by Dan Retief | 18 August 2009 (18:11)

The portals of blogdom and e-censure have recently been on fire over the methods used by the Springboks to take a stranglehold on the Tri-Nations and here’s something to generate even more heat under the collars of the PC brigade.

It seems the rest of the world are outraged by the fact that the Springboks rely too much on forward power, that they have lost the art of scoring tries and that they rely too much on kicks; whether that be too gain field position, to pressurise opponents or to score points.

I came across this quote by a Pom. “(South Africa’s flyhalf) was just making a name for himself, but even then he kicked more than was warranted. I was astounded to see to what extent these kicking propensities had stultified South African three-quarter play… the main glory of the team lay in the pack.”

And this from an Aussie. “In Sydney and Brisbane the main game of football played is Rugby League. It must be remembered that our players and referees are always trying to give displays of attractive rugby so as to hold our public support from the (original) professional code. If rugby union in Australia was played under the strict rulings of South African referees and with all the scrummaging and line kicking as played in South Africa the rugby union game in Australia would soon disappear.

“We Australians like to think that the foundation of the game is handling and running with the ball and unless we did this, public interest and of the player would soon wane.

“In building the strength of the forwards South Africa have neglected three-quarter play. South African coaches should not think too much of the record book and make it their main aim to win matches instead of playing good rugby.

“Kicking for the line does not require skill and my opinion is overdone in South African rugby.”

Strident criticism of that there is no doubt. Some Pommie journo sounding off about Morné Steyn, while forgetting the means England used to win their World Cup in 2003, and David Campese venting his spleen?

In fact, if that’s what you thought, you’re not even close.

The first quote is something I found in one of my historic tomes about the British Lions and was penned by Dr Ronald Cove-Smith, captain of the 1924 Lions, and the Springbok flyhalf he was referring to was Bennie Osler.

The Aussie having a go was Wylie Breckenridge, manager of the 1953 Wallaby touring team, writing his “Impressions of South African Rugby” in the 1954 South African Rugby Annual.

South Africa’s opponents have always been obsessed by the country’s turgid approach to the game – and always they’ve whined about our kickers.

In 1949 All Blacks squealed about Okey Geffin who in two of the tests scored all South Africa’s points with the boot while the ABs scored the only try in each game. In the course of the series the Kiwis scored four tries to the three of SA but were nevertheless white-washed.

Then Ian McCallum put Brian Lochore’s 1970 side to the sword, Piet Visagie nailed the Wallabies in 1971 and Gerald Bosch tormented Andy Leslie’s 1976 All Blacks.

In 1980 John Reason coined the nickname, “The Nasty Booter”, to describe Naas Botha – intending to disparage the approach of the great Northern Transvaal pivot but ironically also underscoring the fact that the Lions of that year did not know how to cope with him.

Joel Stransky won us the World Cup with kicks in 1995 and Percy Montgomery did it again in 2007 – and always the call goes up – all the Boks can do is kick the ball.

The tone-setting rugby of the great Springbok sides of 1937, 1951/52 and 1960/61 and stunning modern performances against France, Australia and England are conveniently forgotten.

South African fans intone the mantra “Test matches have to be won” and our adversaries wail that the Springboks are killing the game as a spectacle – especially the Australians who, in spite of their two World Cup victories, never caught onto what wonderful entertainment winning is.

All that said there is little doubt the Boks, having beaten the Lions and strode to the top of the Tri-Nations table, need to start doing more with the ball… and I’m sure they know it.

I have no doubt that somewhere soon one of our opponents will feel the full force of this golden generation – you don’t whip the Wallabies 53 -8 and England 42-6 and then suddenly forget how you did it.

Here’s hoping the force is with John and his boys as early as their next game in Perth on August 29.