ABs fall behind the times
7 Jul 2010
If there’s one thing the All Blacks fear ahead of this year’s Tri-Nations, it’s getting caught out again by the Springboks, writes Marc Hinton in SA Rugby magazine.
There’s a saying that sums up the predicament facing the All Blacks ahead of this year’s Tri-Nations: ‘Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.’ Having been well and truly ambushed by the Springboks in 2009, there’s a foreboding feeling across New Zealand that Graham Henry and his men may be about to walk smack-bang into a repeat ransacking.
And that really would be distressing for a country that has always prided itself on being the ones setting the trends in this game. Not stuck in a seemingly perpetual cycle of reacting to what our greatest rivals are doing.
But the pessimistic view – one reinforced by events on the Super 14’s fields this year – is that’s exactly what we’re going to get in the pre-World Cup Tri-Nations season. In other words, the All Blacks, once the great innovators of world rugby, have become the followers; and it’s the mighty world champion Springboks who are the ones constantly tweaking their game and finding new ways to dominate the opposition.
Last year it was the concentrated high-kick-and-chase game that put the Springboks a step ahead of the All Blacks. They understood the danger of playing in your own half and rained bombs down on the bumbling Blacks back three, leaving the deluged New Zealanders grasping at pretty much everything but the rugby ball. Delivered with pinpoint accuracy and a splendid chase, it was a mighty tactic, immediately turning unpromising field position into prime-time ball.
This year … well, the game has evolved amazingly over the past six months or so, but by all appearances so have the South Africans. And once again – through the first Sanzar competition anyway – the New Zealand teams appear to be the ones on the back foot as they react less effectively to the big mauling style that’s come into vogue and the changes which favour the attacking teams at the breakdown, interspersed with some slightly more selective use of the aerial attack.
Last year, New Zealanders were stunned when the Springboks emerged a step ahead of their Tri-Nations rivals in terms of the laws, and the most effective use of them. But this year there’s a sense of simmering unease that we could be caught out a second time.
Henry admits that innovation remains one of the key aspects of the international game, and it’s something he’s taking a much more concentrated look at now that he’s assumed control of the attack and strategic portfolio. If the All Blacks are caught short this year, it will be well and truly on the boss’s head.
‘I think keeping abreast and trying to be innovative is an important part of the whole deal,’ says Henry. ‘When you’re at the coalface it’s quite difficult. But when you’re removed from the coalface you’ve got a bit of space and I love it. It’s a passion watching where the game’s going, how teams are evolving, and what methods they are using, and then making that available for our guys to look at.
‘I find that stimulating, so I spend a huge amount of time looking at that sort of stuff. Most people would be bored witless but I find it bloody good.’
What Henry’s saying is, trust him. He’s tracking the trends this year. He’ll have his men prepared.
To be fair, the All Blacks coaches, and New Zealand’s leading players, have had plenty of time to come to grips with what’s needed to blunt the effectiveness of the big rolling maul after a Super 14 where they saw lots of it from the South African sides. One or two Kiwi sides have been successful, others haven’t, though some of New Zealand rugby’s sharper minds remain concerned that the South Africans remain a step ahead of the All Blacks.
Former All Blacks selector Peter Thorburn, a fairly astute observer of the game, reckons New Zealanders have become ‘followers’ rather than leaders in the key area of creativity.
‘We have some fine coaches in this country who are doing their best. But I don’t think we are being creative enough,’ he says.
He believes the use of the rolling maul is a classic example of where South Africa has got its act together quickly and efficiently to make best use of a rule tweak that brought the tactic firmly back into play.
‘The point of mauling is to draw people into an area you have control over and open up space somewhere else. But the South Africans use it as a strike weapon. Good on them. They are being creative. Our guys should have been leading this from the start. But we have become followers in this area.’
And Thorburn says it’s foolish to expect anything but the Springboks to attack the All Blacks at maul time in the Tri-Nations. He’s also less than convinced that there’s enough in the New Zealand armoury to counter it.
‘I do share the concern that the maul is a forgotten art in New Zealand rugby,’ says Henry. ‘It’s something we have to address. We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the maul and talking to people whose expertise we value. We’re going to try to have it as part of our game plan this year because we think it’s absolutely essential. It’s got so much going for it for an attacking side.’
Assistant coach Steve Hansen, who’s reassumed the forwards portfolio after a spell with the backs on last year’s European tour, says he’s invigorated by the looming challenges, which are plentiful.
‘I think there are some big changes – the breakdown itself with the rule interpretations is tactically changing the game. Can we come back and match the way South Africa played last year? That’s exciting.’
And that maul, which he’ll be charged with plotting against?
‘It’s something we’ve got to get better at as a nation,’ says Hansen with a nod, noting a fairly universal reluctance to use the tactic since as far back as the early-80s. ‘We’ve got a lot of footage on various teams that are good at it, and we’re studying that footage, learning and putting processes in place.
‘The first thing you’ve got to learn is how to stop the maul. And when doing that, you also pick up how to use it effectively. As a trend, or tactic, in the game it’s really effective. We’ve got to say “Listen, we’re not good at this and we’ve got to be good at it because it’s an easy way to score five points”.’
But Hansen also calls for some faith that the All Blacks have learnt their lessons of 2009.
‘We’ll just continue doing things and just get better at them. We’ve got a bit more self-belief and on last year’s [European] tour we didn’t have people making system errors … It’s making sure the individuals are equipped to be able to do the job they want to do and have clarity of the role so they can do it with confidence. That’s the main thing.’
There’s certainly a much healthier respect for the South African game than perhaps there was last year. Losing to the Boks three times in a row has enforced that, and when Henry spoke to the New Zealand media for the first time this year he was at pains to point out that in his view it was the Boks, not Blacks, who were the No 1 side in the world last year, no matter what the IRB rankings said.
And the Bulls’ and Stormers’ Super 14 campaigns this year had just reinforced that in Henry’s mind, allied with what he’s sure is going to be an improved Wallabies outfit under Robbie Deans.
‘I think the Tri-Nations will be a boomer, and that’s an exciting challenge for us,’ adds Henry. ‘We’ve got to be the best we can be to do the business. I think we work well in those circumstances, the guys find the demands challenging and it will bring the best out of them.’
One other aspect of New Zealand rugby concerns Henry greatly heading into this international season. And it’s another area where New Zealand is lagging badly behind South Africa.
Through a combination of injuries and the continued erosion of New Zealand talent to the wealthy clubs in the north and Japan, Henry feels the depth at the top level of the Kiwi game is as shallow as it’s been in a long, long while. Maybe ever.
‘It’s been brought home to everybody, hasn’t it? It’s been obvious for some time,’ he says. ‘I think you noticed it in the Super 14 – New Zealand sides either had mature players who were All Blacks, or they had a lot of youngsters. There was very little middle-management, if you like.
‘That middle management has been the strength of New Zealand rugby for a long time because it puts pressure on the guys at the top and educates the guys coming through. They’re the sort of players who have gone for business reasons, and they’re the sort of players you miss.’
Henry says with close to a half-century of Kiwis now plying their trade in the big leagues of the north, and scores also having been lured to Japan, that New Zealand’s depth in that area just below the Test star has been badly dissipated.
‘I think it’s come home to roost. In the 2005 Grand Slam tour we played virtually two different teams against Ireland and Wales, and we couldn’t do that anymore. It’s a concern. There is a lack of real depth.’
Especially now, with an injury situation that’s as bad as Henry can remember it in his seven years with the All Blacks. He’s already lost Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Andrew Hore and Isaia Toeava for pretty much the year. A host of others are either hobbled shorter term, or coming off spells out. Then still others like Luke McAlister and Richard Kahui – men with solid Test experience – have rather lost their way on the form front.
It left Henry deeply concerned about his options in the second row and in midfield ahead of the Test season, while there is still no quality backup on hand for Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. They are simply irreplaceable in the All Blacks context. Other areas like hooker, scrumhalf and No 8 were not exactly overrun with form options either.
Maybe it’s why Henry said he was relishing his shift into the tactical role this season. Maybe, just maybe, this is a year when the All Blacks will start thinking outside the square. Stop being the followers, and start leading again.
It would be timely. The way the moons are aligning in the land of the long white cloud, it just may need something like that to lift the gloom ahead of a Test season not exactly brimming with promise.
– This article first appeared in the July issue of SA Rugby magazine.
87 Comments
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7 Jul 2010, 09:18 am
And in an unrelated incident, the sun rose in the east
7 Jul 2010, 09:20 am
@Sonito(Sonito)-50: putting words into my mouth now huh? never ever would hope the ABs lose, thats treason, just saying if they do it may be a blessing in disguise…
why do you guys always spell “lose” as loose? two words with very different meanings..
7 Jul 2010, 09:21 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-49:
right back at ya…
enjoy the game…
work calls…
outta here…
7 Jul 2010, 09:22 am
@ufo(ufo)-48:
“remember a few years ago when the ABs reserved their new haka for teams they especially revered… but gave the Boks the old one…?? didn’t see too many NZ rugby fans complaining about the disrespect shown to the Boks then…??”
Nothing worse than someone that trys to back peddle when he’s been shown up.
Before a Tri Nations match against South Africa on August 28, 2005 at Carisbrook in Dunedin, the All Blacks unexpectedly introduced a new haka, “Kapa o Pango”. It featured an extended and aggressive introduction by team captain Tana Umaga and was highlighted by its more aggressive climax, a drawing of the thumb down the throat. This was interpreted by many as a “throat-slitting” action directed at the opposing team. The All Blacks went on to win the match 31 to 27.
So you must be talking about 2006? That seems a short time to lose respect.
7 Jul 2010, 09:24 am
@ufo(ufo)-48:
They only did it against us once because John Smits mother wrote a letter to the NZRFU telling them to lay off that throat slitting gesture against her son and his nice friends.
7 Jul 2010, 09:37 am
I think this is a very clever ploy by the Kiwi press (undoubtedly spun and fuelled by Henry) to draw us in to a confused sense of superiority. What nonsense – we’re marginally stronger on paper than the AB’s are currently but along with us, they’re consistently one of the best teams in the world and again, with the Boks, one of the most difficult to beat on their home turf. I’d rather show them the respect they undoubtedly deserve as a team and rugby nation and leave the sh*t talk for the pitch, where it’s every man for himself. Whatever you say, they’re always tough to beat and frankly, you’ve got to admire their rugby heritage and proud history, without feeling it detracts in any way from ours. As ever, it’ll be a hell of a game!
7 Jul 2010, 09:40 am
The Boks using the maul as a ‘weapon’ is not an innovation, it is the way the boks have always played. They prefer collisions and wrestles rather than creating gaps. If they used a maul to create space I would say they would then be innovating!
This overconfidence by Bok fans reminds me of the week before the 49-0 drubbing by the Wallabies as well as the weeks prior to other drubbings by Aus, England and France.
The Abs never lose intensity, and you can bet this week will be no exception. The Boks on the otherhand can be up and down, particularly when they blow their own trumpets as they have recently. My advice is shutup and do the job.
Other than one superb solo try, I must say that I am not impressed by De Jong. He does not impose himself on a game like JdV or WO. In fact I think that Brad Barett would have been a better choice, and I appreciate that is no longer possible.
7 Jul 2010, 09:41 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-52:
Well at least you already have your silver lining for your loss.
7 Jul 2010, 09:48 am
@Sonito(Sonito)-58: glad to see you think its done and dusted, why bother even playing the game huh?
7 Jul 2010, 09:51 am
@ufo(ufo)-53: In 2006 the only team to beat NZ WAS the Boks. This was true in 2005 too, so why the All Blacks would show us such disrespect is beyond me and more importantly its beyond you. You got it wrong. Now stand up and admit it. You’re back-peddling is pathetic.
@Melbournian(Melbournian)-57: A – this is a Kiwi journalist. Every Saffa knows it will be close. B – We weren’t that confident before Brisbane, considering we had just lost at home to France and our talisman (at that time) – Schalk – was out with a career threatening neck injury. In fact most Saffas believed White should pick a fetcher at that time. C – NZ will not embarrass us 49 – 0.
7 Jul 2010, 10:00 am
The fact is, regardless of how well the Springbok team has developed and innovated, playing NZ in NZ is always going to be the hardest game we’ll ever play. On the whole home teams win the majority of their games in the 3N, even allowing for team dominances in the competition as a whole. So yes, we have a good chance at beating them, but it will be very hard.
It’s way to premature to be counting any chickens….
7 Jul 2010, 10:02 am
Whatever people think of bok tactics is irrelevant. The point is, they adapted their playing style to take advantage of the new laws. The ab’s on the other hand didnt change a thing to their detriment. That is what the article is alluding to.
7 Jul 2010, 10:04 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-59:
Good point, just concede the trophy and our boys can come home.
7 Jul 2010, 10:07 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-61: Precisely. But NZ need to step up in the lineouts. If they do this and win, well done to them, but if they avoid lineouts or throw bullets skew at 2 ball, well then they are papering over cracks and the chickens will come home to roost this year or the next.
To me, I am interested to see the NZ tactics, will they avoid confronting our strengths or man up. I don’t believe you can win a WC without a lineout.
7 Jul 2010, 10:12 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-64:
To be fair to the ABs, Victor is a freak of a lineout specialist and the only AB counter, Ali Williams, is out injured.
7 Jul 2010, 10:17 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-64: Yes, it’s become the primary method of obtaining first phase ball. If you have a weak line out (as the All Blacks have at the moment) a good opposing team will continue to kick deep into your 22, with you either kicking the ball out and giving the opposing team a good chance of first phase ball in your half, or you have to kick it downfield, and then they have the ball running at you, and as the article rightly says, the team with ball has the advantage this year.
I expect that the Springboks will test them in this area this weekend. They’d be foolish not to IMO. We have too much to gain potentially.
7 Jul 2010, 10:19 am
@David(David)-65: Yes he is and will win a lot of opposition ball no matter who he plays against. Andries Bekker is another who seems to be learning very well from the master.
7 Jul 2010, 10:21 am
@David(David)-65: Yes, but so is Bekker. Danie and Bakkies are much better than Thorn in lineouts too. Look at this:
1 – Gutrho 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
2 – Smit 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) irrelevant as he will be throwing
3 – Jannie 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
4 – Bakkies 2.02 m (6 ft 7+1?2 in
5 – Victor 2.00 m (6 ft 6+1?2 in)
6 – Schalk 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
7 – Flo 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
8 – Spies 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1?2 in)
Add Bekker 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) and Danie 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) into the equation and its a scary lineout prospect.
7 Jul 2010, 10:23 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-64: agree, lineouts is important. People forget that the boks scored quite a few tries from first phase possession last year
7 Jul 2010, 10:26 am
All blacks need, Ali Williams back to his best. Partnering Sam Whitelock. Although, the selection of Kaino and Reid will definitely strengthen their lineout.
7 Jul 2010, 10:33 am
@Papercut(Papercut)-14: Mate, Poppa or Poeppa as I like to call him is an ignorant bonehead that likes to generalise an entire nation on the basis of one or two windgat Bok fans! I wouldn’t take much notice of him.
7 Jul 2010, 10:38 am
@wernergreeff fanclub membership 3(wernergreeff fanclub membership 1)-4: I’m convinced this little midget is the enemy of SA rugby and all its franchises. Look at the way he laid into the Sharks this year. Has anyone done a background check on the chief d.ickhead? We could be shocked to find he is infact a Kiwi spy sent on a mission to masquerade as a Saffa and wind up the ABs so much Henry doesn’t have to fret over his team talks anymore. Snotklap of note coming up for the Boks. Thanks keo dooooooooos!
7 Jul 2010, 10:40 am
@Ratel Brussow(Morne Steyn is under-rated)-68:
Yes, it is scary, and it’s not something the ABs can combat overnight. All those players you mentioned are there because of talents other than just line out capabilities. The ABs could probably put together a reasonably formidable lineout by selecting different players, but weaken the rest of their forward play in the process. If you don’t have the players there’s very little you can do other than try and neutralise the threat in some other way.
7 Jul 2010, 10:55 am
Hell there are lot of windgats in here today! Must be the gees from Cape Town last night. You’d swear WeePee beat Uruguay last night. Why can’t you tiny piel okes leave the bragging until we have won the game…‘if’ we win that is! When you have conquered your enemy then you have the right to stand over their vanquished corpse and gloat not before! If the ABs come up and gives us a hell of a snotklap then we look like a bunch of fckwits thanks your windgat nonsense and Keo inflammatory articles. To the Kiwi posters on here we’re not all arrogant tits! I for one am fearing I’ll be watching a Bok car crash on Saturday.
7 Jul 2010, 11:18 am
Hi guys been reading a lot on here and finally decided join the discussions…
Anyways I feel it is my right as a Springbok supporter to expect that they win every game. All this be quiet as a supporter or egg on your face attitude is ****. If you doubt your team how can they then not doubt themselves?
No rather go full out and if your team loses man up.
Let me put it this way. Should we as Springbok supporters be afraid of a few lines written on Keo should the boks lose? Or do you not believe every time they run onto the field that they should win?
I am proud of where South African rugby is at the moment and damn right i feel that to believe that we are the best in the world and capable of winning any and every game is is my right as a proud Bok supoorter.
Oh and I doubt that the Boks actually feel that they have any game against the ABs in the bag at any time
AWAITING BACKLASH…..
7 Jul 2010, 11:28 am
The only things you need to know:-
1. No FdP. The guy is Genius.
2. No BaXXies. 1 tough hombre but indisciplined.
3. Mealamu throwing in. NZ may as well select Frodo & Samwise to jump at 2 & 4.
4. DC starts. Genius on hand.
5. No Bizzy, best Bok fwd in ’09.
6. Eden Park is NZs Ellis Park.
Lets rock’n'rumble !
7 Jul 2010, 11:58 am
This is very very funny. We have always used the rolling maul and up and unders have always been our game. Now because the ABs are at a low ebb and we win a few games using these tactics its called innovation.Pricelss – what a delusional article.
If any of you guys would like to post on a free rugby forum try supersupporter.co.za.
7 Jul 2010, 14:50 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-59:
This one is for you poppa.
Henry must find Boks’ Achilles heel – and fast
By Chris Rattue
9:30 AM Wednesday Jul 7, 2010
Get them while they are not too hot.
That’s the best advice for the All Blacks, when they take on the world champion Springboks at the Eden Park construction site on Saturday night.
There is no such thing as a vulnerable Springbok team anymore. They’ve got world-class and often over-sized rugby players coming out of their ears, a tried and trusted game plan, the best lineout in rugby history, and an easy confidence that will help see them through tough times.
Even their madcap coach Peter de Villiers seems to be on to something. I used to think of him as a potential weak link but with so much experience in the ‘Boks, he’s turned into a jaunty, lippy conductor of a mighty juggernaut.
If it wasn’t for the absence of their magnificent halfback Fourie du Preez, whose prodigious punting and excellent decision-making drives his team on, this column would happily suggest they are capable of wiping the All Blacks out on Saturday. They still could.
The travel factor should also not be underestimated, and captain John Smit looked decidedly weary at his first press conference this week.
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Modern sports teams are experts at dealing with jet lag, but that trip from South Africa is a tough one.
Apart from that though …
Just imagine being a coach who had to decide which locks to leave out, from Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, the rampant giant Andries Bekker and the versatile Danie Rossouw.
South Africa gave the rugby world the first No 8 superstar, the legendary Hennie Muller, a good half century ago. Now they have a conveyor belt of super athletes in the position.
Their scrum should be good enough, and prop Tendai Mtawarira is one of the most fearsome and athletic players you will ever see in the front row. Their goal kicking is positively frightening, they have speed to burn on the flanks, and the midfield defence is awesome although, from this distance, there is a touch of the eccentric in the way coach de Villiers has used Jean de Villiers on the wing.
Graham Henry’s mob need to set a few cats among the pigeons, and quick. A few cracks must be opened in this mighty machine, otherwise it will only get mightier.
If coach de Villiers can be put under pressure, and coerced into making a few nutty decisions to match some of his words, there might be hope.
The great All Black warrior Sean Fitzpatrick suggested that a few South Africans he knew believed a Springbok loss over the next few weeks was desirable, to deal with any pre-World Cup complacency. They don’t sound like any South Africans I know.
And the Springboks aren’t just battling opponents any more.
Even little Heinrich Brussow, the outstanding “fetcher” as South Africans call their openside loose forwards, faces a battle to regain his spot with Francois Louw’s large frame bursting on to the test scene with tremendous success over the past few weeks.
New Zealand was once the home of the finest loose forwards, but not any more. Brussow, Louw, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Ryan Kankowski, Pierre Spies … and Rossouw can also be thrown into the mix. Staggering.
The internal battles for test places should sort out any complacency within the Springbok camp.
Fitzpatrick is right on one score though. These ‘Boks are scary.
7 Jul 2010, 17:22 pm
If the Allblacks were playing themselves the first 2 players
to be “taken out’ would be carter and mccaw in the first 10 minutes
7 Jul 2010, 17:38 pm
All this back patting of ourselves is getting a bit much.
If we lose I can just imagine the uproar. A bit like English football. Fans are always overly expectant and then when they get beating the World comes to an end and suddenly everyone is shite and must get the axe.
Temper ourselves. We have done well but don’t get ahead of ourselves.
All this self loving is starting to annoy me
7 Jul 2010, 17:45 pm
@Boksarenumber1(Boksarenumber1)-79:
Do you mean like Burger ‘taking out’ an opposition player in the first, um, 60sec’s ?
Lets not go pointing fingers, choirboys.
7 Jul 2010, 23:31 pm
Well said Mike H, its good that you saffas are confident and rightly so, but too many of you are starting to become arrogant. No team has beaten us 3 in a row and it’s a huge achievement from the boks and you should be proud, as we were proud of beating the boks 8 in a row. But to say that we have fallen behind the times is one of the most stupid comments ever.
7 Jul 2010, 23:36 pm
@Sonito(Sonito)-78: now I understand why you are the way you are..
you read Chris ratpoo ???
he is the most reviled writer in NZ, so if your happy quoting a man who is the Stephen Jones of NZ writers, go right ahead..
though this passage is probably the most truth he’s ever spun..
“The great All Black warrior Sean Fitzpatrick suggested that a few South Africans he knew believed a Springbok loss over the next few weeks was desirable, to deal with any pre-World Cup complacency. They don’t sound like any South Africans I know. ”
@JR – The Real Make The Circle Bigger(JayDaFiveOh)-74: its funny you criticise me about generalising because of a few windgat fans as you state, then in comment 74 youre agreeing with me???
8 Jul 2010, 02:11 am
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-8: agree, innovation…laws…ambush, no acknowledgment that the Boks were just had the better players and were the better team.
@Sonito(Sonito)-78: a much more realistic article from Rattue, although he perhaps goes a little too far in the opposite direction, let’s make no mistake the Boks are very beatable.
8 Jul 2010, 08:46 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-83: @Big Hit(Big Hit)-84:
Yeah I know, I am just having a laugh at poppa. Thought that article will get him going.
8 Jul 2010, 09:29 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-52: People can’t spell, it’s really annoying…
20 Aug 2010, 16:15 pm
oh how wrong this article was….!
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