Beating France....

The programmed journos all have the same talking points......France were awful, Pollard was sub standard, Venter was the backline standout. And as usual they are wrong. . France came into this game after a strong second half display against the ABs. And they sensed blood in the water after the big Irish win in Dublin. So they started the game with huge energy and commitment. It took a fabulous rush out of the line by Lleyds to prevent an early try. . But the Boks clawed back into the game and largely through mammoth physical commitment from the Beast, Etzebeth and Marx they wrestled away the initiative.....which should have resulted in a comfortable win if Pollard hadn’t lost kicking confidence after narrowly missing some of his first few international kicks in two years. .. Which brings us to Pollard.....nervous kicking for sure.....but he accelerated the line, much as he did against the ABs. That helped Venter who in truth was bog ordinary, never beat a tackle in 13 runs.....but the journos were so excitedto see a Bok 12 at pace, they read all sorts of positives in his game. .. When you have a pack as powerful as SA you always have a chance. The large loss to Ireland was mostly due to lack of motivation.....the AB Bok team, the French Bok team went into the game with much more commitment. Which in itself is an issue. .. For some time we have lost matches when we are in the Irish game frame of mind....Bargie, Japan and Italy. We have no winning model.....the old territorial game with pin point kicking has been deep sixed, and even the Lions’ ball in hand game is deep sixed. And now we have only passion as a strategy. .. But last week we saw the strategy that suits the Boks....played by Ireland. A balanced game that doesn’t rely on backline dominance. Our new coach, whoever he turns out to be, should look at the Irish tapes. If anybody could coach the Boks to a WC win it’s Joe Schmidt.

 Can't fault that logic. 

 So every journalist is wrong about Pollard who really showed serious rustiness and deficiencies throughout the game.   Maybe some real rugby will get him better - at this stage he is showing some positive signs - but is awfully poor in some respects.   
So who scored the tries for the Irish and what preceded the scoring of the tries.   What destroyed the Springboks against Ireland and the French was aimless and ineffective kicking handing over possession to the opposing teams.    
The idea that the backline has no function bar defense has been deep -sixed by all the NH teams and we are as per normal lacking in that respect.  

Joe Schmid.t is another quality coach from New Zealand. Hopefully, the Boks get an international coach next year that can play the correct game and choose players that are capable of playing this. 
This should be to the mix of strengths of SA players- but also what the international game in 2017 requirements are. 
All the forwards need to be able to compete at the breakdown, otherwise playing an expansive game is not worthwhile.
A small loose forward that cant compete at the breakdown is useless