Bittersweet end for Boks
John Smit and Peter de Villiers believe Test defeats to France and Ireland can’t take the shine off an unforgettable year.
It’s been a record-breaking year for South African rugby. It began with a win for the Bulls in the Super 14 and was followed by success in the British & Irish Lions series. A Tri-Nations crown followed, and it’s little surprise the Springboks have been named the 2009 IRB Team of the Year.
Smit was handed the trophy following his team’s defeat to Ireland. He received the award with a smile, and didn’t look too gutted at the post-match press conference. De Villiers also called for some perspective when probed on a tour scorecard that reads played five, lost four.
‘We didn’t come here not to be successful, but when you look back, you have to admit we’ve had a very good year,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘We won’t allow the results of this tour to affect our mindset. We have to build on what we’ve achieved this year.’
The Bok coach added that the midweek games had provided him with insight into who could feature for the Boks down the line. De Villiers stressed it was important to look even further beyond the 2011 World Cup.
‘The tour was a success even though it’s not the case on the scoreboard. We saw what happened in 2003 and we can’t allow that to happen again. We have to look to what will happen after 2011 as well.’
This was the South Africans’ last fixture in a season that began in early February. Smit, however, said the Boks lost to Ireland because they were inferior on the day, not because they were tired.
‘You can’t blame fatigue. We had to keep the scoreboard ticking. If we had landed our kicks, the Irish would have battled to put pressure on us.
‘In the first half, we created a lot of pressure but we didn’t follow through. We didn’t get our kicks over and the energy we should of gained was transferred to Ireland.
‘We came out in the second half with the same tactics. The message was to up the pace and intensity in the second half. But we just didn’t take our opportunities.’
In Dublin, the Boks bucked the tour trend by outscrumming the opposition but failing in areas like the lineout. Smit’s throw-ins seemed to be on target but Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker and Danie Rossouw were often thwarted by a timely Irish intercept.
Smit admitted former Bok forwards coach Gert Smal may have had something to do with it.
‘We knew Gert would have the lineout well prepared, but our performances at the lineout and in the kicking let us down.
We also gave away too many penalties and Jonny Sexton wasn’t missing too many of them. You can’t win Tests if you give away 10-plus penalties.
‘Looking at the scrums, it is nice to have BJ Botha back. We created a lot of pressure at the scrums. It’s ironic that we did well in that area and then did poorly in the two departments we usually dominate to win Tests.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Dublin
November 29th, 2009 at 4:22 am
@dermie: #100
We’ll talk about him when Schalk tackle him moer toe. I’m sure you will read a lot about him on Silverfern after his performance against France last night.
He proved again that his a genius in my view. What SA would give to have a flyhalf like him.
@TheTackler: #99
Ja Oupa. Ek weet jy kan se wat jy wil, maar ek is nie meer so seker of jy kan doen wat jy wil sonder die blou pilletjies nie.
November 29th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Any BB fan ever punting WO for the Boks again, will spent two nights with The Tackler in a telephone booth as punishment.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:01 am
@Springbokvel:
Wow youre abosluuuuuuutely RIGHT !
Why is Ireland NOT IRB Team of the Year ?!
unbeaten ? you cant beat that !
Boks best team my hairy @@@@@@rse. They beat the Lions because the ref didnt RC the Gouger. They beat a DC-less ABs in 2 Tests. They lost to everyone but Italia, FFS, on the EOYT.
that, against Ireland ?
Played 8
Won 7
Drawn 1
Lost 0.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:05 am
@WakaNathan: #103
And their opponents were…?
November 29th, 2009 at 5:08 am
@SodaJoe:
Soda, you truly are a Gentleman.
and its very much appreciated. Sorry about your lot today. Looked like they could steal it at the end there too.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:10 am
@nama1:
what does it matter ? they didnt lose to anyone, and everyone else did.
What betters that ?
November 29th, 2009 at 5:13 am
@TheTackler:
@ 94
son, you keep that up and youre even going to have Kiwi fans.
Im guessing youve been there a while to appreciate those changes to NZ society.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:18 am
@WakaNathan:
Quality of your opponents does matter. If Sa stays undefeated against the likes of Italy, Romenia, Japan, Canada, USA etc you would not feel to happy if they were crowned team of the year, would you?
November 29th, 2009 at 5:22 am
@nama1:
but when your opponents incl Australia, France and Sth Africa – like Ireland – and they remain undefeated, then you pays your respects.
They didnt play ABs but they have my vote.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:27 am
@WakaNathan: #107
Don’t call Tackler “son”. He is nearly seventy years old.
November 29th, 2009 at 5:36 am
@WakaNathan:
Did they play any of them away from home?
November 29th, 2009 at 5:59 am
@nama1:
No way ?!
November 29th, 2009 at 6:16 am
@nama1:
BTW, the Boks had the cushiest itinerary this year – 6/7 consecutive home Tests vs Lions/Blacks/Wallabies ???
oh, lets not forget that its hardest for the Boks to travel anywhere than it is for other countries. Apparently its always further. Or in the wrong direction. Or because Santas reindeer were otherwise busy for the flight. Always something.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:22 am
@WakaNathan:
What are you saying?
Ireland only win the TOP GUNS at home. A few games against the minor league away from home and they deserve to be named team of the year? Sorry, I can’t go along with that. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I am SA.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:27 am
@nama1:
Well it has everything to do with that.
Ireland. Unbeaten in 1 calendar year. Who else can say that ?
Give them the award. They were better than everyone they faced, incl today.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:32 am
@WakaNathan: #113
I know you’re just taking the piss here. Even you can’t believe what you’ve just written here.
“cushiest itinerary this year”… B&I Lions, AB’s, Wallabies in six test in the space of 8 weeks? Yeah! It was a cakewalk.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:57 am
@WakaNathan: #115
Well, if they had toured during their summer and played, lets say a test against NZ, another against Aus and a third one against Arg. and still boast an undefeated record, I would have given them my vote unreservedly.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:20 am
South Africa up to the EOYT was the team that deserved an award for the team of the year. They did it all,lions,tri nations teams. But since the EOYT,losing to two provincial teams and 2 test teams,that sort of ruined it for them in my eyes. Shame really
November 29th, 2009 at 7:22 am
@Hurricane: you sick hurricane? I dont think they deserved it simply for losing to two NH club sides… says a lot when the ABs can go two tours without conceding a try against NH national sides, yet the world champs couldnt even beat club sides…
November 29th, 2009 at 7:25 am
@poppa69:
poppa read again.
I said up to the EOYT they did deserve it. But after that tour in my eyes they dont deserve it
November 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Yet, we crunched the All Brags 3 zippo. Strange lot this few AB supporters on here.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:28 am
@Springbokvel: yeah we are, but at least our team can beat NH opposition bwahahaha Ireland, never beayen us EVER, same as Scotland ( beaten SA 4 times) and the overall ledger against you guys is STILL in our favour…
strange lot the majority of SA’s
November 29th, 2009 at 7:28 am
@Springbokvel:
so what?
We didnt lose to two provincial sides.
Read my post again before look even more foolish.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:39 am
3 Zip – try again next year.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:41 am
@Springbokvel:
ok looks like schools out.
November 29th, 2009 at 7:54 am
yeah we are, but at least our team can beat NH opposition bwahahaha Ireland, never beayen us EVER, same as Scotland ( beaten SA 4 times) and the overall ledger against you guys is STILL in our favour…
strange lot the majority of SA’s
ja but u cant beat us
November 29th, 2009 at 8:00 am
@nama1: “Quality of your opponents does matter” – but not at World Cup time remember
November 29th, 2009 at 8:09 am
@klippies101:
I think you have seemed to have forgotten the win loss ratio head to head between NZ and SA. And amazingly you have forgotten the amount of time NZ have annilated SA home and away in the last 15 years through the tri nations tournaments.
Look we can all have i say on what we all believe. I said that SA up to the EOYT deserved of the IRB team of the year,but cos of those losses on that tour i believed they shouldnt be awarded it. But of course some of you South African get all upset at some Kiwi speaking their minds.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:14 am
@vindicated:
lol
November 29th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Apart from saving a bit of face during their EOYT, the AB`s were rather **** this year compared to previous years. NZ rugby achieved very little this year. Lost the Super 14 final (with a nightmare score), beaten easily in the tri-nations (losing 3 zippo to the world champs) and losing out on the 7`s rugby crown. SA have taken all this away from them, so put it in your pipe and smoke it All Brags supporters.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:58 am
@Springbokvel: NZ are re-building – its a cyclical thing – enjoy it now – cause it wont last forever
both NZ and Aussies are looking good going towards 2011 – you take pain on the way (i.e. 49-0) thats just part of the deal
November 29th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Aye, Ab’s looking unbeatable, wanker and the boys full of scorn. Wot’s new. Maybe the Ab’s will get to the 2011 RWC final?
My favoured sport is 2 wheels in the dirt. Chris Birch from NZ smoked the world’s best extreme in enduro riders in the Roof of Africa in Lesotho that finished on Saturday; again – he did it in 2008 too. No choking for him. Big respect. No sneering muppets either – like breath of fresh air.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am
@vindicated: #127
World Cup is a tournament where any of the top teams will play against lesser teams. That’s just the way it is.
November 29th, 2009 at 11:30 am
SodaJoe: Cheers, mate, very good of you to say so. McCaw and Carter looked rather handy against the French, eh? They know what they’re doing, those boys. It’s a pity we didn’t get to see more of them up north – there’s no point playing an England team which is frankly woeful and possibly everything that is wrong about rugby.
TheTackler: Dog eat dog is always good. Love a bit of mongrel, as it were. Mind you, I’d like to see Paul Simon try and be a hammer than a nail….
November 29th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hope you guys noticed how the South African players ran straight down the tunnel and refused to clap the Irish team off. Pretty petty I would say. Got their asses handed to them and ran away crying.
November 29th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
“Hope you guys noticed how the South African players ran straight down the tunnel and refused to clap the Irish team off.”
That`s not really common practice in the SH. The players normally just shake hands whilst still on the field and then bugger off. You won`t for instance see this at games between the tri-nations teams. Our provincial teams also don`t do it. Nothing to read in it.
November 29th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
It was a great year, but these losses have definitely taken the shine off, as was always going to be the case.
Take some time off, relax and then focus on 3N again next year, but i think they its now time to select a different touring side that is more rested and will play a different game. In short that are hungry to win, cos we have now lost to france and ireland for about 5 years.
Fatigue is a valid excuse, but only an idiot keeps doing the same thing expecting the same result.
November 29th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Rugby will always be about getting the right players in the team to execute your game plan. It is actually quite elementary. It is becoming more obvious than ever before that we do not have a coaching staff that knows how to put the pieces together. The moment they are forced to make changes to the side the results become very predictable.
Danie Roussouw cannot play for 80 minutes as a losie. He is a super sub, that is where he must be used. Bekker is not a enforcer lock & never will be! John Smit is not a tight head & needs to get his act together on his through in’s. Peterson will make a very good 7’s player, you cannot play the kick & chase game with him in your side. Wynand will always try and straighten and this leads to crash ball/2nd phase or he breaks the line. You have to have players that will clear out when he does this, with Spies, Deon Stegman, Dewald or Bakkies missing from the team there is no way that the Schalks, Bekkers, Roussouw’s or John Smits is going to do this. That is why SA cannot dominate the collisions.
I agree Heinrich is very skilled at steeling the ball, but his clearing out is not to good & Schalk is Schalk, Danie just does not have the speed & fitness of a Spies to do this.
Even Fourie looked ordinary, he is a very clever player, but he cannot do it on his own. Morne is a very good player and if it was not for him the Springboks would not have been so successful this year, this is a fact. All the Morne bashes on this site please relax, Morne will be playing in a team where the supporters really appreciate his qualities and where the coaching staff actually know how to coach.
I cannot wait to see **** Muir in action with the Lions next year, more of the same stuff for them. Perhaps they should give a S14 side to PDV, just as long as he stays away from the Bulls.
November 29th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
“He received the award with a smile, and didn’t look too gutted at the post-match press conference.”
And that in itself says a lot about his leadership – he must get his min right- you are never ALRIGHT with losing in a bok jersey.
Compaer teh AB’s with the Boks – they had a dtough season- OK they did not play the Lions, but so what? they have been through TWO consecutive NH tours without letting in a try. Those are teh standards that WE should be SETTING, not wishing for. Farking slack-arsed half-professional wankers.
This year end tour did not “take the shine off the boks record” – it chucked it in the mud and JUMPED on it.
The one thiong we did learn from this tour – our defensive coach is not really very good, and our selectors need a bullet- ALL of them.
And that John can’t get his men to play for pride, with pride, when teh chips are down.
We had the chance to reinforce our world dominance, and instead come out wondering if perhaps we should be lucky to be third in the rankings? SIS MAN!
November 29th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
@cab: We are starting to treat losses to Ireland like losses to France- the AB’s have NEVER been beaten by Ireland. That puts things in perspective for you.
@Kryger: Danie Rossouw has neither the heart nor the skills nor the technique to be a bok. He is a replacement enforcer lock at the most (that is not required to do much thinking).
And Schalk does not do enough cleaning to be a 7.
We should have bee trying Vermeulen at 8.
What pisses me off is that the NH sides are less trong than the SH sides, but we are giving them so much respect that we are sticking to our 10 man rugby – which is ironically making us easier to defend against. As soon as there is no variation, there is no keeping them guessing. It becomes easy to defend against. Either we acknowledge our backs as beoing the best in our country and let them do what they can do, or get the backs in that are!!
November 30th, 2009 at 5:37 am
As I say its WaNkanathan with a N. Tosser
The S14 is separate to Internationals and cannot be counted. This year the Kiwis and Aussies were awful. The Lions test were fantastic and some of the best rugby I have ever seen.
Ireland are currently delivering very good rugby but the AB willl roll them in a one off test.
South Africa is hampered by a quota system in Goverment, management and players with some of our best going overseas. With that handicap in mind I do believe we have played beyond our means.
Time for new blood with Smittie first to go. They should have rested and stayed at home, but a European jolly with wives in tow was what this was about.
The kiwis dont go on holiday and always give blood and therefore will always outshine our glory boys.
Whats the use of winning the Trinations and then sitting back at the years end holiday.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:19 am
I thought there was something wrong- now I know, neither our coach nor our captain realise that this tour was a complete waste of time, money and opportunity. We should rather have rested our boks. However snorre didn’t take a real B side to back up the boks he took a development 15 which got their arses kicked and clearly showed the lack of proper planning.
Very few- if any, of the so called second stringers put up their hands or showed us that they are capable of making the cut. Except lets be fair if Straus and Wian du Preez was chosen from the start it would have helped.
Saturday also showed clearly that Smit must shape up or ship out. In first half we scrummed very well (real tight head on field) however the line out throws were extraordinarily bad. Second half we got out scrummed but line outs were good (real hooker on field)
November 30th, 2009 at 7:27 am
To all the All Black supporters
Fiji, Samoa, Tonga etc did very well for you guys-without them you would be nowhere. At least we have only one foreigner in our team.
Your team always do well in the end of the year tour because your players rested all through the super 14 and the tri-nations, and with no world cup in the last 20…. years you should really try and win something of importance.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:35 am
@maatjan:
#143
To the South African who know piss all.
We do alot for Fiji,Tonga and Samoa etc. Something that you dont see and know about obviously.
Your post is full of stupid comments. If this is what you were going for then you have out done yourself
November 30th, 2009 at 7:47 am
I wonder who’s the cancer now that Watson is gone?
November 30th, 2009 at 8:55 am
@Hurricane: Hurricane, you are a **** coming on a SA web site to goad saffa supporters in defeat. Says a lot about the type of person you are. Same goes to Tackler and Poppa69, what else do you expect on here ??
I am continualy amazed at just how petty you lot are. Shame as your team is very good and the players seem decent guys win or lose.
Well played Ireland who out-muscled and out-thought Boks.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
@KevinRack:
hey, Kevin, did you know ‘Kevin’ is a typical Aussie males name ?
Which is a coincidence, isnt it. Aussies are w@nkers too. Kevin.