Naas Botha
Springbok legend and popular rugby pundit Naas Botha believes South Africa made an important evolutionary change in their game plan in their defeat to the All Blacks in Johannesburg last weekend.
Botha believes Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer needs to persist with the enterprising style adopted – something he believes is long overdue.
“What we saw on Saturday was totally different compared to what we’ve seen over the last couple of years but it should have happened 2 years ago,” Botha said in Midrand on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it is too late, I believe we should build on this now because what we saw over the weekend was quite impressive.
“Yes, we didn’t win and to be honest it is all about winning and they did surprise us with that last lineout.”
Botha was speaking at the launch of Creative Rugby which he co-wrote with Dr Kobus Neethling, a world leader in the field of creativity and whole-brain thinking.
The premise of the book is to promote whole-brain thinking, with modern players now on the same level in terms of fitness and skills.
“Rugby has excelled to such an extent that it has become crucial for elite teams to challenge each other from the left brain perspective,” former Springbok lock Kobus Wiese said in the foreword.
“Players are all playing predictable rugby. That is why creativity and whole-brain thinking are so vital on the field to give them that necessary edge.”
The book explores what different brain profiles would best fit the different positions on the rugby field while also discussing the profiles of Springboks such as Bismarck du Plessis, Victor Matfield and Jean de Villiers.
Botha said South Africa had more than enough talent to dominate world rugby but somehow struggled to get over the final hurdle.
“All the players lately are fast and strong but what will make the 1 better than the other?” Botha asked.
“I strongly believe the difference is between the ears and a lot of talent gets lost because the coaches don’t fully understand their players.”
The former Blue Bulls pivot said South African coaches’ obsession with game plans were stifling talent in the country.
“We have gone overboard with game plans and some fantastic (players) go out of junior rugby into senior rugby and they disappear into game plans,” he said.
“Morné Steyn was a centre and in my book a centre needs to be creative. He got characterised years later as only a kicking flyhalf. Was he really just a kicking flyhalf or was it the game plan that forced him to play the way he did? Good players disappear because of game plans.”
Sport24
We have been blaming the fitness levels of the boks via the franchises, but maybe it is not that at all.
We just dont have any winners in superrugby just a bunch of choker
2011 storkers choked
2012 stommers choked
2013 bulls choked
2014 sharks choked
2015 everyone choked
We simply do not know how to win, i still think we have the players and necessary skills to win the wc (if some players like duane and alberts come back from injury), but we have slipped far behind the kiwis and even aussies in terms of the winner aura.
Selfs ou Naas raak nou sag, in die ou dae was dit net ‘n wen, gee nie om hoe nie, wat hom geimpress het !
😆
Ek lees die AB het net 2 wedstryde verloor die afgelope 6 jaar.
In vier jaar net 1 uit 7 verloor teen hul grootste ‘rivals’, as mens dit ‘n rivalry kan noem ? Ek dink hul sê dit net omdat ons 2de op die ranglys is, maar myle agter hulle.
Me thinks al hierdie praatjies dat ons hul rivals is, maak ons net meer oorgerus, hul smeer ons bekke blink met al die heuning, net om ons weer te klop, en dit nog as hul self nie so goed speel nie.
En na die HM era gaan dit nog slegter gaan, soos die res van ons rugby, so ons moet hierdie amper wenne geniet !
Nie negatief nie manne, net realisties.
Sien ook die nuutste artikel van Brendan Nel op supersport, die realiteite van rugby speel in ‘n banana republiek.
Bokke !
I agree with Naas on this one. I personally believe a game plan is just a framework on which to attach tactics for a particular game. The old kick and chase, subdue and penetrate and then wear your opponents down will only work if the following are in place:
1) Your forwards are bigger and stronger and can dominate all opposition.
2) Your kicker kicks with pinpoint accuracy.
3) Your chasers are extremely quick and will win 50% of the contestable kicks, and can pressurize the rest, so that you gain ground because the receiver has had to hack the ball into touch. You then also get the advantage of the put in in the lineout.
The problem with that game plan is that teams have learnt how to counter it in the following ways:
1) Big, strong, quick and skillful forwards that will not be dominated.
2) Keeping ball in hand, and utilizing intelligent tactical kicking, whether it is long distance tactical kicking or dabbing the ball into space.
3) Receivers that will contest every ball.
4) Ability to play the situation and adapt accordingly.
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