Risky, but ballsy … Heyneke Meyer could have reverted to type and picked a big ball carrying 7, instead he is taking a risk with Heinrich Brussow, which is fantastically ballsy says Tank Lanning in his Sport24 column.
Tank Lanning
Against Australia in Brisbane last week, the 13 turnovers won by the Boks kept them in the game as they basically lived off scraps against a side that dominated all the attacking stats.
508 running metres from the Aussies vs 355 from the Boks, 8 clean breaks vs 4, 152 carries vs 97, 26 defenders beaten vs 17, 229 passes vs 106, 7 offloads vs 6.
But as has been proven time and again, it’s more often than not the team that spends the least time with the ball that wins the game in this overly complicated and subjectively officiated game. And so it would have been at Suncorp had the game been a 79 minute affair.
Of course I would like to see the Boks creating more chances of their own rather than living off scraps, but against one of the top sides in the world, away from home, missing some seriously key players, I am seeing that glass like the one in my hand at a Sunday braai – half full!
So given the success of Bismarck du Plessis and company last week, one can understand this week’s gamble on a three fetcher loose trio against the All Blacks.
Shut the All Blacks down at source and then live off the scraps secured at the breakdown. Not pretty but together with astute kicking (rather than into the hands of the best player of the ball in the air like last week) which turns those mercurial backs around, and an industrial, physical, swarm like defence, has that not always been the Bok game plan against the best side in the world?
A gameplan that has worked better than that seen from any other sides that take on the Men In Black.
Three things have changed though. As seen from Israel Folau last week, players have got much, much better at securing ball in the air, making that box kick less contestable. Man beasts like Nadolo, Haholo, Nonu and Savea have made counter attacks from the back much more dangerous and less of a risk. And of course the All Blacks have developed a pretty damn good kicking game of their own, meaning it might be the Boks dealing with a similar attacking strategy to the one they are dishing out.
Throw in the subjectivity of how the breakdown is refereed, and instead of the 12 turnovers that worked so well last week, it could instead be 12 penalties against the Boks this week at Ellis Park. Imagine that with a lineout sans Victor Matfield and an obvious option at the back!
The point being that it is a gameplan that comes with a fair amount of risk.
But don’t they all? And I think it’s fantastic to see Heyneke Meyer being ballsy and taking a risk. He could so easily have reverted to type and picked one of Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter or Pierre Spies (the names suggested by Meyer should his current loosies not work out) as a traditional big ball carrying 7. Instead we have Heinrich Brussow back in the mix which is an excellent call.
It does leave the coach short on excuses not to have a look at Jaco Kriel, though. And where does that leave Oupa Mohojo? Chopped liver, or merely window dressing? Bloody tough to be a coach in South Africa!
Teams for Saturday (kickoff at 17h00):
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger (captain), 7 Francois Louw, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Bench: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lionel Mapoe
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock
Bench: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa
Hi Tank
I am all for Brussow, but even more for Jaco Kriel, my hart is bleeding for him.
What would be very interesting and entertaining is if we could have a friendly between Heineke’s first pick players and an team consisting of all the players that would be second choice in each position.
Hell, that would be a coach’s nightmare. But would be fun. Agree re Kriel, think he has been outstanding this and last year. Deserves a look in
I thought it was a no-brainer. Schalk back on the flank and Warren at no 8. Or give Kriel a well deserved shot. But obviously not…
Scrumhalf!… I thought the Ozzies turned it around when Phipps came on last week. Suddenly they had a fast good service from the base, and they attacked relentlessly. Genia should be worried. Would have thought Faf (form SA scrumhalf in my humble opinion) would have got a look.
Lastly – what is it with SA coaches? The best centre in SA is a fullback? The best no 8 is a no 7? Does the Bok coach not have any contact with the Super, or Currie Cup coaches? Can’t they work together and give the guys a run where the national coach is toying with ideas.
Anyway, love your column.