The South African rugby team’s 2007 visit to Wales and England will be remembered as the Springboks after-the-feast tour and for poor management
Hendrik Cronje writes in Volksblad that while players from most other Test-playing countries were relaxing after the World Cup tournament, the Springboks undertook an aimless tour.
Every member of the squad was exhausted after one of SA rugby’s most successful years.
From that perspective, it was easier to swallow the defeat against the Barbarians here on Saturday.
The Springboks knew before the match they had everything to lose and little to gain after winning the World Cup.
When about a dozen of the World Cup heroes dropped out before the start of the trip, it was clear that coach Jake White’s farewell tour could turn into a nightmare.
However, the Springboks beat Wales in the Test in Cardiff to make the tour more or less worthwhile.
The only value that the tour held was to make some money. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of the players, who were open to criticism after the defeat against the Barbarians.
If consistency is the main yardstick, Juan Smith was the best player on tour. The flank was outstanding in the 34-12 victory over Wales and one of the few SA stars in the 22-5 defeat against the Barbarians.
Strong leader in the squad
Smith has been brilliant since the start of the World Cup tournament and has become a strong leader in the squad.
He is well respected for his physical game and is a most effective lineout forward, ball carrier and defender.
Hard on his heels was CJ van der Linde, who, surprisingly, looked more at home at loosehead prop than on the other side and has turned into a valuable ball carrier.
Consistency put Smith, Van der Linde and prop Jannie du Plessis, who also did not put a foot wrong, head and shoulders above the rest.
Wing Bryan Habana, centre Frans Steyn, lock Bakkies Botha and flank Schalk Burger also made some fine individual contributions.
Steyn and Habana were below their best against the Barbarians but Akona Ndungane performed well in the match at Twickenham.
Eighthman Ryan Kankowski, who made his Test debut against Wales, was the find of the tour. After his good Super 14 performances, the Cardiff match boosted his confidence and it showed against the Barbarians.
Poor management
The next Springbok coach has probably realised by now that Ruan Pienaar should be employed at scrumhalf, where he is certainly more at home than at fullback.
With a view to the 2011 World Cup tournament, it will be wise to partner Pienaar and Steyn as halfback combination more often.
Pienaar should be given an opportunity to establish himself in one position; preferably at scrumhalf.
Off the field, the tour produced a number of lows. These include last week’s media circus when the team’s news conference was controversially cancelled.
As a result of poor management, the players were denied valuable exposure in the news media.
Johan Muller, who captained the Springboks against the Barbarians, was the only Springbok who was made available to the news media for interviews.
It also became clear that SA Rugby and the team’s manager, Zola Yeye, should do some straight talking.
Yeye will have to explain why he and White were unable to cooperate and why he even had disagreements with some players.
It has been said in the Springbok camp that the manager conducted a reign of terror.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:12 am
If anything came out of this game it is that Jake could not pick a second string worthy of a springbok jersey- Not now or any time in the world cup Ricky is not our second best scrumhalf – Barend is a lock not a no 6 – Ruan is our 2nd scrumhalf not a fullback where he never plays for the sharks – JP is our best winger when it comes to running into position – Where was Habana when our no 8 broke to finish the move
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 am
And Steyn is definitely not a flyhalf.
He almost always gets charged down when trying to clear from his own 22.
Januarie is not a bad player, his conditioning is awful.
On form (2005) he is right up their with our best scrumhalves.
I would however go for Ruan as 2nd choice behind FDP.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am
wpw
In agreement with Steyn. He is a fine #12, but not a #10 for that very same reason.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:38 am
With regard to Yeye. Hopefully they could replace the Xhosa with a Zulu warrior.
He is a disgrace to rugby and his country.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:47 am
This tour proved-
Yoyo should be sacked at all costs…
RP has far better distribution than RJ @ 9 and is not a FB… perhaps a FH…
Pretoors will never be of international standard…
Steyn is definitely a 12… perhaps a 15…
Nothing new going forward into 2008… we need another quality 3, 4/5, 10, 15…
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 am
bryce & wpw,
Steyn should stick to 15 he’s not a 10 nor a 12…
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:56 am
Bryce why do you say 4/5?
or is that as a backup to Matfield and Botha?
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:59 am
Charley
Have you got a hangover???????????
Steyn is the best 12 in RSA!!!!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:59 am
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!
hold on I get it!!!!!!!!!!
You trying to make a place for your buddy Adi???
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 am
KSA,
Nope surely no hangover…
Well that’s your opinion and surely a few others as well… I’ll stick to mine…
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:39 am
Hi guys
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
Hi Rob… rumour has it the stork came over recently?
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Charley had ‘surely’ on his bread this morning.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Januarie amazed me over the weekend.
It looks like he’s been polishing off the entire team’s leftovers!
What amazes me is that he was ever selected in the first place.
How poor to let yourself go that badly!
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Charley had ’surely’ on his bread this morning.
Comment by wpw — December 3, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
WTF?
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
He had a good 2005 season.
But that’s about it!!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 pm
You need to be a CT coloured to understand that one…
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Hallo Bok Fish…
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Hoezit, ma se kind WPW…
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Naai, dis duidelik my broe!
Hoe lykie nommer?
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Hey Charley.
Salut ma se kind!
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
indeed bryce
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Rob doesn’t mess around.
He da man!!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
wpw, you didnt say no to crack did you?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:06 pm
And in related news the pocket rocket starts his first game for Saracens A team tonight, along with another SH recruit, a certain Mr. Chris JAck…
Thankfully the game is only a fifteen minute walk from my house so I’ll be reporting back tomorrow…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Huh?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:20 pm
good work, Vincenzo. Go Sarries!
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Yip I’m officially a fan Rob…
Unbelievable. But also understandable when you factor in where I live and how rugby-crazy it is here. Awesome stuff.
The Sarries players local is a five minute walk from my place…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Old Neil de Kock, love him or hate him is playing the rugby of his life and is credited with a large part of the Sarries turnaround this season…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Neil de Kock – I wasn’t a fan over his last 2 seasons here, but when he was on form, he was excellent.
Pace of a wing, skills of a 10, as well as the normal 9 ability.
I think its become pretty obvious that pretty much ALL South Africans are too quick in wanting to discard a player when he loses form.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Who is Neil de Kock?
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm
BF,
I agree wholeheartedly.
I also think Neil took the can for a) standing in Conradie’s way and b) for being captain of a pretty dismal, formless team racked with controversy and internal wrangling as well as poor management and coahcing.
It must also be very difficult to stay in form as a scrumhalf when your pack is practically being walked off the ball.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:54 pm
wpw,
Suig my…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Neil de Kock was the best half-back to come out of WP… far better than Bolla was at the time…
His try on the wing for Saracens last season and knockout tackle on the opposition flanker are testament to him still firing on all cylinders…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Very much in the same mould as Craig Davidson…
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:58 pm
wpw,
Suig my…
Comment by Vinnie — December 3, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
WP fans bonding I see…:lol:
Vinnie, I think you got it pretty much spot on. Much like a few good players left the Sharks during the Putt era – Sowerby is one who looked awful during his last bit here, but subsequently flourished under a better administration.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I reckon that Rassie will be waiting at the airport to greet Ricky January and then to whisk him off to the gym. No Christmas pudding for him this year.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Fat [ig that he is Bryce.
I cant believe WeePee have one of their best products playing in the UK and now have to stoop to getting a doughnut fit before he can play.
WTF would Rassie buy the human vacuum cleaner?
Surely if you want that sort of player you attend to purchase a prop?
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Thankfully the game is only a fifteen minute walk from my house so I’ll be reporting back tomorrow…
Comment by Vinnie — December 3, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
You in Watford now, Vinnie?
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Fatfarm for Ricky January..
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Vinnie
I think I read somewhere that they are playing against Bath, so you should be seeing Butch James and Michael Claasens as well. I wonder if well get TV coverage of the came in SA tonight.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
You in Watford now, Vinnie?
Comment by Rasputin — December 3, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Nah St Albans Ras.
They train at Old Albanians grounds and play their “A” team games on the same ground.
Old Albanians is quite a flush club now – they’ve just done a multi-million pound upgrade and their grounds are awesome!
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Vinnie
I think I read somewhere that they are playing against Bath, so you should be seeing Butch James and Michael Claasens as well. I wonder if well get TV coverage of the came in SA tonight.
Comment by BobZZZ — December 3, 2007 @ 3:06 pm
Yeah but they’re playing the “A” team.
All the premier league clubs have a sort of second team that jog out every week.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Nah St Albans Ras.
Comment by Vinnie — December 3, 2007 @ 4:22 pm |Edit This
Lovely place, spent a lot of time there.
You have your own Carlucchios, Waggamamas, Cornish Pasty Co shop, Starbucks, street market, waffle place.
About 20 minutes outside St Albans you can book to go to a secret hide in the countryside to watch badgers at night. It’s pretty cool, good chance you’ll see owls, foxes, hedgehogs too.
We were lucky, the night we went, we were the only people there. You can stay as long as you like. Quite a magical little experience.