Boks expect altered Aussie approach
2 Sep 2010
Dick Muir says Australia’s selections suggest they’ll play a more direct game against the Springboks in Bloemfontein.
In the build-up to the Loftus Test, the visitors didn’t hide their intent to adopt a blueprint that brought them success in Brisbane. Although playing wide immediately worked to a large extent in Pretoria, costly mistakes towards the end of the match meant they didn’t secure what would have been a famous win.
While their width-based approach succeeded at Suncorp as the Boks didn’t employ a fetcher, the hosts’ change of mindset and intensity at the breakdowns also helped thwart the Australians’ wide attacks in the return match. The influence of Juan Smith instead of Ryan Kankowski must also be noted.
Coach Robbie Deans has responded to the Loftus defeat by making three changes to the team, in promoting forwards Stephen Moore, Mark Chisholm and Ben McCalman. Quade Cooper and Will Genia are the play-makers in the Australian line-up, and their attacking the advantage line will suit these forward runners.
‘We’re expecting them to be a bit more direct,’ said the Bok backline coach. ‘If you look at their selection changes, they’ll try muscle up to us and be more physical.’
Many critics have questioned the intensity of the Loftus Test, where missed tackles and the frantic nature of the match led to a loose contest, but Muir felt otherwise. As the Australian approach last week aided in the helter skelter match, Muir suggested it could be different in Bloem if Australia try keep the match tighter, although it’s unlikely they’ll change their ball in hand game.
‘Last week the opportunities lent themselves to that type of play. You can also only play as your opponents allow you to. It was a great festival of rugby.’
In response to Bryan Habana’s waning form, Muir spoke some sense compared to Peter de Villiers. The Bok coach was on the defensive regarding Habana’s continued selection and chose to make sarcastic comments, while Muir gave a rugby answer. He said for a player of Habana’s stature, criticism is expected and that they were trying their best to find ways to break the try-scoring drought (his last three Test tries have come in 10 Tests and have all been against Italy).
‘All great players have these spells where they lose form. Bryan has set the bar very high, so we probably notice it more. He’s one of the most dedicated players and he’s working hard to get back to his best, so I’m not overly concerned about his form.
‘I don’t think breaking the try-scoring record [Habana is equal with Joost van der Westhuizen's mark of 38] is having any effect on him. He’s bigger than that and he plays for the team.
‘I’ve encouraged Bryan to come off his wing and look for work, and he’ll be rewarded. If he makes one glaring mistake, everyone jumps to conclusions that he’s off form.
‘That’s the business we’re in, we get criticised. It’s about being bigger than that and working hard to rectify it.’
By Grant Ball, in Bloemfontein
Follow SA Rugby mag on Twitter
22 Comments
2 Sep 2010, 14:09 pm
2 Sep 2010, 14:11 pm
Well their approach was rather predictable last week wasn’t it?
I think Deans is struggling with the balance of the team overall.
Moore is a much more physical player and the right player to take on the Boks, that was a mistake last week.
Secondly, I believe that the Genia, Cooper and Gitaeu combination is not the right one.
All three like front-foot, forward moving ball and taking the ball forward.
One of them has to take control and direct but they are all too similar.
Add to the fact Gitt’s is having a really bad year and I believe Robbie must rather bring in babyface Berrick Barnes who control much better than Cooper and Gitt’s.
Barnes and Cooper can alternate at 10 and 12 depending on the situation.
An Aussie backline with Barnes scares me more than this current combination.
2 Sep 2010, 14:12 pm
I think they are missing some physicality in the backline, Mortlock or Digby would have made a lot of difference.
2 Sep 2010, 14:16 pm
agree PA….the 10 …12 axis is highly talented….but susceptible. Barnes would bring a sense of calm…..at the moment its all 100mph helter skelter….
Aussies will be dangerous Sat…..just seems to me they may be the hungrier team.
Be careful Boks…
2 Sep 2010, 14:31 pm
Finally some new **** for me to spray on!
2 Sep 2010, 14:39 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-2: I agree about Barnes, think he would just add a sense of structure to the team…seems to be lacking.
2 Sep 2010, 16:50 pm
It’s criminal that Mortlock isn’t in this team
2 Sep 2010, 16:53 pm
Giteau Injured…..Hurt his ankle on training today…the wait begins….
2 Sep 2010, 17:32 pm
@grant10(grant10)-4:-Cooper as talented as he is is causing huge problems ,they have an awesome backline that is strangled by him , he gets the ball and hip hops around one or two players -everyone in awe of his talent, when in actuall fact its as bad a morne steyns one dimensional kicking!On contrast if we look at lambie (who for my money -and i know im a sharks supporter-is shaping up to be brilliant)does litle but distribute well ,he manages to find his inside center better than any other flyhalf in sa at the moment! players inside of him suddenly look brilliant -andries struass so on… now lets look at the form of gits and barnes -makes you wonder :p
2 Sep 2010, 17:37 pm
“He’s one of the most dedicated players and he’s working hard to get back to his best, so I’m not overly concerned about his form.”
Yes, Grant Ball, that is a real rugby answer, especially given that everyone (except D i c k and co) can see that Habana is in the worst form of his life.
To think that you get paid to write this rubbish. Sad.
2 Sep 2010, 18:47 pm
Barnes has bn terrible almost the entire yr,indifferent S14 with Tahs,his nest attribute-tactical kicking is way off.His one & only TriNations start he was below par
Faingaa direct style at 12 worked better when he played vs AB’s…Gits has bn on the slide for a couple of yrs now
2 Sep 2010, 19:25 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-11: Gits been on the slide because Deans insists on him playing 10 when he’s clearly a 12.
3 Sep 2010, 02:25 am
@baw(maxed)-9: A fair assessment re Cooper, and I agree to an extent. It is actually the reason why I think through all the talk of Cooper and Beale as the young prodigies, that Matt Toomua will be the one with the longest future in the Gold jersey.
While not as flash individually as either, Toomua has the best kicking game, best defence, and best decision making skills under pressure. And still only 20yrs old.
I feel he will be the Mehrtens, with Quade as King Carlos (Beale as Jaffie du Toit
).
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-11: Agreed, Barnes has not deserved a look-in this year on form, either at S14 level or during the English tour games.
Not sure about Faingaa either though. His talked up physicality in defence cost the Wallabies big against the ABs, as he kept rushing out of the line and creating overlaps. A good prospect, but not ready for test rugby.
3 Sep 2010, 07:41 am
It’s really funny to see muppets suggesting Mortlock should return. Why? Well Mortlock is a crash bash physical player similar to JdV, WO, and many SA players all of whom are roundly criticised by the site’s bigots who want twinkle toes players like Barnes, Cooper etc.
When will you be happy or do you know anything about rugby?
3 Sep 2010, 07:58 am
@husky(husky)-14: balance…
3 Sep 2010, 08:09 am
@grant10(grant10)-15: This.
While your Boks need a good ball-runner or 2 to take advantage of your crashball player’s hardwork, Wallabies are currently lacking enough big crash players to do the hard yards necessary for all the twinkle toes as you call them – Giteau, Cooper, Beale, O’Connor.
3 Sep 2010, 08:11 am
JDV is alot more than crash ball my friend..although he has the size and strength, his reading of the game on attack and defense is up there with the best and has an enermous skill set, proven at super14 and test level.
Its just unfortunately that SA game plan relied on a direct approach and his bulk is often used instead
3 Sep 2010, 08:11 am
@DonutDunning(DonutDunning)-16: correct…..
Boks with a Giteau at 10 would be an awesome team…..
I reckon you guys could do with a J Fourie or JDV…
3 Sep 2010, 08:19 am
@grant10(grant10)-18: Jacque would be nice, but really we just need to get all our bigger lads back from injury.
Drop Beale for Hynes, O’Connor for Ashley-Cooper, Ioane to fill 13, and either Shepherd or the young Reds centre Chambers (188cm, 100kg) on the bench.
3 Sep 2010, 08:29 am
@DonutDunning(DonutDunning)-19: ja….you guys have had a helleva run with injuries……at 100 % will be a real threat at wc 2011…..no doubts at all
3 Sep 2010, 08:53 am
@grant10(grant10)-20: Wouldn’t worry about your own lads either.
Get Bissy, FdP, Brussow and Bekker back, plus a 3-month reconditioning program for Matfield, JdV and your boy Smit, and that team looks a hell of a lot stronger.
3 Sep 2010, 08:57 am
@DonutDunning(DonutDunning)-21: ja….a lot depends on boks selection strategy…..i also believe boks could come close…..but we are our own worst enemies at the moment.
Next Thursday is exactly 12 months to go to kick off…..
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.