Regression reality for Bok backs
23 Nov 2010
JON CARDINELLI says mismanagement and tactical confusion have contributed to the Springbok backline’s devolution.
Before the Super 14 final was even played, there was a sense of expectation. The title was guaranteed to a South African team, and while the trophy was an end in itself, there was an ominous sense of progress and what it portended for the Test season. The Bulls and Stormers had showcased their attacking intentions, and many expected the Springboks would follow suit.
It was a fair expectation, but an expectation that gave the Bok coaching staff far too much credit. In 2008, Peter de Villiers promised to take the Boks in a new attacking direction, but his ill-conceived tactics resulted in a disastrous Tri-Nations. When the senior players put their collective foot down, the Boks reverted to the model that proved so successful at the 2007 World Cup. With a few more tweaks, they adjusted their forward-oriented/aggressive defence approach and destroyed the more adventurous Australasians at the 2009 showpiece.
But in 2010, a change in strategy was needed. Now the Bok coaching staff needed to come up with fresh ideas. Like the Stormers and Bulls, they needed to take the new laws into account, and gear their traditional game towards a more positive and attacking approach.
It said a lot that Dick Muir was unable to implement a successful strategy at the Lions. He may have had an excuse given the Lions’ dearth of quality and the absence of Springboks, but it’s an excuse he can’t use for failing to extract the best from the Bok backs. Despite the successes of 2009, the Bok backline is still as limited as it was in 2007.
De Villiers’s flawed selection policy certainly hasn’t helped. He made a a bold move to pick Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf for the 2008 UK tour, probably the best move of his national coaching stint. Pienaar offered the Boks options at 10, his tactical boot and attacking game giving the Boks some genuine attacking impetus.
Unfortunately, De Villiers lost the faith after a Lions series where Morne Steyn showed the value of his goal-kicking boot. Pienaar played one Tri-Nations game, and even though the Boks won, his two missed goal kicks were enough to convince the coaches that a more balanced brand of rugby wasn’t worth the risk.
Losing Fourie du Preez after the 2010 Super 14 was a massive blow. Du Preez was the brains behind the Boks’ on-field heroics in 2009, his accuracy with the boot and with ball in hand giving South Africa a distinct advantage. This accuracy helped the Bulls to another Super Rugby title in 2010, but a shoulder injury robbed the Boks of their fulcrum.
Bizarrely, De Villiers replaced the all-important Du Preez with the overweight and tactically erratic Ricky Januarie. In another daft move, De Villiers picked Wynand Olivier to partner Jaque Fourie in midfield in this season’s Tri-Nations opener, and moved Jean de Villiers to the wing. The ploy backfired from a defensive point of view, and on attack, De Villiers was never able to offer the same penetrative threat as somebody like Gio Aplon.
As far as the regular starters are concerned, Bryan Habana is the poster boy for the Springbok backline devolution.
It’s been a dramatic decline after a World Cup where he finished as player of the tournament. He lost his mojo in 2008, suffering an altogether unforgettable year for the Bulls and Boks. He won every trophy on offer with both teams in 2009, but in 2010, there was less consistency. While he did well for the Stormers and WP, he battled with the Boks.
Habana scored 30 tries in 36 Tests under Jake White, but has scored just eight in the 33 he’s played for De Villiers. He equalled Joost van der Westhuizen’s record for the most Bok tries against Italy in June, but in the subsequent nine Tests, he hasn’t threatened to make that record his own.
As the Boks have struggled through 2010, their deficiencies have come under closer scrutiny. Morne Steyn was never the ultimate answer at flyhalf for a team that wanted to dominate the world game. His attacking play with ball in hand is predictable, so much so that opposition defences look to close down the outside channels first and invite him to make the individual break.
The Bok backline’s best effort of the current tour was inspired by newcomer Pat Lambie. The young Sharks pivot sparked an attacking play against Ireland that culminated in a try for Aplon. The rest of the tries have been down to the forwards utilising the Boks’ tried and tested pressure-’em-until-they-crack approach.
They’ll need more than forward might to break down England and the All Blacks, teams that have the personnel to meet the Boks’ forward challenge head on. The Bok backline needs a make-over, as even with the likes of Du Preez and Jaque Fourie available in 2011, the problems will persist for as long as Steyn is tasked with directing the attacking traffic.
396 Comments
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23 Nov 2010, 14:17 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game) : you are the typical 34% that is the new pass rate in this country if you think de jongh is our best 12. LMAO
23 Nov 2010, 14:20 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) : That Welsh first try was exactly the same move Mallet’s Italians ran on us last year and Adi was blamed for weak defence. this year the Taffs rips us with it and nobody is blaming JdV or Francois
23 Nov 2010, 14:21 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) : A lack of bulk does not need to be a disadvantage. Sometimes, it can be a massive advantage in terms of squeezing into the gap with a low centre of gravity.
The key is to attack the space, not the man.
Of course, a necessary precondition for a centre without bulk is to have more adequate support on the carry. In fact, at the moment it looks like JDV needs that as well, with him going to ground far too easily on the crash ball away from support.
And with smaller backline players, it is even more important to mix up your defensive strategy and to play a rush defense at the appropriate time to shut down space and to disallow the carrier building up momentum.
The Stormers showed with a combination of rush and drift that you don’t need bulk in channel 1 if your support players at the ruck arrive in due time.
23 Nov 2010, 14:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : how can you blame players who don’t make mistakes. Blame chilliboy. Blame Bjorn. F0ck, even blame ricky.
23 Nov 2010, 14:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : 351. Is that so? 34%?
Transie, you on the wrong website… Better hop over to 4:4:2 or http://www.chavball.soccer. Something more appropriate
I forgot :malemasmiley:
23 Nov 2010, 14:25 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) : 354. lol Blame Ricky? What did old warthog do other than warming a bench nicely for the team…?
23 Nov 2010, 14:25 pm
@Boksarenumber7(Boksarenumber1) : #349. The mechanic analogy springs to mind.
23 Nov 2010, 14:27 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game) : 356. Ricky most likely provided the mampoer or karate-water.
23 Nov 2010, 14:31 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) : 358. “Karate-water” lol. Now thats a good nick for this site!!!
23 Nov 2010, 14:41 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) :
karate-water
that stuff slips down like energade here on keo.
23 Nov 2010, 14:56 pm
What a poor article. Morne Steyn plays brilliant rugby for the bulls which scored enormous amounts of tries during their run towards the final.
So I don’t understand that he is now all of a sudden a phariah?!
An attacking flyhalf who can’t kick is usseless. (Butch was a great tactical kicker and Monty covered at penalty and conversion time).
But a kicking flyhalf can still win you a game. Why are we trying to bring uber backline play into the bok setup anyway?!
We play on a regular basis against the wallabies and the kiwis! They are the best backline teams in the WORLD!!! So for us to even try and fight fire with fire we will certainly get us last in the tri-nations every year!
Destroy the opposition with our powerfull ball carriers and when the moment is right then put the ball wide! Or when we have a scrum at their line do a Gary Gold first phase move! But don’t for heavens sake try to play free flowing rugby against the same people who want you to that exact thing in the first place!!!
Cheez this website has a bloody scitzo disorder.
23 Nov 2010, 14:56 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game) : 327 Yes it occurred to me too that we had reverted to a very “Blue Bulls” style of play of late, but with much less success. It certainly doesn’t do much to allay the whole perception of the coaches being dictated to by the players….
23 Nov 2010, 14:59 pm
@gunther(gunther) : #360 and it leads to fighting talk.Lotsa druken masters on the site.
23 Nov 2010, 15:02 pm
JON CARDINELLI is disgusted with the mismanagement and tactical confusion that have contributed to the Springbok backline’s devolution
23 Nov 2010, 15:03 pm
The direction this article is heading we are looking at a backline of, sarel Pretorius, Elton Jantjies, Mvovo, lambie , JDJ,aplon and kirchener…. The **** have a more physical backline
23 Nov 2010, 15:07 pm
Hoe many midgets in the NZ backline?
23 Nov 2010, 15:07 pm
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua) :
speaking of cognitive regression.
23 Nov 2010, 15:13 pm
@gunther(gunther) : LOL! Turbo reverse.
23 Nov 2010, 15:18 pm
Did anyone hear the interview with Tank Lanning on a CT radio station yerterday afternoon? Gees but he’s an idiot. I often read his column and can only but wonder how he manages to be the Sport24 editor.
23 Nov 2010, 15:39 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) :
he’s a good friend of mine.
23 Nov 2010, 15:47 pm
@gunther(gunther) : Name dropper
23 Nov 2010, 15:50 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
look he’s not really famous is he?
23 Nov 2010, 15:52 pm
@gunther(gunther) : #370 Thanks for the heads-up. So please pass on the message. The chances that he gets will will now greatly improve.
23 Nov 2010, 15:55 pm
@pompies2(pompies2) :
I’ll pass thanks pomper
23 Nov 2010, 15:57 pm
We have a one trick pony at 10 a centre who cant pass at twelve, a thirteen who is totally clueless(lol at some stage of the game on sat he dropped back to field kicks LOL)to top it all off they are media darlings (lo and behold should any of them be dropped) and the easily brain washed Saffa fans lap up everything the likes of JC and ryan write, Bloggers catch a wake up!!! look at the these journos and tell me if they have ever played rugby in their lives???(Touch does nt count lol)How can you guys take them seriously???
23 Nov 2010, 15:58 pm
@gunther(gunther) : well, maybe C list. He’s a whole lotta C for your money though
Not the original Tank though. He gets minus points in my book for not choosing a more original nic……..
23 Nov 2010, 16:00 pm
@k.camron(k.camron) : They do play touch, by they touch each other on their studios.
23 Nov 2010, 16:08 pm
@k.camron(k.camron) : Killa Cam, nobody takes these morons seriously, you’ll never see jon cardinelli here to engage us on his views…
on the ‘media darlings’ we cottoned on to that one a LONG time ago and Simon admitted they put players who will sell magazines on the covers, it doesn’t matter if Bjorn Basson breaks all the records they will put an injured Jdv or pouting Francois Steyn or Ruined Ruan or Harassed Habana or a Scintillating Spies on their cover because it’s all about the Benjis!
23 Nov 2010, 16:16 pm
If that is the case i would like to say to Pierre Spies, swaer, asb, probeer die een teen een lakwerk regkry. Daai tipe duike wat gemis word is oenskynlik en die ondersteuners sien dit maklik raak en kritiseer onmiddelik.
Aan Morne, jy moet vlakker staan man!
Aan Ruan, as jy nog een flippen skop oor die pak voorspelers gee wat sommer net woer woer in die lug in trek vir klein Mvovu or klein Aplon om te jaag dan gaan ek my bier regdeur my tv gooi.
Aan JDV en FS. Julle is nie catipillars nie. Ook nie JCB’s nie. Ook nie deel van die Scottich dragoon guard tank brigade in Irak nie. Hardloop om die verdigers of deur gapings, nie bo-oor hulle nie! Wie was julle kinderhelde? Heirich Fulse? Japie Mulder? Pieter Muller?
Aan Mvovu en Gio – julle gaan moet leer vang onder druk en altwee van julle het die gewoonte om die speler met die bal verby te hol voor hy vir julle aangee.
Aan Niknaks daar in die nommer 15 trui. Jy probeer hard ek weet, ons almal kan dit sien en persoonlik dink ek jy is goed genoeg, maar doen asb net iets anders as net vang-hardloop 2 tree-skop n appie en jaag.
Aan die hele span, HOU DIE BAL IN JULLE HANDE VAS TOT JULLE BY DIE WIT STREEP UITKOM MET DIE TWEE GROOT PALE. Dan, en net dan moet julle hom neersit.
23 Nov 2010, 16:22 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
well they are good mates too,
so I’m sure they worked something out
tank has been tank since varsity.
actually probably since Bishops.
23 Nov 2010, 16:24 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck) :
Unless your name is Jonah Lomu, trying to run over an opponent counts in my book as the most stupid thing to do in rugby.
23 Nov 2010, 16:26 pm
@k.camron(k.camron) :
Think of this more as a place to converse with a diverse group of intelligent rugby minds rather than an opportunity to indulge in quality media offerings:)
23 Nov 2010, 16:30 pm
@gunther(gunther) : Yeah, I know you know the “old” one too. There must be a few of them around. I’m going to try and catch up with him for a healthy lunch in the next few weeks.
23 Nov 2010, 16:30 pm
@willievz(willievz) : exactly…..it was a macintosh special in the early 90′s if i remember correctly.
23 Nov 2010, 16:31 pm
@gunther(gunther) : PS did you know that the original “tank” Played Craven Week for the Blue Bulls at full back?
23 Nov 2010, 16:34 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
I know he was from there.
I also know he came to UCT for cricket!
Gerbrand Grobbler’s lovechild
23 Nov 2010, 16:36 pm
@378. Transformation: then they should stop this whining about how kak the Boks are playing because they (media:gavin rich,rob houwing,JC,Keo) are all part of the problem we have in SA rugby how a centre like jean can play for so long with defensive frailties and inabilty to pass the ball and nothing is written about that it just really pisses me off and should he be dropped we will never hear the end of it. Anyway its really sad we dont have a skills training set up like the Aussies do cause that is where we are sorely lacking…
23 Nov 2010, 16:51 pm
@k.camron(k.camron) : you know jdv is on the cover of the latest sarugby mag don’t you
23 Nov 2010, 21:05 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) : Woodcock’s in the AB team as we speak. You’re thinking of Hayman.
23 Nov 2010, 21:17 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler) : Yeah you all look alike to me..
23 Nov 2010, 21:18 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler) : Carl Hayman. That’s the fella. Hell of a tighthead.
23 Nov 2010, 23:05 pm
Just thought about the following, for what it is worth:
I can’t recall Morne Steyn ever throwing a skip pass to his outside centre the way Dan Carter does…
23 Nov 2010, 23:24 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : No, Adi’s missed tackle was when they had already crossed, and he was supposed to have switched focus to the new crossed player. JdV’s missed tackle was when a player ran into him before they crossed, preventing hm from getting to teh player running behind, and was clearly obstruction. BIG difference.
24 Nov 2010, 03:43 am
I can see the following happening: Mark my words.
The Boks will persist with this bloody kick-chase gameplan for the England game, losing to England (badly) bacause they continue to hand possession away. Still, nothing will click in Snor’s brain, thinking that his game plan was the “safe” one, when it is anything but.
The Boks will then adopt a ball-in-hand approach to the Baa-baas game, starting Lambie, and giving Jantjes a run. After we dish out a hiding to the Baa-baas, there will be a dim glowing light that pierces its way through the vast empty darkness inside Snor’s head, and he will finally think “I wonder if…”
Question is: Will it be too late?
24 Nov 2010, 03:45 am
JC,
Too much energy is wasted on the deliberation PdV’s suitability for the job, and that of on his assistants, suggest we drop it because its an exercise in futility.
Analysing the Village fool’s deficiencies, errors and shortcomings do not serve any purpose, the guy was not appointed for his rugby coaching capabilities and thus will not be dismissed because of his lack of performance.
Enough said
24 Nov 2010, 03:53 am
The fun moments I am looking forward to watch on Sat:
The Boks’ Black Three under the Up and Under from Floor, would be even better if JW was the Poms No.10, nevertheless,,,
The Beast as the focus of the Poms’ scrum, satisfaction guaranteed for the paid customers!
Spies banged on his first few scrambles from the back of the scrum, can’t wait.
And much more,,,
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