana
13)Jacque Foruie sadly in Japan
12)JDvilliers
11)JPpeterson the best wing in the world right now
10)Morne steyn
9) Fdpreez i still rate he is good in the big matches
8)Spies
7)Burger
6)Juan Smith what al player
5)Bekker
4)Bakkies
3)Brian mujati/cj van der linde
2)Bismark
1)The beast
A good team that would defiantly take it up to the Ab’s
August 22nd 2012 @ 6:28am
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 6:28am | Report comment
Hi johnno, my team would be.
1. Beast
2. Bismarck – injured
3. Coenie Oosthuizen – injured
4. Etzebeth
5. Bekker
6. Juan Smith – injured
7. Alberts
8. Burger – injured
9. Pienaar
10. Goosen – injured
11. Hougaard
12. Frans Steyn
13. JP Pietersen – injured
14. Habana
15. Lambie
Bench.
16. Strauss
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Flip vd Merwe
19. Vermeulen – injured
20. Spies
21. Morne Steyn
22. Paul Jordaan/Ludick
August 22nd 2012 @ 12:45pm
TembaVJ said | August 22nd 2012 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Biltong, that is the best team I have seen on paper in a long time, all angles covered.
August 22nd 2012 @ 3:56pm
Johnno said | August 22nd 2012 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
biltong that team you pick would beat the ab’s right now only change i would have is Jacque fourie at 13 and JP to wing. And i’d bring in bakes to lock his hard edge experience brad thorn style, but other than that what a team. SO much for the need fo a victor matfield comeback this year. What a player Vic was wow i mis shim he was awesome to watch in the line out best lineout general of all time. But yes that team you put out is awesome current ab’s team could not beat your side in Sotuh africa not much chance.
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:12pm
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:12pm | Report comment
Johnno, my opinion on Jaque Fourie is split.
He has been one of my favourite Boks for a long time and in my opinion one of the best 13′s around. But JP will bring better distribution and a better step to outside center.
Jaque Fourie should really play wing, he doesn’t like to distribute but is devestating with ball in hand.
So yeah, maybe put him on wing and leave JP at 13.
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:14pm
IronAwe said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
No Elton Jantjies? Man I love that kid
August 22nd 2012 @ 10:33am
Sam Taulelei said | August 22nd 2012 @ 10:33am | Report comment
And that’s why I love reading the Roar because every now and again you get an absolute gem of a post like this one that challenges and then rebuts perceptions and myths.
Thanks Biltong, this was great.
August 22nd 2012 @ 12:19pm
Rusty said | August 22nd 2012 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Superb Biltongbek, absolutely superb
August 22nd 2012 @ 4:11pm
biltongbek said | August 22nd 2012 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
Thanks Sam and Rusty.
Yes, it is a precarious position to defend perceptions and preconcieved ideas when by the same token some of it rings true.
I also get frustrated because of lost opportunities because of our limited gameplan, but to think we are one dimensional is a fallicy.
I did some statistics in recent times comparing SA, OZ and NZ specifically to compare our play to theirs. firstly our balance between back play and forward play is in the region of 55/45 favoured to forward play (times balled handled by the backline and forwards), where as the Wallabies and All BLacks are the other way around.
The difference is what OZ and NZ’s backline do with the ball, and ours do not.
Our kicking is over a period of time only slightly higher than the Wallabies and All Blacks. Obviously different opponents require a slight adjustment.
For me the positive is (be it injuries or conincidence) that there are few Bulls players in the pack, the other factor is the Sharks players dominate the selections at the moment and they bring the more balanced approach of John Plumtree.
You can just look at the offloading of the forwards to see how different the pack attacks than last year.
I am concerned however that the all Blacks in specific will be too good for such an inexperienced pack.
As much as I like Marcell Coetzee, you can’t have him and Daniels in the same combination, it is too light.
August 22nd 2012 @ 5:25am
mania said | August 22nd 2012 @ 5:25am | Report comment
is habana the man or what?!? this just proves that all those years at the bulls and playing for PDV has been holding him back. what a waste of habana’s talents for the last 4 seasons
August 22nd 2012 @ 10:32am
Markus said | August 22nd 2012 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Habana has been at the Stormers for 3 of the past 4 seasons, and nabbed 8 tries and a championship in his final season at the Bulls.
If anyone has been holding him back you would have to say it was the Stormers.
August 22nd 2012 @ 8:00am
Ben S said | August 22nd 2012 @ 8:00am | Report comment
I think it’s tenuous logic that if SA start chucking the ball around they’ll be a great side, because IMO they still have weaknesses in key positions. A few minor tweaks here and there and they could be much improved IMO… just like Eddie Jones did in 2007. Personally I think Meyer will hinder the side, but with players like Bismarck (now injured), Alberts, Strauss etc it makes sense to use the pack ATM, especially at this juncture of his tenure. If Meyer builds depth and the Boks overtake Australia, which I think they’ll do, then this will be a comparatively positive start of a 4 year plan.
The Boks are capable of better rugby (in stylistic terms anyway), but even a player like Jaques Fourie struggled with his passing. They will never play rugby like the All Blacks, and yet look how they challenge the All Blacks. I think the Boks need an outside influence like they had with Jones, just like I think Australia could do with White coming on board as an aid.
I think Steyn at 15 would be ridiculous too. No pace, no history there and how would he combine with the back three?
August 22nd 2012 @ 10:56am
Suzy Poison said | August 22nd 2012 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Agree Ben S, it’s not all doom and gloom. Meyer has done some good things. I too believe, like Spiro, the Boks can’t win the Championship with the current conservative style and Morne Steyn at flyhalf, and I have no expectations of the Boks winning the RC this year. However, the positives are, the Boks have blooded quite a few youngsters already. Elzebeth, Coetzee and even Jundre Kruger have shown they are ready for test rugby and will only benefit from the experience. Next year, a slowly building South Africa with Goosen at 10, could be a real threat.
Not that worried about the loss of Bismark. He is a loss in the loose sure, but Adrian Strauss is a great player and in 74minutes he played against one of toughest scrumming teams in world rugby proven this. The Boks, this year, even with boring Morne, have a great opportunity to turn the tables on the Wallabies who have had the better of the Boks, in the last two years.
The Aussies who are down on confidence and with Pocock out, for the year, they are ripe for the taking in Perth, and will get no doubt get beaten at Loftus. (Goosen may even be back for that game)
August 22nd 2012 @ 9:18pm
Ben S said | August 22nd 2012 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
I’m a big fan of Strauss too, but he does like to play out wide a bit too much IMO.
I think SA will overtake Australia this season. Anyway, I don’t know why Zavos is criticising the style of play when Australia went out to play a kicking brand last week…
August 22nd 2012 @ 11:17am
Sprigs said | August 22nd 2012 @ 11:17am | Report comment
@Spiro..” the Springboks will be a tough team for the Wallabies and All Blacks to defeat, especially when they are playing at home.”
I agree. They always have been, and always will be, tough to defeat. And I reckon they will tougher and tougher in the years to come, either at home or abroad.
As somebody who watched many games against the Springboks during the apartheid days, I get a thrill out of watching players from a variety of sectors of SA society rather than just one part of it. I even sometimes sing along with the brilliant first bit of the national anthem of the old foe.
As has happened in Australia and NZ with the contribution of players of Pacific Island heritage, the recruitment of more and more players from non-traditional backgrounds will make the Springboks an even mightier side than ever before.
National allegiances aside, as a rugby fan I can’t wait to see this unfold.
August 22nd 2012 @ 1:29pm
Suzy Poison said | August 22nd 2012 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
Despite the young team and the questionable selections and tactics of Meyer, I still think it’s a golden opportunity for the Boks will win on Aussie soil this year.
There are three factors which lead me to believe this the best chance for the Boks in ages.
1. It’s in Perth
2. Pocock who single-handedly destroyed the Boks in the WC Quarterfinal is out. You can also say Bismark is out, but for me, Pocock is a much bigger loss.
3. Winning brings confidence. It’s awesome to see the Pumas in the Championship, and no disrespect to them, when I say, even in Argentina, the Boks are bookies favourites. That is because the Boks have yet to lose to this Pumas team. The Pumas could definitely surprise in Argentina, however I expect the Boks to scrape home, in a brutal dog-fight. In the other game, you would not only be very brave but probably very stupid to predict a Wallabies victory at Eden Park. Australia are really on a hiding to nothing without Pocock at Eden Park. It really doesn’t matter who they select in the backs. So coming into the Perth game, the Wallabies will almost certainly have two losses next to their name on the ladder, whilst the Boks are very likely to have two wins.
The Boks have not set the World alight under Meyer, but they have not lost a game either, so he must be doing something right. This weekend will be their first away game under Meyer, so let’s see how it goes. If the Boks lose, then a Perth win is probably beyond this young team. If the Boks win, well then as they say, winning is habit forming?
August 22nd 2012 @ 1:37pm
Suzy Poison said | August 22nd 2012 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Also Springs agree about seeing the Bok team truly represent all sectors of the South African population.
It was great seeing the cricket and Proteas, go to number one, on the back of performances of players, that would not have been able to represent South Africa during the Apartheid years. I refer of course to Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander, J.P Duminy and pretty much half the team.
August 22nd 2012 @ 2:33pm
steve.h said | August 22nd 2012 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Why only the first part to the anthem, there are four parts to the anthem reflecting all sectors of South Africa. Embrace all of South African society not just one part.