Poor planning exposed
23 Nov 2009
The Springboks won’t beat Ireland without Fourie du Preez, and you have to ask why there’s no set succession plan at No 9.
The Boks have enjoyed a dream year and there’s little doubt that Du Preez has been at the centre of their series victory over the British & Irish Lions and Tri-Nations triumph. He’s been at the centre of the Bulls’ second Super 14 title, and if there’s any justice in the world, he should win the IRB Player of the Year award.
As it stands, Du Preez is buggered. Overplayed and carrying a hand injury, he may miss the Boks’ final tour match against Ireland. The severity of this injury will be confirmed on Monday afternoon, but you have to wonder how the world champions find themselves in a position where there is no obvious replacement.
Peter de Villiers views Ruan Pienaar as a flyhalf option, even though his view is strongly opposed by Pienaar’s coach at the Sharks, John Plumtree. Pienaar is not entrusted with the flyhalf responsibilities at the Sharks, and is preferred at scrumhalf. De Villiers is unlikely to change his view, and neither is Plumtree, and unfortunately the big loser is Pienaar. Just when will he be allowed to specialise and realise his obvious potential?
De Villiers has spoken about Pienaar as a utility player and his selection on the bench over the majority of this year’s matches affirms the fact. He’s come on to replace Morne Steyn, while Du Preez has often played out the 80 minutes.
If Pienaar is truly considered the No 2 scrumhalf in the country, he should be treated as such. He should have been granted a starting opportunity on this tour, and I would even go so far to say Du Preez should have been left at home.
Heini Adams received precious little game time during the Bulls’ Super 14 campaign, and Du Preez has been similarly abused throughout the Test season. He should have been rested for the three-Test tour of Europe. The tour should have been about development, with Pienaar groomed as the Test understudy and Francois Hougaard exposed as the third in line.
Pienaar should have started all three Tests with Hougaard on the bench (the fact that he’s been retained in the touring squad indicates he’s rated higher than Adams). This would have afforded him game time at No 9 against Test opposition, and would have given him an opportunity to play alongside Steyn. It’s important that the two build a partnership, as if Du Preez were to break down ahead of big match, you need a replacement that isn’t going to upset that all-important halfback dynamic.
If Du Preez fails to pass fit for Saturday’s Test at Croke Park, Pienaar will be pushed into this position. He’s had a disappointing tour to date playing flyhalf, and it won’t get much easier playing scrumhalf against the buoyant Irish.
Is it fair to judge Pienaar if he flops this weekend? Surely not.
The 2011 World Cup is just around the corner. The Boks have a Tri-Nations title to defend in 2010, but they should use next season’s ‘friendlies’ against France and Italy to blood new talent and confirm the second-string. It’s the approach De Villiers and co should have adopted on this tour to Europe. They’ve already beaten the Lions and won the Tri-Nations. They were never going to win by playing their top players into the ground this November.
And the Irish can sense they’re on the verge of something special – remember, tired or not, they’re hosting the world and Tri-Nations champions, and any sort of win will grant them the bragging rights that come with beating the southern hemisphere’s best. The Irish press have already written off the Boks with “Overexposed Boks there for the taking” just one headline that exemplifies a popular theme.
The Boks have already lost several players to injury, but they won’t be as competitive without Du Preez. They’ll miss his accurate kicking game in a contest where the boot will rule. Ronan O’Gara and Rob Kearney are key men for the Irish in this respect, and they’ll be helped by conditions they’re all too used to.
The Boks were greeted by miserable weather upon arrival in Dublin. The Irish capital’s nippy temperatures are exacerbated by a scything wind that’ll cut to the the core of the most hardened player. The coaching staff needs to ensure this group stays focused, but it wouldn’t surprise to hear they’re already dreaming about the plane trip home.
By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin
83 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
23 Nov 2009, 11:19 am
4. flanka:
Excellent post. FDP is a great player but not the key for SA
Kearney ate all FDP’s bombs for breakfast on the Lions tour anyway
Brussow will be the real man for Ire to keep away from their ball.
What he does both legally and illegally is indispensable to the boks.
This game will turn on whether Ireland get ball.
40 percent possession will win it from Ireland.
SA have to tuck it up their jumper and send the big guys down the 10 channel all day at pace.
They have to make Ireland tackle until they drop.
Roll the mauls, pick and drive, forwards running at backs, backs out pacing forwards.
Simple
23 Nov 2009, 11:41 am
FdP is a fantastic player, but scrumhalf is not a concern, there is plenty of depth – even on this tour there are 3 very capable scrumhalves including Ruan Pienaar who has alot of test match under the belt – i’d go with Francoise Hougaard for this one, but adams had a very good game.
23 Nov 2009, 11:53 am
As much as I hate to admit it Luke Watson is a really tough quality player. He just needs a serious attitude adjustment towards South African Rugby.
23 Nov 2009, 12:08 pm
@wpw: You misinterperate my use of capable. I man we all know he has the qualities of an internatioal scrumhalf and there would have been little value in using him against Leicester or saracens when the coach still believeshe could be a potential flyhalf.
Possibly against the Italians to give du Preez a rest but when they were already 3 losses down, i think Div had to put the strongest team out.
23 Nov 2009, 12:18 pm
kesbok #40 – That is a bit of a arrogant comment. Bod and Jamie Roberts made mince meat of JDV/Fourie in B&I lions tour. So if BOD made player of the year, not a bad choice in my opinion. But yes Du Preez will up there with him
23 Nov 2009, 12:55 pm
@race of tan:
I guess never let the facts stand in the way of a good post.
I don’t get the whole hat thing for BOD.
Most SA fans that I have spoken to love watching JdeV and Fourie against the Ire centres
The whole Irish spite thing on here is hysterical.
Ireland never underestimate SA.
Yes we used to be the whipping boys for SA to practice a few training moves against, but we’ve gotten better and are swimming with the big fish.
Too bad if you don’t like it
23 Nov 2009, 13:14 pm
Fourie’s a jolly good fella. And so say all of us. Except Flanka and Tokkelosh.
23 Nov 2009, 13:17 pm
@Flametop: The Bok fans, have never got over that match where O’Gara scored while John had been told time would be stopped to talk to his players, and the try was awarded.
23 Nov 2009, 13:21 pm
@Sharksgirl:
That’s not O Gara’s fault (Though he has many)
Every team has the right to take a penalty quickly.
Blame the ref if anything
23 Nov 2009, 13:24 pm
@Flametop: Agreed, but that is what this “anti” Ireland is all about. Also I think most are quite cranky ’cause this game has us really worried. Especially irt selections.
23 Nov 2009, 14:17 pm
with these quota selections of his.
which quota selectiond tranformation?
23 Nov 2009, 14:21 pm
test
23 Nov 2009, 14:21 pm
Why is everything in italics?
23 Nov 2009, 14:25 pm
I think those who suggest we can get by without FdP have the same problem as those who believe we can get by without John Smit. They’re not seeing his value beyond his ability…
Fourie is not the best scrumhalf in South Africa. He is the best scrumhalf in the WORLD!! If he’s fit we play him… period. But as good a scrumhalf as he is, his contribution goes way beyond that. He reads the game… he directs our game… on a play for play basis more than anyone else on the park including John Smit…
If John Smit is the glue that keeps the team together… Fourie Du Preez is the cable-tie around the wood that takes a lot of pressure off the glue…
Debating his value is crazy… comparing any other scrumhalf to him at the moment is just plain insanity!!
23 Nov 2009, 14:27 pm
Pienaar is a great scrumhalf. A while back many were saying that he should replace Du Preez because he offers more on attack. Play him at 9 and keep playing him at 9. Maybe Januarie will end up doing time for his drunk driving charge, meaning that there is no longer any need to play Pienaar out of position. Ruan may well be rusty at 9 (just like Hougaard, another 9 shifted out of position to make way for a player of colour), but he will no doubt do more than enough good to make up for that. Hell, he might even crack a smile too.
23 Nov 2009, 14:32 pm
@Sharksgirl: Take a bow Paul Honiss. He pushes Stuart Dickenson pretty hard for the title of world’s worst referee.
23 Nov 2009, 14:33 pm
@katman: And Just Rugby!!
23 Nov 2009, 14:35 pm
@kaksioek: And that in itself sais much
23 Nov 2009, 14:35 pm
@Flametop: Like it wasn’t Henry’s fault?
23 Nov 2009, 14:38 pm
What’s with the new posting? We need the numbers back so we know what post people are replying to…
23 Nov 2009, 15:12 pm
@ 66 kaksioek To get a smile from Ruan you must bring Fransie Steyn back…He is obviously unhappy since Frans left.
23 Nov 2009, 15:13 pm
@katman: haha, witty….but seriously, i love my boks and i do like FDP but we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. I actually remember a tri nations game when Phil kearns made a vey astute observation. He said that for all of FDP’s talents of late he is making himself extremely one dimensional and predictable because of the fact that he seems to be executing one of 3 options: 1.) up and under/kick chase
2.)regular distribution
3.)that extremely annoying thing when he receives a punt then kinda jogs for about 10 seconds like he’s not sure which option to take then he lets loose a rushed pass or kicks down the throat of the opposition in the centre of the field.
He’s only really shining off 1st phase ball close to the tryline such as a won lineout 10m out.When he has the ball in his own half he’s as predictable as Big Ben. There’s no shame in him watching young Will Genia who’s decision making is a lot quicker and hits the breakdown with alarming speed and gets the ball away almost instantaneously.
Like I said before, I like FDP and still think he’s the best scrumhalf going around, but he is not indispensible, and he needs to go back to the variation which made him so highly rated.
23 Nov 2009, 15:23 pm
@Flametop: quite right….irish scrum was destroyed, and there doesnt seem to be anyone able to match brussouw on the ground. That said the irish backline is dynamite and if FDP insists on kicking the ball straight down their throats i fear our midfield will be split open. posession posession posession…and more posession is key for boks, or an irish win is on the cards
23 Nov 2009, 15:35 pm
@kaksioek:
Craig Joubert makes Paul Honiss look like a geeeeeeeeenius.
23 Nov 2009, 16:39 pm
@flanka: Excellent post flanka! Me agrees
23 Nov 2009, 23:00 pm
Jake White’s winning recipe has run dry.
From this point on the pretender to the throne will be exposed.
24 Nov 2009, 00:53 am
One more time guys!! Win this one and become bigger legends than the ones you have already become.
One more big shove!!!
24 Nov 2009, 03:51 am
Sarel Pretorius is by far one of the best scrummies we have had and should be selected. Adams is good but too late, too old for development.
76. Predawn
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Jake White’s winning recipe has run dry. Agreed but will only fall apart once the stalwarts leave.
24 Nov 2009, 05:16 am
@kaksioek: he’s retired now
24 Nov 2009, 05:35 am
@WakaNathan:
and Paddy O’doos makes Graig look like a genius
24 Nov 2009, 08:04 am
South Africa has plenty of excellent scrumhalves available to us at present. It is one of the positions we don’t have to worry about. Obviously none of them are presently as experienced as Fourie Du Preez but they do have the potential to become just as good in time.
We definately should have used this tour to our advantage by selecting the strongest possible second string players available to us. There we too many of our true up and coming stars left at home.
We should have rested our top players this time round and could have exposed players like Francios Hougaad, Conrad Hoffman and even Rory Cockett.
One good thing they did do is leave slow-coach Januarie at home!
24 Nov 2009, 10:39 am
well i guess their decision is coming to bite them in the rear as most of the top players are breaking down so quickly now it is scary, how many i told you so’s are going to be issued this end yr tour?
25 Nov 2009, 05:20 am
Another nonsense
If there is such a detrimental flaw, how come Keo.co.za only spotted it now?
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.