How often do we hear it said that the Wallabies have the backs, the Springboks have the forwards and the All Blacks have both?
It is a common theme that runs whenever we discuss the abilities of each of these teams. However, when you really think about it, the debate should rather be focused around the mindset and rugby culture of each of these nations.
South Africa have always believed in the archaic system of using their forward pack to establish dominance, their backs are there to collect the ball, tackle the opposition and kick the ball away so that the forwards can play the game.
The opposite is true in Australia, the forwards merely serve as the necessary stock to restart the game. Their presence is only tolerated due to the fact that selecting backline players in the pack is not possible – fast players do not have the necessary size and strength to compete at the set phases.
New Zealand on the other hand have at some point in the past, realised that the presence of forwards are not only necessary for the set phases, but also highly effective in attack. Hence their total commitment to a complete player, be he a forward or a back.
Over the past century the battle lines have been drawn, teams have been identified and have cemented their reputations based on these cultures to a point where perception has become a reality for most of us.
Heyneke Meyer has the opportunity to change that perception. It is up to him to convince the SARU that South Africa should embrace a fifteen-man game. But before he does that, he needs to be sold on it himself.
Thus far dipping the toe infrequently has only shown glimpses of what the Springbok team is truly capable of, the truth of the matter is I have always believed that we can embrace a fifteen-man game, and there has been enough evidence over the past 18 months that if Meyer does choose to accept this mission he can and will be successful with it.
Yes, he will still lose matches to superior teams and the odd one to others, but he will bury inferior teams, the regularity with which inferior teams on their day come within a score of an upset or manage to win matches that they really shouldn’t, will become less frequent and ultimately be a thing of the past.
If Meyer takes a leaf out of the All Blacks’ book, it will be that you have to be relentless and remorseless in your attempt to annihilate any opposition all the time. The ‘aura’ New Zealand has built over the years is one of domination over inferior opponents to the point where there is little or no belief of a victory over the Blackness, an aura not evident about the Springboks.
Another point Meyer can pick up from New Zealand is that whenever a team manages to come close, draw or beat them, there is a collective obsession to avenge such a poor performance.
The difference between the first two Bledisloe Tests this year is the perfect example of this remorseless obsession. Australia managed a draw in the first Test, gained some confidence prior to the next, and before they could say “right we are”, the All Blacks smashed them by 30 points.
Although the focus will always be to catch New Zealand, it is important that the Springboks must first learn to annihilate inferior opponents. They need to establish an aura similar to that of New Zealand. The focus must be to break the spirit of any pretender who wants to surpass their standing in world rugby.
Pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat when conditions suit and hiding the rabbit when conditions aren’t perfect will only bring hesitancy and doubt about this new approach to rugby.
For the complete approach to become second nature, the Springboks need to live and breathe the fifteen-man game. To become efficient with the ball in hand approach, they must practice it and employ it in every match. They must continue learning as they make mistakes and improving their skills, instinct and decision making ability.
Only then will they close the gap and become the number one side in the world.
Meyer’s mission is simple. Go to Europe, pulverise your opponents, and come home.
Heyneke, you accept this mission?
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Hi JUstWin, it is me mate, the thing I like about Willie is that he creates space, regardless of his form this year, he is still better than any other fullback we had over the past number of years.
Just_win
Guest
Good article biltongbek! IMO Willie is overrated, I say this because he is erratic, too may 50/50 plays. This may be because he felt he had to as there weren't many other backs stepping up to the plate. Now more backs are playing well so may be Willie will settle down. We will see. I often post on a South African rugby site (although it changed its name recently). There is a bloke who is now posting on that site as biltongbek. If it is you we will be delighted to have you as you as a poster -you will raise our average rugby IQ greatly, lol If it is not you I would appreciate you letting me know. Cheers, JW
Thanks Mate, there is still more depth required in the back line though. I think if Meyer sticks to Hougaard and Reinach at halfback I will be happy. With Pollard, Lambie and Boshoff at flyhalf we are sorted. We have plenty of good centers, Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, de Allende, Jp pietersen (probably more suited at 13 now than 14 due to pace) juan du jongh, and a few others who are coming up. But Meyer hasn't gotten the balance right yet. I think our back three needs more depth though. Who replaces Willie if he is injured? only potential currently is Lambie who I reckon will be a benchlayer for the next couple of years as he can play so many positions. Habana won't be around after next year, so we have Henndricks and Basson.
Post match kebab
Guest
Great article b.b and an incredibly good thread that sums up a lot of my thinking and then some over many years. As an aussiefan I've long feared the prospect of the complete bok game and concur with the commentary that him is developing both both the 15 man game and the traditional game in unison withe ultimate goal of being able to switch mid game if need be.. Guessing for opposition teams will be destabilising as opposed to the simple formula of knowing them countering the traditional game plan. Being a old friend of poster Suzy p, I've been in her ear for years on this subject. Two points; 1) the cultural shift is potentially more important them a w.c result, however a w.c result may scupper any of h.m's quality work for his eventual successor so it's any interesting to say the least in the lead up & actual tournament. 2) geez the saffer forward game and playing stock is the envy of Australia& this is the scary prospect and real platform for running twin styles concurrently. Once again a great read.
Harry Jones
Expert
Great post It's the over-under margin McCaw will get pinged but he's always contributing Louw is like that; Habana, too...Vermeulen, Pollard , le Roux
Thanks SP, that is pretty much how I see him.
Suzy Poison
Guest
I agree with. Blitong here. I live in Australia, and the Aussies and Kiwis have long regarded Morne Steyn is the weak link in the Bok team. Over in South Africa he gets far too much far respect as the loyal servant of the game, because he kicks decisive penalties to get the Boks out of trouble and mainly because he is a humble guy with no ego. Long term this approach is flawed. It's not so much Morne's massive kicking error that lost the game for the Boks, in Perth, it was his feeble tackling efforts straight afterwards. And then he also kicked the ball out on the full on he restart. Morne has had a good run, he was instrumental in a golden Bok period in 2009, when the Boks beat the AB's three times in one year. But that was five years ago. When the Boks pick Morne, the Wallabies feel they have a good chance to win and AB's know they will win. As far as I am concerned Morne should never wear the Bok jersey again. His is fifth in line behind, Pollard, Lambie, Goosen and Mourirz Boshoff in my books. If they are all injured then yes, like the Kiwi Donald he should get a run. But he is no better than Donald. A solid uninspiring player who play play his heart out for his country when asked, but is a limited player.
Cheers Buk. Conservatism runs deep in our blood.
Meyer can always just leave he kicking game to Pollard and Willie, then select Hougaard for the other attributes he brings and allow Hougaard to continue playing his own game.
StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
Hougaard played his natural game last 2 outings instead of being instructed to kick it, made a world of difference, if HM is going to employ a more kicking game he will probably pick FdP and Pienaar, for more running games Hougie and Reinach come into the picture. Don't forget Pienaar gives you decent cover at 10 and 15.
StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
My question was based on what happened in 2011, all the Tri-Nations teams took a very "pragmatic" approach to the away legs with 1 eye on the RWC. I can't imagine HM taking a weaker team on tour for the reasons you state, but once that RWC starts looming large and you have 1st choice players who are needing a break or carrying niggles it will test anyone's resolve. The ABs and England probably have the biggest squads of similarly skilled players to draw on, the Boks are probably comfortably in 3rd place in this respect but like all the other teams a few injuries in specific positions will have a huge impact on the team.
Firstxv
Guest
I might be wrong in SA's case but I think you find the Currie cup and the Lions are heavily influenced by youth. Our ITM also have ridiculously high scores just about every match and because they don't have the bulk of the best SXV or ABs playing there's less structure. This is because younger players want to show their very best qualities, and that is usually done in the scoring of tries.Its only later when the bigger matches become more important, RC, Bledisloe, World cup final being the best example where the better defensive structures are in place, and less risk is taken. The Currie, ITM and some sxv sides all play a less structured game and the ABs must apply some real smarts to be able to play an open game against these better defences. 15 man game at the top level is very different to the throwing of the ball around at the lower levels. I see the Aus championship is also showing this trend- lots of high scoring. So the lesser sides attack happens more naturally because thats where all the energy is. At test level it needs to be done with more purpose and a much higher level of skill to play that way, as the energy for some teams is much more defence oriented. Thats' possibly why it drops off in SA- the higher the level of play, the more defensively it gets. That certainly seems to reflect the Currie cup and lower sxv sides in SA.
Buk
Guest
The usual good read article BB, thanks. Only way I diverge (perhaps I am the only one !) is that I have always thought SA has had good backs. Gainsford, Gerber, Honiball, obvious ones, but then others that only end up as fringe players. Often a case of game plan or non-selection. Always been a bit of a mystery to me.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yep.. looking forward to those battles...
:D pure coincidence, I have actually never heard the song, the lyrics are a bit weird though.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ biltongbek : BLURRED LINES got Robin Thicke into deep **** :D
I agree and hope you are correct.
Haha, I rub many South Arican rugby supporters the wrong way, why d you think I spend my time here? I am very much a black and white person, I don't like grey areas, it blurs the line between right and wrong. Yo may saylife isn't just black and white, I appreciate that, however th more grey areas we allow in our reasoning the less focused we become in the goals we set ourselves. I live my life to this philosophy. Like you say there may be merit in contracting overseas players. But to me there is just too many complications and challenges associated with it. I agree fully with you it is time SARU became more professional and efficient. I firmly believe central contracting is necessary. I believe SARU should have a tiered system of how players are contracted. Tier one, the players we do not want to lose. Let's say the three best players in every position. Tier two, the next three best in every positions, these are the players you would like to keep as they show potential to be stars. Then all other players in the Currie Cup. I also believe a drafting system would spread ur talent better over the Super Rugby franchises and you won't find one team sitting with two or three of the best players in a position. Coming to player replacements and MOrne Steyn. This was not the first match where his mistakes cost us wins. Bt, before you think I have an issue with him only, I have a problem with all the players that formed part of the player power under PDV, VIctor, FDP, Jean de Villiers and the like. Reason. These guys had their 8 years of showing us what they can do, the sad fact is they were not good enough to gain parity against NZ, similarly our record (apart from the last two years) against OZ was woeful to say the least. If we agree that 15 man rugby is going to take us forward, then we need to rid the Bok camp of players who demanded we stick to the same plan under PDV when he wanted to change things. For me it is simple, if you use the same horse to run the same race and he keeps on losing, he isn't going to show you anything new the next week, purely because he is who he is. If you want to go win that race, you need a younger horse with a new attitude and different talents.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
Meyer has never put out second stringers against AB and he will have too much pride to do that I reckon. Besides, you will be playing at home against us in 2015, so why wouldn't you bring out the big guns. As for the away games, wouldn't you want your A team to build some winning momentum before the world cup by beating Australia away from (your) home! You might have to meet them in the quarter final before the AB.
StrYdeR
Roar Rookie
Now that is a comment I can 100% agree with ;-)