Pining for a platform
South Africa’s dangerous outside backs will never reach their potential unless the problems up front are rectified.
Breakdown blues and a set-piece savaging. South Africa’s shortcomings in these departments were evident in the Leicester match, but only became a real concern when a physical capitulation contributed to defeat against France. A substandard performance against Saracens resulted in another loss, and a lacklustre showing in Udine raised more questions than answers.
Where do the Boks stand as they approach the most important fixture of their European tour?
The usual excuses of fatigue and injuries will be rolled out, but it’s no secret the Test against Italy was supposed to be a dress rehearsal for the big show in Dublin. Going by what we’ve seen in the past four tour matches, can the Boks outmuscle Ireland?
Fatigue and injuries aside, South Africa certainly have the potential. The real question is whether the coaching staff will opt for a pack suited to northern hemisphere conditions; a pack capable of providing a platform for the outside backs to shine.
Fourie du Preez showed his class behind a retreating pack on Saturday, but Morne Steyn, still in his first year of Test rugby, battles under that kind of pressure. It also doesn’t help to receive back-foot ball and shovel it on to a player who struggles to breach the gain line.
Adi Jacobs is not a crash ball player, and often surrenders possession once he’s stopped short of the advantage line. It’s a shame that Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana don’t receive more opportunities. As they showed on Saturday, their finishing ability is world class. One way or another, JP Pietersen also needs to get more involved.
Jacobs is the wrong man to wear the No 12 jersey, but his plight and that of Steyn is partially a result of the pack’s failure to front. The Boks’ protection of the ball at the breakdown has been poor on this tour, as the opposition have committed more men to the rucks and thus prevented South Africa getting clean ball. The Boks have won some terrific turnovers through the sticky-fingered Heinrich Brussow, but they’ve conceded an unacceptable amount of turnovers of their own.
The static display at the breakdown has limited the Bok momentum that was so prominent in the Tri-Nations. The scrum wobbles of the Sanzar tournament have been amplified in European conditions, where there are more scrums than down south.
John Smit has asked that he be judged after two years in the tighthead position. Saturday showed why this is a luxury South Africa cannot afford on the heavier grounds up north. Wian du Preez, Adriaan Strauss and Smit were a distant second to their Italian counterparts, and it’s little surprise that the new combination in the second stanza achieved parity.
Beast Mtawarira is an important player for the Boks as he boasts a tremendous work-rate. In a front row alongside Smit (at hooker) and BJ Botha, he also managed to get one over Martin Castrogiovanni.
The Italians were always going to run out of puff in the final quarter and unfortunately they doesn’t possess much quality in reserve. But the performance of the Bok front row in the dying stages must have been encouraging, and the best thing about a front row that includes Mtawarira, Smit and Botha is the balance. They’re a better scrumming unit and offer good ball-carrying options.
The Bulls didn’t have the strongest scrum in the Super 14 and neither did the Boks in the Tri-Nations. The difference up north is you need a steady scrum if you’re going to gain ground. It also pays to remember that Ireland’s defence will be far sharper than that of the Italians, who fell off many a runner in the wider channels.
If Peter de Villiers does opt for a stronger scrummaging pack, he needs to pick a No 8 capable of exploiting a set-piece advantage. Danie Rossouw did the job for the Boks at the 2007 World Cup, and there’s little doubt he’d do the job in Dublin. For all of Ryan Kankowski’s talents, ball-carrying in the closer channels isn’t one of them.
The availability of Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis will be made public at Monday’s press conference. If Burger is fit, he should start at blindside flank with Rossouw switching to No 8. At hooker, it’s not really much of a choice with Smit an irreplaceable leader, and since Du Plessis is returning from injury, he would be better utilised from the bench.
By Jon Cardinelli
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
#92 Puma:
Stop it now Puma. Scoring at around 4,5 runs/over after 33 overs is about par for a fifty over match. Already trying to put blame on JP and Amla, are you?
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
#101 nama1:Nama, No not trying to put blame on them. JP one of my favourite players. Just think they went a bit slow there.
Would you have had Bosman in the team? I would have. Wonder why they left him out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
#101 nama1: We just need to not lose anymore wickets and we will land up with a decentt score. They have some great batsmen in their side. Centurion is known for some big scores. With all the rain they had up there maybe it is playing a bit slow there. Have no idea. Will see when they come out to bat.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
typo sorry, meant decent.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
176/6 after 38 overs.
We may not bat out all our overs. Really can not lose any more wickets now.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Morkel also gone. They should have a rethink about his position in the team when Kallis is back.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
#102 Puma:
After his batting in the 20/20 match, I would definitely have him in the squad at least. Like Gibbs, I think he still lacks consistency.
My reference to JP and Amla was just tongue in cheek.
Boucher needs to show why people always call him a “fighter”. If he goes early I don’t think we’ll bat out all our overs.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
184/6 after 41 overs.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
#107 nama1: I like Bosman and think he needs a chance in the odi game. Proved it the other night. Was wonderful to watch him play.
Bouch needs to fight here otherwise we may not see out our overs.
Think somehow that pitch playing a bit slow. Will have to see how they do when they come in a bit later.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I this is a reasonably balanced piece with the key bit being:
“The Bulls didn’t have the strongest scrum in the Super 14 and neither did the Boks in the Tri-Nations. The difference up north…”
However some other things
- The key is still the collisions and breakdown, but as mentioned we are not as intense or competitive here and have not protected our ball well, as was the hallmark during the rest of the year – this is probably due to the fact they are dead on their feet.
- The NH probably calls for s different pack both in terms of personnel (more rested players) and strategy (preference given to tighter more powerful less mobile players).
- The other reason the Bok backs are not lookinh good is that their fantastic halfback pairing of FdP and Steyn need to vary their play more, almost everthing is a kick, and its gifting possession awey in totally differenty BH conditions. Its also wrong with teh pace we have outwide, on attackj they need to learn to shift the thing quickly and to test the oppo defensively and to run at them, with the occasional kick not the other way around. Also they need to dart and attack the afv line more often – morne’s up and unders are now overdone-
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
205/7 after 44 overs.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
#110 cab:
I hear you,but remember Tri Nations.
Henry , Deans and Australasia moaning about the kick and chase tactic upon our arrival in Aus for the first away game.
We go over to Perth and smash the Aussies with a running game scoring the only bonus point of the competition for 4 tries. I would look at different gameplans for Northern Hemisphere , you make a valid point…
In my opinion the Springboks should send a Development “b” team to Europe in end of year tours. The European sides mostly send us B Teams in June , why don’t we start doing the same.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
in the 2nd minute of the game Parisse bonces Jaque Fourie like a pest! Wow…
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
As great as FdP is, is he becoming a bit precious, i mean we are calling out for his powerful surging bursts and we hardly see them any more, and when he does get tackled – there s a whole rollabout everytime whuch would make an italian roundballer proud.
Come on FdP, you can develop your game a bit, get tehir quicker and shift it when necessary – he has a great pass too.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
#112 wp_boytjie:
yes exactly, perth was great cos we showed we can play the other game, and indeed PdV has brought the offload game to teh boks and it was used in the first hald versus saracens but then back to up&unders in 2nd- i think its a very bad tactic for NH conditions, rather run it, we actually have an incredibly dangerous backline, with pace and power off both wings.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
#109 Puma:
With Kallis out for the series they may call on Bosman for the last two matches. I think this squad was selected for the first three. However, I’m not 100% sure.
v/d Merwe should now just close his eyes and swing like he did when he made his début last year.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
what makes adams so good, is he tracks the ball-carrier and pack so well, and picks its up so neatly and distributes at pacer – in short he keeps the momentum going. FdP can develop develop his game in this respect, he has the pass for it but is arriving too late, kicking too much, and not darting enough – 9n short, he looks tired too and said so befire the tour which does not bode well.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
225/8 after 47 overs. Need to come out and bowl really well to win this one.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
#112 wp_boytjie:
I think the midweek team was that development B-team that you ask for. You saw what went on here when they lost both there matches. People just don’t want the Boks to lose.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
#116 nama1: If Kallis is out they have to call in Bosman for the next game. I am hoping. He is a superb batsman.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
#117 cab: Adams in injured now Cab, Not sure how serious that injury is.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
#118 Puma:
Do you have any idea what the average score at Centurion Park is after 50 overs?
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
#121 Puma:
FdP stil the best, but adams def adds some zip and a different dimension, francois hougaardt also looked very sharp when coming on yesterday.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Careful cab you’ll have the Fdp groupie entourage on your back in no time with such comments, how dare you disdain to criticize the greatest player in the universe.
I reckon if we had perhaps had Pienaar and Adams up against France last week we might have stood a better chance against them than with Fdp and Morne. But then again it would be simply blasphemous to even consider to be thinking like this.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
#120 Puma:
Kallis is out for the entire one day series with a fractured rib. He may even miss the first test or play just as a batsman. I think it will be between Gibbs and Bosman.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
242/9 after 49 overs. Steyn goes out. At least we may see out our overs. Then hope we bowl really well. May still win this one.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I was really worried about the Boks game… if they lost it really would have killed the party
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
#125 nama1: Pity about Kallis but I think they need to give Bosman a chance now. If he can produce the same performance he did the other night. Bowlers will hate to bowl to him….
What a Batting performance that was. Hope he gets a chance.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
250/9 after 50 overs.
10 runs short of my minimum prediction. This is very much defendable with our bowling attack. Need to get rid of Trott and KP quickly.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
#129 nama1: Yes we may still win this one. Just need to come out now and bowl well. Need to get KP and Trott quick.
Going now to get some lunch back later nama.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
#129 nama1: We may be 10 or 15 runs short. I am hoping not.
Back later.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Amla must learn to converts his fifties into hundreds in the one day game. It is his umpteenth fifty now. He is suppose to bat through the innings.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
48. Langenhoven
You are kidding are you not?.Rose is not a fifteen man player
and should go to sevens rugby.The problem with Adi is that
he is simply outmuscled by the bigger centres especially
with slow ball from static play.
The spectators, and that includes all of us, were advocating
a faster flowing, more spectacular game, with lost of running,
big hits, and plenty of tries, because the game became too
boring for our liking.
So scrums became just starting points and loose forwards
auxiliary backs, with locks intermingled.Nobody wanted to do
the hard yards upfront anymore.
This type of game is suited to the hard, fast grounds of the
Southern Hemisphere, but the Boks have always battled even in NZ to perform as well on softer, more soggy grounds.
So it came as no surprise to me that our forwards struggle
given the composition of forwards on the softer and heavier
NH grounds.
The compositions of our front row was badly exposed and it is
a blessing in disguise because the next WC will be played
on similar grounds.
I think that because the World Cup is in NZ the NH teams
must fancy their chances of pulling of an upset.
I think with a year of preparation still ahead PDV should
now start looking for earnest good solid front rowers
and a loose forward trio able to scrum before linking
up with the backs.
In my opinion a call back to basics might well to prove
a timely call if the Boks want to defend their
crown.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Bye Puma. Enjoy your lunch. Already finished mine.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
#122 nama1: Not sure Nama but think 270 is the norm there. Especially if the weather is good.
So hoping our bowlers come out and fire straight away.
Now busy having lunch mate. Back as soon as the crici starts.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
#134 nama1: Catch up with you when the crici starts nama. Having lunch late just wanted to watch our batsman finish their overs.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
#124 skopskiet:
lol, i dont think its blasphemous, but it needs to be tempered with the very real recognition of just how good FdP is. But yes, i think u are right, insofar as keeping momentum and getting the backline shifting, which is what this article is about, FdP could def learn a thing or two from adams. was watching marshall the other night, and he’s got old, but both he and adams stick like glue to that tacklepoint and out it goes.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Trott actually has good bowling figures.
Seems as if it was harder to score against the older ball. Steyn and Langes must keep the Englishmen in check in the first 12 overs of their innings and not allow them to get away with a flyer.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Strauss out. Caught AB bowled Langes.
28/1 after 8 overs.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
#137 cab: young will genia for australia could also show fdp a thing or 2 about quick line delivery
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Missed the first 15 overs. Been out. See England are 56/2 after 16 overs. Nice we have two of their big batsmen out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
#138 nama1: Nama maybe Trott used to our conditions here. He is from Cape Town now playing for England.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
#142 Puma:
Yeah, I know. didn’t know that they use him as a part time bowler though.
His brother, Kenny Jackson, played for WP and later captained Boland. I liked his positive approach to batting. He and Gibbs made their debut for WP in the same season.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
#143 nama1: They have too many of our saffas in that team
Strauss too born in Joburg but he left young about 6 years old. So that does not count much.
We need another wicket soon to put pressure on them.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Almost got a wicket there. Need to take Trott or Collingwood both very good batsmen. Think we could be 20 runs short here and the sun out and think it is better for batting now. We batted when there was a lot of cloud about there this morning.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Think England will win this one. Just not getting the wickets here.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Jeez, I have never read such kak in my whole life! The Boks have not shown class the whole year & have relied on the forwards all year. The backs have contributed 15% in all our winning matches all year, the only exception being defence.
This is first time the backs have done what they should have been able to do. When the forwards are getting a pasting, it should be for the backs to win the match at times. This is the first time the backs have won a game for us. They were nowhere in France.
It is only when the backs do well that we start expecting so much from them. JC now all of a sudden blames it all on the forwards when they have won almost all the matches single handedly (collectively as an
all year long.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:36 am
112. wp_boytjie:
In my opinion the Springboks should send a Development “b” team to Europe in end of year tours. The European sides mostly send us B Teams in June , why don’t we start doing the same.
Agreed.
Adi has had his time. Short term , I think they should slot Pienaar in the centres. He has kicking but his reading the game and distribution would be ideal.
Smittie is no prop!