Greg Growden in Cape Town | August 8, 2009
This is the Wallabies’ seven-point plan for victory.
1. Stop being head cases and instead use your heads
Greg Growden in Cape Town | August 8, 2009
This is the Wallabies’ seven-point plan for victory.
1. Stop being head cases and instead use your heads
1
Stop being head cases and instead use your headsThe past three weeks have been agony for the Wallabies, as everyone keeps reminding them how they bungled Eden Park. They were well on their way to having the All Blacks Test won, until turning into Peter Pumpkinheads after 20 minutes, fluffing opportunities, allowing the referee to upset them and offering a free pass to an undeserving opposition. The All Blacks did virtually nothing that night to warrant victory, except exhibit greater drive and commitment, and the Wallabies allowed them to get away with a very basic game plan, which preyed on their mistakes. Yet again, the Wallabies’ biggest problem is all in the heads. They slacken off at the wrong moments, lack the killer instinct and are not attuned to the full 80-minute performance. Too often they allow opponents to run over the top of them. They basically have to harden up.
2
Take responsibilityIf the Wallabies lose, the players have no one else to blame but themselves. With Wallabies coach Robbie Deans missing virtually all of the team’s training sessions in Cape Town after the death of his father, the players have taken over proceedings. It has seemed to work, with the training sessions being especially vigorous and well run. The senior players and assistant coaches Jim Williams and Richard Graham have shared the extra workload, and it certainly has not been a case of when the cat’s away, the mice are at play. Thankfully, the Wallabies have shown the required maturity during the South African training sessions to give themselves a good Test preparation. They now must take it an extra level during the actual match.
3
Don’t be intimidatedThe Springboks are the masters of spooking opponents. The only way to counter that is by matching their physicality and developing a bully-boy mentality. At Eden Park, several Australian forwards went missing when the pressure became too intense and if that occurs again in tonight’s Test, they could experience a similar drubbing to last year’s embarrassing 53-8 trouncing in Johannesburg. Also, if these forwards again fail to perform, their hopes of making the 2011 World Cup will be virtually doomed because Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is certainly on to them. It is clearly apparent that the Wallabies are missing the impact of back-rower Rocky Elsom, who will walk back into the Test team in the next few weeks when he recovers from his knee injury. Until then, the other forwards must pick up the slack and be prepared to stop being nice guys if the Test, as expected, gets heated. The Springboks know they can distract the Wallabies with belligerent tactics and if that occurs, it is up to the visitors to stand up and rumble. The Springboks will get the message.
Hello almal.
Moer, maar my kop is seer vandag na al die rugbydoppe gister.
En dis boonop hel warm, ek sit nou maar n paar koue biere en drink onder die lugreeling, kyk of dit nie help nie.
4
Antagonise Bakkies BothaThe Springboks second-rower is a loose cannon. At a Cape Town press conference yesterday, Botha, with a deadpan expression, showed he was a master comic, with some great one-liners. He also stressed that despite repeated yellow cards and suspensions, he would not temper his behaviour. He will continue to flirt with the law book. So what the Wallabies have to do is provoke him into losing the plot and force him into a stint on the sidelines. Then the weight of numbers will work in the Wallabies’ favour.
5
Learn from the All BlacksThe Wallabies have been closely watching videos of the two recent Springboks-All Blacks Tests. Hopefully, they will get the message of not doing what their trans-Tasman neighbours attempted to do. The All Blacks got in all sorts of bother during the Durban Test by failing to adapt to the Springboks’ kicking game. Apart from struggling to take the incessant high balls from Springboks five-eighth Morne Steyn, they then fell into the trap of attempting to run everything back at them. Often as a result they were stalled in their half of the field, where they repeatedly lost the ball at the breakdown or were penalised. And with Steyn on song with his kicking boot, the All Blacks soon found themselves well behind on the scoreboard. The Wallabies know the dangers of being caught near their own try line, and are bound to play ugly – by kicking everything straight back at the Springboks in what will be an unappetising game of keepies-off. That won’t excite spectators but it is the only way to stay in touch with the Springboks.
6
Play the cornersThe Wallabies at last boast enough reliably accurate kickers to feel confident they can place their opponents exactly where they want on the field. They will probably not toss up as many bombs as Steyn is bound to do but if Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes do what they have shown at training this week with judicious chip kicks, they should be able to force the Springboks into constantly having to manoeuvre their way out of their own quarter. Playing to the corners will also put pressure on the Springboks lineout. Admittedly, Victor Matfield and Botha are top-quality lineout performers, but the Wallabies perform well against them and it won’t be as lopsided as during the Springboks-All Blacks Tests, where New Zealand often did not contest. A lineout win against the throw and, who knows, the Wallabies will suddenly become more than just a threat.
7
Composure, composure, composureLuke Burgess has to stand up to the intense pressure at the breakdown and at scrum time, as well as improve the quality of his box kicking. He will no doubt be targeted by the Springboks and has to respond. Adam Ashley-Cooper must take every bomb kicked at him. He must communicate well with his wingers, Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell. The Australian defence must continue to be impenetrable. Every forward has to be sighted in open play making a difference. If an opportunity comes, unlike the case at Eden Park, take it. And if the Wallabies get an early lead, don’t defend it, extend it.
So ja, voel al klaar beter.
Sal bietjie lees hier.
Superbul, wie is Greg Growden, n Ozzie joernalis?
En hoe lyk die weer in die kaap, gaan dit nat wees?
4 Pietman
Het jy daai gemors gekyk gisteraand. Nee hel ek het lanklaas so swak vertonning van die Bulle gesien. Net heeltyd met die ref en teenstandes probeer veg, en selfs die bek geveg verloor. Kuun se aandele het kwaai gedrop gisteraand.
9
Ja en nogal n irriterende Aussie.
Maar soms doen hy skerp artikels ek dink hy word hoog geag daai kant.
Kyk sy quotes-
The Meads message
Sir Colin Meads, widely adjudged New Zealand’s greatest player, now enlightens audiences at rugby functions throughout the Shaky Isles with his down-on-the-farm philosophies. A NZ Rugby Heaven website article listed some of his best lines, including: (on law changes) “I can’t follow the rules. Does anybody out there know what’s happening in the rucks and mauls? Because I bloody don’t.”
On rugby psychology: “I never needed someone to tell me I’d played a bad game. I knew it. I’d just play better next week to make sure I stayed in the team.”
On Laurie Mains: “He was a bloody good coach. Not great company, though. Lemon Face the players used to call him.
” When Meads played he would have steak and eggs for breakfast, cold meat with mashed potatoes and butter for lunch and a cup of tea with eight sugars. He was recently involved in All Blacks management, where he was confronted by the team dietitian. “She reckoned pasta was the best thing to have. Ha! If that was true the Italians would be world champs but they’re bloody useless.”
10# Ja, ek het later opgehou kyk.
Swak wedstryd, in alle opsigte.
Ek het dit nie verwag nie.
Kom ons hoop dis die laaste keer.
Bulle le nou onder die flippin WP op die log.
Kan jy glo Griekwas het gemors met OVS, en nou gaan val die Bulle so vas.
Daai Strauss is goed hoor.
Kuun moet sy hare laat sny en sy koppie regkry, binne en buite.
Sien op Yahoo dis mooi weer vandag in die Kaap, geen reen word voorspel nie.
Behoort n lekker game te wees, veral met al daai fetchers.
Gaan close wees……
Stem oor Kuun saam, n kaptein moet decent lyk , anders straal hy die beeld uit van n rebel en die hele span raak rebels, dit was regtig goor.
Jy die Griekwa game gekyk?
Sien John Smit se kop is reg aangeskroef, hy sal moontlik die manne weer gefokus hou.
Springbok captain John Smit outlined his fears on Friday morning when he explained the challenge posed by the Wallabies. “They have different strengths and they have good players,” said Smit.
“They prepare well and they do their homework.
“They disect South African rugby better than most teams. They have ideas on how to play us and how to play around us.
“They engineer their preparation a bit better than most.”
Smit said the build-up to Test matches against England and Australia were usually more intense because of all the “talk and ho-ah” that precedes it.
“What we can expect on Saturday is what we have been getting from Australia over the past couple of seasons – a tough Test match, which could go either way,” said Smit.
“They will be able to front up in all departments, it (the contest) will be close everywhere.
“They have a number of players that are stalwarts and one only have to look at their front two – George Smith and Stirling Mortlock.
“George has played over a 100 games and no one can ever remember that he had a bad game. He’s been on form since he started out.
“The same could be said about Mortlock, he’s the experienced campaigner out wide.
“Around those two guys are formidable players as well, so its a good team of good players.
“Man-for-man they are certainly up to beating any team, so it’s a combined team effort they’ve been building on since (coach) Robbie Deans got there (in December 2007) and that will be our biggest threat on Saturday.
“There is a situation waiting for the team to crack under pressure (after back-to-back Tests against New Zealand).
“Our mindset is getting the intensity up.
SB #14
Ja, gekyk.
daai Riaan Viljoen is die WP se tier elke keer, van sy Valke dae af.
Glo nie hy het al teen WP verloor nie.
Jy daai mail gekry van Manly se groot slang in Oz?
Kyk bietjie.
Ja gesien , dis ongelooflik hoe sterk daai slang is , ek dink hy het te veel afgebyt daar maar nog steeds unbelievable.
Dit moet seker n luislang of Boa wees.
16.
Het jy gehoor tydens die komentaar het hulle gepraat van die 1970 span se wen teen die Blou Bulle, hulle het die naweek daar n reunie van al die spelers.
Gisteraand sien ek op Faceboek dat Willie van Zyl n Griekwa ondersteuner is, ek wonder of hy dalk weer sal blog as hy weet van ons plek.
18# Willie se mense kom van die N-Kaap af, Olifantshoek se wereld (Isi ook).
Woon nou op Gansbaai.
Dit was 1971se finaal, Peet Smith se span, met Mannetjies, Piet Joggie en daai manne.
Peet se broer Tos was die heelagter, en OldGriqua op keo (Keith Sweeny) een van die vleuels. Ek het later jare op Upington dikwels teen sommige van hulle gespeel, Blhoo en Tony M ook.
Mannetjies, toe hy dik begin raak het, was op n kol skrumskakel vir NOK en Victoria-Wes se dorpspan!
18# Willie sal.
Hy mail my nog af en toe.
Ek kan hom laat weet, as julle wil?
19
Rekord boeke se 1970, nie n groot issue nie maar ek was toe 11 jaar en het BAIE baie hartseer gevoel oor my span se verloor, was dit nie ook die jaar waar Brain Lohore se ABs so lekker op hul moer gekry het nie, met die einste Piet Visasie soos Spiekeries hom genoem het op losskakel nie?
12 September 1970
Ellispark, Johannesburg
South Africa
20
New Zealand
17
Captain: Dawie de Villiers Referee: Bert Woolley (South Africa)
Coach: Johan Claassen Attendance: 65000
Team:
Combined caps: 230 tests (starting 15)
Position Player Province Age Prev Tests Scoring
Loose-head Prop Mof Myburgh N-Tvl 34 17
Hooker Piston van Wyk N-Tvl 26 3
Tight-head Prop Hannes Marais EP 28 23
Lock Frik du Preez N-Tvl 34 32
Lock Johan Spies N-Tvl 25 3
Flank Piet Greyling Tvl 28 18
Flank Jan Ellis SWA 28 24
Eighthman Lofty Nel W-Tvl 35 10
Scrumhalf (C) Dawie de Villiers Tvl 30 24
Flyhalf Piet Visagie Griquas 27 19 1 try
Left Wing Gert Muller WP 22 7 1 try
Inside Centre Joggie Jansen OFS 22 3
Outside Centre Mannetjies Roux Griquas 31 26
Right Wing Syd Nomis Tvl 28 18
Full Back Ian McCallum WP 26 3 1 conversion, 4 penalties
New Zealand: 1 try, 1 conversion, 4 penalties
21# Ja, ek praat nou kuk, jy is reg, was 1970.
Ek dink nou aan Bulle/Tvl in 1971.
1970 se AB’s, toe Joggie Jansen vir Wayne Cottrell amper vrek geduik het op Loftus, en Siddie, Siddie Siddie gaan score het.
Dink ons het 17-9 gewen, soiets.
Tweede toets op Nuweland toe slaan Fergie McCormack Sid Nomis se tanne uit en ons verloor net-net 9-8 (?)
22# Dink Lofty was die oudste Springbok ooit.
24# Op daai stadium, 1970.
Johan Ackermann was beslis ouer
1970
20-17 New Zealand
14-3 New Zealand
8-9 New Zealand
17-6 New Zealand
21# Ek het Piet Visagie se eerste toets bygewoon as laaitie, Franse op Nuweland.
26# So my geheue is darem nie te swak nie!
Ek het die tellings van die eerste twee toetse reg.
Sie in die vorige jaar 1969 het ons die Aussies goed opgedonner
1969
8-11 England V
3-6 Scotland V
19-8 Australia W
11-3 Australia W
16-9 Australia W
30-11 Australia W
http://www.genslin.us/bokke/
29# Praat later, ek het klas oor n uur, gaan gou regmak en n vinnige power nap vang.
Tjeers.
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