Lte summarize the problems encoutered during the game and see where things went wrong:-
Backline
Other than Willie le Roux - the abckline was clueless and not upp to much attacking-wise. The problems started with Hougaard - he fumbled balls - lost possession and was not a good enough passer - neither an accurate kicker.
The question is why is our backline so poor when it came to defensive play? Partly because they ot poor balls and partly there still is a porblem on the wing and the cneter combination does not work well. Both centers play the same game - as if both are numbr 12 centers. We cannot have 2 number 12 centrs in the team it does not work out.
Pietersen lost it completely when Sexton kicked th ball and t he irih scored. He seems to freeze up and made very little effort to try cand catch the ball.
Hendricks is just not an international wing - we need to up the ante there.
Forwards
Our scrums started out poorly but ended up much better. However, there is a serious problem with our Tight 5 and the main problem is exemplified by the try scored by the Irish - th ere was no idea about defending against the maul and their was no SA defenders in place where one would have assuumed thatthe Tight 5 players would be covering the defense.
Our loosies tried there best - but Vermeulen was for him quiet and Coetzee did all the work. Oupa was there but very average.
GERIATRICS PROBLEMS
Now lets look at the geriatrics:-
Habana
Ws not really of any value. Lost ball possession twice and the only tackle that came his way he missed. If he cannot do better - then he must relly be a case where careful study is needed. He cannot onitnue to play on reputation.
Jean de Villiers
Still effectve at insoide center - but he showed nothing but crashballing and that is just not good enough.
Looking at Serfontein - one has to wonder whether he should play at 13. In that position it is more difficult to pprotect the ball in tackle situations and as stated earlier
The result was ttwo penalties being given against him hanging onto the ball.
I have a suspision he would be better at inside center than de Viliers is and that is an issue that needs further consideration.
Victor Matfield
This guy must be enjoying his holiday in Europe tremendously. No Ball carries - only 5 tackles made, but took the line-outs when balls were thrown to him. He gave away a penalty when tackled back by the opposition. This guy is the one polayer in the Tight 5 whoo is totally ineffective in Tight 5 play. In driving mauls he gets dislodgfed and pushed to the side - whether those are in opposition mauls or our own. Not strong enough for the present game.
Jannie du Plessis
He started out badly in scrumming and the first scrum he was on the retreat and the second scrum he collapsd giving away a penalty virtually in frot of the goal posts.
He thereafter did improve and for the rest the scrums were effctive.
However, the remainder of the game was below par and that remains the main problem with him.
Incidentally much was said before the game about Coenie's scrumming - but even with a carde player the scrums were solid enough when Jannie and Best was replaced.
Bakkies Botha
Bakkies came on ta minute 54 and what he did amounts to bugger-all. Two tackles made and two missed - two ball carries with zero meters made - and one line out take. Might as well not have been on the field - he ois a perrenial low work rate player.
Schalk Burger
Burger came on at minute 46 and had 34 minutes of playing time. Did the bsolute minimum in those 34 minutes. His most notable achieve,ents wer losing a ball in tackle situation and being penalized once.
IN ESSENCE NONE OF THE ABOVE PLAYERS HOWED ANYTHING INDICATING THAT THEY ARE THE EBST IN THEIR POSITIONS AND THEY ARE EMINENTLY REPLACEABLE. THE SOOONER THEY GO THE TBETTER IT WOUD BE FOR SPRIGBOK RUGBY
