BREAKDOWN FOCUS SHARPENS BOK ATTACK 10 JUN
Heyneke Meyer believes the Springboks' improvement at the breakdown has provided the backline with more room to attack, reports JON CARDINELLI in Hazyview.
Following the Boks' emphatic win over Australia at Loftus Versfeld last year, Meyer praised the performances of Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen. Meyer said that the introduction of these loose forwards had served to boost the Boks' breakdown efforts. The No 8 and the openside flanker had the physicality to meet the ball-carrying requirement, but it was their prowess on the ground that made all the difference in terms how the ball was recycled at ruck time.
Going in to the 2013 Test season, Meyer again highlighted the breakdown as an area of focus. He spoke about the need to improve in this area, and predicted that a sharper showing at the attacking breakdowns would result in a more fluid and potent display out wide. Put simply, more accuracy at the rucks would equate to a higher try-scoring return.
Meyer's prediction came to pass in the first game of the 2013 season, albeit in patches. Those first 20 minutes at Kings Park saw the Bok forwards dominating their Italian counterparts, and it would have come as no surprise to those in the know when the Bok backs suddenly had all the time and space in the world.
Italy fought back in the middle stages of the game, particularly at the breakdown. Nevertheless, the Boks got the better of the tourists in the fourth and final quarter, and again a lift at the breakdown afforded the Bok backs more space to attack.
More try-scoring opportunities were created, and while the Boks scored three tries in that last quarter, they may have scored five if centre JJ Engelbrecht had not spilled the ball over the tryline on two separate occasions.
On Monday, Meyer reiterated the need to boss the breakdowns with the ultimate aim of building pressure and scoring points. Blindside flank Willem Alberts is still in doubt with injury, but even if he is available for the clash with Scotland, Meyer may opt to continue with Arno Botha, who enjoyed a memorable debut in the No 7 position.
While the aim in this Test series was to experiment with new combinations, Meyer also wants to see an improvement at the breakdown. Meyer wants continuity in this area, and for that he may have to stick with the same loose trio, and indeed the same starting pack, that was so effective last week.
Alberts remains first-choice in the long term, but Meyer will want to keep the current combination together for a spell. In the process, he will develop a strong alternative to Alberts.
'I was very happy with Arno's performance against Italy,' said Meyer. 'He made 23 tackles and had the highest work rate in the team.
'We got quality ball early on, but then Italy managed to put us under pressure. If we didn't make the necessary adjustments, we wouldn't have enjoyed such momentum in those latter stages.
'That's when we started to get quick ball, and it was the performance at the breakdown that allowed the backs to play so well. Suddenly there was quicker ball and more space to exploit.
'I'm happy, but not 100% satisfied,' he added. 'We've made an improvement but there are still some things we need to work on.'
Meyer confirmed that the Boks will need more than three excellent loose forwards when they travel to the World Cup in 2015.
When everybody is fit and available, the Boks have some of the world's best loosies in Francois Louw, Alberts, and Duane Vermeulen. Meyer will want to develop alternatives to these players over the next two years, so it's important that players like Botha get their chance.
'These three Tests are about developing the next tier of players,' Meyer said. 'Injuries are a reality in international rugby, so you want to have six brilliant loose forward options at your disposal. If one is injured, then you can call on the next guy in line.'
