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The Springboks believe they have found the right style of rugby to play at the World Cup, but what if it goes wrong?
While wistful South African rugby fans were considering the lost opportunity of a rare Grand Slam after the Boks’ walloped England in what was always expected to be their toughest game, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers believes that the lessons learned in the painful fortnight of the Scotland and England games are more valuable than a cruise through the four home unions.
The coach’s reasoning is that the shock loss to Scotland galvanised the squad into exploring new bounds of character and the win at the weekend reaffirmed once and for all how the Boks should play rugby.
“This tour had been big for us in terms of the road to the World Cup,” De Villiers said.
“If we had won the Grand Slam, but did not learn about the character that came to the fore after Edinburgh, then we would be the poorer, and the Grand Slam would not have helped us in New Zealand next year if we got in trouble there.
“But we learned a lot from the loss. We learned how to stand up for ourselves in adversity, we looked at the drawing board and realised what works for us, and we go home with belief in ourselves and what we must do.”
In other words, the game plan we saw from the Boks on this tour, based on forward domination and squeezing points out of domination of territory and possession is the way the Boks will play in 2011, no matter the impact of the new law interpretations. In other words Bulls rugby.
Captain Victor Matfield confirmed as much.
“We must stop looking at how other teams play the game and back what suits our players,” he said.
“This year was a tough year for the Boks in that nothing wanted to work and my feeling is that should not have started to look at what other teams are doing. That was a big part of our downfall against Scotland.
“We were between game plans. Everybody was telling us to keep the ball in hand, and we got into trouble trying to play too much rugby.
“I believe we have the players and the plan on how we should play. We have proved that (against England).”
De Villiers added: “We have made major strides since 2008. We have new players to add, we have resolved how we must play in the next World Cup and the players enter next year with confidence and belief.
“If we had to choose a side now, there are about five positions we won’t agree on, the others have as good as cast their stones to the World Cup.”
One position certainly sewn up is scrumhalf, according to De Villiers.
“I am looking forward to seeing Fourie du Preez back so that execution on one part of our game can be spot on again,” he said.
“He is not just a rugby player, he gets everybody going around him. His loss was a blow and to come here and win three games without him is a big boost of our confidence.”
For Matfield, the Bok forward domination of England underlined what Springbok rugby is all about.
“There was a lot spoken in the media about our lack of physicality against Scotland, but at Twickenham we showed what we can do. This is South African rugby at its best.
“We have to have go-forward from the forwards first, and then everything else follows.”
But this is precisely why they lost to Scotland and why the team needs to grow its pattern and backline play. When a team stands up to the Springbok forwards, there is no Plan B because there is so little going on behind the pack.
For now, though, the coach is content that the Boks have proved a point.
“The whole world knows how we play rugby, and most think it is boring, but we believe it is the way to go.
“Other teams change their game plans every second year, but we will keep going with what we believe is right for us.”
De Villiers was asked if he thought the win had saved his job, never mind the team’s game plan.
“I never employed myself. It would be a lot easier if I did. I don’t care (about what the critics have been saying). The pressure I respond to is to deliver for the country, to give hope to South Africans.
“That does not mean we won’t make mistakes. You can slaughter me if I make a big mistake, I just hope you can sell the meat …”
GRAND SLAM RESULTS
Beat Ireland 23-21
Beat Wales 29-25
Lost to Scotland 17-21
Beat England 21-11
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ADA, wrote
Transformasion is the problem, it proofs to be so if you see Pdv being the trainer. We need to have trainers that match the qwallity of our top players, the rest of the coaching staff are not on top either. I believe we should win with a team that are in general weaker than the Nz if the French interseeds for us.The super 14 is a proof of our standard of rugby.
Cobus, wrote
@Tumi, how in the world do you get 79%??? You are being far to generous, PdV has a 61% win ratio overall. Please at least TRY to get it right... 44% against NZ, 38% against Aus, 50% against France and Ireland and 100% against England. Wales etc.
Andrew London, wrote
I check the kiwis on this site already making excuses for choking on home ground in 2011, ha ha.
Tumi, wrote
@grant. your being silly, obviously. PDV has a 79% win ratio. better than Jake's buddy. if you won 79% of cases as a lawyer but completely botched the rest you can bet your bottom dollar you'd still get a raise mate! get the facts before you spout rubbish. please. however, i still think the boks have got to grow up. Oz and NZ are obviously the real threats in RWC and they can unpick us at will. we have some amazing backs but they just never seem to get involved unless we're playing italy. big whoop. we need some creativity, badly.
Anonymous, wrote
Its just friggin outrageous isn't it. Like standing in a boxing ring and having you're intelligience insulted again and again by Matfield and PDV's vitriolic nonsense! Since when have we improved out game from 2008? Everything they say is the opposite to any sane rugby follower's opinion...
John, wrote
Sam, wrote
The Boks were lucky to win against Ireland and Wales. Was the ref. against them when they played the Scots????
jarod, wrote
@LIONEL...cmon man, we would have played against new zealand or aus in the world cup, but the bottom line is NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE FINAL WE DID!so now what?justify that pal
Johann, wrote
WTF!!!! He is pointless clueless and even more useless!!!! We will lose next year , what a chop he is!!!
RainMan, wrote
Hahaha! Nee, Pieter ons wil jou net slag en braai, maar jou vleis kan nie verkoop word nie! Selfs die dierevoerbedryf stel nie belang daarin nie!
Lionel, wrote
Strange how it just takes one game and all is forgiven and that the other two wins was nothing to write home about. Let's face it England where not the same team that played Wallabies and even the All Blacks. The Boks keep on harping on that they where in the same precarious position in 2006 before the 2007 RWC, which they won, which may end up to haunt them as they had a rather easy passage to the final and did not meet the All Blacks nor Wallabies on the way. I believe that each team should play each other at least once at the RWC. The All Blacks actually played badly against Wales and kept Wales in the game by giving away too many penalties and still scored 5 tries to Wales one gift of a try right at the end of the game.
Bok fan, wrote
Time for PdV to stop learning and start producing. The SA rugby public is tired of listening to excuses and reasons for losing. Shape up PdV or Ship out.
Kb, wrote
DEMORGUE...i dont see u on the field doing any better u pile of rubbish. If u dont know the game keep your comments to yourself!!! Stick to ballet...
Grant, wrote
So I started a job about 2 years ago, and I keep making mistakes and messing thigs up! I cost the company money all the time, an we get fines because I submit stuff late. BUT... last week I managed to get something more or less right! That should show my boss how much character I have! If I had done everything right in the firt pace, nothing would have changed. Instead, my boss has had to fork out for unneccessary expenses, and the company still survives, so he will know how to run the company in BAD circumstaces! I deserve a raise, and an extended contract! Yay me!!
e, wrote
Once again shows that PDV does not have a clue what he is doeing! After so long in charge, he still does not know how the Biks should play rugby?!! Shocking! Both PDV abd Hoskins should be fired!
demorgue, wrote
of course there is a plan B. the ref doesnt like us, the weather doesnt suite us, we too far from home and miss our braai's, the NH refs dont know the rules, my baby toe is sore - bunch off overpaid cry babies!!! The more I listen to the drivel coming out of their mouths the moe I cringe in disgust!!!
demorgue, wrote
If that is what the Springboks have been reduced to and the way forward then I say - take the springbok off that jersey and let them play as the proteas. Another team that will never win any meanful silverware again. - One springbok supporter that was on their way to watch in New Zealand lost. Screw Pdv and Hoskins.
Anonymous, wrote
Ryan, wrote
its a tough call for supporters - what do you all think ? would you rather watch a team play boring rugby and maybe win, or play exciting rugby and maybe lose ? @ Anonymous ... ya, but theres a lot that Div does that no-one else probably would. if he wants to play defensive rugby why does he select naturally attacking players in the backline ? rather just select the best defensive players that can tackle for 80 minutes right !!!
ross, wrote
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