Given that many of the backline attack coaches seem to be a waist of space- perhaps it is time to get dedicated passing coaches for the backline.
The Stormers passing is especially woeful. Pieter Grant in the Super15 semi final shocking- mostly behind players, or at the feet of his outside backs. Many of the loose forwards seem to be able to pass better than the centres.
The situation as to backline play is indeed woeful. Ball handling skills are woefully inadequate and nobody seems to be able in the Springbok side to off-load balls in tackle situations. They cannot off-load effectively while being tackled after drawing in defenders - thus opening space for other players to run into.
The whole issue has to do with inadequate coaching - coupled to ball sense. The latter issue in particular - plus th fact that any back line players rarely run at speed at the opposition - results in poor backline performance. There are some younger players that has that ability - but they are largely ignored by selectors and they can lose that ability - because of poor backline coaching.
If you end up as a forward coach being the attacking coach and duds like the clueless Loubscher as backline coach - the situation is in urgent need of correcting. The issue here goes a bit wider - selection of backline players must be based on ball sense - coupled to proper coaching. We need that issue to be resolved urgently.
By the way two off the best tries scored last weekend was brought about by effective off-loads by Du Plessis and Jordaan when or after they were tackled - so that shows it can be done effectively.
spot on gents
its a farce that the forwards coach is now suddenly the attacking coach. just shows where the mentality is. the backline coach is spesialist position but has never been treated as such.
old boylover beeno will let you believe that its its part of the master plan but its just poor management and poor structure building to start off with these types of personal.
on the issue of passing all the major nz and wallies unions uses a prescribed coaching skills training from junior levels and up that is done and used by qualified coaches so by the time that the players reach senior level then they are allready at a great level. passing is a very very basic skill set. almost on par with running i reckon but as you said sharkbok the likes of grant and the whole super 15 all most the backs dont have great speed width of the pass.
the only way to fix this is to get proper skills coaches in place and get a standard practice going in respects to passing the ball. our coaches are mostly forwards themselves so they have no idea of the skills that is needed by the backs.
its a major major major problem. even a stupid skill like passing to the wrong side (weaker side. left if your right handed or vice versa) is being overlooked. its just a mentality and a approach that needs to change.
the whole coaching structures needs to be overhauled. backline coaching and skills coaching is the biggest lacking areas and it wont change until the powers to be realise that there is a massive problem and it needs to be addressed. as meyer as said we dont have the backs to compete with nz...the only reason for that is that they the players are not coached bu coaches that are skillfull themselves.
