When a team loses as badly as the Springboks have done in recent weeks there are millions of theories around to try and answer why. I have my own, but it is very different from what has been suggested so far…
So how can a team that dominated world rugby in 2009 fall behind so quickly and so spectacularly? What has changed? There has not been that many injuries to players to suggest this can be the sole cause has there? Our Super 14 campaign has also proven that two teams, with very different strategies dominated the Aussies and Kiwi’s and no, referees are also not to blame!
But something is different or missing, and after watching Saturday’s loss against the Aussies something dawned on me, it is not really who we lost, and in what positions we lost players, it is more the ‘type’ of player that we lost.
When I looked back at 2009 when things were quite rosy for the Springboks and compared it to the rubbish I saw in the last 3 weeks I was reminded of what a coach I studied under once told me; ‘Without momentum created or maintained for extensive parts of the game, you can forget about winning’.
The issue about momentum is quite a broad topic and although it can be influenced from the outside like through officials of the game, it is largely controlled by the team itself.
Firstly it is done through the selection of players from match to match, either trying to maintain a certain type of momentum you might enjoy or to change the momentum your team currently experience.
Most importantly however the shifts in momentum in a match is where it really counts.
For my money the Springboks found out exactly what worked for them as a team in 2009, and where I believe we failed is trying to identify players to fill a position in the case of injury, rather than identifying the correct type of player to execute what we want, and do well as a team.
In short, we got the issue of developing or identifying depth all wrong.
Where we are currently looking for a guy to fill numbers 2, 7 or 9 (or any number on a jersey) where we should have identified a Bismarck type player, or another Juan Smith or Fourie du Preez.
And forget about the commonly referred to ‘kick-chase’ game-plan the media loves to go on about – in 2009 the Boks managed to play a devastatingly powerful game with scoring some spectacular tries of first phases as –well as phased play.
The point is players like Bismarck, Bakkies, Juan, Brussow, Fourie du Preez and even Frans Steyn were able to create and maintain momentum for the team, or either change momentum in an instant like Frans’ exploits with his boot, from which the glory poster boys like Morne Steyn, Jean, Bryan and Jaque Fourie could feed off to win games.
So where we suddenly looked for players to fill a position only, we should have identified players who could ensure we would enjoy the same momentum we did in most games in 2009.
I guess what I am trying to say is that in rugby, filling a position or building depth is not just a numbers game, like finding a 15 for a 15, but more finding a ‘momentum player’ when you lose one.
These also do not have to be position specific, but it is essential that you identify these type of players in areas of a team crucial to build and maintain momentum.
This will be areas like the scrum (tight 5 and front row), line-out (hooker and second row), breakdown (loose-forwards to create or maintain momentum on attack and defence) and your halfbacks (controlling the ball you get effectively).
If you have the luxury to select game-breakers who can change a match in an instant like Frans Steyn, then even better.
In my personal view, players that performed that role for the Boks in 2009 were Bismarck (forward momentum with ball in hand and even turn-over skills in the breakdown), Bakkies & Juan (maintaining momentum on attack in cleaning rucks and ensuring good quality ball but also in defense changing momentum in your favour), Fourie du Preez (ensuring momentum is maintained through controlling quality possession).
Players that could turn momentum in a match in an instant in 2009 were players in the mould of Heinrich Brussow and Frans Steyn.
Currently, I am having real trouble identifying these type of players in the current setup.
So as far as I am concerned the Springboks perhaps, just perhaps failed to identify exactly what type of depth they need to identify and build on, which is not a position specific issue, but rather a specific breed of player to ensure we keep on doing what we did in 2009, and hopefully will be able to do again, in 2011.
Morne, great article, you are definitely the most knowledgable blogger on this website. Well articulated and to the point.
Morné, I’ve advocated the “type for type” approach rather than the “Number for Number” approach for a while now…
That’s why I’ve moaned and groaned about a combination of loosies who hunt as an effective force… that’s why I advocated to replace Fourie du Preez with someone with tactical awareness and nous…
That’s why I’ve maintained that combinations are so important…
But that’s not all…. dicipline has been a severe problem as has proper motivation and team unity, that’s why I said that with the chosen personnel, we should not and could not execute last year’s game plan.
@ grootblousmile:
The only question now is;
Do we have those ‘type’ of players in SA Rugby and if we do, who are they?
3@ Morné:
As far as loosies are concerned, yes.. a definate yes!
Scrummie is a problem, Ricky was so clearly different from Fourie du Preez, it was glaring and hits one in the face, with Ricky much more a “Seat of the pants instinctive player” and definately not known for his tactical nous or ability.
I shouted from the rooftops that Ruan had to be placed next to Morné Steyn before we even played the 1st Test this year, to be able to have built that connection, seeing as Ruan is in my opinion the closest tactical player to Fourie du Preez… well it was’nt done and this past Saturday they combined relatively well (but on Saturday our woes lay elsewhere… breakdown and ground-ball play, we were severely defeated in those, giving us less than 40% possession overall).
Inside centre is a problem, without an in-form Fransie Steyn or an in-form Jean de Villiers…..
I hope Jean gets back to some decent form and I hope Fransie Steyn comes back to SA so that he can get to form as well.
Right wing has been a problem… the All Blacks targeted Jean there… and Gio was off colour there this past Saturday. So here’s hoping JP Pietersen regains form, he was terrible in the Super 14…. maybe time for Mvovo on the right wing at the Bokke… industrious player and solid defender, with heaps of pace. Of course, I’m also waiting for the injured Lionel Mapoe to get fixed and back into the swing of things…..
At hooker, the performing Super 14 hookers, Gary Botha and Tiaan Liebenberg was’nt even given a run… are’nt they much closer to a Bismarck type… indeed much closer than Barney and the Boys High pet…..
I reckon it’s unfair to judge WO on these performances, although he was probably one of a very few that crossed the advantage line more often than not…
How did the other “stars” in the backline perform ?
Why should only he be judged in these last games ? He probably did better than the rest although it was’nt brilliant…
Morne good article, I would like to add the “momentum” loss as you described it was missed mainly in the loose forwards and scrum half.
Juan Smith is an outstanding player, the closest to him would in my opinion be Jean Deysel.
Pierre Spies is not nearly as effective in the loose when Juan Smith isn’t there.
Jano Vermaak is tactically astute, but playing for the Lions will never give him a look in to the Springbok side.
One other issue that has been very clear to me, with all the changes and unsettled backline communication has been woeful. On defense as well as on attack.
Our backline combinations worked very well last year, the players knew their positional plays, understood each other, this year half the tries that was scored was due to ineffective communicati
communication and thus no organistation at the back.
Wonder wat die situasie met iemand soos Bakkies ? Hy is een van die gekontrakteerde bokke (wat uit die ligawedstryde van die CB is), maar omdat hy nou vir nege weke gerus het, sal die sirkus-afrigters sekerlik hom vrystel om CB rugby te speel, as hy op parool uitkom, of hoe ?
Blouste, my friend “die blou in jou skyn deur”
I saw him play poorly in the league match against the Crusaders when he missed a number of tackles. He does not have the ability to multitask. He either runs until he gets tackled, or he passes, but cannot do both. He has enough speed to get through the gap, on Saturday all he had to do was pass and we would have had a try.
Zane Kirchner did the exact same thing, forgot to pass when we were assured of a try.
8@ bdb:
Bakkies se diff is gekrok en hy het definitief bearings geslaan met daai head-butt!
Hy mag nie eers CC rugby speel gedurende sy ban nie….
Sommige springbok spelers kan gerus doen met so bietjie touch-rugby as deel van hul oefening…sal hulle leer om te pass 🙂
10: ek bedoel na die 9 weke, dan is daar 3 CB rondtes oor voor die semi’s. Die nie-gekontrakteerde bokke kan dan weer speel, wonder nou net of Bakkies ook dan gaan speel of nie.
9 @ biltongbek:
Do you deny the fact that he was the inform SA inside center in the S14 ?
Sure he was’nt by far the best in the tests, but my question remains… whom of the upposed super stars was in the backline was ?
Sure he had a bad game or two but you only have to look at the S14 final where he singlehandedly took care of both J.Fourie and Aplon… in defense that is, since you referred to it.
13; alles feite. WO was gemiddeld in die toetse tot dusver, omdat die meeste spelers om hom, ondergemiddeld was. Geen speler het uitgestaan nie, inteendeel.
Bulle se span teen Leeus, dit lyk beter:
Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, John Mametsa, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (c), Jaco Engels. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Bees Roux, Fudge Mabeta, CJ Stander, Ruan Snyman, Francois Brummer, Hayden Groepes.
Moses sal moet begin vinger trek, hy het swak gespeel die laaste 2 wedstryde.
All too true Morne.
However it is just an admission of guilt that we do not know what we are doing.
It is as simple as that.
Blouste, Yes I admit he is a very good provincial player, but in the test arena he has yet to impress me. Remember the Bulls were on fire this season, and in the final the Stormers were outclassed as a collective team. To say Wynand Olivier sorted out J Fourie on his own is a little bias, J Fourie had an uncharactaristically poor performance in the Final, I doubt whether WO is the main catalyst for that.
As far as who I thought who should play with Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh was the one option as he has been playing with Jaque during the Super 14 and between them they had one of the best defensive statistics in the tournament. Jean de Villiers is the obvious one as that is the first choice combination.
The injury of JP Pietersen has obviously caused selection problems for PDV as he wasn’t sure who to play where.
I have always advocated when selecting a new Bok that the last litmus test must be “is he in the top 3 in the world in this position” if he isnt, then keep looking.
But then 95% of the team needs to be changed…
@ Blouste: Exactly…not quite 95% I think though.
Or if not changed, upgraded if they are capable of it.
whether its lack of depth, motivation, talent, commitment, consistency or poor selection, and its probably a mix of some of all these, – the critical absent ingredient is leadership and strategic thinking. There can be no way that two South African teams can so convincingly top the Super 14 competition and then suffer from these maladies. As always in our history – poor rugby leadership and the honest ability to assess, adapt, reformulate strategy and inspire the wealth of willing talent available to it, brings the Springbok brand to its knees. Just what is going on behind the scenes?
Lets be clear, there are two dimensions to Springbok dynamics, the operational represented by the players and coaching staff, and the corporate represented by administrators and selectors. I am willing to bet that the malaise is deep within corporate and its executive should be held accountable.
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