A few years ago Meyer made the classical comment that SA backline players do not have the ball skills to play a ball-in-hand game. Ludeke and his attack coach Matfirlld clearly was of the same opinion.
This resulted in a total disregard for neckline play with the SA players being coached in a way that makes performance by backline players a virtual impossibility as was evident in the WC of 2015 when Burger became in fact the stand-in flyhalf.
The myth was consequently developed on site that the lack of backline performance was somehow representing "traditional SA rugby" and the kicking game by the half-backs became the norm without any regard to quality of kicks,
I watched the Bulls game tonight and was amazed by the way the backline players attack gain line and how effective their off-loads were. The Bulls were beaten totally in their match against the Pumas earlier this year before Mitchell and the beat tonight scoring 7 tries and winning by a 20 point margin.
Mitchell's impact on the Bulls team was clear tonight. Suddenly the skill-deficient Bulls backline players can pass balls and show marvelous skills in the ball-in hand=game. The forwards can also pass balls. However, Mitchell will have a major problem with Serfontein and Kriel, Maybe he would be able to turn them into good functional players - but it would a hard job to knock the BS of Ludeke and Meyer out of them. They will also have to deal with the flyhalf situation with Pollard losing virtually all the ball skills he displayed as a Junior.
The oustanding Bulls players this weekend were -
* Marutlelle - hooker* Ivan van Zyl - scrummie* Gelant* The center combination of Jackson and Odendaal.
Gelant and Marullelle will definitely not be quota players when they play for the Springboks on merit will be the norm for their selection.
Coach57,555 posts
13 Oct 2017, 20:19
#1
13 Oct 2017, 20:19#1
