Battle for the Bok No10 jersey

September 20 2012 at 12:41pm 
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen

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Morne Steyn has not been on form with his kicking of late.

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It’s been a subject oh debate in recent weeks... who should be playing flyhalf for the Springboks? Here four of southern Africa’s best past No 10s tell rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen what has gone wrong with Morne Steyn and who should be waering the No 10 jersey in future.

THE EXPERT PANEL

NAAS BOTHA: He’s a former Springbok captain, with 28 Tests to his name between April 1980 and November 1992. He made his debut at flyhalf at the age of 22 and played his last Test at 34. Probably the greatest flyhalf ever to play the game.

KENNEDY TSIMBA: Born in Zimbabwe, he made his name playing for the Currie Cup-winning Cheetahs in the late 90s and early 2000s ... and became something of a cult hero in the Free State. He earned five Test caps and was once considered the best flyhalf in South Africa.

JOEL STRANSKY: The former Sharks and Western Province No10 slotted THAT drop-goal during the 1995 World Cup, earning 22 Bok caps between 1993 and 1996. Not only a great goal and tactical kicker, but also a player who summed up situations quickly on the field.

ERROL TOBIAS: A man who did battle with Botha for the No10 jersey, he played in six Tests for the Springboks. Was at his prime in the early 80s, winning his caps between 1981 and 1984. A real student of the game and a player who loved to run the ball.

Johan Goosen may be the man to take over.

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Your thoughts on Morné Steyn’s performances in 2012?

Naas Botha: It’s a tough one, but there’s no denying he’s going through a tough patch and his form isn’t up to scratch. Everyone goes through these things, but it is perhaps time for a change. Morné’s confidence appears to be shot ... this isn’t personal, it’s just that he’s not playing well and he’s also struggling with his kicking.

Kennedy Tsimba: I never thought he was a great tactical kicker or general of his team ... what set him apart was his very accurate goal-kicking, and now that’s deserted him. The pressure’s on because he’s not hitting the mark ... and questions are being asked.

Joel Stransky: I really feel for him ... two years ago he was a great running flyhalf, but it seems it’s something that’s been completely coached out of him (and the team). He’s been coached to kick the ball and I really feel for him ... it’s influenced his whole game. His game is off, his confidence is down.

Errol Tobias: We mustn’t look at Morné Steyn in isolation ... but rather look at the way the game is played today. Heyneke Meyer has not grasped the fact rugby has evolved ... especially when it comes to flyhalf play. There is now space and time for flyhalves to attack more, because defenders are five metres behind the last man’s feet ... yet Morné is still being told to kick.

What is wrong with the Boks’ play at No10?

Botha: We need to remember that no player picks himself and every player plays according to what his coach believes is the best way. I don’t think, however, the coaches are allowing the flyhalf to run the show ... they’re not being given the right to do what they’re supposed to do at No10.

Tsimba: A flyhalf is only as good as his pack and the Boks don’t have that all-dominant pack of the last few years. Our current pack has been up-and-down and not so cohesive and we also don’t have Fourie du Preez anymore who took a lot of pressure off Steyn in the last few years.

Stransky: It looks as if Steyn is playing according to a structure which doesn’t suit him ... and it’s not working. It’s time for a change.

Tobias: With so much space and time now for the No10 we need someone in the position who can create play ... not someone whose first option is to kick the ball. There is no creativity in the most crucial decision-making position.

Is Johan Goosen ready to make the step up?

Botha: I don’t know if he’s the answer ... we’ll only know once he’s played a few games against the best, but what he’s shown is pretty impressive.

Tsimba: There’s no doubt he’s very talented, but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to be singing his praises. Look, he’s a great strike runner and he kicks the ball miles, but is he a general, a team controller at No10? I don’t know yet.

Stransky: I think he’s shown enough ... he’s got everything and he’s got a natural decision-making ability. He can look up, sum up the situation and make the call and it’s generally the right decision. He’s spontaneous in his decision-making.

Tobias: I’ve been impressed with his natural instinct for the game ... the way he reads situations, but it’s a completely different scenario when you start a match, and don’t come off the bench. There’s a different pressure and the coach’s instructions are different.

What about Elton Jantjies?

Botha: He’s playing great rugby at the moment but, let’s be honest, the Currie Cup is not at the same level and standard as Super Rugby and Test rugby. He’s in good form, though, and we’ll only know if he’s good enough if he plays ... let’s see.

Tsimba: Consistency of performance is the best guide to determine selection ... and Jantjies has been solid for two years now. We know what he’s done and we know what he can do, he varies his game well and can play the running and kicking game ... and his goal-kicking is good.

Stransky: He’s a very talented player and he’s playing extremely well in the structure the Lions have created for him ... it suits him very well. He’s been coached to move the ball at specific times and kick at other times, it’s very organised rugby and I’m not so sure whether he’s actually a good decision-maker. His decision-making seems “manufactured”.

Tobias: There is no doubt Heyneke Meyer must now look at the future of the Springbok No10 position and Elton is part of that future. He should have been given a chance already at Test level ... and should get a look-in now.

If you were a selector who’d be your flyhalf for the Loftus and Soccer City Tests?

Botha: Goosen or Jantjies

Tsimba: Jantjies

Stransky: Goosen

Tobias: Goosen or Jantjies

Note: In discussing the flyhalf position, not one of the men interviewed brought up the name of Pat Lambie as a flyhalf option. All seem to view him more as a fullback than a flyhalf, with Stransky saying he would certainly offer more to the team than Zane Kirchner. “He kicks as well as Kirchner does, but offers more in attack. I’m not sure whether he’s got the pace to play at fullback ... but he still offers a lot. With what’s on offer at No10, Lambie’s international future looks to be at fullback.”

Tsimba added he’d like to see Lambie get a decent run at fullback for the Sharks as well as the Boks. “He’s a good kicker and a decent counter-attacker ... but he needs an extended run in the position.” – The Star

 Goosen must start. I cant really see what the debate is about except that he is still only recently back from injury. The only thing that may allow Morne one more chance is that the game is being played at Loftus. 

 Amazed that Tobias and Tsimba have Jantjies even rated as a potential Bok.

Colour coded selection or family?????????

Looking at the comments above I think that the two people with the best insight in modern flyhalfplay is probably Naas Botha and Strnaski.   They probably are very near the mark with their comments.  

Insofar as Janthies is concerned - Stranski is very near the amrk about "manufactured" play.   I am sure about one thing and that is that the only real positive about Jantjies performances is his goal kciking with a success rate of 75% to 80% of kicks at goal.   Areal nightare is his defence (especially in the channell) and his avoidance of contact play - hence his poor dsplays under high balls kicked at him when under pressure.   The "manufactured" pass comments are really based - I believe - on his avoidance of contact and his tendency to pass hospital passes to recipients.   UIn any event - I have seen only one case in the past four games that he made an inside pass tht led to a try - for the rest his passes do not lead to anything noteworthy.

I believ that he does not possess the overall capacity to be a Springbok flyhalf and if selected - he would not pass the test and will probably be a huge liaibility..