Springbok match review.

Nick Mallet during his tenure as Springbok coach made himself very unpopular by saying that he is not too concerned about criticism from South African rugby fans because in his opinion they don’t know much about the game anyway.



Coincidently, he now seems to be as critical as the SA rugby fans about the rugby dished-up by his prodigy’s Springbok team.

Where Mallet was hostile and pompous towards the media Heynecke Meyer seems to be more open and willing to show the public that their opinions count. Annoyingly, the more Heynek Meyer explains and asks for patience, the more fickle, unhappy and unrealistic SA rugby supporters seem to become.

Is this despondency due to unrealistic expectations that the Springboks should run rampant over everyone else, I’ve been wondering lately?

There has been moments during the matches against Ireland and Scotland when I thought the team was playing well. I could see signs of the Wallabies of 1993, in the Springboks play in the first 15 minutes against Scotland. The Springboks just needed a bit more patience and speed onto the ball but the basic game plan was sound and will work if better executed.

Leading up to the first penalty which Patrick Lambie cross-kicked to JP Pietersen, who caught the ball but was stopped by his direct opponent – the problem here was the timing of the move. It would have worked better if the opponents were first pulled in by some midfield runs. Also, the support was late for JP Pietersen and with quicker support Pietersen could have deflected the ball to an incoming runner. In fact if the kick went to a lock standing wide (after some phase play) he could have deflected the ball towards Pietersen coming in with speed.

From this followed a line-out. The play from that line-out reminded me of the try scored by Jason Little during the second test of the 1993 Springbok tour. In similar fashion as the 1993 Wallabies, Willem Alberts created depth ball by running with speed onto the ball thrown to the back of the line-out. The Springboks then took the recycled ball down the backline with Juan de Jongh attempting to cut to the inside of Jean de Villiers, who drifted slightly laterally to pull the defenders wide. The move didn’t produce the same spectacular results as was the case in 1993 with Jason Little (see here – 3rd video clip).

Multiple reasons can be given why the Springboks could not pull it off with the same efficiency as the 1993 Wallabies:
•Firstly, being not patient enough
•Secondly, the backline being too flat
•Thirdly, not enough speed onto the ball

They took the ball too soon to the backline (after only one charge in the person of Willem Alberts) during the particular move. You need to create a bit more depth and the Springboks required at least two more runners coming from depth to disorganise the defence sufficiently.

More patience was also needed – get the first things right, namely fast recycled ground ball before you take it wide. Because they took the ball too soon to the backline the defenders were still in the backline’s faces and the swivel done between the Wallabies No 10 and No 12 was not possible. That double-around by No 10 is crucial to open the gap in the outside channel as it pulls the opposition No 12 inwards and makes the opposition No 13 hesitate. The end result was that both Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh did not hit the ball at full tilt. De Jongh actually had to stop to change direction.

I can see what Heyneke Meyer is trying to do and I believe he is on the right track. The players need a bit more time together. It might help if Heyneke Meyer gets some video clips of the 1993 Wallabies and show them what he wants. In addition, a better backline coach might also help. The lineout is the Springboks strength and they need to create play off the back of the line-out. If the Springboks get that right they’ll be hard to stop.

Tell you what, there was also nothing wrong with the two mauling moves from the line-out – both leading to tries (only one awarded due to sneaky tactics by Scotland during the first of the two).

Disappointingly, things deteriorated in the second half. Replacement of key players was a big part of it but also the tendency of the team to go into defensive mode. It is, I believe the fear of making a mistake which makes the players stop playing once they are far enough ahead.

A barrage of scrum penalties against CJ van der Linde and losing a man for 10 minutes -serial yellow card offender Flip van der Merwe- derailed the Springboks because it prevented them from building any momentum. This kept the Scots in the game and had them gaining confidence when the Springboks should have buried them.

The France vs Argentina match was interesting to watch. The way the French, in particular, used the tactical kick to dissolve the trench defensive lines were very thought-provoking.

The moment the defence get too organised into a trench defensive line they (the French) utilized the tactical kick to open the game up. They used stab-through kicks, box kicks, and long kicks into space as well as dummy runner backline moves to break the defensive line up before suddenly switching to runners charging into the midfield channels.

With the defence then spread they were able to create fast ground ball. There are some lessons for the Springboks in that match, as a consequence. The Springboks are too obsessed with All Black rugby, in stead they should develop and cultivate their own unique strengths and style.

The All Blacks vs Italy match was remarkable in the way Italy countered the All Blacks pattern of using two or three runners around the fringes to create front foot ball. The All Blacks used quick passes between scrumhalf and two or three forwards flat on the defensive line to keep the defence guessing. You never know who is going to receive, who is just going to be a pivot and who is going to charge into the channel and also to whom the charger will off-load. Italy like the Argentinians -in their first encounter against the All Blacks this year- just targeted that channel with a number of defenders creating a bit of havoc. Mostly, however the Italians kept the ball in hand and in doing so prevented the All Blacks from running at them.

As a final thought the Springboks were not spectacular but at least they won which is something that the very experienced 2010 Springbok team did not accomplish.

The Springboks definately need a better backline coach and with a bit more patience with ball in hand and with better replacement selections on the bench, the Springboks might just be able to string two good halves together.

Wouldn’t that be something?

Mr Fishpaste wrote:"Protege" me thinks

gregortree wrote:Meyer:
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer is preparing his side for the "ultimate test" when they take on England at Twickenham on Saturday.
"Saturday will be the ultimate test. England has a great team and we've got a lot of respect for them."

None of this 'domination' nonsense at least.

fa0019 wrote:
I don't get this 93 Aussies thing? Given they were world champs at the time I presume he is stating they were one of the best teams he ever saw???