Jannie best bet for Twickers
17 Nov 2008
Jannie du Plessis must start at Twickenham if the Springboks are to have any hope of besting the English scrum.
Multiple front-row injuries have cut short the John Smit-tighthead experiment, and now there is talk of Brian Mujati having a sore shoulder. Du Plessis was recently called to London as his brother Bismarck and prop Gurthro Steenkamp were simultaneously released from the Bok camp. Du Plessis is likely to face one of the world’s premier looseheads in Andrew Sheridan this Saturday, and from the vibe gathered at Monday’s press conference, the Boks are feeling confident about the match up.
A World Cup winner in 2007, Du Plessis was deemed surplus to Bok requirements in 2008. He received a recall against Australia for the Ellis Park Test when CJ van der Linde was suspended and BJ Botha had left for Ireland, and did a solid job. This was on the back of a strong showing with his new Super 14 franchise, the Sharks. Many felt he was an unfortunate omission when the Boks’ UK touring squad was announced given the nature of the game up north and how Du Plessis’s strengths would be valuable.
If the Bok management pick Du Plessis to start this Saturday, it’s a sure acknowledgment of his value in northern conditions. Mujati has battled for the better part of the year, and does not boast the technical experience that comes with winning three Currie Cups and a World Cup winners medal. Mujati may be more mobile than Du Plessis, but it is the latter who will make the greater impact at the tight-phases. Up north, you need to favour set-phase proficiency over athleticism. Jake White applied this logic when playing Danie Rossouw at No 8 in last year’s World Cup, and look what came from that decision.
The question will be raised that if Mujati is fit enough to warm the bench this weekend, why isn’t he fit enough to start? The troubling answer may also point to another question as to whether he deserved a squad place ahead of seasoned specialists like Van der Linde, Botha and Du Plessis.
The same applies for Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle. If your first-choice hooker is injured, surely you’d back your second choice to slot in. It’s become accepted that Smit fulfills the hooking duties in the event of injury as he did last week, but if Smit is really supposed to concentrating on prop and Ralepelle is truly the understudy to Bismarck du Plessis, then why shouldn’t Ralepelle start this weekend? Smit’s covering for Du Plessis is only supposed to be in emergencies, as his own development at 3 was a priority on this tour.
Ralepelle has had little game time in the past two years and won his place on this tour ahead of more deserving players such as Adriaan Strauss. Strauss joined the Bok side when Smit was ruled him out of the Tri-Nations, and started for the Boks when Bismarck broke down. How Ralepelle has leapfrogged him in the hooking queue is anybody’s guess.
While calling up Jannie du Plessis is the right short-term solution, it speaks volumes for De Villiers’s lack of confidence in Mujati and Ralepelle. It may also say something about the move of Smit to tighthead, a move De Villiers promised was a long-term initiative with a view to the British & Irish Lions series and the 2011 World Cup. Either play Ralepelle at No 2 with Smit at 3, or call up Strauss to fill the hooking void. That would suggest continuity and a long-term plan.
But it’s become clear there is no plan, or at least there is little confidence in the fringe players already in the squad. Du Plessis is the best bet to scrum against Sheridan this weekend, and the Boks have a realistic chance of winning this battle. If one remembers that Mujati and Ralepelle are likely to remain in the set-up come the Lions series, then one has to ask why they aren’t being pushed through in what will be the ultimate acid Test at Twickenham. The Boks may win this Saturday, but they won’t learn anything new.
589 Comments
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18 Nov 2008, 00:39 am
547 wooden spoon: for me a recent springbok match is like a pdv press conference..makes sense in parts,can’t believe some parts,but mostly just don’t understand
18 Nov 2008, 00:41 am
#550 ruggalover: Lol true, this regime is characterised by headless chickens on the field, led by a headless chicken off the field.
18 Nov 2008, 00:43 am
551 wooden spoon: lol,ok your comparison wins and is better descriptive
18 Nov 2008, 00:47 am
548 wooden spoon: sharks and lions have same overseas away games.pls let petoors be fit
18 Nov 2008, 00:48 am
#551 wooden spoon: Cheers, outta here now. Let’s hope we have enough to beat England this weekend.
18 Nov 2008, 00:50 am
Cheers,i’m also outta here
18 Nov 2008, 01:27 am
Go the Boks, World Champs!! gona demolish england. Chokers going to choke against wales. CHOKERS CHOKERS CHOKERS!! HAHA
18 Nov 2008, 02:45 am
#556 WindhoekBokkeFan:The Poms are playing the Saffa’s you stupid dutch tosser!!!
18 Nov 2008, 03:14 am
#61 goyougoodthing2: you’re really supportive of your team aren’t you?! You seem to forget that Smit played a massive part in the Boks winning the World Cup – when the SH chokers aka NZ and Aus lost their quarter finals and it looked like the Boks were next on the list when their game against Fiji was falling apart it was Smit who held the team together. And Januarie who engineered our 1st win against NZ in 10 years with a stroke of genius!
I don’t purport to be happy about PdV’s lack of game plan or our last performances, I’m mad as hell in fact but personally attacking the players is plain pathetic! Actually did you see the Welsh front row when they toured SA this year?! They make Smit look like Spies!
So given your dislike for Smit and Januarie who would you like to see in place of them? Matfield as captain?! LOL!
18 Nov 2008, 03:15 am
#557 CHAZ: Anyone smell puke!
18 Nov 2008, 03:18 am
#548 wooden spoon: That’s a pretty good draw for the Sharks! Really looking forward to seeing how well Plummers go – he seems to have made a world of difference since taking over but the Super 14 will be the acid test!
18 Nov 2008, 03:40 am
#557 CHAZ: Playing in cardiff i see. dont choke, the RWC champs rule world rugby
18 Nov 2008, 04:10 am
Breier kap blasers
Nov 17 2008 09:18:23:197PM – (SA)
Druk artikel
E-pos storie aan ‘n vriend
“Die grootste probleem wat ek het, is hoe dinge by die afbreekpunte deur skeidsregters geïnterpreteer word. Ek verstaan nie die afbreekpunte nie.” Peter de Villiers, afrigter van die Springbokke, gister op ‘n perskonferensie in Londen. Foto: Duif du Toit, Gallo Images
Liam Del Carme
Londen. – Die tyd vir doekies omdraai oor skeidsregters se besluite, is duidelik vir die Springbok-afrigter, Peter de Villiers, iets van die verlede, want hy het gister behoorlik teen hulle uitgevaar.
Dit is veral die blasers se gebrek aan bestendigheid by die afbreekpunte wat De Villiers die meeste grief.
“Die grootste probleem wat ek het, is hoe dinge by die afbreekpunte deur skeidsregters geïnterpreteer word. Ek verstaan nie die afbreekpunte nie,” het die Bokke se afrigter gesê.
Die Springbokke en Skotland het in die toets op Murrayfield gesamentlik 21 strafskoppe afgestaan en was dit ná die wedstryd eens dat die blaser Dave Pearson se interpretasies van tyd tot tyd verskil het.
“Daar was drie geleenthede waar ons die spel beheer het naby die doellyn en ons gestraf is omdat ons spelers nie op hul voete gebly het nie.
“Die feit dat hulle nie op hul voete gebly het nie, het ook nie enige invloed op die spel gehad nie.”
De Villiers sê die Springbokke word benadeel omdat aanvallende spelers nie toegelaat word om by losgemale “skoon te maak nie”.
“Hulle neem al ons skerpheid en krag weg. Rolmaalbewegings is weggevat en harde spel by afbreekpunte word nie meer toegelaat nie.
“Ons kan nie ons kragspel gebruik nie. Dit het ’n direkte invloed op die uitslae van ons wedstryde,” het De Villiers gesê.
Ian McIntosh, die Bok-keurder en voormalige afrigter, sê egter dat spanne, selfs al wil dit voorkom of die reëls hulle beperk, dit steeds tot hul voordeel kan gebruik.
“Spanne voel dat hulle nie die rolmaalbeweging kan uitvoer nie. Sê wie? Jy kan dit nog steeds doen. As jy die bal deeglik beskerm en jou liggaamsposisie reg is, dan kan jy aanhou dryf selfs al word die voorste spelers grond toe getrek.
“Die agterste spelers neem die beweging vorentoe en wanneer hulle grond toe gaan, moet die bal vinnig na agter gestuur word. Dit is bruikbare besit vir agterspelers,” het McIntosh gesê.
De Villiers voel dat daar nie na afrigters geluister word nie.
“Jy stuur vir hulle (die IRR) verslae oor die wedstryde, maar dan kry jy verslae wat sê dat dit die beste vertoning nog van ’n skeidsregter was.
“Dit is baie frustrerend. As hulle eerlik kan wees en sê dat daar fasette is waarin hulle sukkel maar dat ons begrip daarvoor moet hê, kan jy ten minste met die skeidsregters werk.”
Daar bestaan ook by afrigters die gevoel dat selfs wanneer hulle vooraf met skeidsregters oor sekere interpretasies gepraat het, dit geen waarborg is dat hulle nie later deur beslissings uit die veld geslaan sal word nie.
“Wanneer jy op die veld draf, is daar nog ’n interpretasie. Dit maak dit baie moeilik vir ons.
“Die dae toe jy geweet het daar gaan op jou getrap word en dat die bloed gaan spat as jy aan die verkeerde kant van die losgemaal lê, is verby.
“Nou lê almal waar hulle wil.”
Selfs al probeer hy om hardlooprugby onder sy spelers te laat posvat, gee De Villiers toe dat dit met die nuwe reëls moeilik is.
“My grootste bekommernis is dat die nuwe reëls die verdedigende span meer bevoordeel. Jy werk hard om te kom waar jy op die veld is en dit is nie regverdig nie.
“Dit sal die opwinding wegvat. Mense kom na wedstryde om drieë te sien en hoe spelers met die bal hardloop.
“Van ons sterkpunte is weggeneem en ons moet dus aanpas. Dit is egter moeilik.”
18 Nov 2008, 04:12 am
#562 superBul: I agree with some of the above points. Rules are not clearcutt enough
18 Nov 2008, 05:55 am
Div, the media and Princess Di
2008-11-17 22:10
De Villiers was quizzed a few times how important Saturday’s test is against the background of his first year as Bok coach. He tried to evade the questions.
There were questions he interpreted incorrectly and he also gave answers that could be interpreted in different ways.
“I would never be able to deliver results. That is something you can write about,” he said.
“I am only here for the players. I will manage and lead then, analyse opponents and work out strategies, but if we don’t work together as a team …
~ The team is clearly lost with this buffoon in charge. And the last paragraph suggests serious discontent between Div and the players. The poison of transformation is slowly killing its prey.
18 Nov 2008, 06:05 am
#564 kwas: we have the opportunity to reread his comments many times and still we cant really understand what he tries to say. I feel for the players, last night in the 7 o clock news on SABC2 they showed i clip of the Boks training it was a priceless moment when he demonstrated a move with the ball in hand , the face of Bekker , he didnt have a clue where the coach went , wish i could show it to the guys , the players certainly didnt understand that move or at least Bekker didnt have a clue what was going on.
18 Nov 2008, 06:24 am
#565 superBul: superBul, you should post that clip on YouT*be and give us folks here in North America a chuckle.
18 Nov 2008, 06:32 am
#565 superBul: #566 kwas:
I see Pdev also referred to the late Lady Di in some interview.
What’s the connection there?
I wonder how THAT one went down with the British.
Diplomacy obviously not PdeV’s forte.
18 Nov 2008, 06:38 am
#566 kwas: sorry i cant find it again if so i will post the link.I didnt understand the move either, looked like a lineout and it seemed like he ran between the 2 lineout lineups. But the face of Bekker was priceless, he was looking for the coach and whalah he was gone right trough the two packs.
18 Nov 2008, 06:41 am
#567 Pietman: Liam Del Carme
London. – Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday dismissed media criticism as an attempt to sell newspapers
Any chance the Bok mentor had of keeping a low profile in the English media were probably dashed by his comments. And he even brought the late Princess Diana into the argument presented at a press conference at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.
“Criticism appears in newspapers everywhere. People don’t just want to hear that the world is good. They don’t like progress. People prefer to write about things that will sell newspapers,” said De Villiers.
“Some years ago Di died tragically. People made a big deal out of the rumours and never said ‘shame’.
“Everybody is worried about the weekend’s game. As a team we aren’t over the moon about our performance, but currently it’s two wins from two games on tour.”
18 Nov 2008, 06:50 am
#569 superBul:
Wtf!
Lady Diana?
18 Nov 2008, 07:02 am
#568 superBul: #569 superBul: LOL, PDV is a legend
18 Nov 2008, 07:13 am
#571 Big Hit:
Morning Big Hit.
What do you think?
Will Johnson pick a pack that has a full crack at the Bok forwards?
Seems that way to me.
He must see some weaknesses there.
18 Nov 2008, 07:26 am
#572 tight head: Morning tighthead,
Johnson is worried about his own pack’s weaknesses after the Aussie game and has stated there will be ‘no holds barred’ in this area so I think he will target the scrums heavily. I think he may make a couple of changes to the pack too to make them more powerful.
It may sound strange given the Boks current situation but I think they have the upper hand all over the field.
18 Nov 2008, 07:27 am
#573 Big Hit: the Boks have the upper hand, that is.
18 Nov 2008, 07:32 am
#573 Big Hit:
Yes, I agree.
However as you say, he will expect nothing less than domination at scrum time from the tight forwards.
18 Nov 2008, 07:40 am
#575 tight head: Sheridan may well be injured however and that would be a real negative.
18 Nov 2008, 07:47 am
#576 Big Hit: SA may get a good going over on Sat.
18 Nov 2008, 07:56 am
Tighthead,
Surely your namesake is over-emphasised. Fewer scrums, limited opportunity to attack in the scrums due to diabolical refereeing and more emphasis on loose play for the front row. So, like Oz, can’t you just select a “competent” front row, on your ball; quick feed, hook so the ball rockets 10m out of the scrum and don’t contest opposition scrums, just hold and wait to defend. If under threat, collapse, re set, moan about oppositon not binding, ********, boring, slipping, not taking the pressure etc etc.
With the front row guys available, and those being selected, SA might have to learn a few Oz tricks.
Oh, and tjokvol out of skopshite Grant isn’t a 1000% better than Butch (maybe 10%? on a good day), Goyousillything, JS is hardly fat; I supect you couldn’t even outrun him. On second thoughts if you called him fat maybe you could, fear of death is a great incentive.
18 Nov 2008, 08:02 am
#578 husky: How close have you been to JS lately? I’ve had a conversation with him in the past 3 weeks…
18 Nov 2008, 08:05 am
#578 husky:
Basically you are saying take the contest out of the scrum.
Next step after that is take the scrum out of rugby.
Perhaps we should take the contest out of the line out as well?
Did you see what the Aussie scrum did to the English on Saturday?
The complete opposite of what you have said about them.
18 Nov 2008, 08:10 am
#577 goyougoodthing2: I wouldn’t be too sure. I don’t know how to call this one.
18 Nov 2008, 08:30 am
tight head,
Not at all (I can hear you snorting at your monitor). I am saying that if some part of your game isn’t that strong, develop techniques to minimise or negate that weakness.
But maybe you’ve answered the question. The oz scrum was considered weak. Then along came this cheeky Kiwi who said that it needn’t be. Pretty much the same players, better techniques, maybe a few schemes and hey, the Oz scrum starts shoving the highly rated Poms around.
Can’t SA do this?
18 Nov 2008, 08:36 am
#582 husky:
The point is that you cannot go into a contest on the basis of just holding your own.
What happens when the opposition decide to murder you?
As you say, we need to turn our weakness into strength.
Of course we can do this.
Without wanting to sound arrogant, you also need to understand the technical nature of scrumming.
This does not allow for the kind of negative scrumming you first suggested.
18 Nov 2008, 08:59 am
#581 Big Hit: Well isn’t that a sign that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
18 Nov 2008, 09:05 am
Do think the Wally’s went into many test matches thinking they were going to dominate the scrums? Unlikely. Look at the replays and stats of collapsed scrums, then look at the RWC when SA had scrum after scrum on the 5m line collapsed without serious sanction by the ref – domination for no reward.
Then you have to really be optimistic to think you are going to dominate all round so you must develop tactics to cope. If the AB’s thought they were going to be dominated by SA in the lineouts a few years ago they didn’t kick the ball out or took quick throw ins, Hardly negative.
But seriously, I take your point about technique. My hardy annual is that SA players lack super coaching, the front row is just another place where this is becoming glaringly obvious. I have very little criticism to make about the players – its the way they have been trained, drilled and used that is lacking. Oz makes this point year in and year out.
18 Nov 2008, 10:23 am
#585 husky:
I agree entirely with your last paragraph.
You have hit the point spot on.
18 Nov 2008, 10:59 am
Whats the obsession with CJ ? He is not a scrumming prop ! he is no more powerful than Mujati , he can run well yes but he aint no tighthead! show me once when he dominated his opponent ? all I remember is him giving away penalties
18 Nov 2008, 12:05 pm
Doc Jannie is craap, Brian b oy is ****..
BJ BOtha
Faan Ratenbachh
best around
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