I have always wondered why our centers perform well in provincial games and then show nothing in international games, Through many decades this was not the case - but as from 1994 we were cosntantly finding a situation where centers under-perform from a try-scoring perspective.
I believe the main problem is how do balls get to them - in other worsds how is the service they get from the half backs. We basically had two scrumhalves with extended runs in that position - namely Joost and Fourie Du Preez from 1995 to today. Both were good players - but there service to the back line was slow and very ineffective. Both were very predictable and tended to rather play back to the forwards - or kick the ball and seldom serve as effective links in attacking back line play. As from 2007 this situation became more complicated with Steyn at flyhalf. Especially over the last five years the situation was that we concentrated on 10 man rugby - centers, wings and the full back was there for decorative purposes only to defend - not attack.
That situation allowed for the back line players to lose the attack situation completely. By the time the inside center got the ball - often through hospital passes - there was very little the poor bugger could do - but to play crash ball games and hope for the best. Most of De Villiers tries were intercept tries - he virtually could not function progperly as inside center. Same with Steyn - when he played in that position. The fact that despite the poor service from the half backs - the centers scored some tries are indeed surprising. This often happened when for some reason or other the kickers and slow service providers are cut out from back line moves and they get the ball in open play.
My contention is that our back line play has basically been limited by a slow and erratic service provided by our halfbacks. If we had half backs like a Carter or Wilkinson - we would have had effective center and wing performances - but our national coaches said ten man rugby is effective and winning rugby - and back line play is not important as an attacking option. So on the rare occassion that a ball gets thrown to back line players - they often bugger up further and prove to be ineffective, because it is an extremely unusual situation for them.
With a proper halff back service our centers would have functioned better from an attacking perspective. This is particularly the case with Olivier - potentially a good attacking center, who is not a gifted player like De Villiers, who did make some line breaks and made some tries for outside backs. Olivier in his international career scored one try.
My contention remains - with ten men rugby you remove the ability to play attacking back line rugby. That is why we are not on a level where we should be internationally. Without the back line as an effective attacking option - we are really not going to outplay opposition with a more attacking playing option approach. Until we get to a stage where there is variation in scrum half play with a fast and effective service to the back line and get a proper flyhalf with good linkages and service to the remainder of the abck line - we will remain a dull performer side who can kiss backline attacking options good bye.
