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South Africa will need to re-examine their game plan and tactics if they are to pose a real threat at the 2015 Rugby World Cup next year.
South Africa’s squad at the last World Cup was of such quality that they should have been targeting a victorious tournament, or at the very least, a place in the final. They would have actually had a decent chance of achieving either of these goals if not for the fact that they had a circus act of a head coach.
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Players with the success and international class of John Smit, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, and co. should never have had to suffer the indignity of being coached by Pieter ‘rugby is a contact sport’ de Villiers. Instead of playing anywhere near their potential in that tournament, they had an embarrassing quarter-final exit at the hands of an Australian team that they had beaten in every department except on the scoreboard, not to mention awful refereeing by Bryce Lawrence.
Following the end of de Villiers’ contract, Heyneke Meyer was appointed head coach of the Springboks. Similar to what Stuart Lancaster was appointed to do with England following the last World Cup, Meyer was selected because he was a coach who had an excellent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of South African rugby.
He had a very successful tenure as head coach of the Bulls in Super Rugby, and he was the ideal choice to take a back-to-basics approach with the South African national team in order to restore their pride.
Similar to England, South Africa were not particularly enjoyable to watch in 2012, but Meyer was making sure that his team were once again superior in the traditional strengths of their game: the set-pieces, mauling, and tactical kicking. The quality of their performances increased steadily, until it reached a point where Meyer realised that South Africa didn’t have enough dimensions in their game plan to beat New Zealand.
South Africa added more expansive elements to their game plan in 2013 in an attempt to beat New Zealand. This newfound expansive play was facilitated by the selection of Fourie du Preez at scrum-half instead of Ruan Pienaar and the introduction of exciting new backline talents such as Willie le Roux.
These expansive tactics came to the fore in the epic clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg in 2013, where the Springboks took New Zealand on at their own game, visibly rattling them, moving the ball wide regularly and accurately. New Zealand eventually pulled away on the scoreboard, winning the game 27-38, but it was a clear indication that South Africa were making good progress under Meyer, in terms of the quality of their performances and expansion their game plan.
South Africa then went on to have a highly successful November series against the Northern hemisphere teams in 2013, with convincing wins over Wales, Scotland, and France. They continued improving into 2014, beating Scotland and Wales in a mid-year Test series, but the pinnacle of their progress was a thrilling two-point victory over New Zealand in Johannesburg on the final weekend of The Rugby Championship.
However, since being beaten comprehensively by Ireland in the most recent November series, South Africa have lost confidence and the balance in their game plan. Up until that game, they had the perfect mix between playing a tight, traditional South African game and playing more expansive rugby when the time was right.
However, since they were out-thought in Dublin, they appear to be falling between two stools, taking what seems like the worst option at several important moments in games. This was epitomised by a moment of ineptitude in their final November series game against Wales.
South Africa were awarded a penalty in the 69th minute, which Francois Hougaard chose to use to tap-and-go, only to kick for territory immediately after doing so, subsequently kicking the ball out on the full. South Africa were guilty of these types of decision-making errors and errors in basic skills throughout that game, and that performance in particular showed just how far they have regressed since beating New Zealand less than two months earlier.
South Africa’s regression is not helped by the fact that some of their best performers of late, such as le Roux and Duane Vermeulen, have had significant drops in form following The Rugby Championship.
Le Roux’s form in particular mirrors the form of his national team. During the Rugby Championship, he was one of the form fullbacks in international rugby. He then went on to put in a dreadful performance against Ireland, in a game which showed that while he may have some really great strengths as a player, such as his electric pace, sidestep and ability to inject himself into his back line to great effect, he also has several weaknesses, such as poor aerial skills and poor covering of the back field.
A significant factor for South Africa in terms of finding the balance in their game plan again is selection at half-back. Hougaard is not up to the standard required. His dangerous darts around the ruck are useful for testing defences, but his passing and box-kicking, the two most important parts of scrum-half play, are far too inaccurate to warrant selection as a Test-starter.
Fourie du Preeaz’s speed at getting the ball away from the ruck is world class, and he is well-suited the expansive parts of South Africa’s game plan, but Ruan Pienaar’s excellent game-management and tactical kicking means he will probably get the nod.
At fly-half, Morné Steyn is too one-dimensional a player to guide South Africa to a victorious World Cup.
By virtue of being a versatile outside half/fullback, Pat Lambie does not exert enough control from five-eighth at Test level, although he is a useful bench option. Johan Goosen’s involvement in the Top 14 with Racing Métro means that he may miss some of South Africa’s World Cup games, so he is not a viable option.
Handré Pollard seems to be the best-rounded out-half that South Africa have at the moment, but his inexperience at Test level is likely to be exposed in the latter stages of the World Cup. Also, being dropped after the loss to Ireland will probably have damaged his confidence, especially considering that he was one of South Africa’s best players in that game.
If South Africa are to rediscover the excellent form they showed during The Rugby Championship earlier this year, they will have to find that balance between tight and expansive play in their game plan again.
However, they only have four games before the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in which to do so, with the 2015 Rugby Championship being shortened to just three games for each team, and only one other scheduled warm-up game besides.
They will most likely have to do so without their first-choice captain, as the horrific knee injury suffered by Jean de Villiers might rule him out of the World Cup.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.