Since reading most opinions on news websites and the mainstream media I cannot get that irritating tune of Kenny Rogers called The Gambler out of my head.
It’s nothing new. Ask 100 people to select his Springbok team for any given test and you will get 100 different teams.
Some of these teams will be well motivated on the perceptions or observation of the ‘selector’ but for most part if you look at blogs specifically, you will find an obvious tendency for these ‘selectors’ to favour players from the team they support.
The current tour to the UK is important for many reasons.
After a disastrous Tri-Nations the Springbok management, coaching staff and players are looking to restore some faith and pride in the jersey and the general public. This tour also provides the opportunity for this magnificent group of players to add yet another accolade to their impressive CV by winning a Grand Slam for the 5th time only in history, and the first since 1960/61.
Then of course there is also the small matter of the Rugby World Cup next year, and finalising the squad of 30 players that will go to New Zealand to hopefully become the first team in history to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, and given the spate of injuries to first choice and some regular fringe players, an opportunity to discover the next Bryan Habana (debutant on the UK tour in 2004) or Francoise Steyn (debutant on 2006 European tour).
Depending what you value most from the above, your motivation for wanting to select, or ‘rest’ (nice way of saying drop) some players will also play a part.
One thing I believe most people are forgetting, is looking at the most important aspect of introducing players to the highest level of rugby, the players themself.
I have discussed and written about the success, or lack of it, of some teams with regards to building squads and depth quite often in the past. I have also continually used one team as an example of how to do things, or how I believe it should be done and given their success, and most importantly sustained success over the last 5 years or so, I don’t think I am far off.
Four individuals currently on tour have been the flavour of South African rugby in recent months. They are Elton Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo and Willem Alberts.
All of them have had magnificent seasons for their respective provinces not only in the Currie Cup, but also in the Super 14. They are (rightly) identified as the future of South African rugby, and potential Springbok legends.
But herein lies the problem.
If I make the statement that it is my belief that South Africa probably has the worst record of identifying and more importantly, managing players, I do not think many will disagree with me.
I can also name a host of players, who at the time they rose to fame domestically, were praised as the future of SA and Springbok rugby, but today find themselves either in the rugby wilderness, or playing for some club in Europe.
There are some statements Jake White has made in his career as coach and now rugby expert that I do not agree with, but one comment he has made I could not agree with more. He mentioned that when a coach, especially at test (or Super 14 level even in my view) level decides to cap, or introduce a player to that level of rugby, he must be as assured as he possibly could be, that the player will in 2 or 3 years time, run out for his 50th cap at that level.
An 80 minute game of rugby can, and has, defined players, and players futures. Thus the importance for a coach to introduce a player to a certain level of rugby is not only dependent on whether that player has the ability or skills necessary to compete at that level, but more importantly that it’s done at the right time, and in the right environment to ensure the transition for the player is optimized, and with the view of making a positive impact on that player’s career not only for that match, but where he will be in 4 or 5 years from today.
I read with interest recently how Chiliboy Ralepelle’s career started and developed. Not really that you can call it development as it regressed more than anything else, but the one thing that stood out was Heyneke Meyer’s insistence at the time when Chili was introduced to test or Springbok rugby, that it was too early for a player many believed will be the future Springbok captain. Now forget the doping scandal, Chili’s career has basically been destroyed thanks to the poor management of this very talented individual’s career. And it’s not just Chili, think of guys like Gaffie du Toit, Brent Russell, Brad Barritt, Shaun Sowerby and many, many more.
Now come back to today, and the seeming insistence that Elton Jantjies, Pat Lambie, Mvovo and Alberts simply has to be given a starting position in the Springbok team.
Are they good enough? Hell I cannot personally think of anyone else in the SA Rugby circuit at the moment that are better than these guys at the moment.
Do they deserve it? Of course they do, there is no question.
Must it happen right now? Absolutely not.
Before Habana’s injury which forced young Lwazi into the starting XV these individuals (with the exception of Jantjies who is yet to earn a cap) role they occupied coming in mainly off the bench was exactly the right way to go about things.
I mentioned before how I always refer to a certain team when raising an argument for a roadmap, or framework to ensure sustained success, and successful development of players. This team is of course the Bulls.
You will almost exclusively find that the Bulls use a specific formula when they identify, blood and introduce players to top-flight rugby. Firstly, they select players that can play the game strategies they employ, and the guy coming in or being introduced into the setup, plays very similar to the guy they replace in the team. Secondly, and more importantly in my personal view, you almost never find a player introduced into the team, or combination within a team, that is not experienced or where he is not surrounded by experienced players.
It is the framework and philosophy that has seen the Bulls dominate domestic, and Super 14 rugby in recent years, with, or without their superstar players or Springboks. And it is a recipe that should be followed even at test level.
How people want to introduce Alberts on the openside of the scrum in a position he has never played in professionally if memory serves, into a combination that has never played together, is beyond me. Quite simply, for Alberts to get a start, he either needs to replace Juan Smith on the side of the scrum, or be selected ahead of Kankowski or Spies at the back, and given how Kankowski has played for the Sharks in recent weeks and the fact that he is the (un)official back-up to Pierre Spies, I find it absolutely absurd that people are suggesting he has to be forced onto the openside.
Pat Lambie has had a magical year. He shot to prominence in the Super 14 when he ran out at fullback for the Sharks and became a star in the Currie Cup when he was moved to flyhalf. To insist Lambie has to start at flyhalf, at the expense of our only place kicker who averages over 80% at test level and join up forces in a half-back combination with a player (Hougaard) that has only started less than a handful of tests in the position, is equally absurd.
This weekend we will field a back-three against Scotland who will boast a collective 20 test caps between them in Kirchner (made his debut in 2009), Aplon (made his debut in 2010) and Mvovo (who will earn his first test cap).
The withdrawal of Habana has forced this move now, and it is the best one we can possibly field at the moment from players on tour, but should Habana have been fit there is simply no doubt in my mind he should have started as was originally the plan. If anything, De Villiers could have risked keeping Aplon at 15 in place of Kirchner with Habana and Mvovo on the wings but the point I am trying to make is rather obvious I believe.
I know the general sentiment, it is only Scotland hey? Well I am don’t know about any of you guys out there, but I have seen too many close games between the Boks and Scotland, or Ireland (whom the Scots have beaten a couple of months ago at Croke Park), or Argentina (whom the Scots have beaten in a recent test series in Argentina), or even France (whom the Scots gave a massive go in the recent 6 Nations) to believe it is going to be a walk-over. The Scots came in cold against the All Blacks, similar to how Ireland came into the first test against the Boks, but they are too good to make the same mistakes twice.
I would love to see Jantjies, Lambie, Mvovo and Alberts become test legends as much as the next guy, because they are that damn good, but for once, I actually want to see this be done successfully, and not see careers pissed away because of bad management.
The team picked for Scotland is a very very good team.
I expect them to put 50 points on Scotland and not because Scotland are that bad but because we SHOULD be that good.
Scotland have a very good front row, as good as any teams in world rugby, providing there are no injuries to Jacobsen, Ford and Murray.
Scotland will also never give up which makes them dangerous.
As for the gist of Morne’s article above, I go back to what I have always said:
One good CC season does not make a true Springbok.
Building and managing international players is what makes the best coaches successfull, and you have to know the character of the player and work with him accordingly.
Every player is different and you have to know how much pressure you can put on the player and when, in order to bring the best out of his potential development.
as mens na van die groot name kyk in bok rugby dan merk mens op dat selfs hulle “swak” games baie beter is as ander spelers ek verwys spesifiek na spelers soos juan vs deysel andre venter vs bob fdp vs rickie,mossie vs adi
but on de odder hend derren as jy goed genoeg is is jy uod genoeg bv cullen lomo durand brussow
Player temperament is a very important factor here…
Why is it that the All Blacks but even more so the Wobblies manage so successfully to integrate very young players and instill the confidence in them… and they perform?
Do we in SA molly-coddle our kids, thus resulting in the fact that they mature as people and characters and therefore sportsmen only later in life?
Do we not also sometime foolishly cling to older players because they have been there and done that… Habana a good case in point?
… but then again I agree with Morné Pissmier’s sentiments that you introduce newbie’s next to experience… to give them every opportunity to maximise their introduction…
Well seing as Scotland will be fielding an even weaker team that last week I think this opens up the chance for the Boks to ‘experiment’ a bit with the younger guns.
GBS I have sent you email to your webmaster address.
5@ Bullscot:
Got it, replied twice
Morne thanks for writing a article that express all my thoughts, i could never put it so good on paper. This is how i feel and over the last few months i think you all will recall my rants. What is the point of giving the 10 jersey to every T,D and H. The guy we want to take too the RWC final IS Morne Steyn, why destroy his confidence, let him rack up the records , the points , the experience.
@ superbul op die staduim is dit net sy skopvoet wat ons in hierdie grandslam hou en solank as wat hy sy gem bokant 80 pers hou is hy dood reg daar,los hom net hy sal weer begin hol met die bol soos wat net hy kan,ding is net bitter min mense weet net hoe aanvallende losskakel hy kan wees,ek onthou die cc final van 2006 toe vrystaat gemaklik voor wat TOT mnr steyn opgekom het twee driee in 10 min en twee strafskoppe later was daai cc gedeel gewees
@ superBul:
I am here to serve you!
@ smallies72:
Smallies dit is seker maar lekker vir mense om te se hul span het soveel Bokke. Ek dink ons Bulle het uitgesien om Bjorn as ons Bok te claim, al weet ons bleddie goed waar hy was toe hy sy bok kleure gekry het.
Maar in Springbok belang hou ek van Morne se artikel. As die nie toetse was nie sou ek veel eerder vir Jantjies as Lambie wou sien op no 10. Jantjies het Lambie vroeer vanjaar totaal oorskadu toe hulle teen mekaar gespeel het. Jantjies het ook veel meer verskydenheid as Lambie en sy oe is wyd oop vir flaws in die opponente se agterlyn. Hy kan almal stil speel as hy beseringsvry bly en bly leer by sy coach. Hoop nie DM het hom klaar opgedonner nie.
Maar ek sal hom die tawwe toer spaar, ek sal hom nie eens kleure laat verdien nie. Wat gaan ons gain om hom nou te speel. Se hy speel briljant , sal hy volwasse genoeg wees om 5 wedstryde later in die Wereldbeker sy ding te doen?
Maak soos Morne se, laat hom op die regte tyd inkom. In n goed gesettlede span met gevestigde skrumskakel en snters langs hom.
@ Morné:
Hahaha Morne die manne soek Bokke by die hope, almal wat mooi gespeel het in die afgewaterde Curriebeker moet nou met groen en goud beslaan word. Regoor al die blogs dieselde storie. Daar loop volgens bloggers 60 Springbokke rond almal ewe goed, selfs Victor is in die spervuur.
@ superBul:
Dit maak my fokken bedroef om al die kak te lees.
Ek wens net ondersteuners wil n beter geheue ontwikkel in die land. Want die fok weet ek is nie n fan van Mallet nie maar elke dag word ek herinner aan die feit wat hy gese het, rugby ondersteuners in die land is grootindeels stupid.
Maar dis interessant, hierdie selfde artikel, woord vir woord het ook op RuggaWorld verskyn, en ook Sharksworld – en lees net die kommentaar van die verskillende websites wat natuurlik op een, spesifiek deur ouens gelees word van die unie waarvan drie spelers hierbo genoem word en kyk dan van wat ek se hoe provinsialisties ons is bo die goed denke van ons nasionale span. Maar dis maar SA rugby.
Hi Morne
Goeie artikel (soos gewoonlik). Ek stem saam met wat jy se. Struili het sy spanne gechop en change en ons almal weet wat het daar gebeur.
Maar se my, dink jy rerig Habana hoort nog i.d. Bok span na sy kak bydra die jaar, spesifiek na die Walis game. Ek kry nou die indruk dat jy ‘n gloie hound is wat net ‘n rekrod soek.
@ Morné:
Nee kyk die Sharke dink baie van hul manne. Net so sekere Bulle. Maar ek dink selfs die begeerte om vir Spies te pos laat my koud. Die ou doen n werk wat die afrigters van hom verlang, en donners goed ook. Wil party he hy moet waaghalsig nie die game plan volg nie?
Maar dan wer die game plan is tans baie eentonig geen lekker skerp moves nie. Al moet ons decoy runners bietjie subtiel opstruksie pleeg, try dit dan maar net.
@ LondonBul:
Jy sal nie omgee as ek in Ingels antwoord nie? Ek tik net vinnger in Engels 😉
I posted the video on Habana’s defense right here on RT. For me like most it was shocking to say the least, but as is the case with most things I write my inspiration comes from comments people make on issues or articles and I decided to investigate.
I came to the conclusion that Habana’s defense is not so much down to the individual, his one-on-one tackling is still top notch, but more the structures of our defense as a side in general.
I also studies some statistics on the current UK tour, and there is absolutely no doubt that Habs is one of the hardest working, in fact, THE hardest working backs in the Bok setup at the moment, closest to him is Aplon funnily enough.
Like always, we as supporters are quick to point out mistakes by players but the hard graft, the shit that matters in a 15 man game, normally goes unnoticed. This is of course helped by media hype (punting a player or putting one down).
It is in the same sense that I am utterly mystified on the sudden perception that Lambie ‘deserves’ a test start right now.
Last night I made a comment on Twitter where I asked if I was the only person that felt dropping the only player in a test team that averages over 80% with the boot to posts is daft. One response caught my attention. The guy said PDV, thanks to the luxury of having that, forgot what it was like playing without it.
Telling statement.
Also, I am sure you guys saw rumors Lambie is set to start at 10 against England, which drew responses from his biggest supporters on the web that it is unfair and that it is throwing him in the deep-end…
I mean hello? What did I miss?
Either a guy is ready for test rugby, regardless of who he comes up against, or he is not which is funnily enough the basis of this article. He is a Springbok is he not?
Whether that be against Wales, Scotland, England, Georgia or New Zealand?
So why the sudden lack of faith in the player by those who insist on his inclusion now?
But that just sums up supporters in general, we are all so full of shit most of the time.
@ superBul:
spies is so gevaarlik dat menige spanne 3 verdedigers prysgee om hom op te pas,almal dink dat hy altyd 70 meter moet hol en score om n goeie game te he hy is nou wel nie die mongrel wat juan is nie maar met sy lyf en clean outs in die los verdien hy sy plek,ek sal net dat hy sy ligaams posisie verander en dat hy laer kontak maak met die tackler as hy die bal op vat
Morné wrote:
@ Morné:
if it was not for him we woeld have lost BOTH tests so far,finnish en klaar
sien nou eers ek het 2000 comments gehaal dis nou n jaar se k@k praat vir jou daai
19@ smallies72:
Flok smalpielletjies 7.2mm, nou is jy nog net so 18 000 agter my…. hehehe
16@ Morné:
Pissmier,
Het daai lastige vent op Ruggaworld toe geskoert vanmiddag?
Tell me what you think of my Comment No 4…
Ingels is fine.
It makes sense what you say about the defence plan, and the coaches should get stick then for that. But what annoyed me was that we had an overlap and Habanna instead of passing (to Gio?) tried and go himself. Also PdV said something to the efect that Habs only needed to score 1 try and then his head will be ok!
In terms of Lambie, I have read the reviews (sadly not watched as much as I wanted thanks to Sky and my wife!) but I will be VERY concerned if he plays against England. Struili and Viljoen always were looking for player “messiases” (to qoate a NZ article) in sorting out the Boks failings. Morne is not on fire BUT his boot helped us BIG time to win the last 2 games.
In terms of slowly introducing players, this is were a mid week team is very good – IF it is not used to appease the politicians. Scotland in the past may have been the team to experiment against but not any more.
What do you think will happen against England? I am very concerned about that game.
@ grootblousmile:
ek sittie en k@k praat vir n lewe nie 😉
23@ smallies72:
Ek ookie….
… ek praat noooooooooooooit kak nie…. hehehe
Lekker squash gespeel vroeg vanaand…. voel lekker los en fris en vars.
@ grootblousmile:
vee af jou mond
ok ek waai eers tjorts
@ grootblousmile:
Extremely valid point, but the only guys that will know that, will be the player himself and the coach. Old enough is good enough, i too believe that, but I also want to see a player ‘grow old’ in his position, than see a guy that is here today, gone tomorrow.
Chat again tomorrow gents.
OK, here’s a couple of things….
I think we’ll all agree that defence has been leaky in the Bokke, specially through the backline and mostly on our left hand side of the field, that is on the opponents right hand side on attack. By the way that is not the natural side for a right-hander to pass towards.
Most of the tries scored against the Bokke throughout the Tri-Nations and now in the 1st 2 matches on tour were scored on that side.
So it leaves me with the following:
1. Either our defensive structures to the left is faulty… but why not so then on the right hand side
2. Or our players who have had to cover the left hand side have serious flaws…. that leaves Habana in a shitty spot.
Well, I believe the structures only need to take a smaller measure of blame and Habana needs to take a mountain of the blame.
Mvovo now gets 1 or possibly 2 or maybe even 3 chances (Baabaas included)… and I believe he is a better defender, who keeps his line of defence better and also works harder on his positional play.
So, I want to make a bold prediction, he’s not going to be perfect but Mvovo is going to be able to fix some of the Bokke defensive woes on the Bokke left hand side.
In addition I believe that he will score this weekend….
The man is 24, so he’s a debutant but not a pimple-faced youngster. I believe he is ready.
Good night fellas… see you tomorrow.
Need a shower and a relax…
Gooooi Mieliesssssssss!
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