Day to day we hear people say “Don’t give Springbok jerseys away” and others say “Give the youngsters a chance to show their mettle”
So, which one of the 2 do you want, make up your flippin minds!
The Springboks under Heyneke Meyer are in their 2nd season under this Springbok coach. Last year we almost expected some stutters along the way, being Heyneke Meyer’s first season in charge, coupled to very little preparation time, but this year we expect more, we expect an upwards curve in the way the Springboks play and in the manner how they put other sides to the sword.
This weekend will be the third Test of the 2013 season for the Springboks and we must start asking whether we have witnessed this upward curve, and if not, why not?
The 1st Test of the year was against Italy and there were glimpses of some good, but it was overshadowed by a very bad spell for the Springboks in the middle of the match when Italy’s forwards dominated the Springboks and started clawing their way back into the match. The Springboks rallied and closed out the game well, sparking calls that Scotland would be properly put to the sword, considering they have frontline players out at the British & Irish Lions in Australia and with their injury list also having grown somewhat.
Well, Scotland’s “Dirt Trackers” gave the Springboks a mighty scare amidst a referee and match officials who were blind as bats and who had no clue how to control the Test.
It took a mighty effort for the Springboks to overcome Scotland and the 30 / 17 final score was more a relief than it was comforting.
So, where does the principal problems lie and what smells like that?
Is it:
- Too many young hopefulls have been awarded Springbok jerseys
- Not enough form youngsters have been selected and rewarded with Springbok jerseys
- Certain Springboks look like ‘witbroodjies’ (favourites) and seem incapable of being dropped
- The forwards are not doing their primary jobs
- There is not enough emphasis on scrum practice and technique
- The Springboks don’t dominate the breakdowns
- The coaches are to blame
- The game plan is to blame
- The combinations chosen do not compliment each other
- The looseforwards are too similar or too dissimilar and as a result the looseforward combination does not work
- Individual players are to blame
- Something is wrong within the team culture and within the management of the team
- Injuries are to blame
- Springbok conditioning is poor
I suppose one could name some more obvious questions, but this is mostly what is out there on the streets and in the bloggesphere.
I think it is a deadly combination of a lot of the factors, but I will definately not ascribe it to giving too many Bok jerseys away. Principally I want to lay the blame on not enough emphasis being placed on the primary forwards facets of scrumming and managing and dominating the breakdown areas, protecting ball, winning ball… and yes, on the witbroodjie factor, where Jean de Villiers and Pierre Spies seem impossible to dislodge from their entrenched positions.
Firstly, the scrums: We all know Northern Hemisphere sides love to scrum, are good at it and that a huge amount of time in the Nothern Hemisphere is spent on fine tuning scrums and perfecting the scrum battle. So, would it not have made sense to concentrate here and drill the guys like a machine? It certainly seems to have been neglected by most of the Southern Hemisphere sides this June. In addition South Africa is rather thin on quality tighthead props at present and it’s getting worse by the day with more and more young South Africans leaving for overseas because of the lure of the Pound, Euro and Yen. South Africa has been hit hard by the departure of hard man props, hookers and more pertinantly locks.
Is Super Rugby to blame, where scrums are less and less important as time goes on, whereas this facet is increasingly being focussed on up north?
Whatever the answer, the solution lies in focussing more on this material aspect of play, and to employ a full-time scrum guru worth his salt. That leads me to Pieter de Villiers, Springbok scrumming guru – what has he added and is he the right man for the job? In answering that, compare him to the stellar work previously done by Os du Randt. I leave the answer in your hands.
Secondly, the breakdowns: In a regular Super Rugby or Test match there is more than 150 breakdown situations in each and every game, compared to under 20 scrums. This makes breakdown dominance probably the most important single factor apart from the actual score on the board. This means that the team has to value these breakdowns like it is a pot of gold!
Methods to control, dominate and execute the breakdowns, rucks and counter-rucks have to be mastered and mastered well, no question about it!
To be able to control, dominate and master these ground ball situations, it requires speed, accuracy and all 15 players on the field needs to buy into the common structure of handling these situations, but more than that it requires a balanced loose trio PLUS at least a hooker and the centres to act as additional ball pilferers or additional openside flankers when required. It requires sides to blow over the ground ball with the fluency of a racing machine, not only to steal ball, but also to protect and clean own ball speedily and effectively, as well as to slow opposition ball down to a crawl… all within the bounds of the laws of rugby as they currently stand.
My question is this, do you see that in the current Springbok side, if not, why not?
Thirdly, the ‘Witbroodjie Factor’: Some players seem so entrenched in their positions in the Springbok side that one would almost fancy that they have some hold on the Springbok coach and his team of assistants. The name of Pierre Spies and Jean de Villiers are the prime ones mentioned by everybody…. and I agree with them, but I want to add a couple more. Jannie du Plessis has had a relatively shocking Super Rugby season, yet he keeps the tighthead berth like it is welded to his arse, notwithstanding the fact that he is clearly tired and overplayed, badly in need of rest and recuperation.
Ruan Pienaar continues to get the nod in the squad and what’s more in the starting lineup or at least on the bench, as if he has bought all the shares in that position from the Springbok coach. He is however slow, cumbersome, cannot make basic sound pivotal decisions in a position which requires so much brilliance. At least in his case it can be said that injuries to other players in the position has helped his cause to retain that berth. One feels though that he needs Red Bull or something to help him wake the hell up and smell the roses.
Morné Steyn, yes I will indeed venture there, even though as a Bulls man I think a lot of the critisism he suffers is from fools who do not know what the hell they are talking about and we are forced to suffer their vitriol ad nauseam. The fact of the matter though is that Morné Steyn is also heading overseas in the not too distant future and it is necessary to find someone who will carry his torch. So who are the candidates? We know Johan Goosen is injured, we know Elton Jantjies has been woeful in 2013 and we also know Patrick “Timotei” Lambie has had a battling year at The Sharks. We also know Demetri Catrakilis is an option but has not properly been involved at the Springboks enough to stake his claim well enough.
The solution for now would probably be to play young Lambie back into some kind of form, but to have Morné Steyn on standby, to cover if Lambie blows cold. But then why do we have exactly the opposite, with Morné Steyn being preferred and Lambie getting more bubble-butt on the bench, week after week?
Willem Alberts, the Sharks blindside flank, again starts on the coming weekend, IF he is fit to play. Now you tell me, did it not make perfect sense that Bismarck du Plessis first played 3 Club games before getting a start from the bench last weekend? So what makes Willem Alberts, the perrenial sick note so different, why does he get preferential treatment?
OK, I’ve had my rant now, and I feel better… your turn to get it out of your system!
Damn good article, very thought provoking, well done GBS!
I will probably have a comment ready by the end of the year, lots of stuff here to consider…
En verder praat ek weer n hond uit die bos met myself hier RT….sal binnekort seker my eie posts moet begin antwoord ook
1 & 2 @ Pietman:
Dankie… ja ek het self gedink dis nogal goed bewoord!
Kyk maat, ek wil graag kuier, maar vanaand is my balle lam… en ek dink Handbriekie moet hulle gaan vryf… hehehe
Well since you are asking…….
The coaching staff will have to understand that Coenie is a Loosehead and not a Tighthead.
Jannie and Beast look tired.
There needs to be a new 5 lock found.
The team needs a flanker who plays to the ball, I believe that there is an excellent one to be found in Bloemfontein.
Coetzee is horseshit.
Alberts is way to injury prone.
A pack consists of 8 players all through the game, not seven and only eight when the ball is thrown to the back of the lineout.
Pienaar is just too slow when clearing the ball.
JDV looks tired.
Kick and pray is so last year.
Trying to run over every player is so last year.
A little off the point, but can someone give me the Bulls team sheet for the match that they won against the British Lions in 1997?
@ Loosehead:
I only remember Adriaan Richter and Danie van Sckalkwyk because they both scored in that match.
Bulls were the last provincial team to beat the Lions on tour before the Brumbies’ win yesterday.
Grant Esterhuizen was the other center, I recall.
But you will have to ask McLook for the team sheet.
5 @ Loosehead:
Not sure about whole team but as Pietman says Richter and van Schalkwyk scored tries as did Casper (Spook) Steyn who was the kicker as well, Northern Transvaal won 35/30- Steyn contributed 20 points.
Andre Watson was the ref.
5 @ Loosehead:
Right Loosehead found the team: http://www.lionsrugby.com/history/match_archives.php?section=lineups&fixid=58655 – Casper Steyn played at 11, and Roland de Marigny 10, loose trio was Nicky v/d Walt 6 Adrian Richter 7 and Schutte Bekker 8 (was in same primary school as Schutte Bekker for a couple of years – he was a very good fast bolwer who probably could have at least played provincial cricket if he chose cricket instead of rugby – but he did well with his rugby anyway getting a one Springbok cap off the bench in the year Northern Transvaal beat the Lions), Jannie Brooks was reserve loose forward. Looking through the team sheet it doesn’t strike one as one of the best of the Northern Transvaal/Blue Bull teams through time, but I suppose we did win the Currie Cup the next year so couldn’t have been too shabby.
@ Bullscot:
I think the halfbacks might have been Joost and Franco Smith.
Andre Snyman was the other wing, and Krynauw otto was definately there, and so was the late. great Ruben Kruger. That 1995 world cup winning hooker was also in the team, what was his name, the guy who almost succumbed to leukemia, and shortly afterwards his little boy as well; owned a jewelry store in Pretoria? What the heck was his name again, he came from Delmas?
5 @ Bullscot:
If you look at the Lions team on the link I posted you will see that is was a very good Lions team we beat.
@ Pietman:
Got it!!! Chris Rossouw!!!
Marius Hurter was his prop.
@ Bullscot:
NE-Tvl????
Was it a combined side then?
9 @ Pietman:
Hello Pietman not according to the team sheet I found on the Lions site, according to that the half backs were Conrad Breytenbach and Roland de Marigny. No mention of Otto and Ruben Kruger. World Cup winning hooker was Chris Russouw if that’s who you are thinking of, but Henry Tromp is the one listed for Northern Transvaal who definetely was not picked for the 1995 World Cup (least said about that one the better).
@ Bullscot:
Schutte Bekker (with sweatband) and Jannie Brooks ( gingerhead and nowadays Pta lawyer, great all rounder with huge thighs).
@ Bullscot:
Wragtag!! Interesting, thx.
Maybe Ruben and those were rested for the tests and the Bulls didn’t even field their best side, hehehe!
12 @ Pietman:
Was also wondering that Pietman – not sure but could have been, I see the name Graeme Bouwer at fullback for Northern Transvaal full back didn’t remember him immediately but he did play a bit for us, he is also listed as having played a few games of cricket for Western Transvaal if its the same Bouwer, anyway man must get some rest cheer vir eers.
14 @ Pietman:
Yes remember seeing Jannie Brooks run around the area at the time he was quite keen on fitness but seemed quite short from my memory, enjoyed watching him play thought he always gave his all.
@ Bullscot:
Tjorts Bully.
Look i dont really find fault with the players or the amount of changes HM made this year. I am quite happy with the outcomes so far. I had a article where i asked what would we accept this year from Heynecke. I said the season must be divided in 3 parts. Part 1 is now into the last week and we are well under way to complete it successful.
One must accept that HM has HIS plans and wont reveal it all before the crucial/most important part of this season, the second.
What have i observed, i might be right or just dreaming
15. Did He get his new Springbok regular in place? Is Zane history. Did Zane cut his own throat by signing outside SA? Who else is there if HM did use this 1st part to experiment? Maybe he did what i advocated all year, pick your player and stand by him, give him a fair chance to take ownership of that position. Willie le Roux was given a great opportunity, did he claim the spot for The Championship? Zane and Lambie where do they stand now? In fact the answer on position 15 will only come during the Championship.
11/14 i think we will see JP and Habana there with Bjorn next in line
12/13 Nothing proven there, maybe a injury to JdeV would be a blessing in disguise, then we might see a trail with new blood aka Jan Serfontein and JJ.
10. All that is proven here is that when you are in the seat HM will give you a fair go. Morne deserved his inclusion in the first Test.
9. Sadly injuries buggered up all his plans here. We are left with more questions than answers here.
8. I like combinations and believe one of the most important combos is your 8,9 and 10. Picking PS in the first game made sense. Since then injuries spoiled this
7/6 Arno Botha was a great pick, sadly injury robbed us from a great new career. Fancios Louw is a revelation to me and one of HM trump cards. I cant fault him there and i must admit i did not even expect him in the team.
4/5 The pair picked for Saturday might be the one HM is looking for. The play of Juandre did not inspire me so far. We do have good locks. No problems with what HM did so far.
1/3 The part of the game i dont understand(blame the Refs hahaha) All props in Bulls country are off form this year, Stormers props, do they have some. We are left with the Cheetah and Shark front rows. Shark bunch are returning from injuries and fatigue, not inspiring at all. Cheetahs have a few great ones. Here HM showed a bit of stubbornness , the Beast and Jannie are not on form and should have played from the bench. What could help is a settled tight 5, meaning get the right combo and stick to them.
2. The 3 best in SA were all involved in his plans.
The Pack/tight 5
I think HM missed the trick by not trying the Cheetah front row with strong locks like Etsebeth and Flip
We can win this series 3 – 0 and feel great, but we are left with the question , is this the team for the Championship?
Where is Zane, FH, Juan, JP and Lambie in the picture. They were in the team last year.
Is it:
Too many young hopefulls have been awarded Springbok jerseys – NO
Not enough form youngsters have been selected and rewarded with Springbok jerseys – NO
Certain Springboks look like ‘witbroodjies’ (favourites) and seem incapable of being dropped – NO, that is sour grapes, every coach have his plans and his players
The forwards are not doing their primary jobs – YES MAYBE, scrumming break up
There is not enough emphasis on scrum practice and technique – YES, i think we try to get the ball out too fast, obviously to run like Super rugby teams. NH teams scrum a bit longer, and keep the ball more tight. It might be just 2 seconds longer but thats enough for a penalty.
The Springboks don’t dominate the breakdowns – NOT SURE, did we see some NH refereeing that differs?(Pascal Gauzère (France), Romain Poite (France) this weekend we have John Lacey (Ireland)but two SH teams playing. Lets see who adapts the fastest.
The coaches are to blame – NO, FRANCHISE COACHES MAYBE
The game plan is to blame – NO
The combinations chosen do not compliment each other – YES, mostly in the forwards
The looseforwards are too similar or too dissimilar and as a result the looseforward combination does not work – NO, with the tight 5 not really on song and the NH scrum attitude its not so easy.The only player who looked not so sharp was PS. In a losing pack he did quite well.
Individual players are to blame -NO
Something is wrong within the team culture and within the management of the team -DONT KNOW
Injuries are to blame – A BIT, this gave us the chance to see JJ, Jan, Jano and Arno.
Springbok conditioning is poor – NO, the timing of this series was stupid, right in the middle of a S15 season, dof verby
I must say, I seem to agree with Superbul on all his above comments, I strongly feel that the Sharks front row need serious rest!!! It just seems as though this year the SA teams scrums (Not cheetahs) are all struggling….Bulls Sharks Stormers Sharks….and this is carried over in the Springbok games.
I also feel that we dont protect the ball enough when going to ground, the other teams just mall right over us, and this I saw with the JNR Bokkies as well, that to me is unforgivable and I feel that it must have something to do with the coaching in SA? could be wrong, just seems so as it is both at Jnr and Snr level.
But what I can say I am pleased about is Bismarck!!!
I thought he had maybe lost his place as No 1 hooker because Strauss has been sublime (except against the SCOTS) but then he comes on from the bench and just reminded all and sundry what he is capable of!
Nice article GBS.
For me the primary fault with SA National sides since 2007 is the inability to think on the field and to change the gameplan to suit the situation.
Almost as if all such ability and creativity is coached out of the players.
Also, TOO MUCH RUGBY taking it’s toll on players injury wise – could be coupled with poor player management but it’s more complex than just that.
Just my 2c worth, but anyway WTF do I know?
A little off the point but seeing that we are having a rant; HM refusing to pick Brussouw has resulted in Brussouw signing a contract to play in Japan. Fuck HM!
@ superBul:
Agree with most sentiments Blombul, but your last sentence is the crux, I think.
The timing of these internationals makes it awkward for the national and Super 15 coaches to synchronize their business in order to win at both levels without ‘player burn-out’. Hence the awarding of Springbok colors to many promising ‘young hopefuls’, as you call them.
@ Tripples:
Hello ‘Miss Menlo 1985’! Hoe hang die belletjies deesdae? Hoop dit gaan nog goed met jou daai kant, jy is skaars…
@ Loosehead:
Ja, gesien op News24,Heinrich word mega-miljoener oornag, kan hom nie kwalik neem nie.
HM het NOU groot kuk aangejaag, glo my!
Ek wonder hoeveel daai Johan van Graan se invloed is met HM se voorspeler keuses, ek vermoed nogal baie.
Halloooo Pietman…..I wish it was 1985 hahaha was 1982!
hoe gaan dit aan jou kant, is jy nou weer in SA?
25 @ Pietman: Dit maak my skoon die moer in.
@ Pietman:
Yep dis baie sad….was nog altyd mal oor Brussow…..sien die Franse jag ook vir Bismarck!!! en nou met die Rand/pond exchange rate moet dit baie aanloklik wees vir die spelers
Ag ek bedoel Japan!!!
@ Tripples:
Ek het maar die datum geskat volgens jou ‘looks’ op Superbru, hehehehe!
Nog in Saudi, volgende Sondag weer terug in SA vir twee maande.Kap maar aan solank die wisselkoers hou en ou Zuma aanhou kuk aanjaag daai kant.
(Maar ek moet terug, pa weer gisteraand opgeneem in die hospitaal, die oukerel begin nou inkonk lyk my,een terugslag na die ander, so ek wil maar daar kom, hy vra aanhou na my en ma sukkel te veel so alleen.)
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