I don’t think I’ve seen such a poor performance from the Boks in a very long time. It wasn’t just the lackluster attitude or the poor mistakes, it was the team as a whole. They just looked out of sorts and if it was due to over-training, then why play the same players for the last 3 games when the fringe players desperately need game time?
Case in point was my previous blog post about how Heyneke made a comment that he didn’t select Lambie for the Argentina test because he wants to stick with Pollard and give him more time to gel with de Allende and that he still wanted to win the game. In my opinion, that means that if he had selected Lambie, in his mind the Boks didn’t stand a chance. I think that Heyneke and the management must rue their decision now to stick with Pollard and Pienaar seeing as they lost anyway and also especially when the whole nation and top sport presenters and co were asking why Reinach and Lambie weren’t given a proper go for the two remaining games. Maybe all the Boks needed was a show of faith in the fringe players and not complacency from Pienaar and Pollard, among others. I thought Pienaar and Pollard were poor though and it could have been due to the forwards not really dominating but the ball they were getting, they did almost nothing with, let alone poor defense.
It’s too late now though, we are wooden spoon winners in the Championship regardless and have dropped to #5 in the World Rankings. This in itself should be a massive wake-up call!
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/international/news/150809/Ireland_second_SA_drop_to_fifth
Kriel wasn’t bad at 14 but he was found wanting in defense especially as his positioning wasn’t accurate. JdV also didn’t have a bad game but considering what we have in de Allende/Kriel, I don’t understand why they were disrupted to accommodate JdV mainly for his captaincy. As I mentioned before, ‘Why fix something that is not broken?” If HM is so adamant to use Jean’s experience in the World Cup, then leave him on the bench to come on in the last 15-20 minutes if needed. Otherwise, leave the youngsters on-field for as long as possible so they can close out the game one way or another.
The Pienaar/Pollard combo worked out well the last 3 games but also not the entire game and why not give Reinach/Lambie a proper go? Lambie has World Cup experience and is essential to our success with his calmness and level head. He is needed at 10 or 15 beyond reasonable doubt, especially based on what we all saw on Saturday. We need someone who can get us into the right areas of the field by not just running but good, clever kicks into the corners where our massive forwards like Etsebeth, Lood and Steph du Toit and co can compete for the ball putting constant pressure on the opposition. Running rugby is what we all asked for and we’ve been getting it but to try run from our 22 every time just because we’re playing catch-up, is not the answer which is why the Boks need someone like Fourie du Preez and Lambie in the mix to change things up when necessary!
I read on SuperSport that Willie le Roux twisted his ankle early in the game; so why not replace him with Lambie even it it’s the 20th minute? Why risk players for a game that, ultimately, didn’t mean that much? Lambie could have done something other than le Roux and we could have been in a better position with the added benefit of Lambie’s superior defensive skill.
I think Schalk Burger is an amazing talent and a great ambassador for the Boks but he is not an eight-man and we should seriously consider using a specialist in that position. Even if Duane does heal up and goes to the World Cup, he will not be at his best which means we still need someone in that position to back him up. I know Alberts played at 8 for the Sharks a couple of times and is more of an 8 in my opinion than Schalk especially if HM wants a like-for-like replacement for Duane. Alternatively, Whiteley at 8 with Alberts and Louw on the side and Schalk on the bench as an impact player as we all know what he can do.
Marcel Coetzee looked a shadow of his former self and not sure why as he was one of the standouts in Super Rugby and the games against the World XV and NZ. I hope he is ok come World Cup time as he offers more than Brussouw who also didn’t feature much. If Vermeulen, Coetzee and Louw are fit, we have three fetchers PLUS Bismarck of course, so not sure if there will be place for Brussouw.
I don’t know all too much about scrumming techniques and technical know-how but I doubt that Koch deserved to be penalised so many times. From what I could see, the Argies kept hinging as well and not binding correctly. I think the Boks are doing the right thing questioning the decisions especially as inconsistencies can cost any team a fair chance. Read more here:
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/150810/Boks_seek_scrumming_clarity
It’s time to be smart and select some other players to get valuable game time and come World Cup, choose ONLY the BEST players in their BEST POSITIONS regardless of colour, political preference or past experience.
ChatBoks 