Coach57,555 posts
15 Aug 2013, 14:00
#1
15 Aug 2013, 14:00#1
Even though in a stat of mind that Meyer's team cannot be beaten on Saturday - there are a number of points that could upset the applecart. If those occur it might be les of a problem on Saturday - but be particularly problematic against the All Blacks and Wallabies in later matches in the RC.
OUTSIDE BACKS
I do not think that Le Roux will let down the Springboks, but there is something bothering me about the Engelbrecht - Basson combination. Despite Saffex's contention to the contrary - there has been defensive lapses on the part of Engelbrecht. Those would not cause major hassles on its own - but there is no doubt that Basson is a weakfish defender. By playing the combination of Basson and Engelbrech together nay not be wise.
HALF BACKS
This really is a nightmare situation since -
* Morne Steyn is vulnerable and went to pieces last year in the tests. That was after there were disturbing signs of trouble in the later matches in Super 15 that year. The same tendency is coming through in the latest Super 15 games this year - he was really not up to standard.. If there is a repeat in the upcoming two games - Meyer will be wise to replace him earlier than he did last year. One to watch carefully on Saturday.
* Ruan Pienaar was always a good srummie - but this year there are disturbing signs that the wheels may be coming off. He last year played Meyer's gameplan quite well - by kicking away possession too frequently. However, he had a relatively poor year for Ulster and was not a house on fire in the June tests. He is probably weaker than he was last year.
* Everybody is all agog about Fourie du Preez. No doubt his glory years were in 2007 to 2009 and in later games he was not really up to standard. After playing for nearly two years in the softish Japanese league - he now suddenly is again the talk of the town. Will he be u to standard? There are question marks on that score.
BACK ROW
Meyer is always squealing about ball recovery - yet he selects a really questionable backrow. Les deal with this issue player by player:-
* There is no doubt that Vermeulen is a strong ball carrier and good defender. On the negative side is the fact that he is not a player that can carry balls in open field play - he is limited only to carrying balls in traffic. There are question marks about his mobility as well as his ball handling skills. In the absence of Arno Botha - he probably I the only option we have at present - but he is not really the ideal no 8 for the team.
* Willem Alberts is an odd one with a huge reputation for ball carrying and hard tackles - yet during the past year those two elements were not in evidence anymore - matter of fact any carries he attempted was snuffed out early and his tackling at times was problematic. He has a very low tackle count for a loosie and is liable to miss crucial tackles - like happened in the Samoa test recently. His problem is lack of mobility which stops him from making tackles in more open phases of he game. He does not really contribute to line out play at all. Probably the most unproductive unit in the team with very little performance positives.
* Francois Louw - no real problems - he did ell for Bath this year and is still a top-rated loosie. Only slight problem is his tackle rate - which could be better.
The combination of two slow-paced loosies together in one team really is a recipe for disaster - especially in respect of defence and ball recovery in breakdown situations.
LOCK
The problem here is to find a second lock - Kruger is weak and Flippie is notoriously indisciplined. Neither are really good in line out play and Kruger lacks grunt and is also not an effective defender. One of the weakest links in the team that should be replaced asap.
The above can spell trouble for the Springboks on Saturday and if the weaknesses as mentioned cause problems - it is definitely better to deal with those asap and not sit around with unproductive players - like Meyer did last year.
