Bok scrum expect AB onslaught
Springbok captain John Smit has highlighted the importance of outscrumming the All Blacks in the first Tri Nations Test in New Zealand.
It’s been a disappointing facet for the Boks, as they struggled in the first Test against Wales and then against a third-rate Italy front row. The man who lent them stability, BJ Botha, is not on tour while there is a possibility youngsters Brian Mujati and Beast Mtawarira could come up against Tony Woodcock and Greg Somerville.
Smit told Die Burger that this set-piece will present the most significant challenge of the 5 July fixture.
“The All Blacks have dominated their opponents in the scrums in every match they’ve played this season,” he said. “The All Blacks got the upper hand, despite England’s strong scrum. That’s a feather in their caps.”
The English didn’t provide much resistance for New Zealand, who scored comfortable victories in both of the two Tests. These were merely warm-ups for the upcoming clash against the World Champions.
“There are some Test matches that you know will be hard,” Smit said. “The All Blacks in New Zealand is one of those in which the physical aspect is non-negotiable.
“If you don’t stand up in that respect, you’re going to be on the back foot from the outset. We must not let ourselves down from a physical viewpoint.”
Smit said the absence of All Blacks captain of Richie McCaw won’t debilitate the hosts.
“The All Blacks would, of course, have liked Richie to be part of their team but there is no such thing as a weak All Blacks team. And they’re playing at home, which is a huge factor.”
The Bok captain also denounced the new laws. Saturday will be the first time he plays under the ELVs having spent the European season with French club Clermont.
“They never tried to reinvent the wheel before, so why do it now. There was nothing wrong with the old laws, and you couldn’t find an empty seat in stadiums in France.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
“So why do you think **** decide to start him in most games this year?”
He did not start him in most games this year.
Despite injuries to Michalak and Barritt and the poor form of players like Murray and Pieteren, Muir only started Jacobs from game no. 13. **** preferred to play Steyn against the NZ teams and gave Jacobs a chance against the Cheetahs and a pisspoor Chiefs team. As I have said – Jacobs disappeared in the semi-final.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
#301 klingon_x: As I recall, most of the Sharks team disappeared in the final
Also, weren’t the games against the Cheetahs and Chiefs the Sharks two best showings of the season? And didn’t Steyn play in pretty much every position in the backline – I only recall him starting one game at outside centre though…so why would **** prefer Jacobs to Steyn, in only the final (and most important – remember they weren’t assured of a semi until the very last game) games of the season???
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
#300 crazy ******:
“The thing Kling doesn’t point out is that Steyn wasn’t a regular starter last year either…he backed up Butch and Monty most of the season, and he didn’t play one minute of last years S14 in midfield. Coming on at fullback is a little easier defensively, than coming on at centre, even if it is at the end of the game.”
Please – Steyn was the Boks best defensive player in the RWC last year too. His defensive stats are 34/2. Compare that to James 31/8, Fourie 29/4 and Habana 25/5.
Steyn made 34 tackles and missed 2 in 7 matches.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
#302 crazy ******:
“Also, weren’t the games against the Cheetahs and Chiefs the Sharks two best showings of the season?’
Against the weakest opposition, ffs. Cheetahs ended at 13 and a week before the Sharks/Chiefs game the Lions last on the log smashed that very same Chiefs team. That is the problem with the Sharks supporters – the only time they ever looked good this season was at home against a piss-poor Chiefs team. And now they are struggling to beat Boland at home.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
#303 klingon_x: Yep, great point…if we were comparing Steyn to James, Fourie and Habana in last years WC.
The point of hauling out stats to compare two players, is that you actually use them to compare the two players.
So basically, you brought out the S14 from 2007 to make your point, realised that you couldn’t, so now you’re bringing out stats from a totally different competition (in which SA never faced NZ by the way), to prove what exactly?!
Kling, I get your general point…you’re worried about Jacobs defence…noted…but this is going nowhere.
Let’s just hope like hell that he proves you wrong
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm
#304 klingon_x: Point is, Muir picked him for their most important match (semi)…and since **** coaches the guy everyday, l reckon he has a better idea of the guys ability than we do.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
#305 crazy ******:
I have explained to you that Jacobs is a bench player because his defense is poor and therefore his stats looks good. Frans Steyn you claim played off the bench and I have showed you that his stats at S14 and RWC where he played most games at 12 are very similar. You didn’t explain yet why you think Muir has been playing him off the bench for the past three seasons.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
#306 crazy ******:
That was a huge mistake. Folding under pressure Jacobs spilled the ball in the tackle for the first try. On defense he was generally missing. I think the Sharks would have been much better off with 9. Pienaar, 10. Barritt, 12. Steyn and 13. Murray.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
#307 klingon_x: Yawn, last post before bed…
Where Muir played him in the past three seasons before this one is irrelevant. Because Saturday’s match isn’t against the 2005/ 06/ 07 All Blacks. Obviously, in those seasons, Muir thought he wasn’t as good a starting option as Murray, or whoever player 13 before that. But by the same reasoning, he started him in this season S14 because he thought he was a better option than anyone else the Sharks had.
Frans Steyn’s stats in the WC were great…but its not the 2007 WC. The best guide to Saturday’s test is this seasons S14.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
#308 klingon_x: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
@crazymonkey
I agree with you that bobes probably would have been a better option that adi going on super 14 for (bobes was the best inside centre in s.a. s14-wise). at least i think you said that in one of your posts!? I also agree that many posters (and s.africans) have double standards when it comes to black players- perhaps the second guessing could be interpreted as a long, shrill cry for help-anyways thats not the point of this post. i also see some posters would prefer to have brad barritt there for his defense and distribution skills, but nobody has mentioned barritts very noticeable lack of pace. i would be interested to see a foot-race between barritt and bobo- bobo probably has better accelleration, and i dont see barritt catching him over 50. bobes defense has also been watertight this year, and his passing skills have always been outstanding (except when the no-look pass doesnt come off!) adi has greater pace and accelleration than either of them, and he is unpredictable (often in a good way). though i would prefer to see bobo partner jean, with steyn up as a possible sub, (i’d prefer him at flyhalf once he realises you actually have to pass a few times before anyone buys the dummy) i am happy to see adi get a chance to show what hes got against the best in the world. go bokbokkies!
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Where’s BigTwit? An interview from an opium pushing slave trading rag today with their new boss:
“A lot of thought and detail went into the squad,” said Johnson. “The experimental laws coming in next season were a factor: we will have to look at our line out, which is why we went for Nick Kennedy, and we will need to play, move the ball wide and get around the field, which is why Tom Varndell got the nod. New Zealand showed us where we need to get to.”
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
#15 stew:
I have known some very nice ducks’ arses and some of them were nearly as big as Hit’s
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
#15 stew:
I have known some very nice ducks’ arses and some of them were nearly as big as Big Hit’s
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
#196 iceman:
Tricky ******** those Kiwis.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
#196 iceman:
Tricky ******** those Kiwis.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
The Bokke are favourites but I predict the Blacks will win by somewhere between 1 and 44. Lol. Listen to the ARC commentary. It is really gross, unless you are a Black fan.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
So we’re all agreed Boks to take it by some margin as they are the best side in the world
World Champions, Ranked No 1, World Cup winners
The result shouldnt even be in doubt
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
#312 AiDoc: “New Zealand showed us where we need to get to.”
NZ were a new team, missing players, and unpolished at the beginning of their intn season. England need to aspire a little higher than that I’d have thought.