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.
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.
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.
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.
RobC
Roar Guru
Welcome to the roar, Brandon. Agree to the need for SB to adopt a broader array of attack options. The key is to deliver this at SR level. We find this in the Lions and Cheetahs. The other three teams, struggle, but making some progress. Good news is the current Currie Cup generation seem to have embraced this. Johan Ackerman 2014 is the first graduate. Franco Smith is the next. SR 2016 will be an interesting watch. Not just these two, but the other coaches. Until then HM will make do with what he has.
splinter
Guest
Thanks Brandon the teams that played decent rugby in the super 15 was relative inexperienced teams not that experienced teams played badly but the point that i want to make is do we place to much emphasis on experience or do we blame the coaches.The next question to ask is do SA coaches coach rugby properly for me looking at the Springbok side professional players committing basic errors and then Pollard kicking the ball in the air 15 meters from opposition or not finding touch nas got me confused.
Playmaker
Guest
I hate the term ' X factor", but the two Smiths,Fekitoa and Naholo with Osborne, Buckman and Sopoga represents a bloody good backline, so that is not truly a workmanlike bunch of players.However , the forwards were workmanlike and that is where Oz rugby might learn something.
Lano
Roar Guru
Meyer may have evolved, but the same players will revert to type unless the Boks pick a team filled with Willie Le Roux-like attidude. Harry will explain the finer principles of conformitas naturam sui generis. It'll be boring as bat-shit first and second channel play, but unlikely to be as boring as the WBs. Boks by 17. AB by 12 x 10^6
Lano
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article Brandon, enjoyed the read A few points: - All Blacks have demonstrated an ability to completely change their game plan during a match, unlike the Boks or WBs, so no surprise that their S15 sides do the same - "Super Rugby form has no bearing on whether the Springboks have a stellar season" - indeed - the Tahs won the S15 but WBs hit an all time low last year. You/ we could be surprised.
Harry Jones
Expert
Brandon, tell us about Sid!
Harry Jones
Expert
KK Morne was dropped after he missed touch in Perth last year. He is a specialist sharpshooter, with enough caps and game-winning kicks to be a squad member in a Twickenham WC team. There's no evidence Meyer will start him vs OZ/NZ, bit of course he might be handy vs say, Samoa. Matfield was supposed to teach PSDT to be the next Matfield. PSDT, then Lood got hurt. Flip withdrew. Then, JdV broke a knee. So, the placeholder Vic and his 100+ caps is still our 5.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Same piece was reported on Stuff NZ but I just wonder if Meyer is trying to lull those he is likely to compete with in RWC come KO time. Very rare have we seen in the KO rounds very loose and open running rugby with a degree of caution generally exercised first. I don't believe that all teams (in particular the SH sides) will suddenly change their philosophy and play as as they did in the S15 come KO stages.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Thanks for the piece etienne marais. That does seem indeed to suggest an evolution from the article I had in mind, albeit some time back. Glad to be updated. For every bold selection like Pollard and de Allende there seems to be a reactionary one with Morné Steyn or Matfield. Experience is very difficult to spurn but I don't see a clear evolution of the game Meyer is speaking about in terms of his gameplan and his selections. I think he is a fan of the arcade game Frogger and is quite willing to go back in order to go forward. He's not the only one. Steve Hansen is shutting up shop to some extent in quite a few games. Something to fall back on is very handy when things are not going your way. The question is what do you fall back on and how effective is it?
etienne marais
Guest
"However, Meyer believes the NH RWC is like entering Narnia for the first time and they tend to play default rugby." I think (actually, I know) you are wrong about Meyer. His "rugby philosophy" has shown a marked evolution over the past two years and we have seen that in his selections as well as the evolving game plan. Here is part of the text of one of his interviews this week (the interview is available on soundcloud as well). He shares his thinking (not for the first time though): Kicking won't win the World Cup 2015-07-15 12:07 Cape Town - Rain and England go hand in hand, and when one applies that logic to rugby it is easy to think of sodden fields and poor handling. But Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer believes that the days of winning a World Cup with shrewd tactical kicking and keeping the ball close to the pack are over, and he expects an open, free-flowing and attacking approach when the tournament kicks off in London on September 18. "There’s a perception out there that it will be slow and sluggish in muddy conditions, but visiting all the venues, most of the (them) have brilliant surfaces," Meyer said in Brisbane this week. "They are mostly soccer fields which is very thin grass and quite fast. Gone are the days when the World Cup is just a short ball in play, mostly scrummaging and kicking for points. "Guys will attack and take each other on so you can’t just rely on the kicking game and you have to be fit and have guys who can play at a high pace. "I think that’s where rugby has changed the most in the last two years – it’s an unbelievable pace. Suddenly there are smaller 9s coming back into the game because everybody wants quick ball. I think the World Cup is going to be played at more or less the same pace at Super Rugby." Meyer, who is preparing his side for battle against Australia on Saturday, added that there were a number of sides who possessed the ability to challenge for honours at the tournament. "I especially think the northern hemisphere teams are moving the ball as well," he said. "It’s going to be a spectacle, probably the toughest World Cup ever, because even the minor unions have improved. They’ve all got quality coaches and they’re all well prepared, probably more than the southern hemisphere."
Taylorman
Guest
Very good summary of a slight frustration that seems to have been there for some time now. I've long thought SA rugby at the Boks level has a bit of a disconnect from its player base and strengths, and that once that's harnessed in an accepting rather than avoiding manner Bok rugby will take off. Oz and Bok rugby for me mirror each other's plights; SA has the livestock, but not the right attitude and vision Oz has the right attitude and vision, just not the livestock SA try to do less with what they have, Oz try to do too much.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Thanks for the article Brandon. I'm on board with what you say. I think, given the right conditions, SA are willing to mix it up against sides like Oz and NZ as their record hasn't been too flash playing their traditional style. However, Meyer believes the NH RWC is like entering Narnia for the first time and they tend to play default rugby. Until last year that had served them pretty well. They always had the measure of England and only the Irish seemed to cast their spell on them. September and October are by no means horrific wintry months and the grounds won't be bogs of despair or drifting icebergs in the howling wind. Knockout rugby is often low percentage rugby but sometimes you need a bit of high risk to exert some scoreboard pressure or get yourself back in the game, it's not so much ad lib rugby but carpe diem rugby that was so beautifully executed last year in J'Burg in the first half. But even in that game SA reverted to type and almost lost it. It's like eating licorice all sorts. Don't just pick out your favourites. Experiment a little. Keep the people guessing what ones you'll go for.. I think SA will