Between the referee, Habana and box kicks the Springboks nearly lost this Test. The score line is certainly flattering to the Welsh and we should be concerned by the fact that we made such hard work to put away a Welsh team that was fairly average on the day.
In the end the Springboks showed great character and composure, coming back from 17-6 down. Things started going better when the Springboks kept the ball in hand and kicked less. In fact they started off well by keeping the ball in hand forcing a penalty within the first minute. The Springboks then got the ball again and at about 2 minutes into the game they gave the ball away with a silly box kick. The Springboks didn’t see the ball again until after the first Welsh try, 3 minutes later.
This try of course was no try as there was undeniably gross obstruction by Shanklin.
[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0VhC4uJO0I&feature=player_embedded [/youtube]
The Springboks again went on attack after that try and created a 2-man overlap on the left hand side, just for Francois Steyn to ruin the overlap by skipping two players, sending the ball with a long pass to Habana on the wing. It was really very simple what they needed to do, Steyn or the man next to him should have ran directly at the his opposite outside defender and that would have put at least 2 Springboks (three if Steyn kept the ball) in space on the outside. In fact the man outside Steyn could have made a dummy angled run to the inside of Steyn to draw the defenders in and/or made them hesitate. Even more basic just moving the ball throught the hands would have created the overlap. [There were a few more such incidents in the match where the Springboks built clear overlaps and then with poor passing /decision making ruined what looked like certain tries].
The Springboks then forced a ruck on the Welsh goal line and out went the ball to Spies, who was firstly standing too deep and secondly had no support players, trying to force his way through 5 Welsh players.
That was just absolute rubbish playmaking.
I am getting increasingly irritated and frustrated with the Springbok backline play. Not only are they making annoying mistakes on defense but they are butchering tries with poor decision making and are also far too one dimensional when they send the ball down the line.
The second Welsh try also resulted from a kick down field. The kick was on and probably the right option as the Springboks were pinned in their 22m area but with the best lineout in world rugby why not kick the ball out?
The third Welsh try was on first impression a dubious one. I was not entirely convinced George North was not in front of Stephen Jones when he gave the cross-kick. On the video below it seems that he was not (if so then marginaly so) and surely he should get the benefit of the doubt (if there is any). So I can live with the try being awarded. A lot more concerning is the fact that this try was again the result of Habana sitting too flat and infield on defence.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLkLwlXXtg8&feature=player_embedded [/youtube]
Last week I was full of praise for Ruan Pienaar. This week he had an average game in comparison and I thought we looked a little more dynamic around the fringes when Francois Hougaard came on. Ruan Pienaar again controlled the game well around the rucks and scrums but the Welsh defence was a lot more aggressive on the gain line than was the case with Ireland. Wales obviously watched the Ireland game and sharpened up their defence around the fringes. This is where your flyhalf needs to start creating play a little wider and Morné again did not impress as a playmaker. Ruan Pienaar kicked too much, probably on instruction, and that deterred from his overall performance. It is interesting that the Springboks forced only one penalty after Hougaard had come on.
I might be a bit hard on Bryan Habana in my first sentence but his defense is still a huge concern. The Springboks look vulnerable every time the opponents took the ball to his side of the field and his direct opponent, an 18-year old, scored two tries. Once again a try against the Springboks by means of a simple corner kick, the result of Bryan Habana being out of posistion. How many more of these corner kick tries are we going to give away?
Deon Stegmann played well, being active on defense and at the breakdowns, but Willem Alberts made a huge impact when he came on. One must however say he fulfilled and is expected to fulfill a different role to that demanded from Deon Stegmann though.
In the end I thought the Springboks played better in the first half than the half time score suggests, apart from repeatedly kicking possession away, we actually looked OK when we kept the ball in hand.
Matfield’s captaincy and the calming effect he seems to be having on the team must be complimented. If there were any doubts whether the Springboks can go to the worldcup without John Smith then I think these first two games have provided us with an answer.
The way the Springboks came back in the second half, the commitment of the players and the defense at the end was impressive. The Springboks should start to trust themselves with the ball in hand and they clearly need to work on their attacking variations and their decision making when they do take the ball down the line.
The Springboks need to impliment more “starter moves” and apply more variety as they seem to be doing the same thing over and over, namely forwards coming in on an angle and bashing it up or Jean de Villiers bashing it up.
I would have liked to see the Springboks play more for the corners in the first half and maul, pod or impliment those “starter moves”, off the lineouts in their 22.
Tactically the Springboks didn’t play as well as they can and their lack of initiative (predictability) when running with the ball as well as poor decision making when they create overlaps /opportunities, were in general, disappointing for me.
However, I am as happy as the next person with the win and thought the Springboks made Wales look better than they were.
Firstly it is a good thing that the NH is so one dimensional in their attacks.
Every team tries the same kick to the corner and thus far it has worked, the question is will the springboks learn from it though?
Secondly in the first half our defenses kept on creeping in and Wales should have scored more tries out wide, as they had an overlap there many a time.
aplon is worth his weight in gold, the welsh center (Shanklin?) reconed he could run through aplon with two players on his outside and butchered a certain try.
Overall we were pathetic, we will need an 80 minute performance to beat England.
Blah blah blah….
Nog ‘n kraak-Habana-af-artikel. Noudat Basson uit is, hoe wil julle he moet die agterlyn lyk? Jacobs inbring seker? C’mon, be real…
Rugbyprof wrote:
Saying something like it is is notperson-bashing (afkraak). Fact is a try was scored on Habana’s side of the field in almost every single international played this year. It that normal? Is that no reason for concern? Is that what you call the best wing in the country?
Rugbyprof wrote:
Easy, put Aplon and Mvovo on the wings and either Lambie or Zane on fullback. What is the problem?
Habana was the KAKKEST Springbok on the pitch on Saturday, followed closely by Chiliboy Ralepelle…
Man, Habana’s time has come and gone…
He’s OVER, FINISHED, DONE, VERBY….
@ grootblousmile:
Like Ntini , maybe stretched it a bit too long. My problem with him is that he does the same thing over and over, there is nothing new from him. He is still bloody good but they have studied his game and the opponents are waiting for him. And worse they know his weak points and target that.
If he can step up and do something new he might extend hid career a bit. Now he only there because of his reputation.
5: ja jong, die bullies het hom helemaal opgebruik daar in Pta, nou is hy nikswerd nie ! 😉
Wat die span betref, dink ek die voorry moet rus, asook JDV met sy knaende besering.
Agterste driehoek: Zane, Gio en Mvovo.
FH op skrummie inkom
Hulle kan maar ‘n paar loossies en slotte ook roteer.
@ bdb:
Jy ken mos Victor , jy sal hom met n trekker weg moet sleep
With Bjorn injured (and considering who is on tour), I would play the following team against Scotland:
15. Zane Kirchner (with clear instructions to kick less up-and-unders)
14. Gio Aplon
13. Frans Steyn
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Lwazi Mvovo (his defence is MUCH better than Habana’s defence… and it’s time for him to shine)
10. Patrick Lambie (let’s give him a start and see what he achieves, have Elton Jantjies on the bench should things go pear and rest Morné)
9. Francois Hougaard (with instructions to kick less than Ruan did and play his natural game at No 9, Ruan on the bench)
8. Willem Alberts (rest Spies)
7. Juan Smith
6. Deon Stegmann (we need a fetcher for loosie balance, Keegan Daniel on the bench)
5. Victor Matfield (captain, hopefully for World Cup too)
4. Flip van der Merwe (with Bakkies on the bench… what an impact player)
3. Jannie du Plessis (CJ on the bench)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Adriaan Strauss on the bench… not Chiliboy… eishhhhhh)
1. Beast Mtawarira
Scotland is the weakest Home Nation, so we can experiment a bit… but have quality on the bench…
Springboks need to play more ball in hand possession rugby, because when they do they actually look good… and that is the game which suits the New Interpretations anyway..
I got so miffed with Ruan Pienaar’s repeated and needless Box Kicks on Saturday… hell man.
We gifted Wales so much ball on Saturday, specially in the 1st half!
@ grootblousmile:
No problem with your team but say they smash the Scotts by 40-50 would you play that same team the next week?
grootblousmile wrote:
Scotland have beaten France, Argentinia and England recently. They are a much improved side. The AB showed them lots of respect and started with their A-team. The Scots will be hurting after the poor performance against the AB’s. Expect them to come out firing.
Due to the party we had to attend on Saturday evening and a total town power blackout yesterday (they are upgrading some sub-stations) I have not yet watched the All Blacks demolition of Scotland… recorded it and will probably watch it tonight… sound impressive though.
Also recorded the England / Wallabies match and will watch that with interest.
I said last week already that England’s forwards seem very strong and capable, and was tempted to pick the Poms on Bru, only my Southern Hemisphere loyalty stopped me from doing so.
Bokke should comfortably beat the Scots…. but England is a huge hurdle on the way to a Grand Slam….
grootblousmile wrote:
Me too. F**k I got so upset my wife had to ask me to calm down. I think he was under instruction, if not, he needs a good old ‘uitk*k’.
11@ superBul:
Habana and Chiliboy would not make my Bokke team for the rest of this tour…. never again if I have my wish.
Then on flyhalf I would still play Morné as my No 1 flyhalf…. but Lambie & Jantjies can do the job against Scotland.
12@ McLook:
I hear what you’re saying, and my chosen side does not vary too much from the best squad on tour…. and yes, we need to respect the Scots, value possession, play possession rugby…
But you guys have shouted so loud for Lambie… so give the oke a chance, I say… resting Morné for a week.
grootblousmile wrote:
That was indeed an interesting match. England just kpt the ball and smached the Aussies backwards at the breakdowns and scrummed them into the ground. England played almost SA rugby; they are just better at recycling the ball than us.
The Wallabies always struggle against the poms and all the poms does is they dominate then in the scrums. It seems to be the recepy to beat the Aussies. NZ tend to do the same thing namely target the Ausssie scrum. The fact that we can’t scrum them into the ground says something about our coaches and scrummaging technique.
9/10: dit is ongelukkig baie duidelik dat spelers onder instruksies speel om te skop en te skop. Ek het die naweek die finaal tussen Bulle en Vrystaat in 2006 gekyk, en MS was baie gevaarlik met bal in hand. RP was ook altyd ‘n hardlopende skrummie, en nou skop hy net. Jammer, maar ons kort ‘n goeie agterlyn afrigter, en balbesit wedstrydplan, want ons het goeie spelers.
Ek sal ook nie omgee as ons saterdag die b span speel, paar ouens rus of op die bank sit, en selfs eksperimenteer nie, maar van al die ouens, dink ek ons Sharks Bokke voorry kort rus na 3 baie harde naweke in ‘n ry, en is ek bang hul val plat teen Engeland, so hulle moet rus, of op die bank wees. Dieselfde geld vir JDV, hy is ‘n moet vir Eng, en as hy nog sukkel met sy besering, dan is saterdag die ideale ruskans. Speel Lambie en FS op senter, dit kan dalk net werk !
14@ McLook:
I was a bit in the poo on Saturday….
Handbriekie absolutely hates arriving late for anything, we had a party in Pretoria at 19:00… the Bokke match ended at 18:23 SA Time… she was bloody sitting waiting in the Blik Met Wiele for me the last 10 minutes… and I got the silent treatment during the trip to Pretoria.
We arrived at the party at 19:10 (I was a bit heavy on the accellerator to Pretoorsdorp), before three quarters of the other guests anyway…
grootblousmile wrote:
I agree on both accounts. We need to play the posseion game. Don’t allow the scots to get momentum and come into the game. I want to see some more enterprise in the backline and maybe Lambie can provide. However start conservative push them into the corners and maul and pod them.
Ek dink Chile het glad nie te sleg gespeel hierdie jaar nie, heelwat beter gedoen as wat ek verwag het. Ja, en daar is ‘n paar hakers beter as hy, en sy twee ingooie was sleg, maar saterdag was weereens die afrigters se flop om hom op te stuur in so spannnende wedstryd aan die einde, heeltemal onnodig terwyl ons Bissie nodig gehad het veral omdat Stegmann af was.
So, ‘chill out’ met ou Chile. 😀
19@ McLook:
How is the Scotland line-out, any good? And their scrums??
grootblousmile wrote:
Hahaha hulle weet ook net hoe om mens te manipuleer. Seker nou nog kwaad omdat jy so gejaag het.
20@ bdb:
Nee hel, ek is nou uitge-Chili….
Ek het hard probeer, meestal vir SuperBul se onthalwe, om Chiliboy genoeg kans te gee…. maar hy kom nie die mas op nie. Hy sit so paar goeie tekkels in, maar dis ook maar al.
22@ McLook:
Neewat, ek het weer mooi opgemaak… punte gebou…. hahaha
GBS when you watch the AB game see if you agree with me, i thought the game could be divided in 3 parts , 1st AB with DC sublime running the Scots to pieces, 2nd part after DC and RM left the field AB not half as good and the 3rd part when the Scots made all their changes the AB ran away with it again.
grootblousmile wrote:
Their set piece is more than reasonable and probably the best part of their game. They lack some real flair out wide but it is not totally absent with the Lamont brothers. They are also trying to play the faster game but the AB didn’t allow them to control the ball. This is here were we might have a problem; we need to derpive them of ball and I am not sure we are going to do that.
Sonny Bill Williams had a good game (MOTM) and created at least two of the tries with some great offloads. Hosea Gear scored two (think it was two) tries in which he had to do a lot of work and Carter had another great match scoring one and him and Sonny Bill making one for Mills.
The AB looked like the are getting back on form and it was not so much the Scots that were poor as that the AB gelled and played out of their skins.
25@ superBul:
Will watch with interest… can believe you though, All Blacks are ordinary without Dan and Makou.
Superbul@25. I’ll agree with that assessment.
bdb wrote:
Morné het my op ‘n staduim baie beïndruk met die bal in die hand. Het sy agterlyn mooi weg gestuur maar hy sukkel met die plat op die voordeelyn speel styl. Persoonlik dink ek hulle moet net meer van decoy runners gebruik maak -soos die Aussies- en die ball agter die senters wat ogaan stuur vir Aplon and Habana. Wissel dit net bietjie af. Nie nodig om moerse veranderinge te maak nie net biejie afwisseling and variasie. Dink dit sal state beter gaan volgende jaar as FdP terug is.
28@ McLook:
Springboks finishing in our backline is woeful… like you said, we squander overlaps left right and centre.
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