I know a lot of South African rugby supporters still blame Bryce Lawrence for the Springboks’ defeat at the hands of the Wallabies in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, but I think they’re delusional.
For starters, Lawrence was a world-class referee and he seemed to be a thoroughly decent rugby man whose career was cut short after 2011 when thousands of indignant and tearful Bok-supporting crybabies launched a disgraceful social media smear campaign against him, along with a few death threats.
After Lawrence (understandably) refused to referee again in South Africa the IRB had no choice but to drop him from their elite panel and his career as a top referee was over. A truly shameful chapter in Springboks rugby.
But Lawrence wasn’t the reason the Springboks lost that game. He may have made a few mistakes and he may have allowed David Pocock to… ahem… push the boundaries of the law. But the real reason the Springboks lost that match had very little to do with the ref.
It has everything to do with the fact that their primary ball receivers in nearly every play in that match were Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger, who happened to be two of the weakest ball carriers in that team.
Just to clarify, I have no problem with a big strong forward (think Mamuka Gorgodze) taking the ball up and setting up the next phase, my problem is when that forward takes on the role of distributor and decision-maker and effectively takes over the flyhalf role.
That is what Burger and Matfield did in that match and I wouldn’t have minded but neither is an effective ball carrier. Matfield often gets knocked back in the tackle while Burger invariably goes down on first contact.
I admire Burger for his courage, his energy and his uncompromising attitude, but his amazing workrate and his ability to win ball are negated by the fact that he is slow and he’s not a very good passer. He couldn’t bust through a roll of stretched out single-ply toilet paper if it was lightly drenched with water.
So, where did we see this same thing happen a Springbok game? Yes, that’s right, it was in arguably the second most shameful and embarrassing episode in Springboks rugby history, just a few weeks ago when we lost to Japan.
On second thoughts, it’s a bit unfair to say it was the exact same thing that happened because the ageing Matfield was a few yards off the pace against the Brave Blossoms and took so much longer than Burger to take up his position just to the left or right of the scrumhalf that it was left up to Burger alone to assume the role of backline general.
Burger did so with his usual awkward passes, ungainly running style and his penchant for collapsing in a heap at even the slightest bit of contact. You’d think we might have learnt.
Thankfully, Burger was a lot more focussed on forward play in the games against Samoa and Scotland but in the last quarter against the USA Eagles he started swanning around in the backline again.
Now I’m as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs because Heynecke Meyer seems blissfully unaware of this glaring weakness in the Springboks setup. I’m waiting for us to be beaten in one of the big games because we persist with using our weakest runner as our primary ball carrier.
PLease Burger (and Matfield), stick to what you’re good at. Leave the backline moves for the backs.
RobC
Roar Guru
Rooi, I have a similar though broader observation. For example in SB AB in Ellis this year, with so much wasted redzone opportunities. The issue imo is not the player but the structure of the SA regime in general. Boks play off nine: - It may work like a dream in the 1980/90s - It is limiting the attack options of SA of today. - Whilst playing off a flanker adds dimension - The flanker, like the scrummie has no idea where the available space and emerging mismatches are. Pollard or Lambie or whoever needs to be the attack general. This is an issue of structure, coaching and tradition. And seemingly the pecking order of players on and off field. Btw, I think Pat Lambie for Qld Reds flyhalf please. Good training for him. Good marquee flyhalf for Qld.
androidangler
Guest
Totally agree Winks. I've watched him for a long time and there is better 8's and flanks available brussouw kriel tekkelenberg even hooked brits would be a better choice
Winks
Guest
The point is Schalk does not belong in the backline. The ball goes to him from scrumhalf for a backline move when our backs are all in place, that ridiculous. It slows our attack down. And if you think that's a better option than having it go straight from scrumhalf to flyhalf then well, bizarre
Winks
Guest
I am very surprised how most readers do not get the point of this article. Yes I don't agree with a lot of it but the main point was that Schalk is in the flyhalf channel way too much. I agree with Rooinek there. And two, Schalk is definitely not our best ball carrier so there's others who will serve this better. I've been complaining about HM picking Schalk as a flyhalf and centre few ages now
Rooinek
Roar Rookie
Really? Wouldn't it have been easier (and more hygienic) just to use . . . ummmm . . . toilet paper?
RedsKing
Guest
You sure told me! btw, I just printed your article out and used it for toilet paper.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
I agree that Schalk (and any other forward for that matter) shouldn't stand in the fly half position as often as he does, rather leave that to Pollard or Lambie as many would be opportunities have been botched by Schalk and other forwards taking the ball up instead of the backline. However it appears that you have it in for Schalk a bit. I actually think he had great hands and is a great distributor of the ball and puts others into holes very well. The only other forwards who are on par with Schalk when linking are Kieran Reid & Michael Hooper I reckon. Did you see the Barbarians game Schalk played in? But I agree that he needs to focus on the core no 8 duties more and less on being the first receiver, it's drives me nuts sometime too! You don't see Reid trying to be Dan Carter all game long, so there's no reason why Schalk or any other forwards should in the Bok jersey.
roy mackintosh
Guest
A mirror?
roy mackintosh
Guest
ignore the roar mafia mate Good on you for opening up an issue which the gurus missed and belittle anyone not waving their flag
Rooinek
Roar Rookie
Hi Wardad. Yes, one and the same.
Rooinek
Roar Rookie
Cheers Roy!
roy mackintosh
Guest
I enjoyed your point made(good food for thought) and look forward to reading more from you and replies from those who disagree. Well done mate
Rooinek
Roar Rookie
Tell you what, RedsKing, next time you start reading one of my posts and find you can't read more than the first line, don't push yourself to read the rest and rather go find something else to do. That way you'll be spared this red rage you're obviously feeling while the rest of us will be spared your tedious, obnoxious and repetitive comments. It's a win-win solution for everyone. Also, if you have a problem with "my" spelling of Heyneke Meyer, perhaps you should write a very strongly-worded letter to the moderators of this site who edit posts and in this case changed the spelling. Okay? Run along now . . .
RedsKing
Guest
I'm not surprised other Bok fans look at you funny. They must think that you are slow. Burger is arguably the best linkman in world rugby. His passes are crisp. Your criticism of him his pure delusion. If anything, his ball winning ability, while not bad, is his weakest point in his game... something that you praise highly of him. Bizarre.
RedsKing
Guest
I actually can't believe someone can have the opinion of the Rooinek. I think the Roar should impose an IQ test before being allowed to post articles.
RedsKing
Guest
Burger passes the most out of any Springbok forward, and he does it very well. He has changed his game completely since around 2010.
RedsKing
Guest
Burger puts players through holes nearly as much as le Roux and du Preez. That is saying a lot about his talent. Article writer has no clue.
RedsKing
Guest
Burger puts players through holes nearly as much as le Roux and du Preez. That is saying a lot about his talent. The article writer is either trolling or just very very dense.
RedsKing
Guest
This has to be one of the worst articles written on the roar. Burger is one of the best linkmen in world rugby. His passing game is poor? Are you blind? He can pass accurately half way across the field. Your opinion is actually very similar to Bryce Lawrence's reffing. You can't even spell the coaches' name correctly. According to you, Burger can't pass and can't take the ball into contact at all. What would you like him to do on attack, exactly? Do you want him to bridge over at every ruck? Maybe you want Mohoje to be in his place? Is that it?
RedsKing
Guest
Stopped reading your article after the first line. Edit: But I have skimmed it now out of boredom. What are you even on about? The Boks won the collisions in that game. Matfield was not the primary ball carrier. Lawrence denied the Springboks a legitimate try. There was so much wrong with that game that it isn't even funny. Go watch the video on youtube and open your eyes. The way Pat Mccabe just lay on the ball for 10 seconds right in front of lawrence has to be one of the worst offenses by the ref. A total paid off job if you've ever seen one.