Du Preez's Passing game on Satrday

Statistically Du Preez handled the ball 127 times on Saturday.  Of those he kicked 16 times - inclusive of kicks when he covered areas to receive balls kicked by the Welsh,  The rest were box kicks and relieving kicks,    None of the bx kicks were particularly beneficial to the Springboks.
Du Preez ran with the ball 8 times - mostly around the fringes,  
Du Preez past the ball 103 times,   Of those 103 passes 32 went to the flyhalf or another backline player.   The other 71 passes went to forwards - the main receiver being Burger - 41 passes received,   
The fact that Du Preez passed  only 31% of the balls to the flyhalf or another backline player has two elements to it.   Firstly it could be stated that by doing what he did he was "protecting" an inexperienced flyhalf and mid-field combination.  However, because of the easily predictable routine followed the negativie was that it effectively killed off the backline as an effective mechansim to use in the game.
It seems that Meyer and Du Preez has settled on the 2004-05 game plan of the Bulls,  Du Preez was schooled in that game plan  early in his career and is now using it again.   
Is it going to work on Saturday?  I think not - it is far too predictable and easily countered,         
            

 Hmmm, those kicks didn't hurt the Boks at all. It gave us territory and we did win back a few which allowed us to place significant pressure on Wales.
As for the passing, so what? You tailor your game to your strengths. We don't have centres who are physical enough to be a focal point in that kind of test. It was a game of few opportunities, as most games against Wales have been. Meyer made the right call. Particularly given the fact that at no point were Wales going to allow us to run riot out wide. It was a smart gameplan based on observations made from past encounters and what we saw Wales do in the pool stages (keep free scoring Australia tryless !). 
Undoubtedly you will see the Boks get the backs more involved against New Zealand. It's a completely different opponent who defends much differently. 
When all is said and done, just accept the win and move on. I don't understand why you have to sour anything good that the Boks do. That win was a fantastic achievement against quality opposition. The toughest physical test since Samoa 2011.

DF
The selfsame plan was used against Japan and backfired badly.  However, a game plan like that have negatives as well.   There were serious negatives directly as a result of that strategy - ie 10 ball possession losses and 7 penalties given away.
Was it a success on Saturday - there are too many factors playing a role - but in the end it was a questionable way to go.      

 It was not questionable. You simply don't understand how to approach different styles of play. What you want would have had us beaten inside twenty minutes, giving the Welsh exactly what they wanted. And this performance was nothing like the Japan game and the Boks played it differently. You just want to be negative for the sake of being negative.
Out of interest what patterns and plays would you run against New Zealand? There must be something you would target as a weakness, what is it? How will your personnel carry out the plan?

 I made the same observation after the American test. I don't mind balls going to the forwards, but it's being overdone IMO.

 Exactly so Mike as I pointed out with less detail. 
I doubt if we can win via penalties only. Meyer needs to get his strategy right. The Boks are so predictable you can defend with your eyes shut. Hard work to be sure as theyare such a powerful pack now that wee matfiled is gone - long may that be the case. Imagine trying to play this game with matfield at lock!!!! Hahahahahahhaha

All teams are predictable. If I can tell you what teams are going to do, don't you think an international coach will? It's about finding something that works, and asking more questions of defences. Right now we have weak centres who cannot play a multi-faceted game. T he Boks are playing the way they need to in order to win. They are doing more than they are being given credit for though.

 Draad 
There are some comments about the impact of too many passes to forwards in the media as well.   S ome serious question marks it seems to me.     

 great post mike....it once again shows the lack of creativity the meyer game plan has....sadly fox seems to love this meyer wet dream of forwards running at channel one rugby