The Brumbies will risk Morne Steyn’s deadly-accurate boot once more in a bold attempt to bully the Bulls at the breakdown.
The Brumbies have conceded more penalties than any other Super Rugby side this year, yet coach Jake White says his unchanged side won’t back down from the aggressive ruck tactics that earned them Sunday’s (AEST) semi-final game against the Bulls in Pretoria.
“In the stats you can see we’ve got the most pilfers, the most turnovers and best ability to slow down the opposition ball,” White said.
“So with that comes the chance of giving a penalty away.
“One goes in hand with the other and I’m prepared to take the risk of conceding a penalty or two, knowing full well that you get a lot of return on what we do at the breakdown.”
White knows all too well the 1214-metre altitude at Loftus Versfeld means Steyn can calmly slot penalty goals from 55-metres out.
The 29-year-old five-eighth punished the Brumbies in their last visit to Pretoria in 2012, kicking seven penalty goals, a conversion and a drop goal (26 points) to lead his side to a 36-34 victory despite being outscored five tries to two.
And it seems his radar is just as accurate in 2013.
Steyn has knocked over more penalty goals (51) this season than any other player in the history of Super Rugby, boasting an accuracy rate of 85.6 per cent when taking shots at goal.
“Morne is one of the best kickers in world rugby, especially at Loftus. He obviously kicks a lot better at his home ground,” White said.
“There’s nothing you can do about the ball going 10 metres further (at Loftus).
“We’ve just got to make sure we don’t concede penalties but at the same time be as aggressive as we can at the breakdown.”
Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Clyde Rathbone, Matt Toomua, Nic White, Ben Mowen (c), George Smith, Peter Kimlin, Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio. Res: Siliva Siliva, Ruan Smith, Fotu Auelua, Colby Faingaa, Ian Prior, Andrew Smith, Joseph Tomane.
Fox Molder
Guest
Can someone pass JW the tape of the first half the Brumbies played against the Sharks earlier this year? Perfect offload ball-in-hand attacking rugby. We have't seen it since.
If you ask me the plan for both teams are the same, territory, penalty score points. If there are gaps they will take it, the chances are there for both teams to come out running, but I don't think that tactic is on the cards for 80 minutes from either team. There is a lot of merit for the Brumbies to go bonkers and run the ball from everywhere, they have nothing to lose and might as well risk it.
Brett, I don't think that is true. It is something Jake uses as a tool, making his team feel more cohesive and creating a feeling of "us against them" The only person in Pretoria that Jake had a fall out with was Victor Matfield (According to Matfield's book) Jake has learnt very quickly how to get the Aussie media on his side and how to use them. When you look at his actions since taking over at the Brumbies his ambitions are quite clear. He has had it with SARU and wants to stick one up them. He wants to become Australian and he wants to become Australia's coach. His move to get the university of Canberra to "sponsor" scholarships to young South African rugby players for them to broaden the base of ACT rugby is just another one of those moves. I see clearly where Jake is going and he is a very intelligent, calculating man, every move he makes is with one goal in mind, success. I am not blaming him, would likely have done the same, but his motivations are clear.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I want the Brumbies to win but that has to one of the most ridiculous plans ever. Morne Steyn will kick the Bulls to victory and the Brumbies will probably need to score four tries just to match him alone.
Brett McKay
Expert
Biltong, the other side of it would be that White knows he's not the most popular person in Pretoria, and so putting himself out front, and leaving the barbs out that he is, is all part of the plan. White is very good at taking the heat when need be..
Yep, it seems he has learnt the media is a powerful tool.
TembaVJ
Guest
Yeah picked it up from the Kiwi teams
felix
Guest
Jake is not far off what needs to be done,Last time I remember R.Elsom was getting the better at the rucks at Loftus until V.Matfield noticed it & so smart was the man,he changed his role completely & played a Bakkies kind of game,yes Matfield did the Bakkies on the Brumbies in the second half to win it eventually,question is do the Bulls currently have the captain or smarts to do something about whatever Jake throws at them,anybody's guess but that is loftus after all.
Joey
Guest
No surprise here, all the teams that play positional rugby and kick the ball back to the opposition obviously have less possession and therefore make more tackles and have more defensive breakdowns. It follows that they should have effected more turnovers. Similar situation with the reds who with their playing style make lots of tackles have lots of pilfering opportunities but don't score many tries. Teams like the Waratahs have tried to run everything resulting in great attacking stats but less tackles and pilfer opportunities for them but plenty for their opposition.
Ant
Guest
Ugh... Any hope of a brumbies win now completely gone,why would you let the ref and the opposition know that? For the ref he is on top of any (extra) grey area penalty calls and the opposition will be doing their best to suck the brumbies in and be in the refs ear all game - more so now. I hope this is part of Jake master plan and he has something else up his sleeve...
The Battered Slav
Guest
Isn't that the name of the game fredtone?
AussiKiwi
Guest
I don't think White was casual or careless in making these comments. Every step of the way seems to be carefully choreographed on his part. Telegraphing of tactics is not his usual modus operandi but for some reason he wanted to communicate those thoughts to the Bulls. Maybe the Brumbies' tactics will actually be quite different (or at least mixing it up more).
Yeah, you're right, forgot about that.
fredstone
Guest
So basically Jake is saying he's gonna try get away with as much cheating as possible.
fredstone
Guest
Remember the Irish debacle?
Jake's view is "aggressive rucking" other may be of the view it is "cynical rucking" ;) I think Jake should stop talking now, can't remember he ever spoke this much when he coached the Springboks.