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Springboks not firing properly yet
Certain South African rugby writers celebrated the manner in which the Springboks dismantled the highly acclaimed Italians in the scrums during the highly flattering but unconvincing 29-13 victory in Witbank on Saturday. Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis and Bakkies Botha played pivotal roles in ensuring scrumming dominance against an Italian team renowned for its formidable performances in this facet of the game. During South Africa’s triumphant march to the Tri-Nations crown in 2009, there was doubt about their scrumming ability, particularly with John Smit in the tighthead role.
Victor Matfield was annoyed after the performance in Witbank. The Boks led by 22-3 at halftime, but the Italians responded with a dogged performance in the second half, ‘winning’ it 10-7 against an increasingly frustrated team who lacked momentum and continuity.
Sure, there are some players who are still suffering from post-Super 14 fatigue and need a well-earned break. Matfield is one of them, and probably Pierre Spies, Morné Steyn and Steenkamp as well.
But all the players must be reminded that they have 12 Tests to go in the remainder of 2010, with Tri-Nations action on three successive weekends in late July and early August.
South Africa will have to address its staccato playing style behind rucks, with Enrico Januarie waiting for an eternity to get passes away, or launching the highly predictable aerial assaults with the defensive wings generally in the perfect position to start a counterattack.
The way in which the New Zealand team ran Wales ragged by employing a more fluent style of play, would be an early warning signal to the Springbok management. The All Blacks won 42-9, but it was the way in which they kept their momentum going that was even more convincing than the score line.
While the Stormers and the Bulls used their attackers expertly through retention of possession in the Super 14 campaign, South Africa employed a structured pattern against Italy, which must have frustrated attackers such as Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon who are capable of breaching most defences.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers lamented the many small little errors that crept into the Springbok game in Witbank, saying that the Boks owed it to their fans to improve on their lacklustre display against the Italians when they assemble for the second Test in East London.
But perhaps De Villiers will also have to address himself on his own small little errors. He loves to ring second-half changes at the most inappropriate time, such as substituting a mongrel in Botha with a lightweight racehorse in Alistair Hargreaves. It is hardly the right substitution.
And why persist with Jean de Villiers at number 13, when he was one of the premier inside centres on show in world rugby in 2009? He delivered an accomplished performance at outside centre, but hardly performed to his usual standard because he was not given opportunities to express his creative genius to put the other three-quarters in space.
Nick Mallett, the former Springbok coach, was philosophical and understandably sanguine about the Boks after the Witbank struggle: “The Boks were on such a high after thumping France and were deservedly praised, but after all that effort, it would have been difficult to pick themselves up to play us the next weekend in Witbank,” he said.
“It is natural that they won’t be as motivated for a match against Italy as they would be for a Test against the All Blacks or France.”
From an Italian perspective, it is a pity that their backs lack the spark and flair of an All Black- or Springbok unit (when they do not appear as disjointed as on Saturday at Witbank).
For if they had one or two game breakers, South Africa might have been hard pressed and the margin of victory might have been much closer.
It is early days to make predictions for the Tri Nations series, as the Boks flattered to deceive and the Australian team stuttered to a 20-22 loss against England.
It is clear that the lack of experience in the Wallaby team might still make this team vulnerable to the heavyweight pack of the Springboks and the enormous flair of the All Blacks out wide.
Further, the lack of a skilled kicker cost the Australians dearly, a factor that almost hampered South Africa’s progress during the early part of its Tri-Nations campaign in 2009 when Ruan Pienaar battled with his place-kicking.
South Africa, though, will have to think long and heard about the one essential element that catapulted it to the Tri-Nations summit in 2009: Will the Springboks persist with Januarie when they have Pienaar as the closest thing to Fourie du Preez ready and available?
Du Preez was simply outrageously good in 2009 and was at the peak of his considerable powers in the Super 14 campaign this year. Pienaar may not quite possess his kicking ability and vision, but as a game-breaker and footballer, he is almost on par with the Bulls genius.
Januarie lacks pace and passing prowess at this stage, and his shortcomings may give the All Blacks and the Wallabies more time to organise their defensive lines when the Boks create turnovers.
While we do have depth in certain areas, fullback is a problem....and surely Chilliboy is not in the same weight division as Tiaan Liebenberg or Gary Botha.
Some of the coach's substitutions are a total puzzlement.