At the end of this year’s Tri-Nations the Springbok management will have to stand objectively and clinically look at the difference between blind loyalty and blind faith as opposed to reward in selecting the best Bokke to lead them into next year’s Rugby World Cup.
This is not their only poser, they have to decide whether Assistant Staff has the ability and afinity to take it competently from here as well as how to adapt or fine-tune game plans for the World Cup.
Today I look at player selection only, the game plan strategies and coaching staff will have to wait for another time.
Somewhere the line has to be drawn between continuing along the path with players AND their form on the field. A year out from the Rugby World Cup is already a bit late in the day and I am one who rues the chances not taken during the June Test window for bringing in some new faces and rejuvenating Bokke player ranks.
If we’re brutally honest, some Springbok players have disapointed us this season… John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Pierre Spies, Ricky Januarie, Bryan Habana, Wynand Olivier… to name just some of the the old stalwart names, which immediately springs to mind.
My questions are simple:
How long must players keep knocking on the door for inclusion?
How long can we persist with players who cannot effect the game plan envisaged?
How long can we afford to carry players who cannot give us more than 50% possession or players who cannot make their first time tackles?
Under the Laws as they currently stand and as they are interpreted, the attacking team is favoured, the team with possession is favoured, making it imperative for the Bokke to have more possession of the ball and giving less senseless possession away.
This immediately impacts on 2 specific areas of play, the battle of the breakdown and defensive competence. These two areas are non-negotiable areas where the Springboks need to sharpen up dramatically if there is to be a hope of winning and retaining the World Cup crown.
With this in mind, the backrow forward dynamics, or loosies as we call them, needs to be addressed first and foremost, not only regarding exactly who they are but more importantly how they approach their respective tasks. Having endured the unfortunate injuries to Heinrich Brüssow as well as Juan Smith’s untimely injury and personal family loss, has been a huge stumbling block and has hampered the Bokke, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Add to that a No 8 who shuns from the hard graft and who misses critical tackles, no wonder the Springboks have had a very disapointing Tri-Nations campaign in 2010.
The second aspect to be addressed is the hooker berth and captaincy. Can we afford a hooker and captain who misses his jumpers in the lineouts with regularity (at present) or who is defensively less than solid in the tackle area…. OR… do we go for someone who ticks these boxes and move the capatincy to someone like Juan Smith? My preferance lies in the latter, there will be those of you who disagree with me.
The third aspect is replacement or “early retirement” of Springboks who just do not add enough constructive value anymore… players like Bakkies Botha, Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies, Ricky Januarie and Wynand Olivier. Do we have replacements for them, players who are curretly better and who offers more for the future? The answer is an undoubted YES… Flip van der Merwe, Lwazi Mvovo, Duane Vermeulen or Willem Alberts, Francois Hougaard and of course Juan de Jongh.
Where we have limited depth in certain positions, like TIGHT HEAD PROP, training and skills in those areas of expertise has to be spot-on for those in the saddle already. Give extra attention to Jannie du Plessis, BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde… get them up to speed! The same applies to OUTSIDE CENTRE….
Considering this, how’s the following for the almost immediate future:
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (C), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
With the following players (amongst others) on the bench or in the broader squad… Patrick Lambie, Francois Hougaard, Schalk Burger, Danie Rossouw, B J Botha, Gary Botha, Beast Mtawarira.
My feeling is that it is dangerous to sit on our thumbs and do nothing, the game evolves, so should we!
wat ek dink is dat ons (ou)manne gaan vou in die wc en dat die jongelinge nie naastenby genoeg ondervinding gaan he nie vic barny bakkies danie is almal aan die verkeerde kant van 30 terwyl die ab spelers nou gemideld 28 is,wat my bekommer is die feit dat ons te veel op hulle staatmaak as hulle crash voor dan sit ons turf,so 2-3 maande terug was hier ‘n berig van tim noaks op en ek begin dink dat sy voorspellings besig is om waar te word,geen disrespek nie maar ek dink die wc gaan net 3 maande te ver weg wees vir bogenoemde viertal
@ grootblousmile:
28
Na die toets het ek gese dat JS amper so rol moet vervul soos wat FduP laasweek gevul het, mentor vir Hougaart en op die kantlyn as morele ondersteuner. Of soos ek ook gese het dalk meer n impak speler soos Os destyds. 50 minute begin of laaste 30 min. Sy kaptins beslisings en teenwoordigheid maak nie meer n indruk op die skeidsregters nie.
Butch nee NEE , waar de hel is Grant?
Chillieboy ek is neutraal , ek sal jou n artikel mail wat tans op voldys is oor hom.
Habana se tyd is verby, hy sal nog so opflikering of twee he. Bitter min vleuels hou so lank. Sy variasie is ook nie genoeg nie. Hy groei nie meer nie en almal ken sy truuks.
Januarie , ek glo regtig hy kan maar gaan, daar moet beter wees.
32@ superBul:
Jy sien, ons stem dan eintlik saam oor hernuwing wat spelers aanbetref…. en wie hulle is wat maar kan gaan.
Dink nie jy stem met my saam oor Spies nie, miskien ook nie oor Bakkies nie….
smallies72 wrote:
Ek voel natuurlik sterk dat as n nuweling instap in n goed “gesetelede” span dit net die eerste nerves is wat kan pla, maar dan ek glo dat Hougaart wat in sy 3de wedstryd gespeel het reeds sy nerves gesetel het in toets 1 en 2, hy was briljant Saterdag.
Daar is nog sulke spelers.
@ grootblousmile:
ek dink spies moet so bietjie tyd gaan spandeer en ‘n tegniese ontleding van sy hele steil van speel gaan maak
wat ek bedoel is bv sy ligaams houding in die tackle situasie ,gaan vergely hom en juan dan sal mens sien hy is gans te regop
so ook sy manier van bal optel agter die skrum
sy manier van tackle ens ens
@ grootblousmile:
Ja my maat ek voel net sterk oor die manne wat elke jan rap en sy maat nou in die span wil he. Hier is een ou hier rond , ek glo jy weet van wie ek praat, wat lekker sal voel as daar 100 Springbokke in n jaar gekies word.
Hi there ouens. I haven’t left a comment around here for a while, so I am not gonna pretend like I can just step in and take over, but I would like to add my 2 cents worth.
GBS, goeie artikel. Baie kan nog gese word, maar ek dink jy het mooi die belangrike punte aangevat.
Pokkel @7 hoor hoor. Dis een ding waaraan almal (insluitend ek self) skuldig is en dit is onnodig.
Yes, we all have our favorites, and at the moment we would all like to shout blood and murder in the streets. But like Lion4ever said, experience wins WC. Yet, while guys like Os had that air about him, could we say the same of JS after Saturdays game? Could Bakkies with his serious onfield discipline problems calm young guys around him like like Monty and Os did?
Now, I pose another question to everyone… since it is “an open secret” that its the players in charge of the Boks squad, why not keep them around?
Why dont we pick a completely young squad for the Grand Slam. Guys like Liebenberg, Hargraves, Anton van Zyl, Bekker (if not injured) Freaking Sarel Pretorius, Mvovo, Basson, Mapoe, de Jongh, Ebersohn. Go ape sh*t crazy… and then take the old guys with t guide the players… mentally and on the field. Almost like a school of hard knocks. It may sound crazy, but imagine you have Matfield teaching our best 3/4 young locks the finer pints of line out jumping. Have Jean Div J.Fourie there to show the young guys why they are the most capped center pair in Bok history. Let the young guys play with the old guard in the stands. Let them show, teach them how to deal with victory and defeat.
At the same time the older guys gets a rest.
One more thing. I feel like they should rest all the guys who need a break out of the Currie Cup. Its senseless to let them play. But thats just me…
Pokkel wrote:
True, what you say now why do they undermine the Bulls players with crap statements. Stand behind the team that won us the 2009 Tri Nations, even if there is too many Bulls players to you liking.
I know what i just said will be seen as true Bulls provincialism but we won with that team, now that all the combinations are broken we lose left right and centre.
The team does not have a clear cut direction, The clash of styles weakens us.
Greenpoint-Gunner wrote:
Just look at the Gio Aplon case, he played very well last week. Now he is dropped for one of those old hands. What do you think goes on in his mind. Remember he will not badmouth anyone now , he could sink his own career. But if you tell me he would sit and watch Frans Steyn on Saturday without some envy he is better than most.
Players like Victor said in a interview before the S14 finals that he has a lot of goals , he wanted the 3rd S14, and he said he would love a 2nd RWC. And knowing him he eyed the Bok record of most tests and now he might even drive himself for a hatrick of Super 15 titles. You cant keep a player going at full tilt if you take away his goals.
ok net op ‘n punt van orde toe daar EEN vrystatre gekies is het ons die blacks blerrie amper gewen.
Dan is die oplossing mos maklik kies TWEE vrystaters 😉
@ smallies72:
Smallies my maat die vrystaters was nog altyd staatmakers, en jul styl is goed aanpasbaar.
die WP manne sn ooo nee hel , hulle kan net een ding op n slag doen , keer of driee afstaan. Kyk Habs het agteruitgegaan en ook so stilweg Jaque, waneer laas het jy hom sien speel….:lol: 4 weke terug dink ek.
@ superBul:
jy sien super dis al daai blerrie snoek en wyn suip wat die probleem is
ma ernstig hulle het agter uit gegaan MAAR mossie is nog pasgetroud so hy het n verskoning habana eish swak swak swak meskien moet hy maar weer senter gaan speel want hy is ma verbeelding loos hy kort gedrop word om net weer sy priorityte reg te kry
@ smallies72:
afgesaag of te not , wie kan in dick glo. sal graag wil hoor wat die man se tydens n oefening. en dan die gesigs uitdrukkings sien van die spelers.
@ superBul:
uhm lads uhm yes uhm run that way if someone gets in your way TURN
We are carying to many passengers in the bok team at the moment. Players with talent and who are performing for their provinces are showing a lack of interest.
Blaming the coach for disinterest is no excuse in my book, if you pull that green and gold over your head, you play as if it is the last game you will ever play.
I’m extremely dissapointed in the boks attitude at the moment, and their disciplinery actions speak volumes about their attitudes.
Tries Scored /Conceded in Tri Nations
2004-2007 All Teams Played 18 games
RSA 36/44
NZL 41/35
AUS 36/34
2008-2010
RSA 28/35 played 16 matches
AUS 28/42 played 15 matches
NZL 45/24 played 17 matches
@ Superbul 39.
Sorry man, I see now that I didn’t word my comment very well. Mind you, I sent it at 1:30 am from here in Korea, so I was a bit out of it…
What I meant was that the Bok management could choose a completely young squad, that includes Gio Aplon and Patrick Lambie at Fullback, but then take someone like Steyn with them to coach them individually. But not coach them on team tactics and game plan, but more on how to strike the ball ect, and what they can expect.
If anything, the senior guys should realise that yes, they will be sharing their secrets, but at this point its all about SA and the World Cup. Many of them will pack their bags soon anyway…
GBS, terloops, daai is ‘n BEF*KTE span. Een probleem though is… Juan de Jongh is ‘n natuurlike en baie beter buite senter.
So wat die sener posisie betref sal ek se, wag tot na volgende jaar se Super 15. Die Stormers het nou immers De Jongh, De Villiers en Fourie tot hul beskikking, so dan kan hule 2 maaande spndeer om te toets en te kyk watter kombinasie werk die beste, en dan kies die Bokke eenvoudig die combo. Jammer om van WO se k*k te hoor, hy het nou al genoeg kanse gehad.
@ Greenpoint-Gunner:
Ons se almal die coaches is swak , dan gee ons spelers wat die heel jaar goed was in die Super 14 onder beter coaches stick as hulle spel swak lyk onder daardie coaches, wat ons almal oor saam stem dat hulle swak is.
Kyk waar het talent verdwyn onder coaches wat hulle nie reg gebruik het nie, Brent Russel, Ruan Pienaar, Joe Peterson, Peter Grant, Wynand Olivier, 50/50 Frans Steyn….. Baie goeiespeler almal , maar nie onder Allister Coetzee en Dick Muir nie.
39@ superBul:
Dink jy regtig die ouens het dit in vir die Bulls spelers? Die ongelukkige ding uit die oogpunt van n’ Bulls ondersteuner is dat meeste van die Springbokke Bulle is, die feit is dat n’ hele paar van die Sharks beseer is en nie beskikbaar vir die Springbokke is nie, vat maar vir Beast, Bismarck, tot nou toe Frans Steyn, dan is daar n’ paar nuwelinge van die Stormers wat bygekom het.
Ouens soos John Smit, Bryan Habana vang net so baie kritiek.
Die Bulle wat meestal kretiek kry is Zane, Bakkies, Wynand Olivier en Morne Steyn.
Dit is net natuurlik dat die provinsie met die meeste bokke die meets kritiek gaan kry, dit is die law of averages.
Nou as ons gaan kyk na die Bulle wat kritiek gekry het, is dit alles “fair” kritiek
Bakkies maak k@k droog, Wynand was ie goed nie, Zane het te veel foute gemaak en tackles gemis, en dan Morne Steyn skop wel goed pale toe, maar sy algememne spel was nie great nie. Onthou ons het almal meer van hom verwag na die baie goeie Super 14 wat hy gehad het, en daarvolgens het hy teleur gestel.
So, ek is jammer as jy voel die Bulle kry die meeste kritiek, maar dit is maar ongelukkig hoe dit werk as die meeste bokke bulle is.
Sorry het vergeet van Spies, maar dan moet ons ook eerlik wees, hy het by die Bulls supporters ook kritiek gekry.
@ biltongbek:
WO het nie die wereld aan die brand gespeel nie, maar ek dink glad nie hy was sleg nie.
In konteks en as ‘n mens die ander spelers se vertonings in ag neem, was hy probably een van die beter spelers…
En Zane was seker die beste Bok op die veld in die eerste toets…
Kyk, ek se nie hy is ons antwoord op fullback nie, maar ‘n man moet krediet gee waar dit toekom…
Ek dink in elk geval AL die Bulls spelers moet terug gestuur word na hulle unie en Currie Beker gaan speel om te sien of hulle hul vorm kan herwin 🙂
@ Blouste:
Ek dink dit kan van meeste van die senior spelers gese word.
Die blote feit van die saak is ons het maar k@k perform in die Tri Nations.
Die scary ding vir my is wat gaan vorentoe gebeur, daar is ouens soos Tim Noakes wat wil he die senior spelers moet rus kry, en daar is baie ondersteuenrs wat veranderinge wil sien.
Op die oog af lyk dit of die hele spul maar mogge troffel is op die oomblik.
Ek is van mening dat n’ ou moet maar nie te veel verwag tot einde van die wereld beker nie, ek sal altyd die Bokke ondersteun, maar hierdie ding van die hel in raak elke week en teleurgesteld rondloop vir n’ week na die game versuur net n’ ou se lewe.
@ biltongbek:
Nee ek stem, ek dink die naweek se game gaan ek kyk sonder enige verwagtinge 😐
As so iets moontlik is…
Everybody blames the players.
It is true that when you pull the Bok jersey over your head you do not need any more motivation, and that all players both experienced and new should be willing to give all for their country.
However it takes more than passion and guts to beat the best.
The dynamic in a rugby team is built on trust and respect between the players and the coaching team.
The coach is responsible for selection, tactics, coaching technique, morale and motivation.
The players are responsible for performing for the coach to the best of their ability.
When a team is winning this happens with little difficulty.
When a team is losing then that trust and respect between players and coach comes under pressure.
If the players have any doubt about the selection, tactics and technical expertise of the coach then it becomes very difficult to keep the motivation, trust and respect at the optimum level needed to beat the best teams in the world.
Of course nobody would admit to this scenario.
We have the best players in the world.
All the talk about how bad some senior players have been and droping them before the world cup is rubbish.
All players experienced or new, have to be led in such a way that the coach gets the best out of them physically and emotionally.
It is a two way street.
If players cannot perform, of course they should be dropped.
However if you have the best players in the world but you cannor get the best out of them as a result of the inadequacies of the coach, then you have to feel for the players.
@ tight head:
I know a lot have been said on this issue but you are quite correct.
The same players all performed well in the S14 and now it looks as if they are way out of their depth…
Blame can only be put on the coaching staff…
@ Blouste:
Exactly Blouste and that is why I will support the senior players.
where’s everyone today? going to start my own website called “otter-talk” or “talk-botter” or something 🙂 ….chatting to ourselves here 🙂
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