Breakdown Ball recovery

Meyer is always on about the issue of quick and efficient ball recovery and we were fortunate today to have three inputs on the issue. Those were from Mitchell, Tomas (Ole Cruz) and I also had a long ddicussion with Frans Malherbe's father on the issue. All three agree on cardinal points raised, namely the issue of - * following of the ball to be close enough to reach breakdown points quickly and ensure efficiency; and * The problems attached to the physical attributes of the loosies. The other issue of importance is obviously clumsiness as to ball handling at breakdown points. Our players are not exactly the most proficient ball players areound and they play a more static game than is the case with the other three RC teams. Tomas is particularly clear n the height of the players and the need to have a low body position in the breakdpwn phase -causing playes like Alberts, Vermeulen and Louw to loose their balance when they have to go lower into breakdown situations - even when they are their timeously. Mitchell by implication is particularly concerned about the mobility factor if you actually read his article carefully. The above brings about a much-debated issue - should you have strong, big and relatively immobile loosies - or should you have faster, smaller loosies without losing too much of the strength factor? Viewed in the broader sense I tend to go with the second option. While out much bigger loosies has a relatively limited benefit in ball carrying and defence around the fringes - the question is in terms of modern rugby is that enough of a benefit to allow for their inclusion in the Springbok team? This view of mine is obviously not shared by Meyer - who goes for the bigger version of players. The problem can to an extent be solved through coaching - but it Is very difficult - if not impossible to get Alberts at his age to be speedier - and the same applies to Vermeulen and Louw.. The answer is therefore to get their body position correct at breakdowns - without them losing their balance. Again - given their size and bulk a very difficult process to be effective. On the other hand the best loosies in world rugby today are smaller, speedier and more effective at points of nreakdown than ours are. Lets take a few examples:- * Ritchie McCaw is 6'1,5 " and before his sabbatical his normal playing weight for years was 102 kgs. He is now weighing 108 kgs and careful analysis of his play indicates he lost some speed since his return from his sabbatical - unless he can get down to hi normal playing weight he is bound to be less effective than he used to be. * Michael Hooper is 5'7,5" and weighs in a 97 kgs. Very stocky and very strong - whilst at the same time very speedy. * Steven Luatia is 6'4" and weighs in at 108 kgs. Although he is bigger than the others he is a very good player in carrying balls at speed and a very strong runner. Because he has a lot of ball sense - he is always near or at breakdown points and he is also a great defender - both in the channel and wider out. * Kieran Read is 6.4 and 112 kgs. The AB supporters on this forumn is going to kill me for what I am going to say now. Read is not as effective at breakdowns as the other loosies - he tends to lose his balance and at times he appears to be clumsy and ineffective - giving away penalties in the process. He Is physically less capable of going into maul situations than the other mentioned loosies are. I am mentioning Read becaue of the physical similarity between him and Vermeulen as an example. Now lets look at the three SA loosies and see how they compare:- * Louw Is 6.2" and weighs in at 112 kgs. As an opensider much heavier than his more effective counterparts . There are allegations that he has physical limitations and his body position is not correct in breakdown situations - in other words somewhat clumsy. He has definitely comparative to other opensiders a mobility issue as well. * Vermeulen is 6'4" and 116 kgs. This makes for a lower speed - as well as a problem similar to the one of Read - maybe even worse because of the speed issue - he is much slower than Read. Be it as it may - to make him a more effective breakdown player - his speed and physical position will have to be corrected. Both are very difficult to attain considering his physical attributes. * Alberts is 6'4" and weighs in at 119kgs. There is no way that either his speed or his physical position at breakdowns can be improved. If he was shorter and more mobile there is a slight possibility that the mobility and body issues can be addressed. In his case at the age of 29 - it would just not be possible. The really effectiov loosies of SA teams (eg Arno Botha and Labuschagne) are about 6"2" and weighs in at 105 kgs. That seems to be a weight level that is not detrimental to mobility - anything more becomes more of a problem. .There is no doubt for players of that size the weight issue impacts on the speed of players. The more the weight - the slower players become - it is a physical fact of life. I think that it is time that this issue be addressed - we cannot appoint a Consultant and then find that physical built of players nullify his efforts. I just wonder how long it would take Meyer to realize that is a problem that needs attention. . .