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Springboks need to embrace ad-lib rugby

Bryan Habana playing for the Springboks. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
16th July, 2015
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A season which began with so much hope and expectation from each of the South African Super Rugby franchises was already dashed in the fledging stages of this year’s competition.

For the first time since 2003, no South African teams played a part in the knockout stages – which is an honest and true reflection of our dismal showing throughout rugby’s toughest competition.

The only shining light at the end of a very dark and tumultuous tunnel was everybody’s second favourite team, the Lions, being impeccably coached by Johan Ackermann. Ackermann galvanised a team of no names to come within a whisker of going through to the playoffs.

While Super Rugby form has no bearing on whether the Springboks have a stellar season or not, it is very concerning when comparing ourselves to the New Zealand and Australian teams as an example.

Our player resources far exceed those of our antipodean brethren and yet it is the perceived weaker Australian conference whom sent two teams into the playoffs, as opposed to South Africa’s one.

The most damming aspect of this was without the automatic place for a conference winner, South Africa would have had zero representation at the business end of the Super Rugby season.

We are still way behind the eight ball in terms of placating a game plan that doesn’t solely rely on a strong kicking game and driving lineout. Simply put if these two weapons are nullified what else do South African teams have to offer?

Besides the Lions scope and imagination, all our teams suffer from regimented implementation of the coach’s structure in terms of a game plan.

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In South Africa, depending on where they are on the field, each team and player is instructed on what to do. New Zealand and a lesser extent Australian players, while adhering to the game plan set out, are given license to take responsibility.

They are told to make a decision on whether to run the ball, look for safety in kicking to touch or kicking a contestable up and under in order to win it back.

South African teams seem to have a kick-first mentality. There is nothing wrong with that, provided the kick is a good one.

A perfect example of players being given a license to play what is front of them are both teams whom contested the final – Hurricanes and Highlanders.

Both have a two-pass policy when returning a kick, trying to move the ball as quickly as possible the middle of the field thus opening up the options for a counter attack.

South African teams seem more intent on kicking; the problem however lies in the fact that more often than not the kick isn’t well placed and the opposition simply gathers the ball and can then return it with interest.

It is rather ironic that one of our most important attacking weapons – kicking – is something we don’t get as right as we would like to on a regular basis.

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Jesse Kriel, the precocious Bulls fullback, is a superb example of a player whom looks to keep ball in hand as a primary option when returning a kick.

He is a sumptuous breath of fresh air when it comes to South Africa players showcasing their attacking skills.

I am not advocating that a kicking game must be abandoned and that we run everything regardless of the situation. What must be done by all players in this country is to see further than our noses are long.

Keep in mind the game plan your team uses in a certain part of the field, but if there is a chance to attack and keep the ball ‘alive’ by looking to offload or manipulating the defence in a particular way, this must be first prize and top of mind.

Eventual and fully deserving champions the Highlanders used a very effective kicking game; this was never more evident than when they beat the defending champion Waratahs in their own backyard.

Their kicks in general play were successful due to them being contestable as well as using the it as an offensive weapon with grubbers and chip kicks for their explosive outside backs to run onto.

In short they used a kicking game as an attacking option to get the ball back in a particular part of the oppositions half and here we can learn from them.

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The Highlanders also showcased what you can achieve by having a workman-like attitude across the board as well as sprinkling of ‘x-factor’ from outstanding players such as Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Malaki Fekitoa and Waisaki Naholo.

There is no substitute for continual belief within one owns ability and the camaraderie from team members who will sweat blood and tears for you. That, ladies and gentleman, is what being in a team is all about.

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