Exposing a few myths

So, we've heard it all now; Meyer doesn't understand test rugby, the Bull's players are holding us back, we need to play running rugby. What's really going on? Well, for a start, it's the fans that do not understand test rugby. According to Keo and the languid Bok fans, we must now select Lambie or Goosen and go crazy for 80 minutes away to New Zealand. This putting into perfect perspective the stupidity within SA. It's clear what Meyer wants, he wants a 15 man ruck presence, something Wales have been doing the past two years, doing with praise from Saffers, ironically! Meyer is smart enough to know that you cannot try to use the ball without doing the hard yards up front, he understands that he has to build a new spine to the team.

The media would have you believe that Morne is the only issue, but that is a gross over-simplification. The big problem now is the link between Pienaar and Morne - the link between 9 and 10 is crucially important, after that it's the movement OFF the ball. Something Eddie Jones commented on last year after the Aussie disaster, "Morne Steyn tried to be flatter, but not enough was happening". Goosen tried, but unfortunately was unable to do anything to turn the game because the real problems have nothing to do with flyhalf.

Now onto the players themselves, who have let themselves and the team down?

The Culprits

- Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
- Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)
- Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
- Werner Kruger (Bulls)
- Flip v/d Merwe (Bulls)
- Andries Bekker (Stormers)
- Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
- Willem Alberts (Sharks)
- Pierre Spies (Bulls)
- Jaques Potgieter (Bulls)

- Ruan Pienaar (Ulster)
- Jean De Villiers (Stormers)
- Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
- Patrick Lambie (Sharks) 

So here is where it gets interesting. The Boks actually reflect the slow, stodgy play of the Sharks. Yes, that supposed powerplay that left the Sharks looking flat-footed, defensively porous and of course, a complete mess at the breakdowns and completely reliant on big ball carriers to smash it up as their floundering backs fluff every bit of ball that comes there way. A few home truths for sure. But if the Boks are to really turn a corner, supposing that's what the fans really want, then a reality check is in order.



 

WTF r u talking about Retardcat? How can Lambie be 1 of the "culprits" when hes only played about 10 mins of the R Ch??

Yr post is definately exposng something but its not myths; its yr ignorence and yr bias thats being exposed!

Now isn't this interesting. OP post suggests a number of culprits in the "demise" of the Boks and our little green friend here see one that seems out of place and what happens. Boommmm the entire argument by the OP is rubbished.

I for one, also believe that our "problems" go way beyond the flyhalf only, and would have liked to know what, in the opinion, of Requisecat are the places where those culprits have gone wrong, and there is no sarcasm or hidden agenda behind the question.

Bongani, I see our loose forwards being completely outplayed game in and game out, an over-reliance of ball carriers in a very start-stop style of game that seems to have no real goal. Our protection of the ball in contact and at the breakdown is poor, the presentation of the ball is also poor. Our backs are always on the back foot. and when we get any momentum we have Pienaar shoveling it casually to Alberts or Coetzee. The support play is non-existant, the backs are too static, with very little movement and little angling on runs. A lot of work needs to be done, but it has got to start up front. The front row is caving in, and it cost us dearly last weekend. No leadership is another issue.  

The Boks play nothing like the Sharks.....can you imagine Michalak kicking all those up and unders. No the Boks play like the Bools.....if they played like the Sharks we would have some progress. The Sharks are the best balanced team in RSA.....and I'm a Stormers supporter.

I agree with most of the players on the Cats list. But Lambie is a mistake, Bismarck is an act of bias. Coetzee is too harsh, although he is not as good as some believe. And you can add:

Juandre Kruger

Hougaard at scrumhalf

Morne.....how can you leave him out of the crit..for his kicking if nothing else

Frans, the bumbling porker

Kirchner for his decision making.

The Boks play nothing like the Sharks.....can you imagine Michalak kicking all those up and unders. No the Boks play like the Bools.....if they played like the Sharks we would have some progress. The Sharks are the best balanced team in RSA.....and I'm a Stormers supporter.

I agree with most of the players on the Cats list. But Lambie is a mistake, Bismarck is an act of bias. Coetzee is too harsh, although he is not as good as some believe. And you can add:

Juandre Kruger

Hougaard at scrumhalf

Morne.....how can you leave him out of the crit..for his kicking if nothing else

Frans, the bumbling porker

Kirchner for his decision making.

OK, so now we have to kick out:

- Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
- Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks)
- Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
- Werner Kruger (Bulls)
- Flip v/d Merwe (Bulls)
- Andries Bekker (Stormers)
- Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
- Willem Alberts (Sharks)
- Pierre Spies (Bulls)
- Jaques Potgieter (Bulls)

- Ruan Pienaar (Ulster)
- Jean De Villiers (Stormers)
- Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)
- Patrick Lambie (Sharks)

....and

Juandre Kruger

Hougaard

Morne

Frans

Kirchner

Where does that leave us?

The Sharks are not even close to the best balanced side in SA. That would be more the Cheetahs or Bulls, with the Stormers coming next, then the Lions or Sharks. The Boks are very much reflective of the Sharks and it's no surprise that it's the Shark's guppies who are really hurting the side. As per kicking? Morne kicks very little, in fact, the Boks are not kicking nearly enough! And most of the kicking they are doing anyway is the result of the pack folding like a deck of cards. Really Moz, you didn't even try. 

Kick out? It's not entirely that simple. If you want to have that 15 man rucking game, we need contesters in the backs. Fourie won't be back for a little under two years, which is a big blow there, it would require much consideration amongst the backs. I would however always select Brussow. A replacement for Alberts is not so easy either, Juan, Schalk, Kolisi are all out. We need Alberts to step up now, the team really needs that boost, what happened to the Alberts that literally ran over the English with ease. The front row is another poser. We will see how Coenie fares at tighthead, if he folds? We only have Jannie. Steenkamp is abroad, but has been a monster the last two and a half years. We really miss him alot. The Bakkies/Matfield void will not be filled in this generation. All in all, we are in a tight spot and we really need these players to put their hands up, dig deep and deliver at least something with a grain of passion and commitment. But if we are to point fingers, these are they who are most culpable. 

Retardcat must still be angry after he drove dwn 2 Durban from Danville & the locals all laughed @ his white speedo and 2 tone shirt. its the only explantion for his hatred to all Sharks. 

The Cat

What games are you watching?   Morne kicks away - mostly aimlessly - 50% of all the balls that comes his way - if not kicking he tries unsuccessful drop goals.   You want him to kick more?    Must be the only Bok supporter who wants to see sterile rugby.   Morne is one of the reasons why our backline does not function.   He, De Villiers and Francois Steyn should be dropped from the team pronto and things would change for the better.   That is not a myth - that is fact.

Have you ever played rugby Mike? Your post exposes you badly. "If you want Morne, you cans not has attackling rugger yo". I know damn well what makes attacking rugby, and as pointed out endlessly, Morne is NOT the problem. There is no fact in what you say, not even the slightest shred of logic.

Please explain why dropping them will change anything? I really want to hear thus detailed insight. 

Req what a stupid read given that you fail to mention the worst player of the lot in Morne Steyn. If you think this guy has been anything but pathetic then taking any of your points of view on board is a complete wasted of time.

How short sighted of you Dave. Coetzee has failed on every front, Pienaar is the biggest rot in the backs supply of ball and Jean is crippling our defence. Worst of the lot you say? You over shot it by quite some distance, that lack of perspective is most often your undoing.  

The Cat

Yes - I did play rugby, but had to stop because of injury.  

However, anybody that believes that the flyhalf is not the pivot in the backline knows zero about rugby.   Morne is the most sterile and useless flyhalf imaginable when it comes to engineer constructive backline play.   How you can say otherwise - in the face of experts all over the world - must really be the pits.   He really does not start anything constrcutive.

AS to Coetzee - as per normal you are way off the mark.   He is not useless, he has the highest tackling record of any of the Springboks - but you are too thick to see that with your own eyes.

Pienaar is a much better scrummie than Hougaard - an excellent wing they tried unsuccessfully to make a scrummie.   He does not have the instincts for decent scrummie play, his kicking is diabolical and his passing game far too slow and inaccurate.   That is one of the main reasons for a difunctional backline.

The Springbok backline is totally disfunctional - but you blame De Villiers - the fourth backline player to receive the ball in any bsckline move.   Problem he never sees the ball - it is kicked away by Morne Steyn - or chrashballed by Francois Steyn - after getting a hospital pass from Morne way behind the advantage line.

However, if you do not want to recognize the truth when it hits you in the face - then good luck to you.   Go on - live in cloud cuckoo land and keep on dreaming.  

 The opinions which have been written off as myths, are in fact shared by most rugby people around the world- This post explains more- http://sarugby.com/forum.cfm?threadid=2268