All about the game plan

All about the game plan

Written by: xxx

We all often sit and debate over our favorite players. Drop Jannie, pic Goosen, drop JJ, pick Lambie etc etc..

Whilst debate is fantastic, a word that we often overlook is “gameplan”.

Yes, Jannie may not be the best tackler in the game. But by dropping him, we may lose a lot at scrum time, and only then would we realize that perhaps we do actually need a strong tighthead in the starting XV. I’m just using this as an example.

Similarly, we have JJ who has emerged as a prized attacker in world rugby.

South Africans have a perception that JJ isn’t the best defender. To date, I don't think he has really been a liability (lets be objective). But by dropping him, we would lose out on a lot on attack. And we would all cry out that Heyneke Meyer cant coach etc…and that the Boks don't score tries!

As a coach, you plan tactics and game plans against certain opposition. If Meyer thought that JJ was weak on defense, they would try to come up with a solution for someone to cover him… so that we didn’t lose out his lethal attacking instincts.

All in all, I think that Meyer has done a good job, considering what he has built since 2012.

Lets keep keep faith in what he has done so far… and if becomes clear that it isn’t working, its up to the coaching team to find a suitable replacement that would keep the incumbents strengths and also make up for any perceived weaknesses.

In conclusion: Remember carefully. During the early stages of the JW tenure, many supporters wanted Schalk Brits and even Gary Botha to get a starting berth ahead of John Smit.  Many felt that Smit wasn’t the best all round hooker around the field and didn’t offer enough all round ball skill and pace for an international hooker.

But JW was stern in deciding on his own team, that would fit his own game plan. He wanted a tough as teak scrummager and the best lineout thrower in the country to secure our primary phases.

The result: We won the 2007 RWC as well as the tri nations.

Lets stick by our coach, especially if it seems as if he is on to something good.

I have a really good feeling with where he is taking us (though I would have disagreed in 2012). It takes us back to that old adage that Rome was not built in 1 day.

Cheers

Flash

Like anybody else Meyer had to start off with what he thought was the best players to comply with what he thought was a realistic game plan.  He decided on selections based on a game plan that is only now becoming clear to he public.

There was a number of players he selected last year - that let him and the team down and did not deliver what was expected from them.   He made some changes to the match day 23 and there is no doubt that things got much better this year.

In essence I am not downhearted by the Springbok display last Saturday.   It is obvious that it was a much better effort than ever in the past under his coaching.   I think there are some issues that needs to be addressed and that may result in some team changes.   In essence the issues are rather limited and could in the main being taken care of  through coaching and a few changes to players selected for the purpose.   Those are -

*  the questionable defence of the team - both amongst forwards and backline players; and

*   certain players that did not comply with the ultimate objectives of the plan.

I am sure Meyer is evaluating what should be done in this regard.   I hope he looks at some question marks in respect of players that has achieved some rather negative results.  In this regard I think the following would probably be reviewed:-

*   the performance of the present full back;

*   whether we are on the right track with our backline pivot;

*   whether the loosie combination is really effective to play a more comprehensive part in games than they do at present by performing all looisie functions rather than being effective in some of those only; and

*   what could be done to fix the line out woes of the team and how the rolling mauls can become functional again.

However, from what I have seen in the last three tests I am of the opinion that there has been substantial progress in development of the team as implementers of the game plan.

I was harshly critical of Meyer before - but bearing in mind our latest performances I believe he has made major progress as a coach and he deserves credit for it.  I now believe that he is on the right path and should be given credit for what he is doing.   That being said I am still critical of some of his selections of players that to my mind has a negative impact on the execution of his game plan and performances of the team as a whole.  I am sure he is aware of who are the deficient players and that he would change them as time goes by.