One step forward and two steps back. Trudging through mud and running on an uphill slope.
These are some of the thoughts that has accompanied me during the past weekend after Argentina has annihilated the Springboks not only in the scrums, but also at the contact areas.
Sometimes it is hard not to overreact when your team has failed to live up to expectations. I refrained from reading too much into the Springboks’ performance at Loftus, writing the performance off to the conditions – which in all honesty were atrocious.
However after witnessing the absolute demolishment of the Springbok scrum this past weekend, and all the subsequent domination by a Argentinian pack that have smelt blood, it is hard not to overreact.
Earlier in the Super Rugby there were rumours floating around that the Sharks were being played into the ground, that Jake White has taken too much out of his players and if the last few rounds of the Sharks’ performances are anything to go by, there may be some truth to it.
The Sharks front row comprising Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis had been experiencing some tough times against Nick Mallett’s World XV. They then suffered the same fate against Wales in their second during their June series and once again against Argentina in their last two Test matches.
When a scrum goes from the top ranked scrum in the Rugby Championship during 2013 to being annihilated in no uncertain terms the next year, questions have to be asked. Is it fatigue or technique?
The much touted line out prowess of South Africa may not have completely disappeared, but it has been significantly disturbed, injuries to Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth just returning from injury, Flip van der Merwe out with injury and also Pieter Steph du Toit, means that the Springboks have lost their continuity and mastery of the line out.
Most would have thought the absence of Willem Alberts was hardly noticed, until you start looking back and realise it is his unavailability that coincides with the Bok pack to fail dominating opponents.
Alberts at best may be only a 60-minute player, but it is his physical presence that helps his pack to gain front foot ball and maintaining momentum in attack.
All of a sudden the physicality of Alberts is severely missed on defence.
Since the tenure of Heyneke Meyer, there has been little continuity in the halfback pairing, so much so, that the most pivotal area of any international team has been marred by unavailability of players, poor form, injuries, and subsequently no real partnership being nurtured.
Between Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Hougaard at scrum half, and Johan Goosen, Morne Steyn, Patrick Lambie and Handre Pollard, no combination has been allowed to settle.
The resultant issues are clear.
Finally, the midfield combination of Jean de Villiers and Damian de Allende is not gelling.
The front row is an issue, but with the injury to Frans Malherbe, Meyer has little choice to continue with Jannie du Plessis unless he starts Lourens Adriaanse.
Beast Mtwarira has an injured disc which is apparently not completely healed. Adriaan Strauss should start at hooker and Trevor Nyakane at loosehead.
Give Beast, Bismarck and Jannie two weeks to recover, send them home with strict instructions to have no contact and only rest with a program to work on their conditioning.
The back row needs a bruiser, perhaps put Duane Vermeulen at seven for the time being until Willem Alberts has returned, and play Warren Whitely at eight. He will provide the extra line out option, and he does play a linking game which would benefit the Springboks on attack.
I fully understand Heyneke Meyer wants to play off nine, hence his stubborn reluctance to get rid of Ruan Pienaar now that Fourie du Preez is unavailable for the rest of the season.
However, even though Francois Hougaard is not a kicking halfback, he does have the confidence and ability to be more attacking. He has pace and is very strong and his pass can be accurate and snappy.
That is what South Africa needs primarily from their halfback – quick, clean, accurate and crisp service.
It is clear Morne Steyn is at his best behind Fourie du Preez, as he does take a lot of responsibility on his shoulders which makes Morne’s job easier.
But now is the time to stick to a combination of either Hougaard and Pollard, or Reinach and Lambie, both these pairs play for their respective unions and will provide some continuity to the back of the Springbok pack.
In the midfield, Damian de Allende is not working at 13, it is a position he is unaccustomed to and after playing at 12 and 11 for the Stormers throughout the Super Rugby season this is where he can be better employed.
Jean de Villiers have played at 13 for the Springboks before, and should there for be better equipped to handle the outside centre berth.
The Springboks have a huge challenge ahead of them, and Meyer will have to realise he can no longer play musical chairs with his pivotal positions. Combinations take time to gel.
It does not happen overnight, and in my view, time for experimentation is over. The time has come to stick to preferred combinations.
Priority number one is his halfback paring. Whether he starts with Hougaard and Pollard, and sticks Lambie and Reinach on the bench, or vice versa, it is decision-making time.
It would also be advisable for Meyer to discuss with SARU the protection and management of the players in a wider group, as fatigue, injuries and poor player management has made a certain impact on availability of players this season. Central contracting is becoming a vital aspect worth discussing.
Australia is waiting, and they are smarting, they are hurting and will undoubtedly be refreshed, reinvigorated and be a changed team not only in mentality, but also player personnel when these two teams meet in Perth.
StrYdeRZA
Guest
Between how the Bulls are going and constantly having to defending HM do you blame us for sometimes being a little down? At least watching the Boks still fills me with hope and excitement... if it's not the rugby that's exciting it's the near certain loss they're clawing their way out of...
StrYdeRZA
Guest
JJ is a real sore point for me, the guy is definitely capable of being a good to great Bok, but something has gone wrong for him this year... hope he comes right, if not for the Boks at least for the Bulls... sigh.
StrYdeRZA
Guest
And the players really did love Snorre... said it before on here, spent time with that team at the departure lounge in Edinburgh airport the day after they lost to Scotland, I was initially a little annoyed that they all looked so happy go lucky, sort of expected them to join me in sack clothes and morbidity but I soon cheered up, Snorre was just an upbeat positive character and there was genuine affection between him and the players, completely changed my attitude towards him, even though I knew he was technically not Springbok coach material, I found his interviews entertaining rather then embarassing and backed the senior players to cover the technical deficit... they almost did... that Australia QF was one game too soon... (ifsandbuts alert!) had they won that then who knows... first team to defend "Bill"?
IvanN
Guest
The other side of that coin.... Pienaar never makes sniping runs, cuts across or skip passes?
StrYdeRZA
Guest
The resident Bulls fan will simply slink in to the you've already lost this years CC corner and keep his mouth shut... heck even our best players are being pilloried for their Bok performances... oh the shame!
StrYdeRZA
Guest
Well you're everybody doesn't include me. But hey don't let that stop you. Agree on Guthro and The Sharks front row. Disagree on Pienaar. Undecided on De Allende but given the current options prepared to give him further chances, just don't like that he looks slow, no amount of "development" is going to fix that. JDV and JF both took a little while to adjust to the international game.
StrYdeRZA
Guest
Apart from being harsh on RP... he really has improved in my eyes this year, I do agree with getting the ball to Pollard quicker and letting him be the Pivot. But when you are 1 dimensional the defenders can be much more effective, the 0.5 seconds you win playing Houggie over Pienaar could be negated because the defenders know it's going to 10 every time?
StrYdeRZA
Guest
Which is why Lambie will always be in the mix... and unless some new talent is unearthed between now and the WC, I see both Lambie and Pienaar in the squad becuase both offer solid to good options at 10 and 15. Thank you Sharks for developing our "utility" backs :-)
StrYdeRZA
Guest
Before we go hiring and firing, just remember despite what we think may be best in reality there are contracts and penalties involved... given SARUs track record I hardly blame the coaches for insisting on that protection.
fanie
Guest
Harry if we can see it than meyer must be blind.To the contrary i really believe we do not have a scrum problem all our problems are coach related.I do not believe that our scrum since 2013 has sunk to this level.Bismark being popped the Argies props scrummed slightly inward and once the bind goes the hooker is separated.
Paul Kruger
Roar Pro
Howzit guys! New to the site. Great article. Agree on all points. The combinations seem to be a big issue for us, especially at 9/10. Our backline seemed impotent these past 2 games and defensively weak. The argies looked to have us on the backfoot when they attacked and I'm more than unconvinced about de allende at 13, frankly I don't even know why he is on the field- 2 carries and 2 knock ons. De villiers seems to be on the field because meyer backs his captaincy but we need to find an alternative, especially with the WC looming. His defence seems to let us down at crucial moments- I'm thinking back to Ellis Park last year when he ran up and got sidestepped by Barrett. One of the comments below mentioned the lack of support on these pick and go drives. It's insanity! It doesn't help to make a few metres by yourself if there is no one in support to secure the ruck. Looking forward to chewing the fat with you guys.
fredstone
Guest
Well, that team ain't ever gonna win a World Cup, we can accomodate one or maybe two WP players in the team at max if we want to win the world cup. In '95 it was Joel and Chester and in 2007 it was Schalk and Percy. :p
fredstone
Guest
This whole thing about developing or evolving is to a certain extent just a media stunt. The principles of the game stay more or less the same. I mean you can develope or assist a player to develope his skillset, but if he's injured does that mean the team's developement has now halted? Players are also limited by a number of factors and what do you do when you've got a limited number of limited or unproven players in a certain position? You could also probably get individuals to understand their roles in a team better, but if and when they get injured where does that leave you? Meyer knows what works for him and he knows what works for SA and it's size but what happens when you've got injury prone players in a specialised position and the only back up is a 38 year old? What do you do if your 7 gets injured, both the back ups that could've played are injured and the next guy in line has just come from an injury which restricts cardio and is in the middle of his off season? Do you then say phone Potgieter? I mean does anybody even know where Potgieter is at the moment? Or do you play the same player that you did last week that looked a little out of his depth and who you asked to develope a certain skillset not entirely suited to what you're requiring of him now and hope for the best?
fredstone
Guest
But so did Snorre
fredstone
Guest
Yep it was bad and it wasn't even the truth. The way that thing came about left Hoskins fuming. He also apparently asked Prinsloo, one of the main architects how he should explain the sudden about turn and it was alledgedly something to that extent. There was so much SARU politics involved and it was apparently a settling of scores with the perfevt cover story.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, the wolves will turn on Link if he loses, and so I think he will go all mad scientist
Hahaha excellent
IvanN
Guest
jis maar jys negatief.... seker n bloubul ? cheer up my fellow biltong munching beer boep boys from the free states.... Boks will take it to Aus, we are not expected to win this match so what do we have to lose ? much more pressure on Aus to perform - they have zero from two, with a losing streak against us of 3 on the trot. I think we can win.
Harry Jones
Expert
True. Feelings are tricky. Facts are better. But isn't doom and gloom also a feeling?
Harry Jones
Expert
Os would be better than Gurthro.