Why aimless kicking is an abomination

Yesterday was back to the kicking game  - we only need to look at the stats of Jantjies to recognize hat we were up to it in the tests:-
Balls kicked   -  19Balls passed  -  12Balls carried  -   5
There is nothing wring with the kicking game - but two real imperatives.   Kicks must be accurate and  purposeful.   So lets look at the situation as o these two imperatives:-
*    Jantjies missed a penalty line kick - a real unforgiveable in tests.*   the kicks in general was too far ahead for effective follow-up and the recipients were never under pressure.*   Most of the kicks were aimed directly at Israel Folau - recogmnized throughout the world as the best high ball catcher in world rugby.  
The above put unnecessary pressure on the Springboks from a defensive -perspective and a similar situation against the AB's would put massive pressure on the Springboks and exploited by the AB's.
In general Jantjies was poor copnoparative to the other tests played this year and his record in Super Rugby.   He will remain in the team - but unless he improves drastically he would not be a long term prospect.
There are still Pollard in the wings - but he has been spoilt by the Bulls and indications are that he is becoming a Morne Steyn clone.    I think that Smith and Vente r may be able to do something positive about him.
Jantjies must be careful - there are two youngsters in the wing - namely Bosch and Willemse.  While Bosch failed in the WC - the same cannot be said of Willemse who played at 12 in that series - he really was good.
Bosch made his name playing for the Sharks - but so is Willemse is doing the same for the Stormers and WP.    Willemse is making waves recently and a sign of things to come is the release of Robert du Preez at the end of this CC season by the WP.   The Stormers choice flyhalfs are  obviously Willemse and Jean-Luc du Plessis.
My foreccast is that the versatile Willemse will by 2019 the first-choice Springbok flyhalf.       

 The situation is not with the kicking - it was with the fact that most of Jantjies kicks were comparable with those of Morne Steyn - aimless and inaccurate,   
That is what idiots would regard as "traditional SA rugby" - a clueless statement about something that never was and came into being with the Bulls in the late 1980's and early 1990's.   Anybody who believes that kind of dribble is immensely stupid.
Lets summarize the situation - kicking is part of the game - as both an attacking option.  However, when kicking is only a means to ahnd over possession - it is an abomination.   That was the constant case on Saturday.     

The purpose of kicking is to either put your opponent under pressure with good chasing ... win territory ... attempt to win the ball back by competing in the air, which could produce a great attacking opportunity ... or use the elements such as rain and high winds to force a knock on and thus the advantage.

One must also remember that there are an assortment of little chips, grubbers and kicks over the top that should be in every decent 10's arsenal. It's a potent weapon when used properly ... but a nightmare when done aimlessly, without purpose ... especially at strong counter attacking oppositiion.

Jantjies doesn't have much of a tactical mind. He has shown us again that he is not the one to take us forward.

I"m tired of watching him kick possesion away.

I wonder if anyone's ever told him of the damage he's doing to the team ... then again, shouldn't he already be aware of that??

 

 We were taught that it's better for a high ball to be short than long...For obvious reasons. 
These days it seems the majority of high bAlls are too long, a few the right distance and hardly any that are to short. IE the majority of kicked ball has no chance of being retained. Where's the sense in that?

 Plum
100% correct - that is why I call most  kicks aimless and non-productive.   Nobody can put a recipient under pressure when kicks are too long and it basically represents turnovers in possession.
In the case of relieving kicks too many are easily reachable when out and result in a quick throw-in.   It is much better to go for certain out-kicking by not kicking balls too far and make sure that in such events quick throw-ins are not possible.
You will never see equal problems with stronger international sides - bar SA teams.   It is apparent that little attention is paid as to the issue of productive kicking and if it is the execution needs much to be desired.