Fuss over the play-offs
Keo, in his Independent Newspapers column, writes only the play-offs can indicate who is the form team at this World Cup.
Springbok captain John Smit rightly defended his second-stringers and resisted offering a headline that would damn the youngsters after they sneaked a 30-25 win against Tonga.
Smit asked for perspective and said the side that had played Tonga, just like the combination that had played Connacht, had rarely played together. It had to be factored into the quality of performance.
What also has to be factored in my words and not those of Smit is that most of the starting XV against Tonga will not start again at this World Cup.
And that’s why I fail to understand some of the hysterical reaction to the Boks’ stuttering win against Tonga.
Had the side that won so handsomely against Samoa and England hit a wall against Tonga then the post-mortem would be justified. Then questions of peaking too soon would have been pertinent. Accusations of complacency would also not have been misplaced.
But there is absolutely no comparison to be made with the Samoa and England matches because the make-up of the two sides is so different.
The Bok machine is still very much in overdrive until the A team gives us a reason to think otherwise. The A team played Namibia and Scotland pre the World Cup and demolished Samoa and England in the first fortnight of the World Cup. In all four matches there was a World Cup quality to the performances.
There was also a World Cup quality to how the Boks dismissed the English in South Africa prior to the Tri-Nations, only to show vulnerability in the Tri-Nations against Australia and New Zealand.
What this tells us is we won’t know if the Boks are capable of winning the World Cup until they play one of Australia or New Zealand the likely opposition in a final should the Boks make it that far.
The first four weeks of the World Cup have told us nothing, other than that the northern hemisphere is awful and the Tri-Nations’ is tougher to win than the World Cup.
South Africa, to win the Tri-Nations, has to beat Australia and New Zealand. But to win this World Cup it will mean getting it right on one night against just one of them.
This World Cup is easier for the Boks than this season’s Tri-Nations, but it also complicates the merits of the Boks’ World Cup campaign.
Just like it would be fruitless to condemn the limp performance in Lens against Tonga, there will rightly be question marks about the substance of those wins against Samoa and England, based on the inferiority of the opposition.
Can the Bok scrum dominate against New Zealand? Will the lineout prosper against Australia? How good will our backs look against either of them when in June during the Tri-Nations they offered nothing?
It all comes down to one match for the Boks. If they don’t fall victim to complacency they should be in the final, but it is only then that we will be able to put a value to the six weeks that preceded it.
We are into the fourth week of a tournament that has been as farcical as it has been fantastic. The support in France has been tremendous, but the standard of rugby has been dire.
This tournament will only come to life in the final two weekends when strength plays strength and South Africa waits to see which of Australia or New Zealand it has to beat to win the World Cup.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Keo we know for years that it is more difficult to win the Tri. however, dont say this WC is a farce. the rugby dire? I seen lots more boring games than this years WC. teams are all better coached and even the semi-professionals looks much better than previous WCups. did you perhaps read ‘no need to panic’ to come up with your analyses? click on my username to see what I’m refering to.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:20 am
I will say it again: We will have to fight for our lives against Argentina. I would not count on making it to the finals at all if we get complacent about the Pumas.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:46 am
#31 Yea I agree good team for ABs C. I would maybe have Braid at #7.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Badeesh. I dont believe anyone said the ABs C team would beat the Boks A team. However,the AB’s C team could give the boks B team a go.
I beleive the AB’s C team could beat most sides including Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, yea and maybe even the poms right now. ( Thats made the poms mad I bet) Remember this mid year, when Junior ABs, (basically AB’s C team) beat the islanders.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:03 am
whilst I would like nothing more than to see the Boks in the final they still have a long way to go.
The Ireland/Arg game needs to go their way or else we have a very tricky quarter final to get through. Anyone that say the Pumas are easy is crazy. They are physical and are full of confidence. Injuries will also play a massive role as we lack depth in almost every single position on the field.
One game at a time or we may exit sooner than we think
September 27th, 2007 at 3:39 am
#55
Think you mean the semi KB. far as i can see we play wales regardless.
The pumas will be tough, but we will be fortunate to have played 2 sides prior (US and Wales) who are not physical sides.
Would rather we played the argies though, than france.
September 27th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Yep Kes,I think that the pumas will be tough and definitely cause a few injuries.
September 27th, 2007 at 5:58 am
45 After the shocker that Sivi had against Scotland, I do not think he will play. Rocco will be the man. I would have preferred the guy they left at home, who I rate as the best in the world; Gear.
33-35 Add in their four injured locks and Gear, and it would be a difficult side to overcome.
Pumas have conceded no try as yet. Captain Sook and the Choirboys have to get four. No way! Bye Bye and so they don’t need to be afraid of the MIB anymore, except for priests.
September 27th, 2007 at 6:43 am
no ones afraid of the men in grey
September 27th, 2007 at 7:24 am
#59
Or in white with a pretty red flower on there jersey
September 27th, 2007 at 7:46 am
If you had to pick the best 2nd fifteen to play for SA, who would you add to the current bunch?
I think the following players would strengthen the team that played against Tonga:
10. Grant – Granted (n.p.i.) AP could not play any worse than he did, Pieter might add some line attacking abilities to our flyhalf channel. I expect to see a lot more of him in a post-Butch era.
12. Barrit – Might be able to add some bite to our backs.
4/5. Albert is not a bad lock, but you have to consider the potential of players like Bekker, Pieterse and Corniel van Zyl who have all played very well this year.
6. Luke, Grobelaar – We have many good loosies in the country, so it is hard to say someone is the best outright. Even so, these two might have done well against Tonga.
13. Outside center is a concern. WO has not really played that well while Murray was really disappointed in the few tests he played. Any suggestions?
15. I think Ruan played really well at 15 and suspect that that might become his permanent position at the Sharks once Percy leaves. With Cocket and Matty they have plenty of quality at 9.
All comments are welcome but I would prefer calm, logical rugby related ones.