Ten critical factors at the RWC ranked in order of importance.

Here's my list in order of priority.....feel free to produce your own.

1. Goal kicking

2. Tactical kicking

3  Defence.

4. Penalty avoidance

5.  Set pieces

6. Contest on the ground

7. Mauls

8. Attack from turnovers

9. Drop kicks

10. Attack from set pieces and phase play.

Good list Mozart, you can add patience when on attack, recognising opportunities, decision making, adaptability to referee and ability to read the match situation.

 " Variation on attack"

Yes please.

I have nothing against an attacking kick with a goal to regain possession in mind.

Never have, I am tired if mindless kicking because there is no alternative considered.  

1. It keeps the ball ahead of your pack.
2. It turns defences around. If you have mobility and speed it can cause chaos as the defensive line loses it's structure scrambling backwards.
3. You pressure opponents for the aerial battle.
4. They may win the ball back, but have lost ground and now have to contend with pressure at the ensuing ruck if chasers were doing their jobs.
5. If you want to contain a superior backline, you can field an up-and-under just behind their midfield. This condenses their backline whilst applying considerable pressure as the outside-in defence shuts off the outer channels. With a big pack this single strategy can and has proven fatal for many teams, even New Zealand. 
6. Control an opponents field position. At Ellis Park in 2013 New Zealand would kick well outside of the 22 to pin us back and we ran everything and conceded the inevitable turnovers. Their superior field position took the sting out of our attack and gave them the platform to capitalize from turnover ball. So sad we replicated a strategy New Zealand abandoned after the 2009 whitewash.

If you can't get over the advantage line, you will eventually turn the ball over....giving your opponent their most productive possession. You can't get over the advantage line without beating tackles. When it's apparent this is not happening the smart scrumhalf, like F du Preez, kicks.

The Saffa fans then moan about the kicking....but they overlook the root cause....flaccid centre play and aimless running by loosies.

The only players who were exceptions this year for the Boks were Schalk and Jean. Schalk because he cleverly offloaded at the instant of committing the defence, providing productive running lanes. And Jean, because despite a tough year, he regularly road the first tackle for enough time to force the defence to step back.

Jean is now gone barring a miracle and Schalk's body is a miracle that could end in an instant. Where are their replacements? Coetzee and Steppie? Methinks not.

So with our resources we had better include the U&U game. Chip kicks when gobbled up are very dangerous....and Wales were totally reading every Lambie chip. Longer kicking is a neutral.

It's so simple....you can't win a running game without great centres and great running loosies. We have neither....so we are reduced to massive defence, counter attacks off turnover ball, kicking for territory, great goal kicking and the use of the drop. Do them well enough and we can win the RWC.

One reminder.....Hougaard's try of the Year, came from turnover ball.