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Kelly Brown of Scotland is tackled by Tendai Mtawarira (right) and Ruan Pienaar of South Africa during their international match at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland on Saturday. Photo: Getty Images
It is major decision time for Springbok coach Peter de Villiers following the disappointing manner in which his team lost to lowly Scotland in Edinburgh at the weekend.
And if the coach is to ultimately make the tour a success by beating England with a game plan that will be a positive step towards the World Cup, he needs to make bold selection and policy decisions.
So far on tour the Boks have battled to unconvincing victories over Ireland and Wales, and the word from the coaching staff was that it is easier to refine game plans from a winning position, but at Murrayfield the Boks regressed, inclement conditions notwithstanding.
A week ago, when the England game was still on course to be the Grand Slam decider, De Villiers said that Patrick Lambie at flyhalf would be the ace up his sleeve for Twickenham and that the Boks would play an attacking game, but after the upset defeat to the Scots, it will be interesting to see whether the coach backs his earlier conviction or goes for a conservative approach.
The bottom line for the Springboks is that they have not grown their game since the 2007 World Cup win and on the evidence of 2010, they are not going to have a realistic chance of winning Rugby World Cup 2011.
If De Villiers opts for the attacking game offered by Lambie then he needs to pick other players who offer something similar. Sharks openside flank Keegan Daniel springs to mind and De Villiers could go for broke and partner Lambie with his provincial teammate, Charl McLeod, who yesterday joined the squad at their base in fashionable Kensington, bordering on Hyde Park in central London, along with Bandiso Maku and Odwa Ndungane.
The fear that the Springbok game plan could be obsolete was hinted at by captain Victor Matfield after the match even though the veteran still believes it has merit if it is correctly applied.
“It is a tough one, this talk of strategy,” he said. “Everybody is putting us under pressure to play more expansively, but the weather did not allow us to and maybe we were thinking too much about that kind of game, rather than concentrating on accuracy in a game plan suited to the weather. You can’t play too much rugby in the wet and need to have a game plan where you kick accurately, your chase lines are accurate, you don’t try and run the ball in your own half, and you put the opposition under pressure.”
De Villiers said the major problem was the failure to look after possession.
“We are very disappointed. What worked for us in the first two games – securing first phase ball and holding on to it – we neglected in this match.
“And Scotland played the conditions better with intelligent and well-executed kicking, so well done to them.”
The Boks started well enough, and went into a 6-0 lead after dominating the first 15 minutes, but then unravelled on the back of seven consecutive penalties against them.
“We can’t say too much about the refereeing,” Matfield said diplomatically. “We will have to look at the match video to see how much was down to bad discipline on our behalf. However you look at it, this game was going to be won by the team making the least mistakes. That was Scotland and they were able to put us under a lot of pressure by pinning us in our own half and kicking their penalties. We had the initial momentum but then got nailed for a few things and that brought them into the game.”
Matfield added that conditions had been a leveller.- The Star
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@Bill, wrote
Yes, you are indeed a cannybillistic lot.You want to build a representation of an oppressed majority? Anyway, I'll indulge you. First, you have to completely destroy everything they possess physically, metaphysically and most importantly socially.Now that we are at the root of the problem, we can work our way through your 10 - 15 year plan. Let’s start by building up a sub-human individual. The individual who suffers an inferiority complex and a total lack of self-worth.Housing, feeding, clothing, lifestyles have not even been considered at this point.Sheer numbers have the total opposite effect to the one you propose, as it only exacerbates the situation.Your simple plan is bread out of an unrealistic, somewhat fantastical view of the situation in the country, as your comment suggests "something that was great to start with". I grow tired of this, as I said before, thanks for coming,now...
Bill, wrote
mmm well here's a tip. Us Amazonians are a canny lot. If we wanted to build the representation of a previously disadvantaged, numerically superior group we would start at grass roots. Put our resources into developing the game at their schools. In 10 - 15 years by sheer weight of numbers the problem would be fixed and not even the AB's would be able to touch us. Simple hey? Takes a bit of planning mix with a touch of patience and bob's your uncle. You have built on something that was great to start with and made it into an unbeatable world leader. Darn sight better than what the current clowns are doing!
@Bill, wrote
Welcome back then. Few quick questions: How do you lose something you weren't quite sure you had? You've been living in the amazon for 30 years? Want a tip for that comment you left us? Here's one, why don't you evaporate yourself along with your uncertain racism.Thanks for coming, now F**k Off.
Bill, wrote
I have not lived in SA for 30 odd years so any traces of racism, if there ever was any, has well and truelly evaporated. It saddens me to see the Bok brand being destroyed by a misplaced political agenda and this goes way before PdV appointment. PdV once famously gave a 'black mechanic' vs 'white mechanic' analogy. Well if the current coach were white there is no doubt he would have been fired ages ago not only because of the lack of progress by the boks but because of the disgrace he has brought on the brand with his inane utterances. This is the new South Africa's new form of racism.
@Greg "The Great Hype" Shark, wrote
Nope, certainly didn't get it. One day when I grow up I want to be just like you uncle shark, with your fancy ivy league degrees.
Sipho, wrote
I am a South African and I hate losing irrespective of what sport is being played. The truth is the current team does not give the same courage that the previous one used to give. When the Bokke sang the National Anthem you could feel they wanted to win but these days it seems as if it is just another match. I am no coach but we are predictable, we dont have new players that bring new dimension. How long must we rely on Habana, Matfield, Smit and others. other teams have a game plan against us now. Something must happen and very soon.
Greg Shark, wrote
Ancient Mariner, wrote
"Lowly Scotland" seems to be the current overworked cliche. It overlooks that in the past year 'Lowly Scotland' have beaten not only South Africa but Australia, Argentina (twice in the same tour) and Ireland, while being unlucky not to beat Wales and England. In the words of Andy Robinson, "Something's brewing" and the Springboks have just caught on to that.
@"Xolile", wrote
If it sounds like a duck...only problem with your impersonation is, it really doesn't quack quite the right way.You sound more like a dodo.
@Greg Shark, wrote
Xolile, wrote
i am not going to be justifying me in these forums; peoples can say there opinions and i am a south african that is also having a opinion in the way in which the sports is being run in these country!!!! siyaphumelela devilliers siyaphumelela; bayaba!!! Every south african is to be given the chance for the springbok. It is time now for this sport to learn and to take the change that is coming.
Greg Shark, wrote
@GH...you obviously support a no name, no brand team. wp contested a few finals but were thrashed in both thus the chokers were by and large left out. the players that are there would probably do better if there was a 'game plan'....you know what that is hey? there are some surprising selections as mentioned but hey "everybody is being given a chance" as illiterate Xolile would have us agree with.....
Anonymous, wrote
@shayne, wrote
JW was a lucky snake oil salesman.If you honestly believe that, had he faced any sort of competition at the WC, he would have won it regardless, then you may as well believe "Xolile" to be black....wait, hold on.
@"Xolile", wrote
Seems you've faked a few already on here with your embarrassing impersonation of a black person.Does speak volumes about both you and those you have riled up.
GH, wrote
It was a poor performence -from the combined Bulls and Sharks team-Also they call up the 3rd best hooker for the Bulls to come on tour -how must the 1st choice hookers feel about their chance of ever making a impact in SA rugby-
Shayne, wrote
@ Xolile and anyone else who says PDV is not at fault.. U are quite correct, J White DID also loose a few matches leading up to the world cup. He did also have more or less the same statswin ratio as PDV. But here's the difference.. J White had a plan. He said at the start of his coaching contract that he is going to build up a winning team over the next 4 years that will win the 2007 RWC. And he delivered. He slowly bought in young players and groomed them into the worlds best. Frans Steyn was one such player. What plan does PDV have? No point blaming the players. They are playing a gameplan that the COACH instructed. Why are we always seeing the same up and under'skicking away possession play?? If the COACH didn't want it he would have stopped it a long time ago. J White stuck to his guns and executed a 4 year long plan.. And at the end of that plan we had a clean sweep. IRB team of year (Springboks) IRB Coach of year (J White) IRB Player of year (B Habana) And RWC 2007 Champions. UnlikE PDV that is currently desperately clutching at straws hoping that a 20 year old "Debut" player can make a difference. Pathetic!!!!!!!!! And by the way the "Race Card" is getting old. Contrary to what u may think we don't care who coaches as long as they are appointed on merit and are the best man for the job. SA Rugby fans want a winning team. We know we are the worlds best and will keep supporting our team, But we want support a pathetic coaching staff that is grinding our talent and beautifull rugby history into oblivion,.
2Xolile, wrote
X , rather stick to socccer and work on your spelling. There is a huge difference between the Scots and the Aussies. We are not saying De Villiers shouldn't be the coach we are saying that Gold , Muir and De Villiers should fly home at once , how is that being racist, two whites and a coloured stopping bringing colour into this. The boks have gone form no.1 in the world to losing to Scotland.
ken, wrote
Can you imagine the destruction if craig burden was used as a center instead of de villiers. After all he was a wing ??
AS, wrote
While Hougaard was on the field we still had a small glimmer, at least we kept the ball in hand. When Pienaar came he kicked away any small chance we might have had
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