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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101 Comments
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24 Aug 2010, 12:22 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-49: To emphasize your point – JDV did exactly the same when he played wing, so it must be part of geniuses Gold and Muir’s innovative defensive system
24 Aug 2010, 12:25 pm
when was the last intercept from the wing scored? I think the opposing teams have figured it out!
24 Aug 2010, 12:25 pm
Grant10
Would you not drop Aplon or De Jongh for F Steyn?
24 Aug 2010, 12:27 pm
@aliboy(aliboy)-52: And how. In fact, I believe Aus and NZ are using it to their advantage by spreading the ball to the outside centre through the hands. He then delays his pass and waits for Habana to come off his line and then passes either over Habana’s head or behind him to the fullback and wing that are left unattended.
24 Aug 2010, 12:27 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-53: i would drop habana….for aplon. Frans at 15
I would drop JDV for JDJ ….JF at 13.
24 Aug 2010, 12:29 pm
I can’t believe that there are so many Aus and NZ supporters on this site. Surely only they could vote for J Smit not to retire after the 3N?????
Bloody agents…
24 Aug 2010, 12:29 pm
@quotas_sux(quota_conrad_jantjies_is_jorrie_muller)-45: You can’t have 2 M Steyn’s…
And if Spies wears any number under 16, we’re definitely not gonna win a thing
24 Aug 2010, 12:31 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-47: I was at the game and also saw the interference running Mccaw was doing on Habana, had me swearing like a mad man
24 Aug 2010, 12:31 pm
@grant10(grant10)-55: OK, I could go with that. The only little problem I see is that JDV organized the defense brilliantly on Saturday. The big problem is that JDJ and Mossie will not be given front foot ball with M Steyn at 10.
What about F Steyn at 10? Do you think he has learnt to pass yet?
24 Aug 2010, 12:31 pm
the 3 stooges will choose this team
15 f steyn
11 habana
12 jdv
13 jf
14 jpp
10 m steyn
9 hougard
8 spies
7 J Smith
6 schalk
5 matfield
4 d rossow
3 jannie dup
2 plod
1 guthro….
i would choose
15 f steyn
14 jpp
13 j f
12 j d j
11 aplon
10 butch
9 hougaard
8 kanko
7 j smith
6 f louw
5 matfield
4 F VD Merwe
3 j dup
2 bissy
1 guthro
24 Aug 2010, 12:33 pm
@willievz(willievz)-23: I don’t no where this fascination with Burger at 8 has come from. He has played his whole career as a 6, and a couple of games as a 7 and 8, and he was always found wanting.
24 Aug 2010, 12:33 pm
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking)-57: We are screwed if Spies wears any number under 23
24 Aug 2010, 12:34 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-53:
F Steyn for Aplon, Aplon For Habana, JP on the right wing.
JdJ and Mossie at 12 and 13. Problem solved
24 Aug 2010, 12:35 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-51:
@aliboy(aliboy)-52:
The opposition have definitely figured it out.
on the several times it has worked habana and JDV where not the last defenders they were standing at a center so leaving the defensive line did not leave any space out wide.
the execution has been terrible the idea though is not too bad especially if you don’t have any other attacking options something the boks seem to lack at the moment
24 Aug 2010, 12:36 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-59: this myth of ‘organising the defence’ brilliantly is one of the most purported ones here on keo…what is ‘organising the defence?
24 Aug 2010, 12:36 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-59: F Steyn at 10 would certainly excite F Steyn….! He wants to be at 10….12….he messed it up badly before but may have matured a fair bit. I would go with Butch at 10 this weekend….he is a general….will sort the defence. I am not averse to JDV…a great player…at 12….but JDJ deserves a run….
24 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
@Frankly speaking(Frankly speaking)-63: agree
24 Aug 2010, 12:37 pm
@grant10(grant10)-60: I would love to have Flo there, but I am a little disappointed in his performances. We cannot go into this game without Schalk, so if we must counter their loosies with Flo, I would pick Schalk at 8.
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-61: I hear what you are saying, but this year Schalk has added something to his game – he is a brilliant link between forwards and backs and he covers exceptionally well at the back. He can surely not be found wanting more than Spies does.
I STILL THINK THAT LUKE WATSON IS THE MISSING COG IN OUR LOOSE FORWARD COMBINATION
24 Aug 2010, 12:40 pm
@Bok fan(Bok fan)-58:
it was terrible and annoyingly illegal. the worst part is that it was so effective in stoping habana from reaching the receiver and congrats to him for getting away with it.
now they say Mccaw pushes the boundaries and he’s a genius but honestly there’s a fine line between being smart and cheating.
24 Aug 2010, 12:42 pm
@WOLFMAN21(WOLFMAN21)-61:
It’s not a fascination. Pierre Spies is allergic to contact and therefor people have been looking for a substitute at #8. You can’t leave Schalk out of your team. Ditto for Juan. We need a fetcher in the team, so to accommodate for that, they suggest:
6. Brussouw
7. Smith
8. Burger
Which would be a very balanced loose trio
24 Aug 2010, 12:43 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-69: Na I would never blame him, just the **** ing useless ref’s
24 Aug 2010, 12:44 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-65: It all has to do with communication and reading the opposition’s lines of attack. If you want to see how this impacts in a game, look at the first test of the 3N and compare the defense when WO was at 12 with the time that JDV was at 12.
WO was waiting for the AB’s to run at him, thus giving them yards of space. Mossie, Morne and co had to take their cue from him because if they advanced ahead of him, it would cause gaps in the defense. When JDV played there, he advanced to close the space and pulled MS and Mossie up with him by communicating with them. The reason why this falls on the shoulders of the 12 is because he has the best vision on the field of when the ball is out of the ruck, scrum or whatever phase. You need someone who is decisive and intelligent. JDJ is very adept at doing this and, probably one of the best in the country, is Doppies La Grange of the Lions.
24 Aug 2010, 12:44 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-68: schalk is playing well….but he aint no fetcher…..its a toss up between schalk and J Smith in my opinion mate…a tough call but J Smith is a banker in the lineouts…..
About LW….yeh mate….thats a sad fact.
I tell you what, the route the game is going i would love to have Bissy to start at 2 with a game breaker like schalk brits waiting on the bench as well!
But in SA Rugby thats too much to ask for….such innovation would be deemed a form of cancer.
24 Aug 2010, 12:45 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-56: Do you know that not so long ago the AB’s had a captain for 3 years that never lost a game. 31 games incl 14 tests, not 1 loss. He got dropped because someone younger and better came along (at least according to the selectors at that time).
24 Aug 2010, 12:49 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-69: Funny thing is that as an AB supporter I was cursing the Boks who were running past the dropping kick and blocking the AB’s from getting to it. Never noticed McCaw running interference on Habana. Funny how you always see things through only one eye when watching the game. Replays are great for putting some perspective on your thoughts if you are inclined to do so.
24 Aug 2010, 12:49 pm
bok team to be announced at 13 h00 on supersport…
24 Aug 2010, 12:50 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-72: i think blue bulls fans would tell you, you’re talking bollocks, seeing as to meisikind is always solid on defence for them
24 Aug 2010, 12:56 pm
@grant10(grant10)-76: Which channel? Or are they just going to put up the names in the rugby section to read?
24 Aug 2010, 13:01 pm
@grant10(grant10)-76: my friend, don’t hold your breath…kanko will play fetcher hahahahaha
24 Aug 2010, 13:04 pm
@Puma(Puma)-78: blitz
24 Aug 2010, 13:05 pm
@aliboy(aliboy)-75:
haha yes replays are a beautiful thing but even then most of us will still only see what we want to see and not whats shown.
24 Aug 2010, 13:10 pm
At 6 who would one pick out of the 2 for your national side?
Schalk or Pocock
24 Aug 2010, 13:17 pm
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-69: did they also mist the constant offsides whenever the Boks put up a garry owen? I lost count of the number of times Bok chasers were ahead of the kicker..
those same chasers, did the ref see them intentionally impeding the NZ player from contesting the ball? one case in point, when the ball bounced back of Aplon, did he really contest the ball or did he just jump near the ball to obstruct the defender?
use both eyes to watch the game, you will see its not only NZ that do and get away with illegal play..
24 Aug 2010, 13:29 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-83:
The letter of the law says…those in front of the kicker must stay put or retreat when a kick is made.
I noticed that many a bok player in front of the kicker were walking or trotting forwards to the catcher hoping their kicker or an onside player would run a put them onside.
I noticed many a time at the bok kicks and players offside at the kick not staying put or retreating.
24 Aug 2010, 13:31 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-84: agreed, it was an example that all teams push the boundaries, in all sorts of ways…
I thought it quite ironic that SA were penalised for illegal obstruction, thought it was only NZ that trained for that type of thing
24 Aug 2010, 13:33 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-83:
The one example you site you refer to a player who actually showed some sort of effort to play at the ball he did jump up so the ref may have thought he was going for the ball – im talking about a player who made no effort to even get to the ball but was quite content to elbow and push into the path of the chaser.
so if both sides are doing it does that make it ok?
i think as long as we all agree that its illegal then fine.
but don’t label a cheat a genius -
24 Aug 2010, 13:54 pm
A cheat is a genius if he /she gets away with it…they are a domskop if they get caught!!
24 Aug 2010, 13:55 pm
like warne & steve waugh @ 87 … they sit back and let hansie take all the blame
24 Aug 2010, 14:47 pm
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-82: Pocock.
24 Aug 2010, 14:47 pm
@willievz(willievz)-89: If by 6 you mean opensider, like it does in SA.
24 Aug 2010, 15:12 pm
Pocock stopped?…. ek het ‘n .306
24 Aug 2010, 17:32 pm
If Heinrich Brussow is so highly rated amongst South Africans, and indeed the world over, then I must conclude that Deon Stegmann is the MOST underrated player in South Africa.
Stegmann appeared on the scene in 2008 at the age of 21, a nightmare Bulls year, but was still awarded Bulls forward of the year.
In 2009 he was the form flanker, but missed a third of the Super14 through a ban that was a very unfortunate situation as the replay shows(when he folded Conrad Smith in half in Wellington- his feet weren’t even touching the ground, a little harsh).
Then the selectors choose Johnson and Raubenheimer etc. in the 2009EOTY tour, and players like Vermeulen and Stegmann and Mapoe didn’t see the Emerging Boks. (Something which they openly rue).
2010, and Stegmann was once again the top openside (with ruggastats.com and rugby365.com even putting Schalk Burger out at 7 to accomodate his selection at flank in their teams- though it must be said Burger was a hybrid flank), and Stegmann managed to outplay Brussow, McCaw (twice), and Louw, and was the most influential player behind Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield in the Bulls’ quest for Super 14 glory.
But then Francois Louw gets selected, and moved between blindside and openside. What more must Stegmann do to get selected?
I’ve been watching Brussow and Stegmann for 6 years now, and listening to the opinions of coaches etc. and IMO Stegmann is better than Brussow in every way.
Brussow is of course a crowd favourite with his run in the Springbok jersey (rightly so, the boys has considerable skill), but ignoring Stegmann simply demostrates that the majority of the rubgy supporters don’t know what to look for in a player and a flank.
According to Heyneke Meyer, Deon Stegmann is of inestimable value to South African rugby. People just don’t see a workhorse that flies under the radar and shuns the spotlight.
Would it have helped if he wore a bright-coloured scrum cap? Or had long, flailing, blonde locks?
David Pocock is a menace, yes. Had the selectors banked on Stegmann when Brussow got injured we wouldn’t worry- we’d be entertained.
24 Aug 2010, 17:32 pm
@Staal(Staal)-91:
24 Aug 2010, 17:35 pm
Pocock is going to shine on Saturday! If Spies is so highly rated amongst SA’s, then Vermeulen and Alberts must be the most underated players in South Africa.
24 Aug 2010, 17:39 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-92: The boy is young.
He will get his chance.
24 Aug 2010, 17:46 pm
@willievz(willievz)-95:
Willie, these guys start out in the Bok team in their early 20, both Brussow and Stegmann are the same age. Brussow and Burger started out as 22 and 21.
24 Aug 2010, 17:47 pm
@willievz(willievz)-95:
And there are no gaurantees with the coaches. They’ll make a political/favourite selections and lament it in the press a year later.
24 Aug 2010, 17:48 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-94:
Not if you look at contribution.
25 Aug 2010, 01:48 am
@boktillzero(boktillzero)-7:
Therein lies the problem – are the Boks good enough to get up 2 weeks in a row, (let alone 3)
Last weekend took a lot out of them, both mentally and physically, and as much as I respect both SB and JS, its always difficult to put 2 mammoth efforts consecutively. Pocock is a very good player – knows the law as well as MCaw, and understands its application.
SA were very good on Saturday, they almost did it, but how much will that effort have taken out of them for this weekend?
For those that think McCaw cheats etc, consider this.
At the start of each game all refs tell the fetchers that they will warn them if they are getting close to the offside point, only if the player enters the gate correctly – the ref will not tolerate side entry – that’s an auto penalty.
McCaw will attempt to go forward as much as possible until he hears “hands off number 7″ being shouted by the ref, up until then, its fair game.
This is the way the game is being reffed, and as you would expect, McCaw will go as close as possible to the line to get any advantage he possibly can – I wouldn’t expect anything less, would you?
You can call it cheating if it makes you feel better, I prefer to call it “playing to the ref” – and funny thing is, that’s what all the players are saying too, Boks, Ozzies and AB’s.
25 Aug 2010, 13:02 pm
They ought to move about a lot more freely without those swollen heads which so impeded them in the earlier rounds.
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