Tank Lanning
And skipper Jean De Villiers says there was no change to the game plan, only a better execution of the existing one?
How many times did you see Ruan Peinaar kick a ball back into a static maul, and how many box kicks with chases did you see from Pienaar and Goosen? A few perhaps, but many less than in previous Tests …
If there was no change in game plan, then young Johan Goosen deserves even more credit than has already deservedly come his way … It was just incredible to see this entire Bok side light up playing with a fly half more inclined to take the ball up, or put his outside backs away …
First phase or staged second phase via predictable on off runners (as has been the Boks want till Saturday) are the toughest platforms to attack from as defenses can be organised better to counter attacks off those platforms. On Saturday, because the Boks varied their gameplan, took the ball up, or spread it, the likes of Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth’s and even Andries Bekker were allowed to work in a much more unstructured environment, and my oath did they flourish.
On a media road trip prior to the season, Heyeneke Meyer stated often that he was keen to “Structure the unstructured” – ie plan so far ahead so that your second, third and even 4th phase is part of a plan so you know what you are going to work from. And while to carries some merit, that focus on structure has always worried me just a little.
It’s in the open and unstructured play that players talent and skill come to the fore, as they play what is in front of them, using all of their God given talent, the wider spaces offered to them, and the skills brought to the training ground by the coach …
And along with power scrums that generate great right shoulders, that is what people want to see … OK, perhaps more of the latter, I will concede …
Speaking of scrums though, it was brilliant to see Allain Rolland keeping tabs on the Aussie substitutions. Long have those men in yellow cheated come scrum time by sneaking an early scrum substitution then bringing that subbed player back by faking an injury to one of the props later in the game. And on Saturday, when they wanted to do that, Rolland spotted that they had already used their seven subs, and that their front row player had been declared unfit to play, so they finished the game with 14 men …
That said, one does have to feel for the Aussies given the massive amount of injuries they suffered both before and during the game. And together with the yellow card to prop James Slipper, the Boks did get to play against an under resourced Aussie side that was not too flash to begin with – On a field purpose built for the game the Boks played.
So while it was without doubt a top performance, and a huge step in the right direction in terms of the game I think the Boks should be playing, perhaps we should wait until after having played the All Blacks in Soweto next week before making a call on this “New look” Bok side …
I must say i was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion when i was expecting a Garryowen and found the ball going wide to good effect, just shows how one becomes so accustomed to that style of play. but like you say, lets see what happens at FNB, I will be there in the nosebleeds backing my Boks, the empty seats at Loftus was disgraceful.
I was disappointed to see Pienaar taking over the kicking duties from Goosen. Surely the long term plan must be to let the kid have the tee? Look at his Super14 kicking stats from earlier this year…the boy kan kick. Would have loved to see him carry on on Saturday and finish with a 6 from 9 rather than the collective 3 from 9.
Here’s to hoping that on Saturday Meyer and JdV trust the Goose with the tee and that he finds his radar early on…and then maybe later on land some 50m+ attempts to rub salt.
Hi Phil, i saw a camera shot where the “waterboy” (HM through the mic) was talking to JG,i suspect he was saying dont worry about the stress of kicking on your debut, just go out and play, i reckon they tested him out for the first 2 and then didnt want to kill his confidence because the loftus crowd were already jeering after the 2nd miss. he will get there, we have all see what he can do off the tee.
As it turns out, his injured left heel was preventing him from kicking, so Pienaar took over …
“many less”… far fewer…
Hi Tank, I don’t know if it is the signs of becoming old but when I saw Goosen crying while the Anthem was being played, I got a lump in the throat. It goes to show what it meant for the youngster being selected to start !! A pity about the injured left heel. I hope it will heel properly. I’m sure he’ll be able to land his kicks – he has BMT in my opinion. What an improvement in the distribution skills of a proper “footballer” at 10 !!
One of the moments of my weekend! Absolutely loved that
when i saw a Bok crying like that, i said we would see something special, although not the finished performance we want, there are glimpses of a great team in there.
The Boks stop kicking good possession away and start running the ball and presto 3 tries by a winger and 1 by a fullback. I’ll bet Morne is now wishing he had a grown a pair and stood 20m closer to the gainline.
As I said previously, vast improvement by the “Boks, but it must be kept in context. As is often said in horse racing, “He/She won well, but the opposition were very weak”.