So much was said this week about the outcomes of the weekends games. We will argue about it forever and your view might just be influenced by our allegiance to a certain team. I read this article on Sport24 by Gary Boshoff. This article opened my eyes a bit, i was totally against the touch rugby the Lions played. Maybe i must rethink my view.
During this past weekend’s Super Rugby fixtures, two very distinct approaches to the new rule applications became evident.
One, displayed in the Lions v Chiefs and Bulls v Brumbies games showed a definite shift to a more attacking, ball-in-hand approach, the intention of which is to capitalise on the momentum or flow resulting from the increasing space and opportunity created by the new law applications.
The other, on display in the Stormers v Waratahs, Cheetahs v Sharks and Crusaders v Reds games, showed how disciplined defensive structures can still win you matches, and valuable ones at that. The Cheetahs and Stormers can testify to this.
So while opportunities to advance and score tries will present itself more often, quick turnovers will more often than not leave the attacking team vulnerable to lethal counter attacks. Three opportunistic tries by the Reds saw the Crusaders suffer their heaviest defeat in recent memory.
It is therefore imperative that teams find the right balance between attack and defence and it is here where we’ll be able to judge the tactical nous and innovative abilities of the 14 coaches on display in the tournament.
The Stormers were the best defensive team over the weekend, primarily through the intelligent utilisation of labour at the breakdown.
They very rarely committed more than two players to the tackle and resultant ruck, releasing defenders to spread out across the field.
This frustrated the Waratahs throughout the match and also allowed the Stormers to swamp ball carriers trying to breach their well organised defensive lines.
A disciplined defence was also the main reason why the Sharks suffered their second successive defeat in Durban. Poor handling did not help their cause as the match was riddled with handling errors on both sides, particularly the Sharks. They now have to travel Down Under for five tough games with a team that is playing with very little confidence – it will be a true test of character.
The pressure was clearly evident on the field where John Smit openly questioned referee Pro Legoete’s decisions and later stormed off the field after the final whistle, not turning up for the customary post-match television interview. New backline coach Hugh-Reece Edwards must be having visions of his earlier encounter with Super Rugby.
Renewed attempt
Meanwhile, an interesting twist in the Eastern Cape’s bid to acquire a Super Rugby franchise is the renewed attempt by the Southern Kings to be included in the 2011 Super 15 competition.
In a statement, reported in the weekend papers, the Kings’ CEO, Stephan Pretorius, allegedly argued that the inclusion of the Southern Kings into Super Rugby sooner rather than later makes perfect transformational sense.
He apparently also suggested that the way to do it was to amalgamate the Cheetahs and Lions franchises to create a space for the Kings.
What I found fascinating about this statement is Pretorius’s use of the “transformation argument”. I am delighted to see that he has become a champion of transformation overnight.
During his tenure as CEO of the Blue Bulls Company the sum total of his transformational effort was having an African theme and dance group at the Blue Bulls Awards function during his first year as CEO.
During the rest of his term he resisted genuine transformation of the franchise which in my view hardly makes him the person to take seriously when advancing a transformation agenda.
I shudder at the thought of Pretorius at the helm of the franchise that is supposed to embody the future of black rugby in South Africa – the more things change, the more they stay the same.
OK, se hierdie artikel dat die Bulle Stormer Rugby speel, en die Stormers speel Bulle rugby?
Of se hierdie artikel dat die Stormers die akkies uit die Waratahs geduik het…
Of dat die Leeus ‘n moerse drag slae teen die Hurricanes gaan kry?
Of dat Phil Waugh nie ge-cite is vir ‘n elbow in Gio Aplon se gesig nie?
Of dat Phil Waugh genuine ‘n baie klein mannetjie met ongelooflike anger management probleme is?
Of lees ek net te veel in die artikel?
Wag, daar staan iets oor die Sharks ook…maar ek probeer dit mis lees, want ek is bang dis weer slegte nuus…
Soos in genuine slegte nuus, iets soos…
“John Plumtree has an idea…”
I think this article far from settles any debate.
I was not part in any discussion here, but as far as the Lions go my opinion is the following;
If they take anything positive from that game from a rugby perspective, I believe they are on the wrong track.
HOWEVER, what I saw from the Lions, which I have not seen in a long time is how the team pulled together when the chips were well and truly down.
Mentally I believe the Lions took a major leap forward last weekend which is brilliant given their last 7 or so years.
But make no mistake – the rugby was rubbish.
These boys are becoming a team, and that is the first major step you can take to revive a team and union. But please do not make the mistake of thinking good rugby was played.
Importantly, what the Lions (imo) have achieved cannot be coached, or easily coached (the mental leap forward) because that is mainly the responsibility of the team itself – all the other rugby stuff can be – the Lions must now be patient as they, imo, have made the first major step to turn things around.
morning everyone
morne @ 3,4
well i dont know whether you’re a bit too positive on the lions there, morné.
yes, they’ve managed to close quite a huge gap,
but
they have done only so cause the ref was a bit trigger-happy
…
yes, i would looooooooove to see them becoming a force in our rugby again (can only be good for sarugby),
but
whether they’ve actually took any steps forward last friday
remains
to be seen!!
So all they now need is some intelligent coaching based on structure, discipline and technical and tactical know how.
I wonder where they are going to find that?
Morne I agree 100%. This is waht the difference in the Cape is as well, I said pre-season already that there is a different vibe with the stormers, as if there is more of a team consciousness as to an individual consciousness, I may be wrong but I do feel that once this starts taking hold of a team, they gel better and things just get better
6 Maybe they should shadow the bulls camp 🙂
More more Ash!!!!!!
Too true…
I stopped watching the game 15 minutes after half-time, because what transpired there wasn’t rugby, it was an abomination.
As you said, Dick Muir is taking credit for the attacking display, but it might just be that the Lions players finally got sick and tired of being useless, and decided to do their own thing.
Structure lacks, and 3 days of defence practise will in no way ensure that the Hurricanes won’t run 7 tries past them. Defence, albeit better when passionate, still resonates from structure, which is, IMO, currently lacking.
Muir tried this same approach with the Sharks in his first season there, and they also had their asses handed to them, untill Plumtree came aboard. Plumtree might be an idiot, but he is a structured idiot.
I think employing someone in the lines of Markgraaff (which I don’t like) or even Phil Pretorius who can imprint a more measured approach on a team.
Structured Idiot? Bwaaaaaahahahahahaha Saint 🙂
Quite correct TH.
They now need to be coached in the aspects of rugby.
You know who the Lions should get in to work with the team (on rugby matters while Muir is DOR)?
Todd Louden.
superbul
on the ref and captains issue … jsmit wasnt the only captain guilty of demeaning/ arrogant behaviour towards the official in charge of their games
matfield also made himself guilty of that
and
phil waugh could be seen saying the words “f*ck off!!” towards the ref in charge of the waratahs/stormers game!!
its definately something that need to be looked at urgently!! referees, especially on the sa club scene, having enough problems as it is. having top players like jsmit and matfield behave as arrogant as they did on the weekend can only cause a lot of harm to our game!!
#13
Ja, Stormers vloek nie…
Ons LEM hulle tydens die after party.
Attack and defence are not divorced from each other.
They are both part of the structure in the game, and depend on each other.
Muir cannot expect to have an unstructured attack and be able to employ an efficient defence system at the same time.
That is not possible.
As Saint points out, simply going and practising defence cannot solve the problem, as you have to have an overall tactical plan that gives you the structure to become confident in both your attacking aim and your defence system at the same time.
#15 TH,
Reminds me of the discussions we had around PDV and the Boks in 2008 and structures… 🙂
16 Morne.
We better not go there.
We will get Skoppie on here throwing his toys!!
Hurricanes are going to teach the Lions and Muir a rugby lesson… the score will be big and ugly.
#16
Common factor? Dick Muir
18 GBS.
Never, dont you know Dick is the Bok backline coach!!!!
#18
Not as big and ugly as Rudolf Streauli’s ID photo…
17@ Tight Head – This a site for the sane, not the demented and not for those frothing at the mouth…. so don’t worry, SkopDoos won’t be here.
GBS…whatever happened to Steyn the Blue Bull?
gbs @ 22
“This a site for the sane, not the demented and not for those frothing at the mouth”
….
hmmm, no wonder tighthead dont want to post his photo, hehehe
20@ Tight Head & 21@ Saint – hehehehehe
Bwahahahaha
Ok ek kan dit nie meer hanteer nie, GBS jy spel “dimented” verkeerd…kom reg ou, hierdie is nie Voldy nie.
24 Ash.
I have tried to post my photo, but I cannot get my ears into the shot.
23@ Saint – Hy het van die wa afgeval… weetie waar hy homself bevind nie en gee nie om waar hy is nie.
#27
Are you Steve Atherton?
29 Saint.
No sorry Saint I am ugly, but not that ugly.
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