Dwyer’s thoughts in blue with some commentary from my side in black.
The Boks were well under strength with about eleven first choice players missing and, as was clear with the second-string Wallabies against the Samoans, this is rarely good enough.
So clearly it is not just the Springboks who struggle with their second stringers. What worries me though is that we probably have more rugby players in the Western Cape than the entire Australia. One would think we have enough depth to be competitive with a second string team.
Maybe we as Springbok supporters sometimes underestimate the importance of established combinations and experience at Test level. Even so I was immensely annoyed by the lack of commitment at the breakdowns, the cluelessness or lack of direction on attack and the constant spilling of the ball.
However, vital elements of the Wallaby performance were massively improved – namely, numbers with commitment at the tackle contest, alignment and realignment of the attack, and straight running.
We were the exact opposite, we were too lateral and lacked numbers at the breakdowns and never took the ball up with directness and speed.
All of these will stand up against any opposition and, although coming opposition will offer much sterner defences, the finesse of the Wallaby performances will improve. It’s enough that this performance gives them a solid foundation on which to build. After the match, Rocky Elsom commented on the need for the Wallaby forward pack to provide the space for their lethal attack to operate. This has always been true for even the greatest attacking teams – indeed, this Wallaby team threatens to be one of those!
Make no mistake this Wallaby team had to endure massive criticism over the last two years but has shown steady improvement under the tutelage of Robbie Deans. Not only does the team show steady improvement but Deans has developed some new talent and at least some of his success with the team is a direct result of the development of young talent.
The Springboks in contrast have shown no improvement since Peter de Villiers and his two stooges took the reigns. In fac, the evidence suggests a steady decline and an inability to adjust to an evolving game.
The Wallaby defensive effort was also – for the greater part of the match – of the highest order. The role for the ‘10 slot defender’ was handed to Digby Ioane and he was superb. He must have tallied the highest all-time tackle count for any winger in an international. He simply revelled in the role and continued to offer himself, in both attack and defence, for the hard yards in the tight zones. Curiously, his ball-handling let him down on a number of occasions, some significant, but in his Tri Nations debut match – another surprising statistic – he made a significant contribution to the Wallaby performance.
The Wallaby defensive style consistently featured a lower body tackler – who stops them in their tracks – with a second tackler over the top, who prevents off-loads. With the second tackler intent on regaining his feet to initiate the counter-ruck, this was clearly an effective facet of their game that constantly pressured the Springbok team. Mental pressure, added to the obvious physical pressure, had an important effect on the accuracy of the Springbok play.
Interestingly the observation of the two tackler approach, one player stops the ball carrier and the second one goes for the ball. I wrote about this after the Reds / Crusaders game. The Reds used the same tactics to prevent the Sonny Bill Williams off-loads and to create turnovers. The ball spilling of the Springboks, I believe, was also a result of these tactics.
The Springbok defensive effort, on the other hand, was well short of the standard required. Their front row, in particular, was frequently found wanting, mainly beaten hopelessly for pace, and I think that their selectors will need to look again for genuine World Cup candidates to back up their first choices. Conversely, the Wallaby frontrow showed excellent pace. Tight-head Sekope Kepu even made one decisive tackle, running back chasing a Ruan Pienaar break.
These are significant contributions – and they are needed from all eight forwards. Alexander and Moore showed the same for their tries. As was required, they gained some dominance at the set scrum. If we can get Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson back for the World Cup, we have a serious group who can handle pretty much anything.
The Wallabies have always been more intent on selecting props that can run with the ball as compared to the Springboks who select props who can scrum first and it being a bonus if they can run as well with the ball. The Springbok props and John Smit was badly shown up on defence but the most annoying thing was that they selected props for the scrummaging part of it and then it still materialised that the Springbok scrum still could not dominate against a team renowned for their average scrummaging.
Like I wrote in a previous Article, it is a myth that the Springboks have a strong scrum. South Africa clearly have the players with enough strength and bulk to excel in the scrums but yet they do not, and one has to ask why. I am convinced the Springboks have a coaching problem in this regard. The coaches are just not technically astute enough.
A few weeks back, when commenting on Australia’s chances at the World Cup, I said that the Wallabies had probably more individuals than any other nation who could significantly alter the outcome of a match. Some of these – Genia, Cooper, Beale, Ioane and O’Connor – showed just that potency. The mere presence of these players anywhere near the ball raises the anxiety levels of defenders, and starts to ask difficult questions. With Elsom and Pocock starting to return to their best, the Wallaby team have a much more threatening look about them.
A couple of years ago James Horwill was also a genuine attacking threat and he has plenty more to offer. Think about how much the addition of Higginbotham and TPN – maybe even Samo and Timani – could mean to the support play. I have high hopes for our attack!
Do the Springboks have players who can alter the outcome of a match? I think Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie and Gio Aplon as well as Lwazi Mvovo and even Ashley Johnson has these abilities but the Springbok game is so rigid that these individuals cannot express themselves. Opening up the game so that these individuals can express themselves is also not going to work if Springbok forwards cannot create front foot ball.
Depth before width is key, the Springboks need to punch holes by taking the ball up with speed and then recycle briskly so that they can force the defense on the back foot and get the line to break-up.
Expecting your playmakers to alter a game with back foot ball is madness.
So just where are we, in terms of our readiness for the World Cup?
- I thought that Rob Simmonsplayed his best game at this level. He showed an admirable urgency, added to his normal high work-rate. More urgency is needed from other forwards; we looked a bit plodding at times.
- Our passing needs to improve a lot. Frequently it was too hard; at other times it was ill-directed. We left three or four tries on the grass, and this is not good enough. Diligence is needed from our coaching staff!
- We lost focus in the last quarter, no doubt influenced by the stack of substitutes made in this period. Our subs need to add to the performance, not detract. Elsom and Horwill were subbed off and they are both dominant influences on the pitch. Food for thought!
- The shape of our game was much better. During the telecast, Rod Kaferused the word ‘pattern’, but this suggests a preconceived sequence of plays, and is consequently a word that I hate. The foundations of the shape of our game came from (i) speed and numbers to the tackle, (ii) urgency in recycle and (iii) urgency in realignment. These factors impose a shape to your game, influenced only by the reaction of the defence, and make for a series of difficult questions of any defence.
- I have a strong feeling that Rocky is heading into top form – clearly a massive step forward for us. His captaincy is likewise looking more obvious – maybe the absence of pain, for the first time in a year, is helping.
- We are heading in the right direction. We’re not there yet, not by a long way, but we are on the right path!
Is there anyone who wants to share thoughts on where South Africa is in terms of readiness for the Rugby World Cup? Here are some of my thoughts on the matter:
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I thought Lambie was the only ray of light on the weekend.
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The Springbok lineout will be competitive with Matfield and Bakkies.
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An inform Fourie du Preez could be a factor.
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I think defensively the Springboks will do better once Jacque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Juan Smit and Willem Alberts are all back in the fold. This will also make the Springboks more competitive at the breakdowns.
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The two big challenges in the first round of RWC are going to come from Samoa and Wales and the Springboks will need to play a tight game against these teams. Don’t throw Fiji out the backdoor either. It will be futile to try and run the ball against these teams.
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The Springboks need to expose their young props –with talent- and some back-up locks during the Tri-Nations as they have no other choice because they’ll have to play a tight game during the RWC campaign.
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However, I would like to see the current Tri-Nations squad working on developing the ability to create depth –attacking the breakdowns with speed and explosiveness- and to spread the ball to the likes of Aplon, Mvovo and Basson so that they can stretch their legs against International competition. This might help them to develop their confidence in order to be able to jump on opportunities when it presents itself in the tight matches to follow. If the Springboks can improve these two aspects, namely blood the young props and learn to hit the advantage line with speed and explosiveness to create depth before width then I believe they could get some positives out of an embarrassing Tri-Nations.
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Other than the above I think the Springboks are in serious trouble in terms of readiness for RWC.
Piggyback Journalism.
Is that a term? Otherwise I’m coining it.
Ons moet net daaraan werk om ons eie bal te beskerm voor enigiets anders gebeur.
@ Die Blou Kuberruim Wandelaar:
DBKW haai ou ek weet wragtag nie wat is jou issue met McLook nie, ek verskil ook van mening maar Flok hel at least probeer die man n bydrae lewer op die site. Het jy nie Auther status nie? Dan moet ek GBS vra om jou te gee, want jy kan wel iets skryf.
Die ding is as jy iets skryf, moet jy een ding weet mense gaan dit of aanhang of afskiet. So verwag maar dan n paar persoonlike aanvalle. Man ek kan nie wag vir jou eerste artikel nie. Ons almal lees die WWW en soms is dit makliker om te copy en paste, weet net een ding as jy dit doen onderskryf jy die oorspronklike outeur se mening.
superBul wrote:
Wie’t nou ooit gesê “Piggyback Journalism” is ‘n slegte ding?
Ek sou dit ook doen, Bravo McLook! En daarom skryf ek ook dat ons hoort allereers daarop te fokus om by die afbreek punte uit te kom. Dit was my reaksie op die artikel.
Ek stem 100% saam dat ons cut en paste en dis goed so, net so lank ons erkenning gee, en dit doen McLook wel.
En ek het my eerste artikel al geskryf, hiersy: http://www.rugby-talk.com/?p=13584
(Nie met die hulp van GBS nie, soos McLook eergister gesê het.)
Ja, okei, ek hou daarvan om Lookie ‘n harde tyd te gee, maar as jy die artikel en die kommentaar lees wat daarop gevolg het wat ek in die skakel gelos het hierbo, dan sal jy seker verstaan hoekom.
As far as our front row is concerned, IMO our coaches and players have a preconceived idea that bilk alone can make a good prop.
We don’t seem to have anyone capable of coaching or mentoring props in the technical aspects of the scrum.
When I was playing club Rugby I had a former provincial prop who taught me ALL of the subtle differences of the aspects of the scrummage. And I can assure you, there are lots that 98% of referees would never spot in a decade of whistle blowing.
Where are those top class props of yesteryear now?
I have not commented here for some time, as I have simply become gatvol of the destruction that the appointment of this coach has meant to our rugby.
This damage is far greater and more serious than is realized today and it will take time to try and fix the ground that SA rugby has lost in the last few years.
International rugby is about rugby intelligence and the ability to progress and adapt every season.
We simply are stuck with none of this evident in the current coach.
I agree with the excellent summing up from Mc Look, but fear that the mentality of brute strength at the expense of technique and tactical play is so much part of our rugby culture that we are constantly out smarted by thinking rugby teams that are fast excellerating away from us.
I am tired of listening to the embarrasing nonsense that comes out of the mouths of our national coaches and players.
Others must be laughing at us and I do not enjoy that.
As for the scrums, we simply are bad scrummagers and will be out scrummed by most teams at the WC.
Once again we have sacrificed technique for brute strength and our players and coaches are so far down that road that they could not fix that even if they wanted to as they don’t know how.
@ tight head:
Thanks for the honest opinion.
My problem is that whilst our props seem to lack any technical nuance in terms of technique, there seems to be a lack of ability of our complete PACK to scrum as one.
Do the Boks even have a scrum coach since Os was given the sack? What exactly is Gary Gold’s role within the National set up?
As you say, at the WC we would battle (on current form) to outscrum the Argentinians, Welsh and even IMO teams like Georgia.
For a Nation that was once considered a “powerhouse” of scrummaging, we certainly has become a little like a limp (tricky) dick.
@ tight head:
Is there any great scrum coaches amongst the Super franchises in SA? Do you feel that one of our Super teams had a great scrum?
8@ superBul:
Yes. Matthew Proudfoot.
@ superBul:
@ Scrumdown:
Dougie Heymans. Enough said.
I agree that WP improved tremendously with their scrumming under Proudfoot, particularly because they do not have gifted props.
Scrumdown your point about scrumming as an eight is important, but that has to be achieved by building the discipline, technique and attitude from the basics upwards and not what it appears the Boks do, which is just scrum the moer out of a scrum machine concentrating on timing.
Timing means nothing without the correct technique, body positions and all eight understanding what is going to be achieved in that particular scrum, at that particulat time in the game.
I read a statement that supposedly came from Werner Kruger that said sometimes too much is made of technique in the front row and you just have to make sure you go forward.
That tells me how brain dead we have become about scrumming and explains why he is never going to be a great international tight head.
12@ tight head:
That sounds like an invitation to a short, well built and technically competent prop to shove his head far into a deep recess and then break his collar bone.
I must say, that when Mr vd Linde came on on Saturday the front row looked a bit more accomplished. But as I’ve said many times, I don’t particularly rate CJ as a great scrummager either.
Maybe the time spent in Ireland did something for his technique.
@ Scrumdown:
Hee Hee Hee!!!
Exactly Scrumdown.
He better hope that Ben Robinson does not meet him in an international against the Aussies!!!
@ Scrumdown:
I agree.
Werner Kruger has no clue and that front row scrummed as individuals, not together as a unit.
Greyling has good potential but is all power with nothing else.
Generally our forwards were shocking. Not enough number at the breakdown, especially on our ball, and we did not even try to counterruck on their ball. I was saddened to see how the Aussies pushed our scrum back at will. I think we may have had slight dominance in about 2 scrums.
There has been a school of though that says that the scrum is not that important in the modern game, but I firmly believe that if a team can smash their oppositio at scrumtime, you gain a psychological advantage over them in the rest of the forward exchanges.
Aplon on his way back to SA, injured
@ superBul:
Hope he keeps his frequent flyer miles for himself.
You never know when they might come in handy!
@ tight head:
Werner stood his ground against most Super rugby props this year , last year and before. So he is not pathetic , right. Now give him a great coach, dont you think he can get his technique right and grow? He is still young.
This questions can be applied to a few other props in SA too
@ superBul:
Werner is a good example of what we have created in SA.
He has all the physical attributes to be a world class tight head.
Let him go and play for the Crusaders and they will teach him how to become world class.
@ tight head:
that is the sad part of our National coaching personel, what is the reason why Gary Gold and DM could not be replaced. We all asked for that long ago. If we could have get rid of them there would have been space for a Proudfoot or Heymans. What happened to the scrum academy or was there only one in NZ?
@ superBul:
I am not aware of any scrum academy in SA.
Mike Cron has directed the NZ scrumming for some time.
Just think that the Crusaders were the best scrumming team in the S15 and gave away as much as 40 kilos at times in weight to the opposition.
When will we understand this?
Obviously only when we get people to take charge of scrumming who really know what they are talking about and not those who pretend to know.
tighthead @ 23
morning darkness, my old friend
..
been in jail or something? 😀
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