Willie le Roux has injected new life into the Springbok attack

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 Willie le Roux has injected new life into the Springbok attack, writes JON CARDINELLI in Hazyview.

There's a new energy in the Bok camp, an infectious feeling of excitement. It may seem an outrageous statement to make after just one game, but the Boks are on the brink of an attacking evolution.

Meyer spoke of this new energy last week. The Bok coach said that Le Roux, Jan Serfontein, and JJ Engelbrecht had injected new life into the Boks' training sessions. He lauded the individuals for their contributions, and also clarified how these contributions had served to inspire some of the more senior players.

One of those senior players was Bryan Habana. When Meyer spoke to the press last Monday, he couldn't contain his excitement. The Bok backline was finally firing, and its most prolific scorer was in white-hot form.

Meyer didn't leave room for speculation. He identified the new players in the squad as responsible for the lift in intensity and accuracy, and went as far as to single out Le Roux as the chief catalyst.

For the first time in ages, the Boks would field a back three that excited the nation as well as the national coach. And how right was Meyer to feel optimistic?

Le Roux enjoyed a great first outing in Bok colours, Bjorn Basson had a hand in two of the five tries, and Habana went on to win the Man of the Match award.

The Habana at Kings Park this past Saturday was reminiscent of the Habana of 2007. Indeed, that try he scored against Italy was almost an exact replica of the one that broke Sharks hearts in the Super 14 final: the same cutback inside, the same straightening, the same acceleration through the gap, and ultimately the same game-breaking result.

Habana is playing with new energy, and Meyer deserves a lot of the credit. The two men have always enjoyed a healthy relationship, with Meyer knowing how to get the best out of the wing.

But Meyer also deserves credit for the selection of his combinations.

Last week, the Bok coach picked a back three that could not only challenge Italy in the air, as per the tried-and-tested kick-chase strategy, but a back three that could ask questions on attack. Clearly the presence of Basson and Le Roux had a positive influence on Habana, and vice versa.

This is not a column of unrelenting praise, nor a declaration that the Boks are the finished article. It's simply a celebration of the fact that the Boks are on the right track, that they are finally embracing the concept of balance.

Uncompromising physicality up front, watertight defence, and a sound kicking game aren't enough to win championships. Attack also needs to be factored into the equation.

It's worth celebrating the Test debuts of Le Roux and Serfontein, and it's worth lauding Engelbrecht's first start at outside centre. All three made positive contributions in their respective individual positions, and all three formed part of an exciting back division that showed a lot of potential as a unit.

What excites me about Le Roux is his ability to sum up the situation immediately. He may have lacked consistency in his application this past Saturday, but his intent was never at fault.

The Boks have missed a fullback of his ilk, somebody who can take the ball to the line and ask questions of the opposition defence. He's been compared to Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper, and it's true that he's good enough to be included in the starting line-up purely for his innovation and vision.

But unlike Cooper, Le Roux has the full skill-set. He can be so much more than a dangerous player from broken play, and the development of his other abilities should be encouraged. This will only add to his aura of unpredictability.

His defence cannot be questioned. Le Roux timed his jump perfectly to catch an Italian cross-kick this past Saturday, killing a promising try-scoring movement. He also succeeded in stopping Italy captain Sergio Parisse centimetres short of the South African tryline.

There will be sterner examinations of his ability at this level, just as there will be bigger tests for the Bok backline as a unit. The Rugby Championship is where South African players are judged, and like any other aspiring game-breaker, Le Roux will want to make his mark in that competition.

Meyer wants to stick with the same combination for the coming clash against Scotland, and has said that he wants the back division to settle and build some continuity. Mistakes are a byproduct of the development process, and it appears as if Meyer has now come to terms with the fact.

Le Roux especially needs to be given room to grow. 'If you're not making mistakes, you're not really trying,' he said casually after the Boks' 44-10 win over Italy.

This statement summed up a progressive mantra of a Bok side that's finally starting to take the initiative. There will be risk in the coming months, but as seen by the showing against Italy, there will also be reward.

 My sentiments exactly. Willy Leroux popping up all over the place, often as a 2nd flyhalf gave the boks backline lots of options.

Given that the forwards performance was average, the backs looks exceptional. 

He brings brains to the backline. Suddenly the backs running lines look organised from inside to outside.

Not the creatine crashball style of the likes of Jaco Taute, Zane Kircher etc- where isolation is the name of the game.

Taute was being pipped by all as the next best Bok 15.

Now everyone's claiming to have mentioned Le Roux way back then.

Bull friggin shit!!!

Like a bunch of old women fighting over knitting.

The first person if I recall correctly to actually mention Le Roux was Chubby Dave, and that in itself was a no brainer. There wasn't anyone else decent to select.

Sooooooo ladies ... don't get your knickers in a knot.

Mike I am not as positive whether Le Roux will do well against a more competitive team like the ABs and Wallabies unless he switches up things with a mix of different fundamentals that is not so predictable, that brings the best out of a player. I don't think he should change is playstyle completely just slightly. People that does understand the game knows what I mean. I disagree that unpredictability makes it worse. When a attacking fullback is under a large amount of pressure it is extremely difficult to attack, the logical thing to do in that situation is to kick. That being said I don't regard Le Roux as a fullback that can kick well like players like Dagg, Beale and O'Connor. If Le Roux plays against a good defensive side or in bad weather conditions he wouldn't be so effective in attack, so he would to have bring a sense of unpredictability in his playstyle by kicking. I think Le Roux is a brilliant attacking fullback but attacking is not always the best option like I've stated before.

You guys are amazing.

Give Mr Le Roux a shot ... if you don't mind!!!

He has the potential and talent to become an awesome Bok fullback.

Bear in mind that not every new blood hits the ground running.

Arno Botha did and he's one of very few capable of doing that.

Le Roux was good this past weekend. He should be left there for this entire series. He will pick up a lot of confidence and I reckon will become something very special.

By all means Mike ... have at it.

Mozart seems to be losing his grip these days anyhow ... and Chubby ... well ... the less said about him the better!!

Produce the evidence.....enough hot air.

 I googled it Maaik.....Willie Le roux Bok candidate. Up popped my posting reproduced above. From you....nothing. Even when I tried clever mike on Willie Le roux. This was a pipe dream old boy.

I am allmost certain that I was the first to indentify Le Roux on this board. I cant prove it though, but you refer back to a thread in November last year

 If you type this search term into Google-     

Willie Le roux bok candidate sarugby.com

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The oldest post that appears is one from Saffex.

http://www.sarugby.com/forum.cfm?threadid=3304

Fullback: Lambie, Taute and Frans are the only real options.

It would be good to see the two Bulls youngsters in Ulrich Beyers and Visser making an impact.

Willie le Roux is a handy player but might struggle physically at the next level. We need to move on from the solid enough Kirchner. Ludik should have had a look in a few seasons back but its probably too late for him now at 27.

Ou Maaik, I went back as far as January 27 but the only threads I found where Willie Le Roux was mentioned were Bok pecking order and Where are the wings?.

In both of those posts, Saffex mentions Willie Le Roux as a Springbok prospect and neither you or Moffie mentions Le Roux . . . although Moffie does describe Saffex's selections as "Hardly worth commenting on....close to lunacy really" so if he's trying to pretend he spotted Le Roux early then he's definitely lying again.

Quite funny going through the older threads . . . Baboon-ou bragging about the Stompies depth (spot the irony!), SmallCock (aka Boklogic) threatening to punch everyone and Moffie lying in just about every post while calling everyone else liars.

An outstanding performance. I think the only credit goes to Willie and HM. Looks like an up and coming Andre Joubert.

Good selection...I think Saffex was the guy that gunned for him or was I wrong???

Yes Mozzie Saffex was spot on this one....sometimes he's quite good in selection.

But with "slippery hands" and Kolisi he slipped a bit but still we might one day be proven wrong.

One thing I do agree with him is that Francois Steyn is not spent yet but he needs to get his mind right...that talent he had as a new boy does not go away...I think Frans needs to face a hard truth...like a lot of the talented players that go through psychological trials in their youth. I think Patrick Lambie is facing one at the moment but if I was his mentor I would tell him not to be phased because the older competitor in 10 is performing but glad because it evokes a huge challenge for him to rise up...having said that I'm absolutely sure that he knows that given his maturity for his age and his unselfish spirit.

Anyway I'm glad for Willie and I hope that this is not a flash in the pan...he certainly looks the part.

ladies ladies ladies, chillax please, maybe beeno1 can come in  here and spread some cheer amongst u passionate grumpy lot, :oP

but heres the reality check my rugger mad chums, willie le roux is great, but once the All Blacks come a knocking, its nbt going to matter who wears the No15, wether its willi le roux, taute, david campese and anrdre jouberts secret lab love child, or even wile e coyote, kaapish???
so savour the moment, hold hands and relax. the only question u shuld be answering is if the Boks 15 would like a cigerette to go with that blind fold the All Blacks firing squad will offer them, LMAO, :oD

"Ja sorry to going about this, but liars like Maaik are an irritation, and somtimes you just have to nail them."

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Priceless!

Listen dimness - why don't you get the posting I made in November 2012  when I referred to Le Roux as potential full back and you wanted to have a seizure.  However, your living in the past has no bearing on what is happening at present,

But as per normal you have to get a posting of more than five years ago to discuss what at present is total BS.

But lets raise a point though - why did Le Roux fail in 2015 and was out of contention in 2017?   Fact is the non-existent game plan of Meyer and the BS of Coetzee nearly destroyed him as a player.   So a topical issue to discuss is why is Le Roux back as a top player under Erasmus?   That would bring us to 2018 not living in the past.  

Listen dimness - why don't you get the posting I made in November 2012  when I referred to Le Roux as potential full back and you wanted to have a seizure.  However, your living in the past has no bearing on what is happening at present,

But as per normal you have to get a posting of more than five years ago to discuss what at present is total BS.

But lets raise a point though - why did Le Roux fail in 2015 and was out of contention in 2017?   Fact is the non-existent game plan of Meyer and the BS of Coetzee nearly destroyed him as a player.   So a topical issue to discuss is why is Le Roux back as a top player under Erasmus?   That would bring us to 2018 not living in the past.  

This has bugger all to do with the present scenario - zip as a matter of fact.   So get to the issue I raised = why did Le Roux had a dip in form in the period 2015 to 2017?

THAT TYPE OF THING IS TOPICAL - going back to 2013 and arguing  about discovery of Du Toit is baloney.    Matter of fact the Cheetahs players did very well in the 2013 Super Rugby season and Meyer ignored them totally - same as he did with the Lions players i n 2015.   You would never have punted any of the Cheetahs  players if your normal approach was applicable.