Big guns fail to fire
Keo.co.za rates the Springbok players from their Test against Ireland at Croke Park, with the Bok leaders poor.
Zane Kirchner (6)
Had a good all-round game but lacked the necessary physicality in contact, and also made some poor kicks that allowed Irish fullback Rob Kearney to make many counter-attacks or ping the Boks back. Peter de Villiers would have also realised they need Frans Steyn’s massive boot as Morne Steyn missed three long range penalties either side of the break that would’ve been in Frans Steyn’s range.
JP Pietersen (6)
More involved in attack than he has been in the past but was one of many Boks who regularly opted to kick. Lucky to get away with a high tackle in the second half, but later made a scathing break.
Jaque Fourie (7)
Nice touches on attack and a brilliant offload that drew the defender for Schalk Burger’s try. Largely had a defensive role in the second half with little possession as the Bok pack didn’t pitch later in the game.
Wynand Olivier (6)
Missed a couple of tackles but otherwise was very good on defence in standing up to the Irish runners. Took one bad option on attack, but proved that he’s a better option than Adi Jacobs in the way he got over the advantage line on the attack.
Bryan Habana (7)
Solid under high ball and also looked dangerous with ball in hand.
Morne Steyn (5)
Missed three long range penalties and also missed touch with a penalty. Put over a drop, but took many wrong options and his tactical kicking was poor as he was badly out-kicked by rookie opponent Jonathan Sexton. The Boks looked devoid of ideas behind the scrum and they lacked a creative spark with Steyn.
Fourie du Preez (6)
Took a wrong option that led to the turnover that handed the Irish their first three points. Made a brave decision to take a quick tap for the first try, but otherwise didn’t have his usual effect.
Danie Rossouw (7)
Brilliant defence around the fringes and benefited from a strong Bok scrum with some powerful runs in the opening half.
Schalk Burger (6)
Gave away a penalty for first three points from Sexton, but ran a brilliant angle for the first try. Other than that was very quiet.
Heinrich Brussow (7)
One turnover early on and won a crucial penalty under the Bok poles with Ireland pressuring. The Boks again struggled at the breakdown as they didn’t commit numbers, but this is no fault of Brussow.
Victor Matfield (3)
Looked very tired. The Bok lineout struggled early on and Matfield only took one kick-off, while he’ll be the only player who knows why the Boks didn’t compete on Irish ball. Missed Bakkies Botha and was ineffectual without his enforcing partner as Paul O’Connell embarrassed Matfield. Also missed a poor tackle on Brian O’Driscoll in the first half and had the ball ripped out of his hands with his side under pressure.
Andries Bekker (5)
Didn’t offload when players outside him on two occasions. Had to play a tighter role as he was in Botha’s place, but had little impact. Gave away a stupid penalty for ill-discipline when he kneed a player in the back.
BJ Botha (8)
Started his first Test since last year June and led the Bok assault on the Irish scrum in the first half. Also worked hard around the fringes in defence, but came off after 50 minutes, and only the Boks’ ‘brains trust’ will know why.
John Smit (4)
Missed his jumpers many times that meant the Boks didn’t have a decent attacking platform from the lineout. Moved to tighthead with half an hour remaining and not surprisingly the Bok scrum looked much weaker.
Beast Mtawarira (6)
Also part of a strong Bok effort at scrum-time in the opening 50 minutes and made one surging run out wide. However, is another player who looks very tired and will enjoy the rest after next week’s Barbarians game.
Bismarck du Plessis (6)
On after 48 minutes and also struggled at the lineout. Didn’t have his usual impact around the field.
CJ van der Linde
Not enough time to be judged.
Jean Deysel
Not used.
Dewald Potgieter
Not on long enough to be rated on his debut.
Ruan Pienaar (5)
On with 20 minutes to go and had his second kick charged down that allowed Jonathan Sexton to extend the lead to 15-10. Also missed a penalty.
Jean de Villiers (7)
On for the final 16 minutes for Olivier and looked dangerous every time he had it.
Francios Hougaard
Not used.
By Grant Ball
November 28th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
What a kak article.
Scrum started struggling on the loosehead side when Bismark came on. Quite plain to see.
Steyn was poor. He is there cause all he can do is kick. Today, he got 1 from 5. Hence his best rating is a 2 /10.
When Ruaan came on, our backs tried to run.
Bekker is a poor ball carrier, often gets knocked backwards and turns ball over. Ineffective in the tight phases and was shown up today again. Great work dropping a knee onto the Irish player – hope you get banned for 2 years.
Matfield was poor. Funny how the longer the season gets, guys like Matfield, Smit, FDP get worse. Could it be that they are so overplayed its appalling.
Once again, out poor coaching decisions and tactics cost us a game.
Did we not learn from the Lions tour that Kearney is a rock under the high ball, and a great counter-attacker? Why did we kick everything on him?
November 28th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
ja i think the okes are tired been a long year but we lost cause all we do is kick and nothing else no brains no gains
we should have used the bench more Jean Deysel
should have come on
November 28th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
KILPPIES101,
Deysel should have started with Rossouw at 4.
Poor coaching and selections, been like this all damn tour/year!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Nigel Owens – ‘n groot ****** ronde NIL!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
WO did nothing in this game, the guy is one dimensional and offers nothing on attack. You guys are really hellbent on destroying Adi. Dont know why I freakin bother!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
WO…Hehehehe !
November 28th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Juaque Fourie can be happy with a 6 after only doing 2 things in the match.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
oh well back to the drawing board
November 28th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
@Kritik: I agree with you there, notice how little is mentioned of the fact that BOD seemed to coast through the centres whenever he got the ball. Imagine if Adi had been playing.
I think this is a silly article, we have never had a strong scrum yet we won all those other matches. If you guys were analysts you would realise we lost because we did not have the physical presence of Bakkies and Bismark. When Bismark came on later in the game we started getting more turnovers.
Scrum my ***!
November 28th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Start again or suffer
New captain NOW
New half backs the pair of them, useless. FdP stands around moaning at the base of the scrum all f’ng game long instead of FEEDING the damn ball to FH. FH gets it and kicks it in the F’ng air.. AGAIN!!
Loosies not gelling.. Schalk and Roussouw, not a combo. Get new players in now!! Doubt Spies much better of Kanko. get proper 8th man operators on the field.
BIG KAK coming… no ideas, and no realities.. Muir go and DOR the Lions giver up your Bok backline coach job,, you don’t have a clue.
FdP go have a rest and M.Steyn ditto, you two cost us today’s game, similar to France which you cost us too.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I will admit that our game is a bit one dimensional but I don’t think there is a need to panic. We need someone who can replace Bakkies when he is injured. Not sure what the solution the front row problem. I don’t see any problem with the incumbents, Beast, JS and Bismark. Our strength has never been the scrum but it has been winning the physical battles at the rucks. This often forced our opponents to make mistakes and Morne would step up. The other part of the game we did well in was the kick and chase. Unfortunately when your kickers have an off day then you need a plan B, which we haven’t really needed this year.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Poor showing boys.
How can Steyn be rated a 5 after a sub-par performance like that?
Our backline looked devoid of attacking ideas, surely after half an hour of up and unders with no success it was time to try something different.
BJ pleeeeze come back to the Sharks, we need you for S14 and WC 2011.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@skopskiet: And what role does Div have to play in the lack of game plan?
November 28th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Morne & Ruan did what the coaching staff asked them to do, nothing more & nothing less. The Springbok coaching staff used this Blue Bull ploy all year. They just forgot that they did not have the players on the field to enforce such tactics.
The Springboks where poor!
Morne will shine again for the Bulls as I believe that the two top S14 franchises are better coached than the Springboks.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Strange article by clearly a one-eyed supporter. I actually thought Burger had one of his better games. He put in some huge hits around the fringes, smothering several probably breakaways. Great try as well.
Morné Steyn was useless and Wynand Olivier proved once again how one dimensional he really is. We’re going to miss JDVilliers bigtime in future.
Ireland played quite well and their fullback, who shone for the British Lions, again had a great game. Why the Boks even considered kicking the ball in his direction will always be a mystery.
November 28th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
@Kryger: I suspect the coach said kick the ball so we can play in their half. I doubt he said kick straight to the full back. The kicks were poor giving the full back ample time to either kick the ball back or run it out.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Zane 6 JPP 5 Mossie 6 WO 5 Habs 6 Morne 1 FdP 5 Pakslei 7 Burger 7 Ratel 7 Bekker 5 Victor 4 BJ 9 Smit 7 Beast 6
JdV 8 Ruan 7 CJ 6
November 28th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
U kno what f@c# this article and to a large extent the reporting on this site.I now only read the comments with credibility of writers on here bloody piss poor.
There are agendas on this site with regards to certain players.it seems that specific players have their PR done on their behalf by the writers and some completely lambasted and dare I say predijuced.
One just has to look at how phrases are used/story is written for some ex:Wynand missed a ” few tackles” BUT was defensively sound blah blah etc then name drop Adi’s name in there.its like there is a campaign to completely discredit the guy.earlier in the week it was written it was “godsend” that Adi got injured..WTF?!!!!
I see Schalk falling off tackles every game but the reporting towards his performances is always written in a positive/advocative/apologetic manner.
Its distasteful and downright offensive to the very essence of objectivity.
Layman term:Bulls#it
November 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
@mshiniwami: how big is the chip on ur shoulder sheesh. meiskined played wayya better than adi jacobs get over it.
i thought schalla played one of his best games this year and he made more than enough tackles ,should have been a 7 at the very least .
pdv think its time to call back fransie steyn ,kirchners good but steyns better.
bring back frans !!
November 28th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Bismark 0.5/10
Atrocious
November 28th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
mbaxmanetc
Chip on my shoulder or not,still doesn’t explain the juandiced reporting.that’s fact
Secondly- the chip on shoulder comment is played out/largely ineffective.there are better ways to discredit a point/view than that.
I think u can do better than that.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
eish my feed is all kak now. just at the wrong time.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
WO had a decent game. Good defense. Missed 2 tackles thats it. And everybody was missing tackles!
Adi Jacobs is useless, get over it. His international career is over.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
These are far more accurate:
Zane 6, JPP 6, Jaque Fourie 7, WO 6, Habana 5, Steyn 3, FdP 6, Danie 6, Schalk 6, Brussow 7, Andries 5, Victor 3, BJ 8, Smit 7, Beast 7
Bismark 1, CJ 4, Ruan 3, Jean 7
November 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hehehe. Adi will be back. Tata Meisiekind
November 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
@WP_: Just how many tackles is one allowed to miss to make it acceptable. What else did he do? I thought there were big gaps on the outside but for some reason we did not get the ball out. I wonder if that had something to do with the lets bash it up mentality and not loo for the gaps.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
look
November 28th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
At least WO can take meaningful crash ball when he has to, Adi simply loses the ball the weakling.
No ways, Adi’s international career is over
November 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Olivier hang on for his dear life in most of the attempted tackles and being dragged along by the ball carrier
November 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Adi Jacobs no worse than WO.
The problem is not Jacobs or WO or Fourie or Jdv
The problem is Fdp and M. Steyn get it into your unbelieving heads and see exactly where the big f’ak up starts and ends. Starts with Fdp overrated useless scrum half and M. Steyn the most one dimensional fly half on the planet. Young Sexton have him a lesson in fly half play today both in the kicking and distributing and running dept’s.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Hahaha. With no support any player will lose the ball on ground, we saw it again in today’s game and that was actually the only way Jacobs lost the ball
November 28th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
You’re in denial Charlie. That’s exactly what Adi does. Selective viewing there.
WO is a class or two about Adi is terms of ability. Its blatantly obvious.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Ruan is no flyhalf that is for sure.
Steyn was poor on this tour but is there a better option? No…
November 28th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
WP go watch the replay again, the selective seems to come from your, thanx for mentioning it
November 28th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
@WP_: Peter Peter he’s the guy! Come on come on give Peter a try!
November 28th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Gert Smal’s influence surely had more to do with the poor lineouts that Matfield being tired!
November 28th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Sarah
Well yes he is a good option. When he can work out whether he wants to be a 10 or a 12
Charlie
Are you saying Jacobs is a good defender? You just lost all your credibility on anything you say
November 28th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
@WP_: he wants to be a 10 however as we had Willem he was forced to play 12… 12 is better than the bench
November 28th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Sarah
Indeed, I know, But willem will be back next year. Peter is a good player even if he didnt have a great year this year.
I think he would be a better option at 12 for the Boks than both Adi or Wynand.
BUT Jean’s contract with Munster ends at the end of Feb! Hopefully he comes back soon
November 28th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
WP if you say so then it’s so, the argument of Jacobs being a good defender changes after every game, if he stand his ground @ defence then suddenly there’s a problem with his overall ball play.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
WP. Honestly Meisiekind proved it again that he can’t make the step-up at test level, and I mean he played 27 of them
November 28th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
@WP_: And the “meaningful” crash balls resulted in some tries? Today we needed to spread the ball, the Irish were totally focused on the ruck and there were huge gaps out wide. But if crash ball is all you know then so be it.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
its clear the boks rely too heavily on the form and fitness of the bulls players. after they won the s14, the lions tour tri nations and then the currie cup the guys are dead on their feet.
good to learn this 2 years out from the world cup. but what can de villiers do to ensure they are fit and on form in 2011?
November 28th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Digger, Jdv & Adi would have been the better midfield combo with all the ball the Bok backline had to their disposal
November 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
France vs All Blacks hope this game delivers according to all the hype
November 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
41 digger
Stop talking kak. All i’m saying is when he does talk crash ball, which he did plenty of times, he doesnt lose the call like a wet like Adi does.
WO had a good game. If you ignorantly chose to believe otherwise then go ahead and do it.
Bash WO all you like but deal with this Adi’s test career is over.
There are better players around like WO, Juan de Jongh, Peter Grant and Doppies le Grange.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hehehehe !!!
November 28th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
@WP_: Willem misses the eary stages of the Currie Cup… and Matt has gone home… so if Peter get’s injured we’re in trouble… there is Joe cos Connie would be back
November 28th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
@WP_: Okay so he can make a decent crash ball which we have established from the result of the match that the crash ball didn’t have the desired effect. Secondly he just happened to miss a couple of tackles which you say is fine.
Truth be told I have nothing against WO, I think he is a good player to have on the bench or when playing against England. The Bok game plan is always thus, kick, force a turnover by steam rolling the person who catches the ball. From this turnover the ball is quickly sent out to the wings. This is were the value of players like JDV and Adi comes in. They are able to quickly capitalise on this possession and get the ball to the wings or take the gap. Crash ball is not needed.
We lost today because we didn’t have Juan Smit, Bakkies and Bismark. These to me are the most physical guys who force the opposition into making the errors. If you watch the game again you will see the acres of space that seemed to be always available on the outside. What did we do, we crash balled.
November 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Do I have to say more