Potent Pocock must be stopped
24 Aug 2010
RYAN VREDE writes that neutralising David Pocock will be crucial if the Springboks hope to rectify their attacking failings.
The Wallabies’ openside flank was an irrepressible force when the sides met in Brisbane, forcing four turnovers and regularly slowing the ruck recycle. Consequently the Springboks were often forced to scramble in defence, and, more tellingly, their attack seldom built the momentum to pose a threat.
Pocock’s excellence on the ground has been identified by the Springbok coaching staff as a primary threat, and head coach Peter de Villiers on Monday told the media that they had formulated a plan to blunt the scavenger. That rhetoric mimicked what was said about All Blacks fetcher Richie McCaw prior to the Soweto Test, yet that ‘plan’ wasn’t discernible, as McCaw continued to disrupt the Springboks at the breakdown.
The only plan that will prove consistently effective is breaching the advantage line consistently, something the Springboks have struggled to do. They showed promise in this regard in the first half at Soccer City, and consequently looked exponentially more dangerous than they had in any of their three previous matches.
Certainly the return of the hard running blindside flank Juan Smith aided their cause immeasurably. Smith, however, is an injury concern and if he fails to recover in time the Springboks will lose a potent attacking force. Schalk Burger has been the lone stand-out. Pierre Spies, so good in this regard for the Bulls during the Super 14, has been anonymous, as have John Smit and Danie Rossouw. With those players at their best the Springboks usually fire on attack. In their current form the effects are patent.
The Springboks managed two tries in the sides’ previous encounter, but those came in the final quarter with Australia having all but sealed the result. They had consistently failed to penetrate the Wallabies’ defensive line prior to that, and this offered Pocock regular opportunities to attack the tackled player. The effectiveness or folly of De Villiers’ ‘plan’ will be revealed at Loftus on Saturday.
Their primary carriers need to front at the collisions because to date they have been largely responsible for the attacking impotency of the back division. The Springboks showed an inclination to move the ball in Soweto, but their enterprise was often undermined by the lack of an attacking platform. Ball carriers were often isolated and McCaw thrived. Pocock cannot be allowed the same opportunities.
The Springboks’ backline is laden with game breakers, but the cause and effect nature of rugby means they pose the threat of a pop-gun if the heavies aren’t establishing a platform by getting across the gain line, and in doing so significantly reducing Pocock’s potency.
Along with a sustained defensive effort, this must be a primary focal point if the Springboks hope to snap a four-match losing streak.
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25 Aug 2010, 21:56 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-26: Yes,we do produce great loosies
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