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…
Pollard is playing 12 for Montpellier right now…not much ball
'Scotland will be a force': Springboks make three changes
Great to see Janjities and WLR coming back.
'Scotland will be a force': Springboks make three changes
Midfield is nailed down so far. 10-12-13 are all extremely good, skilful. DDA is the most established and a heavy power ball carrier. Am has slick hands and really good vision. Pollard-I’ve described him more than enough.
The wings of Mapimpi and Kolbe are certain-one is the most electric sidestepper in the world, the other is one of the most clinical speedy finishers.
Only questions are 9 and 15.
Faf slows down the ball a bit more, and as we saw Herschel give quicker ball and check his 10 a lot more against Wales. My pick is Reinach, as he and Pollard just have that connection from playing together and Montpellier. Also, his ball delivery is quick and good-not an assertive presence at rucks and Pollard is mostly the key figure. Faf has the best skillset, but he likes to slow the ball down a lot. He has the best box-kick also, so you can’t really drop him.
An analysis of the evolution of the Springboks' attack
I would say the new system they are adopting could uose a WLR, but perhaps he’s not the right kind of guy. If your 10 is a great player and isn’t getting much ball in the middle third of the field by width.
Playing off Pollard is more reliant on quality passes manipulating the line and big ball-carriers. However, they aren’t going anywhere without big carries. There were few 15m zone attacking strikes that they did, perhaps that they don’t attack well in the middle zone.
Wille Le Roux has one of the best passing hands in the world like Pollard, and his ball-handling, vision are top-notch. His high ball is atrocious post-Lions, but he’s a unique player. High ball and defence aside, he was quite good-made some big kicks and tackled like a beast at times.
I think Pollard and Le Roux have a natural connection and they look to take the ball to the line and pass crisp balls, playing to and for each other, even in kick-receive plays(final passages in Townsville).
Le Roux is crucial for massive strike plays, because a flyhalf spinning it wide doesn’t work well, we saw that against Australia.
I think they should keep Le Roux, but give Pollard more control in the 15m strike zones instead of just having WLR step in all the time.
An analysis of the evolution of the Springboks' attack
Pollard built and executed two clear-cut opportunities-the grubbers to Am, Mapimpi. His passing was very good also.
One great pass to KoLISI and another deep flat ball to DDA. Few people notice it, but quality of pass(the quality of spin, speed of travel, and angle of pass ) are the subtle differences that creates attacking opportunities.
Shame none of them were used properly. If Mapimpi held the ball and offloaded, it would have been a try. An offload from Am would have been a try-pass.
An analysis of the evolution of the Springboks' attack
Nice to see EJ get a start for a change. With two strike-attack players as compared to a main controller, will be interesting to watch. I think Pollard played generally very well against Wales, but he didn’t get much ball. Particularly like his 4 line-break assists, few in World Rugby could pass the ball with his quality or grubber so deftly.
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Cheers. He could pass enough to facilitate attack, kick solidly, and smash in insane kicks. The GOAT no. 22?
An ode to the old lion-tamer Morne Steyn
Interesting post. Pollard had a couple of attacking passages or Montpellier-classy distributor working hard in the background-humble guy and great flyhalf
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Cheers JN. That was an insightful video indeed. I think the commanding controller a la Pollard and Biggar and the constructive piecer ie Ford QC are equally good-their sides need to utilise their ability.
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
He was good against Georgia when he started at 12. Loved to see Kriel and Steyn coming on as the edge killers running off Pollard-Pollard really unleashed the attack in that game. Could this be a blueprint for sparking their attack?
However, age is always a bugger as for veteran players
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Also want to credit Squidge-inspired the term ‘membrane flyhalf’ which he coined in this video
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
The other solution is attack like Wales-similar team dynamics
No-nonsense, sharpshooter flyhalf with quality passing,
Nippy 9,
Big Forwards,
Massive midfielders,
fast wings ,
Wales have the forward pods splitting into individual running lines-far more unpredictable-when the Boks coincidentally broke pod shape Pollard looked quite impressive, this would build on the 2018 structure of split pods lines, but instead of only having the 9 picking runners, it can be the likes of the 10, 15, or even centres picking the runners.
Far more dynamic and efficient-the Boks are fit enough I’m sure.
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Cheers Harry, his running game is very good. His key contribution was actually marshalling the Bok shape to allow guys like Janjities and Am to execute the edge killer plays. The bullet pass to Am has become one of the main lines the Boks run. Apart from that is the 1-3-3-1 screenplay or flashing blind with Wille
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
idk Pollard is a playmaker, but not in the sense of a broken field creator. Cheers, great point-Pollard still holds the structure of the Bok team down and can certainly get them rolling across a pitch with his direction and distribution
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Jonty, he certainly would. Pollard is a flat crisp passer. Goosen is more like BB at flyhalf with more organisation. However, both can play a wide and narrow game-interesting to watch them shape up. If Goosen can keep his form up Rassie must at least give him the 22/23 jersey, or even bring him on at 15.
Long term he will be a like for like replacement for Wille-the old fullback wont last to 2027
Handre Pollard as the Bok flyhalf: To be or not to be?
Looks like theyre going to power with their midfield, and Biggar/halfpenny to do a pollard/le roux kind of playmaking axis.
My preview of the 2021 Six Nations
My interest is whether Wales can click. Pivac is looking to anchor their gameplan.
My preview of the 2021 Six Nations
Wales have hope. Given selection trends i think Pivac is trying to select a heavy backline. He took out thew triple pivot mess, stuck with Biggar/Halfpenny, and is employing two hard hitters in Williams and NOrth. The trends show that they will work with two creative outlets in Biggar and Halfpenny, and then raw power to anchor their attack, with the 10 and 15 stitching things together with strong passing.
My preview of the 2021 Six Nations
‘plenty of pace and quality putside sexton’ true tho. why is murray getting stick, while sexton could be the link that broke the chain?
Who will be Conor Murray’s successor?
erm speed of delivery is a problem yes, but due to the weakness in the forwards. if you look more in depth, you will find that yes, murray’s passing technique is worse than smith’s, but when compared to the rest of the world, he’s rather good, and the spin and range of the passes are prolific. why will you need power if your hands to the job. The pass is fast and accurate for all we need to be concerned.
Who will be Conor Murray’s successor?
doubt casey is the real deal. sorry but murray is srsly class
Who will be Conor Murray’s successor?
Conor Murray poor passing technique? https://giphy.com/gifs/Ik0o8A2CvqJBbIEwkM
Who will be Conor Murray’s successor?
https://imgur.com/xTiEh1
the gif for the phaseplay development(DDA initial break and pollard grubber to am) was missed out, here it is
An analysis of the evolution of the Springboks' attack