Boks too good for sad Scots
My happiness with the Bok victory is tempered by disappointment. Disappointment that the game did not live up to its billing as a contest against Six Nations contenders. I am also disappointed at aspects of the Boks' game.
But let's start with the positives. This was the Boks' first test of the season. It was the first time to see the full strength side play together. It was a match for which only a win would suffice. It was a match that needed to be hard but from which we needed to minimise injuries. And coming away with a dominant performance and only Jean de Villiers' bruised ribs, one would have to say mission accomplished.
The Springbok pack was awesome. My apologies to Os. I believe he has a dodgy knee, but it did not show and he demolished the Scottish scrum. Eddie was indeed steady and the substitution of John Smit showed his power in the scrum. Danie Rossouw put his hand up - against my expectations. Victor Matfield did what he does - win lineouts and field kick-offs - but was lacking in the loose.
Speaking of loose, the loose trio looked very good and to me were the most positive aspect of the Bok performance. Schalk's workrate was fantastic and it seemed that he really enjoyed his return to the open-side. Joe van Niekerk is an awesome ball carrier. Juan Smith was steady.
At scrummie, Fourie du Preez made a welcome return to form. He looked very good behind a dominant pack.
And then the first luke warm performance - Jaco van der Westhuisen. It was better than against the world fifteen, but behind a storming pack, it was merely adequate. Mark my words, if Jaco does not pick up his game we are not going to be smiling against stronger packs. He has to be the general and stamp his mark on the game. At the moment, his mark is poor lines and pathetic kicking out of hand.
Given this, Jean de Villiers performances over the last two weeks have been encouraging. He has looked a different player to the shadow he was in the Super 14. I don't believe the quality of ball was good enough (slow and static down the line) to accurately judge Jaque Fourie.
Despite the slow possession, Snyman's touches did not do enough to change my view that he is an undeserving inclusion in the side.
Hats off to Jake for including Paulse though - he was assured and looked for work. So too did Monty, and it was encouraging that either the fullback has been encouraged to attack more, or he has decided to do so himself. Apart from missing two kicks, he is looking the real deal again. He must seek to dominate under the high ball though, by out-jumping competitors when contesting.
So why my unhappiness? As good as the Boks were at the set scrums, the Scots were poor. I don't believe the Boks will enjoy the same dominance against the All Blacks and Aussies. Given the dominance they enjoyed, I was looking for the boys in green to dictate terms more. Ultimately it is the patterns and structure of the game that will determine whether the Boks will win the close games.
Many will say that Jake can't win. When the guys play a pattern, he is accused of overcoaching the team. When they look to attack, he is accused of not coaching structure. There is a difference between patterns and gameplans. I do think our coaches overdo gameplans (and lack imagination in their design). But gameplans are made up of patterns. Whether they be "attack the fringes on second phase ball, wait for gaps to open up, spread it wide" or running lines that the backs look to execute. Stucture relates to how players break, looking for lines that allow their support to move with them, or how the team divides up the field and allocates styles of play.
The Boks have focused on structure in defence for a long time. And that was only right. Jake understands that confidence comes from winning. A winning record will allow his team to grow belief and dominate on attack. Regardless of how they got those wins. Perhaps that points to the next phase of the Springbok evolution. And as such, I believe the focus will shift to patterns and structures on attack. Hopefully the Boks will use the second test against the Scots to dictate terms and rehearse for the season ahead.
Well done on the victory Boks.
But let's start with the positives. This was the Boks' first test of the season. It was the first time to see the full strength side play together. It was a match for which only a win would suffice. It was a match that needed to be hard but from which we needed to minimise injuries. And coming away with a dominant performance and only Jean de Villiers' bruised ribs, one would have to say mission accomplished.
The Springbok pack was awesome. My apologies to Os. I believe he has a dodgy knee, but it did not show and he demolished the Scottish scrum. Eddie was indeed steady and the substitution of John Smit showed his power in the scrum. Danie Rossouw put his hand up - against my expectations. Victor Matfield did what he does - win lineouts and field kick-offs - but was lacking in the loose.
Speaking of loose, the loose trio looked very good and to me were the most positive aspect of the Bok performance. Schalk's workrate was fantastic and it seemed that he really enjoyed his return to the open-side. Joe van Niekerk is an awesome ball carrier. Juan Smith was steady.
At scrummie, Fourie du Preez made a welcome return to form. He looked very good behind a dominant pack.
And then the first luke warm performance - Jaco van der Westhuisen. It was better than against the world fifteen, but behind a storming pack, it was merely adequate. Mark my words, if Jaco does not pick up his game we are not going to be smiling against stronger packs. He has to be the general and stamp his mark on the game. At the moment, his mark is poor lines and pathetic kicking out of hand.
Given this, Jean de Villiers performances over the last two weeks have been encouraging. He has looked a different player to the shadow he was in the Super 14. I don't believe the quality of ball was good enough (slow and static down the line) to accurately judge Jaque Fourie.
Despite the slow possession, Snyman's touches did not do enough to change my view that he is an undeserving inclusion in the side.
Hats off to Jake for including Paulse though - he was assured and looked for work. So too did Monty, and it was encouraging that either the fullback has been encouraged to attack more, or he has decided to do so himself. Apart from missing two kicks, he is looking the real deal again. He must seek to dominate under the high ball though, by out-jumping competitors when contesting.
So why my unhappiness? As good as the Boks were at the set scrums, the Scots were poor. I don't believe the Boks will enjoy the same dominance against the All Blacks and Aussies. Given the dominance they enjoyed, I was looking for the boys in green to dictate terms more. Ultimately it is the patterns and structure of the game that will determine whether the Boks will win the close games.
Many will say that Jake can't win. When the guys play a pattern, he is accused of overcoaching the team. When they look to attack, he is accused of not coaching structure. There is a difference between patterns and gameplans. I do think our coaches overdo gameplans (and lack imagination in their design). But gameplans are made up of patterns. Whether they be "attack the fringes on second phase ball, wait for gaps to open up, spread it wide" or running lines that the backs look to execute. Stucture relates to how players break, looking for lines that allow their support to move with them, or how the team divides up the field and allocates styles of play.
The Boks have focused on structure in defence for a long time. And that was only right. Jake understands that confidence comes from winning. A winning record will allow his team to grow belief and dominate on attack. Regardless of how they got those wins. Perhaps that points to the next phase of the Springbok evolution. And as such, I believe the focus will shift to patterns and structures on attack. Hopefully the Boks will use the second test against the Scots to dictate terms and rehearse for the season ahead.
Well done on the victory Boks.
posted at 9:33 PM
1 Comments:
How about if Jake moves Percy into number 10 and say, Brent Russell to the number 15 position?
I didn't see the game (unfortunately, World Cup Soccer takes preference in the UK at the moment), but heard that it wasn't all bad. The Aussies (esp the backs) looked pretty good against the English, but then the English aren't exactly on form at the moment.
Can we beat NZ and/or Aus? I guess we'll have to see how we go against the Frogs first!
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