MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
09 Jun 2013, 01:53#1
The Boks dominated on the score board and in metres gained. But here are a few stats to ponder:
Possession....Italy 57%/Boks 43%
Territory ....... Italy 54%/Boks 46%
Passes....Italy 132/Boks 84
Defenders beaten.....Italy 10/Boks 12
Lineouts .....Italy 16 of 19/Boks 6 of 8.
Once again, as in the last Pom test, we won with a lot less of the ball. This wont happen against a more efficient attacking team.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
09 Jun 2013, 02:08#4
Mozart
The stats are a true reflection of what players like Morne Steyn, Jannie Du Plessis, Kruger and Spies did to our efforts. Morne kicked away aimlessly too many balls that we should have used otherwise 9 thus handing over on a platter possession to the Italians). In any event the kicking did not produce results - because the line out play was not up to standard - essentially Kruger was hopeless and Spies absent from the game.
We should also bear in mind that especially in the second half our props ran out of steam and should have been subbed much earlier. All in all - there are serious problems amongst the forwards that needs to be addressed. Those problems are with the international players of the past that you so strongly support.
I hope Meyer realizes the problem and act on it - but am not every hopeful that he would.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
09 Jun 2013, 02:13#5
Speed rules. When Habana became a Bok and the fastest player on the planet, it changed the dynamic with NZ. JJ, Willie and company can renew that edge. But tougher tests lie ahead. Both players had mixed bags. Willie tackled superbly (what a relief) , found some gaps and threw some neat passes....he also caused a few turnovers out wide.
JJ turned the ball over 4 times, more than any player in both teams. ...missed two potential tries....missed a kickoff....and was once pushed back by his opponent after overrunning again. Not the end of the world against Italy, but against Oz?
I still like Jan Serfontein ahead of JJ, I think he is the more accurate player. But all this stuff adds a lot of excitement and all three of these players are now in the mix.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
09 Jun 2013, 02:41#6
The problem is with ball possession That problem comes from two main sources, namely -
* Morne kicking away (mostly aimlessly) more balls than he passed - thus handing possession over to the Italians on a platter; and
* Some really poor forward play in both the scrums, line outs and maul situations..
I can remember the cases of handing over of possession to the opposition by Le Roux and Olivier. In the case of Le Roux he made an aimless kick (once only) that went over the dead ball line, a pass he threw to Basson - which the latter missed (if caught it would have been an easy try) - and one where the ball was lost after he was tackled.
In the casee of Engelbrecht it relates to the same problem four times over - getting tackled and not protecting possession of the ball by making sue that it comes out to his own side. That can perhaps be coached out of him.
The second problem is much more serious in the long term and some serious changes in forward personnel are needed.
