After watching yet another week of Currie Cup action (round 12), the dissimilarities between our domestic competition and our current Springbok game plan has once again left me wondering.

Why is it that the showcase  of our domestic competition prove to us that there are more than enough players who has the ability to be creative, have the ability to run the ball through the hands and are competent at offloading in the tackle, whilst our top players show the opposite?  These skills have thus far resulted in 331 tries in 48 matches, giving us an average of nigh on 7 tries per Currie Cup clash.

Here are the tries for and against for the eight teams Currie Cup Premier division.

Western Province, Tries for, 54 Tries against 22

Sharks, Tries for 50, tries against 27

Cheetahs, Tries for 42, Tries against 28

Bulls, Tries for 38, Tries against 32

Lions, Tries for 37, Tries against 35

Griquas, Tries for 46, Tries against 49

Pumas, Tries for 35, Tries against 65

Leopards, Tries for 37, Tries against 73

The lowest try scoring statistic is the Pumas, who average just a tad under 3 tries per match.

In contrast this is how the springboks scored their tries during the 2009 Lions series and Tri Nations.

Scrums 5 tries

Line outs 2 tries

Mauls from lineout 1 try

From retaining ball possession 2 tries

Intercept 1 try

High ball error in opponent’s half 2 tries

Counter on opposition error against run of play 1 try

Quick tap penalty 1 try.

Of the 15 tries scored by South Africa during the successful Lions tour and Tri Nations, 8 tries were scored from 1^st phase possession, 5 tries were scored following opposition error. Only two tries came from South Africa retaining phase possession and putting the opponent under pressure.

This is how the springboks scored their tries in the 2010 Tri Nation campaign.

Scrums 1 try

Line outs 3

Phase play 2 tries

Open play(creative) 4 tries

Errors and counter attack 2 tries

Quick tap penalty 1 try.

Out of 13 tries 4 came from first phase possession, 3 tries came from opposition errors or quick tap penalties, 2 came from phase possession inside opponent half, and 4 tries came from some creative play by South Africa.

The reading is ominous when combining the two years and 15 tests.

28 tries

12 came from scrums or line outs.

8 came from opposition errors, against run of play or intercepts.

8 came from phase possession of which 4 could be ascribed to creative open play and the other 4 tries from ball retention and pressure on opposition defences in the red zone.

The measure of a team is against their top opponents, and to extrapolate statistics from other opponents would only reduce the validity of the argument. I will also agree that statistics are not the true measure of a team’s ability or weaknesses.

It does however provide a clear enough picture in regards to where our strengths lie, and where there are distinct deficiencies in our make up.

Strengths.

First phase possession. It is clear to me at least that our technical proficiency in the scrum and line outs are in most cases superior to that of our opponents, none of these teams score as many first phase tries as the Springboks.

Weaknesses.

Some would argue that our ability to counter attack is a strength, but in all honesty when a team relies on opposition mistakes, intercepts and counter attack as a main source of scoring tries, it is even more important to get the ball wide immediately, as that is where the opposition defence will be most vulnerable during a counter attack.

Similarly the risk taken by players such as Habana and de Villiers to go for the intercept try, has proven very costly, as our defensive line creates gaps and an astute player with accurate passing and awareness will see the gaps enfolding.

Looking at the reasons why the Springboks score so few tries from phase possession runs hand in hand with their inability to control the rucks and there for provide quality quick ball. This past Tri Nations has proven that he who controls the ruck, controls possession and hence the pace of the game. Slow ball seldom allows a fly half the options to go wide as rush defence can cut off your wings out wide.

This is often where creativity in execution, different running lines and silky skills are necessary.

Ball retention and kicking.

Let me make this clear, there are times when any team would kick, but it is often the accuracy and timing of a kick that would put a team on the back foot.

The best example of this was the test against the All Blacks in Johannesburg when mistakes by Morne Steyn kept the All Blacks in our half, gifting them the possession in the last 15 minutes.

If ever you are going to kick an up and under, you HAVE to chase well.

If ever you are going to kick for touch, it is vital that the opposition cannot take a quick throw and attack from deep. Even a mediocre team can be dangerous when running in open play, purely because of the space and angles they can work with.

PDV.

If he holds on to his job after this weeks “review” he has a big job ahead. The basis of our ball retention is flawed, the springboks are not controlling the rucks, they kick possession away irresponsibly and our defences are slow to organise. If he wants to have a say in where the William Webb Ellis is going next year, these three fundamentals should be his greatest concern.

My apologies if it is a little long winded.