Brendan Venter

On the evidence of the Springboks’ four-try bonus point win over the Wallabies at Newlands, the intent of Heyneke Meyer’s men to keep the ball in hand was clear for all and sundry to see.

However, the final result should not be the only brush used to colour our canvas. For 69 minutes, the fact of the matter is that the Springboks employed a multi-phase approach yet enjoyed limited success and, prior to the arrival of the impact players, were potentially on course to lose the match.

While Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha offered an immense physical presence in the forward pack, I believe that Patrick Lambie’s game-management ability at flyhalf ultimately made all the difference.

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The turning point in the match arrived in the 69th minute, after the Springboks had enjoyed yet another multi-phase attack on the Wallabies’ line. Subsequently, catalyst Lambie coolly slotted the drop goal and a critical three points in the context of the match. That score put the hosts 11-10 ahead, which effectively forced the visitors to chase the game from that point.

While Lambie will be lauded for his brilliant individual try, ironically, it was his game-management with the boot which swayed the test match in the Springboks’ favour. Over and above the crucial drop goal, which he slotted, his later kick from left to right, which put the ball in behind the wing, was the one that placed the Wallabies under pressure, and resulted in the bonus-point try being scored.

It’s therefore clear to see that a team’s direction is not determined by the props, the locks or loose forwards – even if you possess the Incredible Schalk in your side – but rather by the 9-10-15 axis.

However, in this particular contest, the flyhalf more than any other player was pivotal to the final outcome. While Lambie won’t always get it right, owing to his age and experience, he has a better chance of doing so than the multi-talented yet raw Handre Pollard. The latter is a brilliantly-gifted player, and has come on in leaps and bounds, but is still growing his game-management muscle.

While there are a host of plus points to extract from the Newlands test, truth be told, the Springboks played “too much” rugby against the Wallabies.

To offer an example, in the 75th minute of the match, and with the scoreboard locked at 16-10, Francois Hougaard cleared a static ruck in his own half with a long, deep kick into the opposition half. In my opinion, it was 100 percent the right idea. However, having been treated to running rugby, the crowd booed the scrumhalf for kicking away ball possession.

Thereafter, Adam Ashley-Cooper caught the kick and had no option but to return to sender. He executed a brilliant punt, Hougaard was again in the back field, and this time he gathered the ball, and because he was booed previously, took the option to run the ball back. He was then turned over on his 10-metre line, which gifted the Wallabies 40 metres and turn-over ball to attack with.

Alarmingly, the Springboks turned the ball over in attack 20 times against the Wallabies. If they concede that many turn-overs against a clinical, well-organised All Blacks outfit it will prove suicidal.

Meyer therefore faces a dilemma in terms of playing style and selection. With Hougaard not a natural tactical kicker, it’s almost essential to select Lambie in the starting line-up ahead of Pollard, owing to fact that he offers the team a greater degree of tactical guidance than the 20-year-old.

If you were a Springboks selector, would you maintain continuity with Pollard as your starting flyhalf for Saturday or would you reward Lambie on account of his impressive game-management ability?