The 100th Test between the ascendant All Blacks and the slipping Springboks is just around the corner.
I was tired of talking to the same people about the same things in the same way. I was tired of my own thoughts.
So, I had an hourlong chat with two grassroots rugby experts from the Cape. Uncle Basil, an old school coach, and a straight-talking salt-and-vinegar woman named Verity.
What ails the Boks? What is the fix? Where is the most pressing problem? Do we have a chance? Where did it all start to go wrong?
Uncle Basil is a careful man, who makes a plan. He coached at schools and provincial level, and a couple of his players have gone all the way. So, he does not favour an easy breezy Bok system.
“When a player plays, he enjoys it because all the systems are working. A team has fun when things are going according to plan. But in the game, there can be a dip, and then it goes the other way. It see-saws. When players don’t believe in the system, they can just think ‘ag, this game is over.’ Then a coach needs to lift the players or find the right captain to lift the players.”
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
He is also fine with the blindside Bok attack: “The blindside is the place to attack because the defensive coaches will have their slowest players on that side. Change back and attack the blindside to find the bigger forwards to allow your smaller players to find the holes.”
But Verity points out the blindside has become too predictable: “They don’t want to be enterprising. Something innovative. Make the other team wonder: what the heck did the Boks just do? We don’t take enough risks. We don’t believe we have the flair.”
Uncle Basil had to agree with that: “Just passing to Damian de Allende, to bend his head and cause a ruck in the middle of the field, and play three phases, or kick on first phase. This is predictable. We never play from first phase.”
So, why did it work in the World Cup?
Verity points out: “The way we played was successful in a tournament. But after that one tournament, it is not sustainable. The World Cup was an event. We won that event. But now we have to move on.”
But is there time to avoid a hiding? Uncle Basil isn’t sure: “Anyone can change. But to change in a week is a difficult thing.”
He thinks of the Wallabies as the canary in the gold mine: “Australia always shows us the flaws in our rugby.”
On that we all agreed.
Verity likes the Wallabies’ and All Blacks’ willingness to throw new players into the mix, and goes outside rugby to make her point.
“We should use the younger guys,” she says. “Give them an opportunity to play against everybody. Look at what Australia did in cricket? Why was Shane Warne so good? They let him play as a young guy. He played against every single nation.
“So, in the World Cups, he totally mesmerized them. He was a spinner. He was the main destroyer. Because he had the opportunity for four years. The All Blacks have a core of the older, but the new ones are just as good. They can replace them, and they all do the job. You need to take a risk.”
She also loves the post-try ritual used by the Wallabies: “Every time after Australia scored, they had a little huddle. They all came together. A moment. I would like to hear what they say. Is it, can we do something different?” In contrast, she says, Boks high five after a try.
The other proposition upon which we al nodded our heads is the true status of Jacques Nienaber. Uncle Basil put it like this:
“Jacques was always the assistant coach. The defensive coach. And he was very good. He was put there because Rassie was there. They went to Munster together. Jacques just stepped in as the Springbok coach. There are other coaches can do a better job.”
Verity thinks “The players see Jacques as the guy implementing what he is told to do. He is the second person. He can always say it was from Rassie. Maybe he’s not really the coach.”
There was also a sad concurrence that Willie le Roux is past it.
Uncle Basil: “When you see Willie running with the ball now, you see a guy who doesn’t know what to do with the ball. He’s good with the high ball, but that’s not enough, now. Unfortunately, that is what is happening now with Willie.”
Verity pointed out the awful timing of Willie’s passes: either too early or too late.
Both bemoaned Faf de Klerk’s mental discipline, but neither would endorse a lack of fitness theory. “I think we have a mental problem,” said Verity. “They are fit as they can be. It’s mental. They just waiting for the All Blacks.”
Neither would rule out a famous Bok victory in Townsville.
“The braais are going to be high this weekend,” notes Verity. “We are still the champions.”
But her cautionary caveat: ““After the 50th minute, if you haven’t caught up to the All Blacks, they will slay you. You are gone. They will annihilate you.”
Uncle Basil’s sober voice: “If you want to beat the All Blacks, you have to score three or four tries. But we are relying on opponents making mistakes. When we are more than seven points behind, our players start losing interest or trying too hard.
“Maybe it’s a mental thing and you are 60 minutes into the match and you start to lose rucks or lineouts, you get this mental fatigue.”
We tried to agree on a 9-10-15 and bench selection pattern to front the All Blacks.
By 2-1, we settled on Cobus Reinach to start, for his change of pace. Verity’s dissent was for Herschel Jantjies.
At flyhalf, Uncle Basil pointed out: “Johan Goosen is putting up his hand for selection. We need a playmaker. Someone to put de Allende into space.” But we had no agreement; which is basically where the Bok coaches are, and so they stick with Handre Pollard.
At fullback, Willie only got one vote (Uncle Basil).
On the bench, Uncle Basil spoke for all of us: “This idea of a Bomb Squad was only good for the World Cup. But we need another backline player. We have a strong pack of forwards. It’s ok. We need more playmakers.”
So, there it is. A focus group.
Solutions: keep the pack, bring speed to the nine and fifteen, and stop calling our bench a bomb squad and stop pretending Nienaber is head coach. Have a few proper playmakers on the bench. Instill something new. Keep thinking on the field. And lift for the All Blacks.
Is anyone listening?
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
You could see SA wanted to vary the attack and did, but it was like they only trained for it during the week for the first time in years. The backs were standoffish in the clean-out out wide which lead to the turnovers and the forwards weren’t out there, it was about getting into position better which just takes practice to get back used to that and I would say fitness right now too. I think the constant slow/kick in game play over last few weeks has dropped there fitness. I’m still looking forward to the ABs game, they could still pull off the win if they get set piece in the 22 firing and those kicks are dropped.
biltong
Guest
RT, how many times have we thought the Boks will change or innovate once their gameplan has been nullified by the opposition? We play to our DNA is what all Bok coaches believe. They are not willing to change, this has been proven over and over in the pro era. It is as if they are unwilling to acknowledge that we can play any other style. That is the reason the Boks will never sustainably be the best team in the world. DNA - Do Not Adapt.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
OK, so the Springboks lost a couple of test matches they were expected by many to win, but anyone who writes them off is I would suggest a fool. The Boks will be back (maybe as soon as this weekend - as a Kiwi I hope not!!) of that I have no doubt. Like anything else, they will need to understand what needs to be down to perhaps dominate once more. All coaches at the top level are looking for an advantage, surely the Boks are no different. They thought against other SH side a big strong set piece and reliance on the rolling maul was enough... they must be asking themselves ... "it was, but is it enough now"
PeterK
Roar Guru
fair point
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Not all ABs are like that, like all teams some fans get caught up in their passion for the team that they support. There are only a couple of Kiwi supporters on the Roar who like to bag other teams, I just ignore them. I appreciate your honesty Peter, but I think that you have seen enough of my posts to know that I have respect for all teams. I have also respected your posts hence the likes you receive from me :thumbup:
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
Yes Jake has his shortcomings hence me saying short term consultant.
PeterK
Roar Guru
it is reflecting the reluctance of a lot of ab fans to accept teams are better at things than them, the very common response when someone posts something they think is is for an ab fan to jump in and say no they are not better at that
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Where did get exact quality come from? I said parity in the line outs there is a difference there. How can you name something that the Boks are better or NZ when they have not played yet? You seem to be hung up on this whole NZ are better in all aspects, where has that come from? Kiwis know that the All Blacks have areas that need work on as do all teams. Once again these two teams have not played since the RWC and that was 2019. So wait until the game to see who was stronger in certain aspects of the game.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
They are very good in some aspects, faking injuries, wasting time, also the best bomb kickers in the. Mind you that is because they get plenty of practice.
Harry Jones
Expert
All of that is profoundly true.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
I think Laurie saw the writing on the wall if he had tried to stay on and Hart was in the background (again). That's actually not a dig at Hart - any top coach wanting the top job will be making sure he has his numbers in place if the guy on top of the greasy pole slips up. Similar re Mitchell (although his gift for Sco Mo like diplomacy may not have assisted him either). The 1995 RWC All Blacks played some of the most attractive, intelligent rugby I have seen. The same in the Bledisloe series immediately after, when Oz played very good rugby, too. I thought Mains a little over the top about not rating the SA centre - I think Am is a very fine player. However, the thrust of his comments was the usual Exocet. A proud rugby nation, with a great grasp of the elements of the game and a team that has very real achievements, whatever caveats people want to place on those achievements (anyone remember the 1999 RWC Oz side being critiqued for robotic rugby, having a 2nd rate forward pack etc.?) - whatever happens, they won't be throwing in the towel (it will be too sweaty in Townsville anyway). However, there is a whiff of the abattoir and the local slaughterhouse boys may prefer red meat to bird. I just want to see the titanic struggle the centenary test between SA and NZ deserves.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
Is the Bulls coach not one Jake the Snake, the coach Australia passed up in 2013? I was a sceptic when I heard he was coming to the Brumbies after their 'Barcelona' side imploded. In case one hasn't noticed, foreign coaches have a very tough gig in Oz and I wasn't that excited by how SA played under him. A friend of mine who'd lived a long time in SA countered me - she said "He will change things. He will bring players to him and he will turn average players into good players." She was completely right. I became a Jakeista soon after. I think he makes a lot of enemies, but I see no reason why SA couldn't look to him if things don't improve this season and the refs don't get new directives from WR.
Wal
Roar Guru
Don’t care is strong. But having that sharp edge is not easy to find every week. All 23 will have it this weekend regardless of what style they play.
Wal
Roar Guru
Losses and lockdowns have the same effect on me Harry.
Buk
Roar Rookie
I think may be mental tiredness Harry. And as Biltong has raised, some playing a game they don't enjoy.
Buk
Roar Rookie
Yes really flat for the Springbok team. May be simply mentally drained by the Lions series, and all the hype, plus COVID isolation and travel. The Wallabies, despite their previous two losses, mentally, physically & tactically up for it. Not saying that to boast, simply an observation, but of course great for our team & fans.
Harry Jones
Expert
Hope so!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
He will be ok HJ... I have big faith in him.. Digs the big occasion too....and this is big.... Boks will win.. Why.. Because I have a gut feeling.. Didnt become a lousy team overnight.. What were the Lions not a decent benchmark..? Remember neither Aus nor a settled Hansen run AB team could better a Gatland coached Lions.. No the Boks are better than the last 2 games suggest.. They will stick to their gameplan...they will not apologise for it and if they make it stick plenty of holes in NZ. Nobodys exposed it yet.. This season at least.. Previous 2 seasons Argentina, Aus and England all proved that take em out their zone they also struggle.. .. Pressure does wierd things.. Too much talk from ex and current NZ coaches to indicate they are worried and should be.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
I have this strange love affair with Argie soccer. They can be passionate, inventive, fantastic, entertaining. But they can be infuriating, aggravating, whiners. They can take you to touch glory or put you in a special Dante’s inferno. I abandoned it. Almost all the time. Or I didn’t. My worst experience was the period 2000-02. They had Marcelo Bielsa as coach. They had a great group of players. They defeated everyone playing gorgeous soccer. One time, I had a meeting in Vienna and at the end of it I flew to Rome to see them trash Italy in the Stadio Olimpico. But then came the 2002 SWC. Bielsa did not change one thing. Nada. England and Sweden figured out that Bielsa would just sit on his laurels. They put 10 guys hanging from the crossbar and one lone attacker. They just waited for the Argie team knowing exactly how they would play. It was horrendous. They were out. The best team in the world for a few years was humiliated. It happens in companies too. If you do one thing that gives you success, you tend to believe your own BS and think that more of the same will work. We have to constantly adjust, modify, improve, tweak. If we don’t do that we become stale. And then we lose. I have two great Argie friends in the USA. Mario, a Caltech graduate in math and Dani, a MIT graduate. Soccer lovers and fanatics to the end. They are my Basil and Verity. They constantly talk about the need to refresh. What the Boks are going through is not new. It is “deja vu all over again”. An American philosopher said that. One thing I learned through my life experiences is that you need to have fun in your “work”. If the players don’t feel the coach is having fun, they lose it too. If the players feel that they are doing the same thing over and over, like carrying a rock up a mountain, they will lose their “fun” too. If they start to feel that the coach is rigid and unyielding, they will lose the fun. Winning is fun, but you need to have fun getting there. Repetition loses its “fun”. Creativity and innovation are essential even to keep your team motivated, interested and having fun. When you can mechanically go through practice, what’s in it for you? Boredom is the opposite of fun. It also breeds complacency. This is why CHANGE should be the norm. How much to do is the genius of leadership.
Harry Jones
Expert
Willie sees space, JN. My feeling (and I can be wrong!) is he doesn’t trust himself to take it. He’s shoveling it. Needs to ghost it. But just like old golfers get the yips on the short putts, I think Willie is like that. He’s lost his bravado.