If you want to know what has gone wrong with the Boks or what the All Blacks are doing right, why not just look at how they play?
I mean it is the simplest way to see how something works or doesn’t work isn’t it?
Or are we looking but not actually seeing or understanding what is happening right in front of our eyes?
So exactly what are the All Blacks doing differently from the Springboks (or for that matter Australia)?
Well the simplest way I can put this is that they simply apply themselves better to the game of union as it is played and officiated at the moment. Tactically they are smarter and they have a far better game strategy than South Africa.
So much has been made of the Springboks success of 2009 and how the team currently misses the likes of Brussow and Fourie du Preez in particular, and although I agree that the loss of players is disruptive to any team it is by no means the primary reason for the success, or lack thereof that we are currently seeing with the All Blacks and Springboks respectively.
There is currently a huge interest in the ruck or tackled ball area and rightly so, it has become the most important part of the game. South Africans however in analysing their situation and perceived weakness in this area are getting it wrong – specifically with what, or who, this can be turned around.
Of course I am referring to the favourite old topic of the fetcher and his importance and today, much like a couple of years ago I think his role is overstated.
Skills to win the ball on the ground and turn-over possession is vital, but it is not limited to one person or position (role) nor is it a situation or instance controlled or reliant only by or from one person.
How is this? Well just look at how the All Blacks are playing and focus a bit on their so-called fetchers in Richie McCaw and David Pocock.
In all the Tri-Nations games to date none of these players forced a ruck turn-over. In fact, team statistics favoured South Africa in all but one test (Soweto test) as scoring the most ruck turn-overs sometimes even double that of the opposition team.
Defensively McCaw only scored one defensive turn-over in all the tests he has played against the Springboks, Pocock none. Even Matfield has done better than that!
So what is all the bloody fascination with the role of a fetcher, and South Africa’s lack of one?
But wait, how is it we still lost the contest if this is the case? Why are we still beaten at the ruck then? Why is Pocock and McCaw such a bloody nuisance in this area?
Well to answer that we need to define what is important when winning the ruck as a contest.
There are three main areas in the modern game which are vitally important if you look to have a hope in hell in winning the ruck situation.
1) Balance of the loose-trio AND tight 5 (sub-factor, technique applied and used by the players)
2) Speed and commitment/numbers to the breakdown (sub-factor, clear role definition of players)
3) RESPECTING POSSESSION
So let’s go back to McCaw and Pocock.
Their effectiveness is not measured by ball-pilfering skills or steals as is the common definition of a fetcher. It is measured more by their speed and technique to, and at the tackled point or ruck.
Their effectiveness is also amplified or helped by roles of other forwards in this area enabling them to spoil, or slow down opposition ball thanks to a clear role definition to those players (primarily props and locks in close-in channels and their loose-trio partners in rucks or tackled areas further wide or away from the original point of contact).
And finally and most importantly, with possession won or secured, possession is kept.
If you study the All Blacks their attention to detail and role definition of specific players in defensive and offensive rucks you will be amazed. It is very clear their ball carrying forwards, cleaners, pillars, spoilers, loiterers, etc. are clearly defined within the team and when you put all that together, and you hunt as a unit in both defensive and offensive situations, you are almost unstoppable.
In short, McCaw and Pocock are so effective because the whole unit responsible to control this area makes it possible for them in addition to their individual skills.
That is quite simply clever rugby. It is also quite simple rugby but it is dependent on the points raised above of which respecting possession and not kicking it away, and clear role definition plays a vital part.
But even that would be useless if it was not for one very simple thing, hunting as a unit and committing numbers to the breakdown.
Apart from one test, the very first Tri-Nations test in Auckland, Australia and New Zealand committed more players to offensive rucks (when they had possession and sometimes a count of 100 more in a match than the Springboks) and less players to defensive rucks compared to the Springboks. (In the first test SA committed one less person to a defensive ruck than New Zealand).
What does that tell you?
Well it tells me quite a number of things most importantly of which are;
- This is the reason why the All Blacks and Australia had so much possession, handled the ball so much more, created more line-breaks and effectively scored more tries and generally look more effective running the ball by committing numbers to rucks on attack thanks to quick, quality ball they produced.
- This is the reason the Springboks always look out on their feet having to commit more players to defensive rucks than their opponents and defend themselves physically into the ground.
- This is the reason the Springboks cannot close out a game.
However, for some reason the Springboks insist in kicking away possession forcing themselves to commit to defense and defensive rucks, most notably Francois Hougaard at scrumhalf who kicked 9 times in the match at FNB Stadium with not one of them being defensive kicks.
So I understand the perception in wanting a player in the mould of McCaw and Pocock for the Springboks but make no mistake, for that to work for the Springboks they firstly have to change their game-plan or strategy and secondly, success in this area will be more dependent on how you work as a unit in this area of the game, than it will be relying on one specific person, or one specific role – the so-called fetcher.
So once again we are simply saying that we have the tools but no idea how to use them.
Every single article or opinion just gets back to the fact that are a poorly coached team.
I am tired of saying it over and over and I am sure people are tired of hearing it, but nothing can change until we get professional coaching of the highest international standard.
The All Blacks and even the Aussies are very thankfull every day for our coaching team!!
Morné,
I feel you make one vital mistake in assessing “The Fetcher” role… you confuse “Fetcher” with PILFERER / STEALER OF OPPOSITION BALL.
I prefer to think of it rather as “Traditional Opensider” = Fetcher VERSUS “Blindsider playing on the Openside” = Not arriving so fast at the breakdown.
A fetcher is exactly what you advocate… a player like McCaw or Pocock or Brussow who GETS TO THE BREAKDOWNS THE FASTEST, with superior skills upon arriving….
Look what happened this past Saturday alone when the Bokke loosies played more towards the ball (faster to the breakdown), as a unit, in the first half…. much better breakdown competing.
In fact, Peter de Villiers said afterwards that playing more directly to the ball (faster to the breakdown) was a clear instruction from him to the loosies for the game.
So, why not pick a player like Brussow whose natural style of play is exactly that, to get to the breakdown the fastest and to be most effective there as a result of natural body positioning at the breakdown.
McCaw knows and does that, Pockock does that….
I agree Morne…one person can’t change our fortunes and the most frustrating part of all of this is that most of us can see this but not the coaching staff. Look at the turnaround at the Sharks in the CC. They have a much higher respect for possesion and while Botes and to a lesser extent Daniel are the ‘fetchers’ it’s been Hargreaves, Sykes and the front row that have been comitting to the rucks and mauls that have made them so effective in retaining possesion. It’s also not just the work of the forwards every single player in the team needs to know their roll in protecting the ball.
Here are some statistics I gatehred this morning for an article, might as well put them here.
In 2009 the All Blacks turned over 13 rucks per test in the Tri Nations
In 2010 the All Blacks turned over 13 rucks per in the Tri Nations
In 2009 the All Blacks conceded 17 turnovers per match in the Tri Nations
In 2010 the All Blacks conceded 12 turnovers per match in the Tri Nations.
In 2009, the Half back pairings of the All Blacks kicked 22 percent of their possession away.
In 2010, the Half back pairings of the All Blacks kicked 10 percent of their possession.
In 2009, the All Black forwards handled the ball 49% of the time and the Backs 51%
In 2010 it is 40% forwards and 60% backs.
Getting to the reason of their success on their ruck ball is simple. They have numbers that are affective and each player knows exactly what to do, take Franks for example, he is forever in an offside position and “clearing” space for his scrumhalf.
n fetcher is net so goed soos die ander 7 spelers in die pak,ek is altyd geleer dat die voories voor is en die backs agter,nou wat soek slotte en hakkers en stutte in die agterlyn as hulle nie daar is om te clean nie kan jy die beste fetcher in die wereld he hy gaan niks regkry nie
A “Traditional Opensider” is NECESSARY, supplemented by superior technique of himself and his team mates.
In other words, arriving fastest at the breakdowns and collectively using superior breakdown technique is essential.
It has been lacking….
The value of McCaw and Pocock lies not in their ability to turnover ball, but in their ability to slow opposition ball down without being blown up by refs.
I still think that under the right circumstances that ball can be turned over with counterrucking and I don’t see it used enough. Because it’s difficult to steal ball under the new law interpretations defensive teams commit less players to the ruck and then because of that the offensive team also commits less players. I think if a team can spot when the offensive team are not commiting numbers to the breakdown it opens the door for the defensive team to effectively counterruck and steal the ball legally.
The opposition teams are getting more players to the rucks faster, first there disrupts and then gets the support, so they get the turnover or the penalty. We did better last week, but still need a specialist “fetcher” to get there first and the support to that person must be immediate. Burger should be one of the supporting players he shouldnt be expected to be there quickest. Our main problem last week was kicks not going out, our centre combination and lack of foresight in passing to the wings when we had overlaps…slavishly sticking to repeated recyclings of the ball serves no purpose whatsoever unless a score comes from it, pass to flyhalf who must kick effectively, or out to the wings when the overlap or gap is there. Look for a better performance with an effective combination at centre this week.
Free State Rugby Union are inviting all rugby supporters in Bloemfontein and from surrounding areas to buy tickets for the Vodacom Tri Nations match between the Springboks and the Wallabies on Saturday, the 4th of September in Vodacom Park.
This promise to be a special event, being that the last time the Springboks and Wallabies met in Bloemfontein was in 1996.
There a still lots of tickets available. Tickets can be purchased from the ticket office in Vodacom Park as well as Computicket. The ticket office in Vodacom Park will be open over the weekend. Office hours are on Friday from 08:30 till 16:30 and on Saturday from 09:00 till 12:00.
Tickets will also be on sale at Pick-‘n-Pay Hyper in Benade avenue, Fichardtpark form 08:30 till 13:30 on Saturday and Sunday, as well as at Sneakers at the Loch Logan Waterfront.
Seasonticket holders who have not yet collected their tickets for the match, are urged to come and collect it before Friday at 16:00 from the ticket office in Vodacom Park.
Ticket prices vary between R220 and R450, depending on the location in the stadium.
The Free State Rugby Union is planning to make this an unforgettable experience with artist providing entertainment on the Castle Deck and Castle Gig-Rig from the moment the gates open, at 13:00.
Kick-off is at 17:00
10@ bos_otter
Ek dink die mense worry nie nou veel oor die 4 de September nie. Almal wil eers kyk wat die Bokke aanvang die naweek en as ons wen gaan daai kaartjies soos soetkoek verkoop! Dan ruk die hele Vrystaat op na Bloemfontein toe!
Brussow sou ‘n groot verskil gemaak het in die bok span.
Schalk se tegniek by die afbreekpunte is swak, al wat hy ordentlik kan doen is tackle. Het hy al ooit ‘n bal gesteel by die afbreekpunt?
Spies domineer net spanne soos Uruguay!
Louw het sy gat gesien saam met Duane in die S14 wedstryd teen die Sharks.
Nou vra julle nog hoekom sukkel die bokke so.
Take the test between Auz and the Boks….the boks made no attempt to contest the breakdown ball at all, giving Auz loads of poccesion and opportunity to run the ball…they weren’t that good, we were just crap. We need both, a good fetcher as well as excellent counterrucking. You can’t score if you don’t have the ball. Get the ball quick, feed it to the juggernaught voories….starve them af enough ball, and the gaps will appear.
Brüssow reg vir Super 15-reeks
http://www.vodacomcheetahs.co.za/news.asp?NID=1226
Die beseerde baljagter-flank Heinrich Brüssow sal vroeg volgende jaar reg wees om in die Super 15-reeks balle op die grond van teenstanders te steel en hoop om die Springbokke te help om weer die Wêreldbeker-toernooi te wen.
Volksblad het gister met hom gesels nadat hy die vorige dag ’n opvolg-knieoperasie in die Life-Rosepark-hospitaal in Bloemfontein ondergaan het.
Die Springbok- en Vodacom Cheetah-flank sê hy sal nou ’n rehabilitasieprogram ondergaan en van Desember of Januarie af kontakoefeninge begin doen. Teen die tyd dat die Super?15-reeks begin, sal hy weer fiks en op die rugbyveld wees.
Die operasie kon uitgestel en Brüssow se knie verbind geword het voordat hy op die rugbyveld draf, maar dan sou hy ’n kans vat om weer ’n kniebesering op te doen.
“’n Ou wil ook nie jou hele lewe met verbande speel nie,” sê hy.
Boonop is Brüssow jonk en het hy ’n blink toekoms voor hom as hy van verdere ernstige beserings gespaar word.
Hy is egter teleurgesteld dat hy nie vroeër in aksie te sien sal wees nie.
Brüssow sal die Bokke se Europese toer misloop en met die manne in Groen en Goud se vertoning in die Drienasie-reeks is dit duidelik dat dié formidabele baljagter gemis word.
Hy sê mense moet die Springbokke nie so vinnig afskryf nie.
Volgens hom het die Bokke verlede naweek teen die All Blacks ’n goeie wedstryd gespeel en was hulle ongelukkig.
“Hulle was weer in beheer van die wedstryd.”
Hy sê hy is jammer vir die kaptein en haker John Smit wat die All Black-senter Ma’a Nonu misgeduik het en wat tot Nieu-Seeland se wendrie gelei het. Volgens Brüssow het Smit eintlik ’n goeie wedstryd beleef.
Hy dink nie daar is fout in die Bok-kamp of met afrigting nie.
Brüssow sê Nieu-Seeland het verlede jaar drie keer teen die Bokke verloor en dit is vanjaar min of meer dieselfde spanne wat teen mekaar gespeel het.
“Dit sal weer beter gaan.”
Hy is oortuig die Bokke het ’n goeie kans om die Wêreldbeker-toernooi in Nieu-Seeland te wen, want die All Blacks het nou meer druk op hulle om te wen as die Bokke.
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