Springbok captain John Smit and fullback Frans Steyn are in doubt for the World Cup after they were both injured in South Africa’s 9-14 loss to Australia in the Tri-Nations.
The Springboks fielded their full strength team for the first time in almost two years but suffered a home loss taking them to a record of played three and lost three in the Tri-Nations.
Fullback Frans Steyn kicked the first points of the match with a penalty but was forced from the field early in the second half with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring.
Springbok captain John Smit who’s move in the match from Hooker to Tighthead prop proved again to be a failure injured ligaments in his arm and is also in doubt for the World Cup.
An early but unconfirmed medical report said that Smit had torn ligaments in his arm.
Smit has agreed to join English Club Saracens after the World Cup and could be replaced by Victor Matfield as Springbok captain after he captained the team in Europe last year.
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers confirmed after the match that their main injury concerns were John Smit, Frans Steyn and Danie Rossouw but added that no comment would be made until they had full medical reports on Monday.
The Springboks have one more Tri-Nations match next weekend before they open their Rugby World Cup campaign on September the 11th against Wales.
The Springboks will host a second string All Blacks team in Port Elizabeth next week.
One wonders how long Danie played on with the injury? He couldn’t come off the field as the idiot who coaches the team had cleared the bench.
Steyn would be a big loss.
Smit will be a HUGE loss as a captain, and hooker. But as a prop he is no loss at all.
A quote from the puppet master: “We will bounce back from this of course, but today for me we lost on the scoreboard only.
Fukken idiot.
We are the laughing stock of the rugby world because of this puppet.
Jinx2 said:
You are right. F Steyn for JdV. About myths: It is the only area in which we are well prepared this time, and all times. The reality we have an arsenal of veritable oxen locked in a quota driven concentration camp!
Everyone sees the game yesterday the way he wants, i find a few positives , just like JC found some.
Remember we had a team without match practice( i dont agree to the resting policies) but the fact is we were not match hardened.
Australia had at least 4 tests under the belt and they only doninated when our players was subbed.
JC said,
a second-half dip in intensity and accuracy contributed to another gutting Springbok defeat.
Many were all but hailing a famous Bok victory at half-time, as the hosts had produced an unpolished but spirited display. The decision to appoint Jacques Nienaber as the defensive consultant was vindicated as the Boks were much improved when it came to one-on-one or system defence, and more than anything the players displayed an aggressive attitude that complemented their accuracy at the tackle.
Heinrich Brussow had the desired impact at the breakdown, as apart from a crucial turnover inside his own 22 he hassled the Wallabies at the ruck and ensured the opposition halfbacks received slow ball. Brussow was substituted in the 50th minute, and this undoubtedly helped the Wallabies’ attacking cause.
Fourie du Preez was excellent early on, and his clever tactical kicks were well chased by Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen. The spot tackles by men like Habana, Butch James and Jean de Villiers highlighted the Boks’ desire to make a defensive statement, but unfortunately it was an effort they failed to maintain for the full 80 minutes.
While the first-half defensive performance was encouraging, the Boks squandered several attacking opportunities. Many of these opportunities were created by excellent defensive pressure, such as the instant where Du Preez kicked in behind the Wallabies’ defence and Jaque Fourie put pressure on a flailing Quade Cooper. The TMO ruled that Fourie had knocked the ball on before grounding it, and it was a massive let off for the visitors. If the Boks had added a converted try to their tally at that point, the final result may have been different.
But the Boks’ lack of match fitness became increasingly apparent as the game wore on. The Wallabies, who have been playing together since the start of the Tri-Nations, came into their own, and David Pocock effected some momentum-killing turnovers when the Bok heavies failed to display the necessary intensity and accuracy at the ruck. The kicks in behind the Wallabies defence were also poorly chased in the second stanza, and so the dangerous Wallabies back three had more space to counter-attack.
What also contributed to the Boks’ lack of momentum in the second half was the ludicrous player-management of coach Peter de Villiers. The Bok scrum produced a powerful showing initially and No 8 Pierre Spies took full advantage of this platform with some bulldozing runs. But when John Smit was shifted to prop in the second half, the Bok set-piece went backwards. The lineout also struggled as the weather worsened later in the game.
With all these points most will agree.
What do we do now.
I would try and play most of these players again
Hope for them to last at least 65 minutes
Move Danie Roussouw to the bench/lock
Play Morne Steyn in first half/65 min
Find a new no 15, why not Jaco Taute.
I disagree that ‘Many were all but hailing a famous Bok victory at half-time’, but rather we were ‘hoping’ for a famous victory at half time. We have been so desperate for a winning Springbok team (1 win in 9 over the last year), that any win – no matter how we get there is desirable. Which brings me to my 2 cents worth. Surely it would be better to win 9 out of 9 games and lose the world cup final, that be happy to lose the games running up to the cup, and not know if the lottery is going to go our way. I know I would be! But then, hey, we only lost on the scoreboard, so I suppose I should be celebrating.
I agree with this post.
Did I watch a different game? Why do I think there is still alot to be positive about? I cant remember seeing Jacque knock the ball on…ever. He made about 3 knock-ons yesterday. 2 with the tryline begging. Our defense made Aus change their gameplan. They started off with that f-all respect, run it from anywhere approach with some slight success but being pinned down in the area for long periods, in 2nd half Cooper started kicking. Brussow is back. Not quite there yet but he will be a bit better next week. Butch is giving the backline ball after ball. Too bad Jean only knows 1 way. Habana, apart from the one defensive lapse jumping out of line again, looks like he wants to play and showed he hasn’t lost any pace. And that tackle on Genia… 15 minutes in I knew we will be a ok for the WC. No drastic changes in the gameplan necessary, just better running angles and some creativity at the back. And how about giving Habana and JP the ball on the wing with some space. The times the ball got there, Beast of all people was haring down the touchline. Minor tweaks. All that is needed
We wont be able to change our game plan now. All we can hope for is to play our current game plan PERFECT. To PEAK at the right time. To get our TEAM of 22 playing a few matches together. And hope and pray on the crucial days our opponents does not peak too.
Just For Kicks wrote:
I sincerly hope that the new coach have that attitude and i hope the appointment of the new coach have a proper performance clause in. How they structure it will be interesting.
a 2 year review timeframe wont work simply by counting the win% , because Peter de Villiers won the Tri Nations in 2009 and it would be hard to get him out after that Tri Nations campaign. The growth and develpment of new ideas must be part of the criteria. How you do it is not easy. Maybe a 18 month review time frame could have worked.
A chat i had on voldys
612.superBul said:
14 Aug 2011, 11:02 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-564:
“2) THis defensive pattern is appalling. We end up with our centres and wings at the rucks, and Matfiels at 10, Russouw at 12, and Beat on the wing. Then we wonder why we are being turned over, or dont know what to do wit hthe ball when we have it. Its a joke”
Nienaber made the WP/Stormers the best defensive team , but in the process killed of all the great spectacular try scoring. Like you say , maybe because the props end up at wing with this pattern. Surely there is other ways, maybe we must take a leave out of the best team book. The All Blacks.
615.BULLET said:
14 Aug 2011, 11:08 am
@612, I agree 100%.
Now its normal for a centre to help another centre in contact, but what happens next is crucial. What should happen is that the forwards arrive, pick and drive. Our strength, which allows our centres to get back to their position. Now instead, we think that we must play this expansive game plan, and we try recycle quickly, and run it back with forwards… AB’s dont do this.
Also, when the AB’s go across the advantage line, their loosies are there to support. You never really see Carter stuck in a ruck.
Also, the defensive pattern that the all blacks have is based on speed and conditioning, 2 elements where they are vastly superior to us. Look at our forward pack.
1) Beast – not as toned as he was 2 seasons ago
2) Smit – not like 2007
3) JDUP – not too bad.
4) Bakkies – nowhere near as physical as 2-4 years ago
5) Matfield – ditto Bakkies. Actually loks very light.
6) Brussouw – needs time.
7) Russouw – overweight and slow for a 7.
8) Spies – exception to the rule
6@ Just For Kicks:
Welcome…. good seeing your first comment on R-T.
To put it bluntly “ek is fo…en gatvol”
Weereenrs die “replacements” het ons in die gat gehap.
Wat het geword van pale toe skop as jy voorloop, beheer van die wedstryd het vroeg in die game?
Besluitneming suig, en hantering was swak.
Ek dink ek moet dalk ballet begin kyk, daar is ten minste mooi meisies, en jy raak nie moerig as jy dit kyk nie.
Ek wil dink dat dit dalk goed is as John Smit nie wereldbeker toe gaan nie, want PDV kan maar nie verstaan hy is nie n’ stut nie. Hoe blind moet jy wees om dit nie te weet nie. Leierskap en al, maar wanneer dit jou punte kos beteken dit in my boek maar min.
Lambie back with the Bok squad for the PE test. My feeling Lambie will cover FB if Frans Steyn is out injured.
Chili and Mvovo also back with the Boks.
Read John say on twitter, his arm is fine.
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