Pretty - pretty worrying
It was difficult to know how to approach today's game. I wasn't happy that the Boks had made the most of their forward dominance last week and I was immensely disappointed with the Scots. So I guess it was always likely that the Scots were going to up their level of aggression and competitiveness and the Boks would search for the complete performance.
The first exchanges showed increased aggression in the forward exchanges. While the Boks attempts at pick and go phases were encouraging, I was disappointed that they remain poor in running support lines and looking for the support player. Twice just before the three minute mark, they turned over good attacking ball through poor cleaning out at ruck time. Both times this was due to support players hanging back instead of being on the shoulder of the ball carrier. Then when Juan Smith had Habana on his shoulder he went inside and scorned a good try scoring opportunity.
On the 7 minute mark, it was encouraging to see Monty jump for an up and under - he must have read my commentary from last week. Not only that, but he looked like metronome when kicking for poles. He also continued to looked for work, and on the 20th minute when Paulse shirked his duty under a cross kick, Monty fielded the ball and popped a one handed backflip that almost put Paulse away.
The Scots' first try was worrying - it was a gift and Paulse looked disinterested in defence. After his fantastic return last week, he looked a different player.
Sadly, after an attacking first ten minutes, the Scots opted to try and use the sun and kick onto the Boks for the next ten. This did show the Boks apparent hunger for counter attack, but also exhibited a lack of pace and guile from the home team. After a week where Jake White commented on the Ndungane brothers lack of pace, he hopefully again felt that choking feeling of both his feet in his mouth.
After 30 minutes, the Bok forwards had continued to look good generally (with the exception of quick ruck ball) and the backs had looked average with the exception of Montgomery and a slightly better looking Jaco van der Westhuizen. A nice break by Wynand Olivier and Montgomery in support almost put Habana away, but sadly hands let the side down again.
The Scots would have been pleased with their first half effort that almost included a try for left wing Simon Webster just before the siren. The kick through from Mike Blair exposed the Boks rush defence much like the All Blacks similar tactic did in last year's away Tri-Nations match. It must have raised the eyebrows of the Scots playmakers.
But the Boks lack of penetration and a clinical approach were worrying. If this line couldn't open up Scotland, what chance against Australia and New Zealand? Balie Swart's scrumming work was apparent. But perhaps this has increased the forwards impression that they have possible backline careers outside of the set-pieces. It is all very well to blame the backs for lack of penetration, but slow ruck ball or turnovers from contact make their task impossible.
I'm sure Hadden and White would have made the same observations and doubtless given the teams advice during the break. One would never have known by the rubbish we saw in the second half. I felt sorry for the Eastern Cape - if this is to be the rugby they pay to see every few years, they might as well miss out.
If there is any good to come of this match, it will be to highlight the laziness of our players in the tight-loose. It has been something apparent in even the matches we have looked better in. Today it showed as glaringly apparent.
Maybe the Bok tight five were tired after carrying 10kg sacks of stones on their backs during scrumming practice. Maybe they're unfit. While John Smit has seldom looked as strong a scrummager, he as also never looked as slow and overweight when running with ball in hand. The other forwards were absent in the loose. Schalk slowed ball down in the backs - were Juan Smith and Joe van Niekerk even on the field? Matfield watched the ball as he trundled around. Surprisingly, Danie Roussouw again looked the best outside the scrums.
The South African front row were magnificent in the scrums, however. Os, John and Eddie gave the Scots a torrid working over that did not let up when CJ van der Linde made a return to Springbok rugby.
For the backs, Fourie du Preez looked like a scrummie being harrassed at rucks - which he was. Jaco van der Westhuizen looked much improved given the quality of ball he recieved (shocking in handling that led to Donnie MacFadyen's try aside). It was almost impossible to rate Olivier and Snyman, so I am again unable to judge whether I am wrong about their credentials (or lack thereof). Paulse was poor - but at least looked for work in the middle period of the game. Habana didn't have many chances but his hands looked poor when he did. Monty was outstanding outside of two line kicks that didn't go out. He was my man of the match.
Looking ahead to France, I am a bit worried. The Boks looked anything but world beaters today. If Jake White is still using Pro-Zone, I think his forwards will be in trouble. Once upon a time, Jake White sent Matfield home from Australia for poor work rate and shirking his duties in the loose. Schalk was also once left out the team for similar reasons. Perhaps the time has come to send the same message again.
Credit to the Scots. They looked to up the pace of the game. They played the ball close to the ground. They defended well.
The first exchanges showed increased aggression in the forward exchanges. While the Boks attempts at pick and go phases were encouraging, I was disappointed that they remain poor in running support lines and looking for the support player. Twice just before the three minute mark, they turned over good attacking ball through poor cleaning out at ruck time. Both times this was due to support players hanging back instead of being on the shoulder of the ball carrier. Then when Juan Smith had Habana on his shoulder he went inside and scorned a good try scoring opportunity.
On the 7 minute mark, it was encouraging to see Monty jump for an up and under - he must have read my commentary from last week. Not only that, but he looked like metronome when kicking for poles. He also continued to looked for work, and on the 20th minute when Paulse shirked his duty under a cross kick, Monty fielded the ball and popped a one handed backflip that almost put Paulse away.
The Scots' first try was worrying - it was a gift and Paulse looked disinterested in defence. After his fantastic return last week, he looked a different player.
Sadly, after an attacking first ten minutes, the Scots opted to try and use the sun and kick onto the Boks for the next ten. This did show the Boks apparent hunger for counter attack, but also exhibited a lack of pace and guile from the home team. After a week where Jake White commented on the Ndungane brothers lack of pace, he hopefully again felt that choking feeling of both his feet in his mouth.
After 30 minutes, the Bok forwards had continued to look good generally (with the exception of quick ruck ball) and the backs had looked average with the exception of Montgomery and a slightly better looking Jaco van der Westhuizen. A nice break by Wynand Olivier and Montgomery in support almost put Habana away, but sadly hands let the side down again.
The Scots would have been pleased with their first half effort that almost included a try for left wing Simon Webster just before the siren. The kick through from Mike Blair exposed the Boks rush defence much like the All Blacks similar tactic did in last year's away Tri-Nations match. It must have raised the eyebrows of the Scots playmakers.
But the Boks lack of penetration and a clinical approach were worrying. If this line couldn't open up Scotland, what chance against Australia and New Zealand? Balie Swart's scrumming work was apparent. But perhaps this has increased the forwards impression that they have possible backline careers outside of the set-pieces. It is all very well to blame the backs for lack of penetration, but slow ruck ball or turnovers from contact make their task impossible.
I'm sure Hadden and White would have made the same observations and doubtless given the teams advice during the break. One would never have known by the rubbish we saw in the second half. I felt sorry for the Eastern Cape - if this is to be the rugby they pay to see every few years, they might as well miss out.
If there is any good to come of this match, it will be to highlight the laziness of our players in the tight-loose. It has been something apparent in even the matches we have looked better in. Today it showed as glaringly apparent.
Maybe the Bok tight five were tired after carrying 10kg sacks of stones on their backs during scrumming practice. Maybe they're unfit. While John Smit has seldom looked as strong a scrummager, he as also never looked as slow and overweight when running with ball in hand. The other forwards were absent in the loose. Schalk slowed ball down in the backs - were Juan Smith and Joe van Niekerk even on the field? Matfield watched the ball as he trundled around. Surprisingly, Danie Roussouw again looked the best outside the scrums.
The South African front row were magnificent in the scrums, however. Os, John and Eddie gave the Scots a torrid working over that did not let up when CJ van der Linde made a return to Springbok rugby.
For the backs, Fourie du Preez looked like a scrummie being harrassed at rucks - which he was. Jaco van der Westhuizen looked much improved given the quality of ball he recieved (shocking in handling that led to Donnie MacFadyen's try aside). It was almost impossible to rate Olivier and Snyman, so I am again unable to judge whether I am wrong about their credentials (or lack thereof). Paulse was poor - but at least looked for work in the middle period of the game. Habana didn't have many chances but his hands looked poor when he did. Monty was outstanding outside of two line kicks that didn't go out. He was my man of the match.
Looking ahead to France, I am a bit worried. The Boks looked anything but world beaters today. If Jake White is still using Pro-Zone, I think his forwards will be in trouble. Once upon a time, Jake White sent Matfield home from Australia for poor work rate and shirking his duties in the loose. Schalk was also once left out the team for similar reasons. Perhaps the time has come to send the same message again.
Credit to the Scots. They looked to up the pace of the game. They played the ball close to the ground. They defended well.
posted at 4:54 PM
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