Alberts supports the Game Plan

Cape Town - Willem Alberts believes execution rather than a confusing game-plan was at fault for South Africa's first loss in 10 years to England.

 

The Springboks lost their first Test to England since 2006, going down 37-21 while Eddie Jones's side maintained their unbeaten run in 2016.

 

"I believe we came up with a good game-plan," Alberts said after the game.

 

"We simply couldn't enforce it in the first half because we were on the back foot. 

England kicked well, and we tried to play in the wrong areas of the field. The battle for territorial ascendancy is always important, especially in wet conditions."

 

Alberts admitted England's ball handling were better than that of the Boks.

 

"We lost more possession than them," he said. "Ball retention is very important. We can't execute our game-plan without possession."

 

The loose forward played out of position at openside flank rather the usual blindside, says South Africa must find a better balance between when the kick and when to run with the ball.

 

"With my return to the Bok setup the training sessions went well, and the belief was there. We are trying our best. Unfortunately, we aren't converting our good play into points," Alberts added.

 

"You are always motivated when you put on a Springbok jersey and you accept the responsibility that comes with it. These are difficult times, but we will continue to work hard."

Surely the game plan is not very good if the team does not know when to kick or when to run. 
(Admittedly our Super rugby teams often do not know when to kick or run).
Given there is only two options- the game plan needs to be explicit when to run or when to pass. 
It is very simple. Kicking should be done when there is space on the field to kick into. 
(With the exception of when in the 22 on defence where the ball can be kicked out directly).
A flyhalf or scrumhalf that kicks off first phase possession will often result in conceding possession (and territory) because there is no space to kick into.  

When there is no space to kick into- it is better to hold onto the ball- and go through phases until space opens up behind- or a line break is made. 
This is where having loose forwards that can compete on the ground essential for retaining possession- or win a penalty for the opposition getting penalised at the ruck. 
Letting the far wing kick, once the opposition backline is lying flat is also an option- because there will be space on one of the corners (At that time). 
Occasionally an exceptional kick can be made that gains territory from 1st phase kicking- but it is not something that can consistent enough to build a game plan around. 

Kicking in the opposition 22 is rarely a good idea- unless it is a cross kick into acres of space and the opposition are outnumbered .
After the match, Adrian Strauss was on Skye, and he said that the Boks were now on their third defensive coach of the year. (I thought it was the 2nd).