Ex Supersport
Prior to the Padova test, public opinion suggested that the Springboks would put 50 points past Italy. However, Saturday’s match was not the walkover many supporters expected.
Some proclaimed that Heyneke Meyer missed a trick by not giving fringe players a chance but I believe he knew that the Italians were a better side than most gave them credit for.
However, the fundamental reason the Springbok attack is not functioning optimally is because the team does not possess sufficient players with explosive ball-carrying ability.
In my book, Meyer’s men are playing with more than enough intent to move the ball and I don’t believe that the shape or pattern the Springboks are employing is dramatically wrong.
Furthermore, it’s not about passing off nine or coming off ten – that’s not the issue at hand.
In order to dominate rugby matches, one of the prerequisites is to get over the gain-line. (A bit of guile and unpredictability would help!)
As such, my argument is that the more attacking threats a team has at its disposal, the easier it becomes for said team to generate momentum and penetrate the defence line.
If we take this past weekend’s test against the Azzurri as case in point, it was evident that Springboks wanted to give the ball air and play positively. However, I believe that they were hamstrung by an insufficient number of ball-carrying threats around the park to call upon.
While the big five, namely: Bismarck du Plessis, Victor Matfield, Duane Vermeulen, Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana boast a wealth of experience and excellent decision-making ability, none of the aforementioned protagonists offer an explosive ball-in-hand threat.(Hahahahahaha the idea of wee victor having an explosive edge is a laugh! A big problem here is that the two props Beast and Jannie dont drive the ball up well. Neither does wee matfield - he goes backwards- that leaves Bissie and Etzebeth who are doing a job. Add in pap oupa and one sees what the problem is!)
I’m not saying that a lack of ball-carrying threat – just one aspect of the oval game – should preclude the above players from cracking selection. However, the fact is that when you struggle to break down the opposition defence that is normally an issue worth addressing.
When an older team takes to the field of play, the reality is that they will lack explosiveness. Thus, as a professional coach, the balance is found in blending age and experience with youthful and explosive ball-carriers in the mould of an Eben Etzebeth and a Marcell Coetzee.
Moreover, the likes of Willie le Roux, Cobus Reinach and Nizaam Carr, have brought an added dimension to the Bok attack by way of old-fashioned explosiveness and deception.
Therefore, I believe that more players of their ilk need to be embraced by Meyer and his coaching staff moving forward as the Springboks, by and large, lack an explosive attacking edge.
I would like to stress that it’s not down to style but rather the composition of playing personnel. Sheer explosiveness on attack is a unique attribute which cannot be coached.
A CASE OF DOUBLE STANDARDS?
Looking ahead to the Springboks’ final test of 2014 in Cardiff on Saturday, I find it unbelievably interesting that Wales have their French-based players available for a match which falls outside of the test window, while the Springboks do not.
You would expect World Rugby – formerly the IRB – to intervene, as you simply cannot have double standards at play. Hypothetically speaking, had Saru officials hopped on a plane with the intention of securing a similar deal, which the Welsh Rugby Union clearly has in place with the French clubs, the question is: Would the former’s request have been granted?
As it’s now a moot point, I believe Meyer will choose to focus on the positives.
The players that have come in for their French-based colleagues are all highly competent, warrant their place on tour and thus deserve a run out against a competitive Welsh team.
Is the unavailability of the Springboks’ French-based players against Wales a further example of South African rugby getting the short end of the stick?
A more realistic question would be when dont we get the short end. If this were the abs hansen, the nz sports writers and evryone would be yelling blue murder. Our guys just accept it.
