Roar Guru
Joined March 2020
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Scotland’s dynamic, shapeshifting, miracle ball attack has dazzled rugby fans, and also has the element of systemic progress that can see them tilt the…
The 10 jersey is an enigma in the modern game. The allure of having a top class 10 to guide a team into a…
The 'sliding quarterback' is a term based on the tactical style of NFL mastermind Tom Brady, a direct player with evasive abilities, varying the…
Manie Libbok gave us a good idea of what he could do in a Bok jersey. He's an exceptional support runner with elite back-three…
Robbie Owen’s words of "Starting to think South Africa’s title hopes may just rest more on their first choice 10 being fit than Ireland’s"…
Japan’s stumbling form looks like an odd development, for a team that came oh-so-close to beating the All Blacks last year. Initially, their All…
The complexity surrounding Ireland’s future in a post-Sexton reality is integral to the future path, and as his career draws to a close-the question…
The figurehead flyhalf is definitely a statement of a team’s personality. However, a certain archetype has increasingly died out in today’s modern game. The…
Playmaker or a proper strike runner? This constant contradiction seems to bamboozle us when it comes to the inexplicable state of the All Blacks’…
There is a fresh point of difference to the Springboks attacking play compared to during the Rugby Championship. In the past they looked to…
At 37 years old, Morne Steyn kicked a winning penalty to secure South Africa’s back-to-back victory over the British Irish Lions. Steyn broke Lions…
Handre Pollard has had gotten a lot of stick after the Springboks had a disastrous Rugby Championship. Some say that the Boks need Elton…
The back three is a place where pace and agility are mixed with the ability to claim the high ball. It is a place…
At the turn of the decade we should start to analyse and appreciate certain tactics that have become trendy recently. Tactical trends come and…
Should Willie Le Roux retain his fullback jersey for the Springboks? Many say Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi are the future. However, few truly…
This is my fourth article in this team of the year series, and I fancied getting on to the big boys – the grinders,…
The backrow are the boys who do the real job. The guys who top the tackle, breakdown, and forward-handling stats. Athletic guys with power…
The midfield is a place where the most versatile skill sets mix and match to fit a variety of utilities. It is a place…
Every year, there will be form players in each position. However, this year, due to the rude interruption of the pandemic, we have a…
I think Dave Rennie has had the Wallabies develop a certain structure to their attack. Barring errors and with proper execution, it is very…
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Apparently pro d2>urc mvp 😂
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
The Boks should look to have the systems to suit both their clubs.Leicester tigers used an expansive structure of 3-2-X working on all of pollard’s best attributes-excellent mid to long range passing, a breakinh threat by power and by chip and chase or sidesteps. It was important to have the likes of liebenberg Montoya to anchor that system with raw power, allowing them to take a balanced second five in gopperth/Kelly and a line break merchant in Harry potter at 13. Looked much better than the bok attack 21/22, suiting their 10 the best. Feel the boks looked a little mechanical when running a 3-3-x and libbok would have been better there
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
yeah maybe the ABs booted the ball to trap the Boks to play possesion rugby which they werent set up to, kicking it back and letting transition guys in their back three to run amok
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Le Roux is fading as an X factor, but has a decent acceleration and burst of pace/agility to make the run and open up his wings when needed. Libbok is better player 15.
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Made some notes pre RC about Libbok and Pollard’s different structures on offense. I feel the Bok coaches want to use Willemse’s frame and power to act as a driving 10, forgetting that he isnt a pivot! Perhaps a next article on Libbok’s roleset and how he’d better suit the 3-3-X model the Springboks were using against the All Blacks and in the autumn tour.
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
All look like they will follow the trend of kriel(who isnt young, not by any means) to all end up as curious cases of talent at the wrong time and wrong place. Shame for the Springboks
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Pollard-Willemse-Am-Wille as a backline core would already be tricky in terms of the quality of the individual players.
In terms of skill/coordination, probably beats many in the world
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
What game plan, to be precise. Le roux is a pollard role twin in terms of organizing, just adds a bit more subtlety rather than playing in a functionality first manner. Libbok is better as a deeper and wider receiver, which is why you need a power running 14(not Kolbe)
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Willemse as 12. Is more of what libbok needs. DDA is at the elite end w his passing but Willemse has better feet, and they look like they want to move away from the 12 crash off a scrum(we saw pollard use some weaving and driving runs to get the ball to those outside him off an openside), which will aid more of a agility merchant rather than a power runner. Esterhuzien is very much a dda role twin
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Willemse should try to develop into a kurtley beale type of breaking ball player. Better than being a strike runner wearing the wrong jersey.Their 50/50 up and under game builds around kick transition players like Am and the back three. Have guys like that in the five eights and they can win the World Cup on one game mode
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Future backline spine: grant 9, libbok 10, Willemse 12, Kriel 13 Dylan leads 15
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Esterhuzien is looking like a fine lad of late. Misconstrued as a bulldozer much like dda. The 10 needs to have a power hitter off him to compensate for a lack of individual carrying threat. Libbok has the potential to be a master of witchcraft and wizardry, becoming the Messi of rugby. Like I said about le roux, the less Am had to be acting as a conventional playmaker(we saw him taking pullback/ giving mispasses in games the Boks lost England 2021, nz 2023). Would call him a polar edge runner, or a wing/centre. While a good passer, has to move wider to really make an impact. What happens when you don’t have a 10 on the field. Willie 10/Libbok 15 would be more indicative of their rolesets. Older slower Willie lacks the raw spark of an explosive centre/fullback/striking pivot like libbok
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Goosen gives u much of the same w pollard. Long range goal kicker, big kicking. Game. Lacks control over tempo. Libbok is an excellent 10, could be a top 5 flyhalf alr right now, just like Jack Crowley of Ireland. Feel in. Staffa system he is more of player 15 than player 10. Tends to be the one firing a killer volley rather than the middle man manager. It’s like in prime barca, pollard would be busquets/xavi Alonso (passing quality gives you an extra second to play the ball and ensures everything ticks and moves forward), Willie would be iniesta, while Libbok would mirror Messi. Similar role sets for the Boks
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
It’s mismanagement at the highest degree. Libbok is an excellent game runner, and the fluid pod structure with the 10/12/15 axis would suit him excellently, but the backbone of the game has to completely change to a system similar to racing 92 . Libbok is a top level floating flyhalf(running 10 )
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
Libbok would give a good fight for the springbok start even with a fit pollard. He has to come in from a deeper and wider position and make plays with wider passing channels. That’s where you see his through the needle passes, cross kicks, outside breaks and long passes. Feel his mid range passing game falls down in relation to Pollard. Has to stay square to the gain line, but does not have durability in close quarters. This article was more about not playing Willemse at 10 and presenting the two options- changing the system in the absence or taking a more organisational player like Johan Goosen
More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10
A lot of uncharacteristic errors-Samoa didn’t deconstruct them, merely pounced on loose balls
Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?
He was amazing at the World Cup, almost beat the all blacks and gave France a scare. He’s a good coach but selections are not fitting their style of play. Their pack is stronger, but a weak backline spine proves costly. Their midfield fails to be elite quality. Matsuda/Nakamura/Lafaele as a 10/12/13 was the team that gave the ABs a scare, and are crucial as making the key plays that lead to points on the board.
Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?
1-3-2-2 was at the World Cup. They dont have that same dynamism-lack games together to build that flow. They tried out a semi-B team against samoa and paid for it. They could easily land 4th, in a four-way crossfire w Samoa(boosted by Lealifano’s calm), a struggling England(but could Farrell do a Dan Biggar, kick and scream them into the knockouts?) , and a wild card Argentina
Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx4wEAgnQMjHSBZTNCExBTCGXF4gHiZtGN
Excellent playmaking from him. Has a short/mid/long passing game to be a top 10. Very promising player-havent watched u20s yet though
Ireland's Carty conundrum: Is he the answer to a Sexton-sized problem?
sorry…was my first time hearing of him. Has many characteristics to mature into an elite 10-has the short passing game and breaking threat to give you a very coomplete picture of what you want from a pivot.
https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx4wEAgnQMjHSBZTNCExBTCGXF4gHiZtGN
Excellent use of pass feints and threading sharp passing to create this break
Ireland's Carty conundrum: Is he the answer to a Sexton-sized problem?
Carty has the most complete arsenal of attacking kicks. He doesn’t have a Sexton Style enigma, but has great handling and the ability to unlock defenses with safe over-unders plays
Ireland's Carty conundrum: Is he the answer to a Sexton-sized problem?
An excellent player that never quite made it internationally. Scapegoated for the Fukuoka Irish Implosion, and now bearing the aftermath of a system player overdrive
Ireland's Carty conundrum: Is he the answer to a Sexton-sized problem?
Rod McQueen Wallabies were similar. But in the context of a modern game I would say Ireland is te only team to deploy the sliding pivot. South Africa, New Zealand, France, have all used a variety of archetypes
The 'sliding pivot' - the style revolutionising rugby's attacking strategies