Now that the Springboks can do absolutely nothing to stop the All Blacks from winning back the Tri-Nations title, it is time rather to turn our attentions to restoring pride in the national jersey and creating some momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Brenden Nel, SuperSport
The next three home Tri-Nations games will be crucial for the Springboks, not only because they are on home soil, but because it will test the reaction of a management team currently under pressure to come up with a counter to not only the All Black supremacy, but their own playing woes on the field.
You don’t have to be an expert to expect the Boks to do well in these three test matches. They are, by far, a different animal at home, and all three tests are at altitude, with the Wallabies having a very poor record, having not won at altitude since 1992.
If the Boks can pull off the historic Soccer City test, they will have done more for their own self-belief and that of a nation than they could hope for. Saying that, pressure is an ugly thing and it will be all on the world champions in that clash.
Grand Slam tour the real test
However, the real challenge for the Bok management will come at the end of the year, where a suicidal four-game Grand Slam main course, and a Barbarians game for dessert have been lined-up against the good advice of every top conditioning expert in the country.
It is obvious that these games bring in much-needed revenue for Saru, but for the Bok management team, the signs of a team arriving at the World Cup a game too far must be a very concerning one indeed.
While I’m not subscribing to the fatigue theory, it will be paramount to our success to find a way of resting players properly between now and then.
That means that players such as John Smit and Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Jaque Fourie, Schalk Burger and Morne Steyn all need to take a breather. To have them play five nonsensical games at the end of a long season makes little sense.
The challenge for the Bok coaching staff will be to find a blend of youth and experience that still upholds the Bok values, but allows the breathing space for the senior players that they can be well conditioned, rested and ready for 2011.
Solid base
By contrast, the returning Boks – the likes of Juan Smith, JP Pietersen, Bakkies Botha (if he is forgiven), Heinrich Brussow and Bismarck du Plessis could provide a solid base for the team in the tour.
But here the challenges will already have been taken on by the management. Coach Peter de Villiers has already mentioned more than once grooming younger players for big time action.
In some cases though their calculations have been mistimed, perhaps by their own belief in players who simply haven’t delivered what they were intended to.
Back-up scrumhalf
Ricky Januarie is one of these cases, and with Fourie du Preez out until the end of the year, the Boks will now need to search for a proper back-up system for the world’s best halfback.
Januarie has not delivered the goods and while the Bok coach tends to believe in him as a game-breaker, even he cannot deny that his form has done a downward dive of late.
Ruan Pienaar’s move to Ulster means he is unlikely to feature in any Springbok group post this Tri-Nations and thus both flyhalf and scrumhalf back-up will need to be found.
The positive showing in his return to the position by Francois Hougaard this past weekend marks his name as the likely successor to Januarie behind Du Preez, but flyhalf is another concern.
Chance for fringe players
The tour should, for all intent and purposes, be used to ensure that while the top contracted Boks are hopefully resting, that fringe players such as Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon are given a longer run to establish themselves.
It will also be the ideal opportunity for De Villiers to finally decide if Butch James is the back-up for Steyn, or whether an alternative can do the job?
Currie Cup not the benchmark
Another interesting problem that De Villiers will have to overcome is the normal public sentiment over Currie Cup form. Last year the Bok coach burnt his fingers badly in selecting Currie Cup stars for midweek games and if modern rugby has taught us one thing, it is that Super 14 form is the benchmark for international rugby.
A young talent like Patrick Lambie showed in the Super 14 that he is ready for international level, but another like Elton Jantjies perhaps needs a Super rugby season to blood him more at that level.
Leaving senior players at home will be a sensible thing to do, but there may be no option as the contracts may state that the best team will need to tour.
Either way that challenge, which could determine more than just a Grand Slam, could well be the biggest one facing this management team ahead of the World Cup. Who would want to be in their seats right now?
August 4th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Flook Leave Lambie and Elton the flook alone, one thing we do proper in sa is break young players before they reach the level were they compete in international test.
S14 is not 3N or Test match rugby. Not all players can be a Frans Steyn, and look at how we break him. If I recall the real reason he left was because he was not enjoying his rugby anymore and he wanted to get away from it all.
There are enough other talent to use.
August 4th, 2010 at 9:08 am
“There are enough other talent to use.”
Who at 10?
August 4th, 2010 at 9:10 am
Elton Jantjies was shite in the U20 RWC play-off rounds… all flash no substance… but yes he’s still young…
August 4th, 2010 at 9:20 am
What about Peter Grant? He did a really good job for the Stormers in the S14?
http://fromthebottomoftheruck.blogspot.com/
August 4th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Reply to Fromthebottomoftheruck @ 9:20 am:
None of the coaches seem to rate him… I’m undecided as to whether he is just a decent S14 player…
August 4th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Boks will be playing Ireland in their away strips for the ‘commemoration’ game at the new stadium…
August 4th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I still believe in the youngster called Lionel Cronje, I know he has not played alot of S14 and CC but he is young played age group Bok sides and I like his spreading of the backline and his got a boot, needs still to work on Goal kicks.
Number 9 we have Hougaardt and he need to now to presist with himn at 9 and I would like to see a guy called Hoffmann get more game time and get him into the frame as well, he can also be backup as flyhalf which he played for WP and maties.
We also need De Jong to be a reagular starter and the man for the EOY tour.
PDV have enough to make any coach happy he just need to find the combinations he is happy with and start working with them.
Right move to start talking to the public and everone will now be behide him if he explain that he will bread young players.
I feel we have exciting times ahead before next years WC
August 4th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Hmmm
The GS is important… and aside from the Oirish the rest seem ripe to crush and juice…
We should actually win this easily… even with younger players
August 4th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Reply to DavidS @ 10:12 am:
August 4th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Reply to DavidS @ 10:12 am:
Depends on whether the Welsh decide to play rugby on the day or not as well.
August 4th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Yes good article,
This is what we must focus on no doubt.
Hougaard to start at 9 in all 5 games.
Lambie at 10.
Play Francois at 12 with De Jong at 13.
Mapoe, Daniller and Basson as back 3.
PICK ALL THESE YOUNGSTERS AND GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE. THEY WILL ALL BE AT NZ2011 SO GIVE THEM CAPS
August 4th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 1:56 pm: Lambie at 10?
Mapoe, Daniller and basson come on be real!!!!
August 4th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
My ideal EOY team should be hungry.
Young okes eager to make NZ2011 squad.
But this team should be selected very soon and have one or 2 camps together before they tour.
August 4th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 1:59 pm:
Ok smart arse show me 3 more hungry players right now?
Mapoe a real talent. Ok if he does not shape up in CC fair enough.
What must basson still do?
Daniller has the size we lack when Francois not there. We do well with a large 15 with a big boot. Daniller has been playing great rugby the last 6 months.
We know what we have in Aplon etc and they must all tour, but use this tour to fill in the missing links.
Yes Lambie at 10. Watch him this Satruday.
August 4th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 1:56 pm:
I like your thinking, but in essence you have a complete new backline. Talk about risky
August 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Brendan wake up
WC is NEXT YEAR
This is no time to blood entire new teams… there will be time enough for that in the spost 2011 desperation to rgeain the form of the present magnificent team…
August 4th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 2:04 pm: Like I said tjop…….Lambie is a youngster which you will see they will break again like, Gaffie, Like Frans Steyn, like Liefling.
LEAVE the bladdie kid alone and let him develop.
there are enough young players who played in Bok junior sides that can be taken along.
Define hungry players in your eyes. Again it will be diffrent from person to person. And also remember the article that was on the blog last week, PDV need to reach his players of colour as well.
All that can be ask here is that PDV will look at young players in his frame of mind who will be able to fit in for next year and the WC maybe as backup for his team.
I can tell you that any player playing the CC and who is not or was never part of the boks will be hungry for playing for them. Not just a few guys from cheetahs and Griekwas
August 4th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:10 pm:
Farkit I hate myself for this
EXACTLY RIGHT OLLIE
Brandan has some weird fantasies…
August 4th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Pat of his reds fixation despite the past weekend’s snotting handed out to the “Yeller Reds”
August 4th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 2:18 pm: I agree but we can use some players for the future in the EOY tour.
But I can see now how everyone will fight to get there perspective players in such a team.
I just think we are worring to much too soon. Our top players will earn some good rest afetr the 3N and also next year Super what ever and CC and 3N again. I am more concerned on how PDV and his management is gonna manage the players from now on than who will be there replacements come 2012.
August 4th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 2:26 pm:
Seriously, what did I miss when I was on holiday. We are agreeing too much. Seriously.
Reply to DavidS @ 2:24 pm:
Now you are speaking sense. I am also concerned about who will be rested when, but not only by PDV but by the S14 and CC franchises as well.
I am less concerned by the post RWC 2011 replacements as there are a number of players that are starting to put up their hands for various positions. Where they will be able to be chosen politically is another issue though.
For me the two main issues are:
- Resting the main players
- How PDV handles the current situation (not nearly a crisis yet)
The answers to these 2, particularly the latter will give something to actually judge PDV on. Not the usual
& 
that goes on here
August 4th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
EOYT still far away – what about the rest of the 3N?
‘s?
Who will be picked and who should be picked according to you
3N is lost so all that is left is pride and IMO more imoportantly it is an opportunity to try some new guys and rest the older guys for the GS tour.
Team to play AB’s in Soccercity IMO:
1. BEAST (Gurthro needs a rest!)
2. Chilli
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rossouw
5. Matfield (hy moet vasbyt! Bekker, Bakkies not available!)
6. Burger
7. Louw
8. Kanko
9. RJ (IMO overly critisized, FdP and RP out)
10. Butch (Morne resting)
11. Basson
12. WO (JdV not available)
13. JdJ (JF not available)
14. JPP
15. Lambie (give him a shot!)
16. Strauss
17. CJ
18. Flip
19. Pottie
20. Hougaard
21. Morne
22. Taute – the quota Lion
August 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Reply to JT @ 2:40 pm:
I would start with another 9, with FDP and RP out another 9 needs some exposure for backup.
WO has not impressed at all in the 3N either, I wouldn’t have him in the run on 15
August 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:47 pm:
who else? Not many 12′s out there!
August 4th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:47 pm:
on 9 I can live with starting with hougaard – the kid has the X-Factor in any position he plays! He is the non kicking Francois Steyn
August 4th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
On another topic, any of you aspiring coaches got any drills available for training jackling/jackaling?
August 4th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:49 pm:
What is jackling?
August 4th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Reply to JT @ 2:51 pm:
Basically the technique for the tackler to make the tackle and then get into position to steal/slowdown the ball before the ruck is formed
August 4th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Reply to JT @ 2:40 pm: Angry today are we?
Agree with your team can through in:
Bees Roux – Bulls
WP Nel – Cheetahs
Linker hakhou – Van Der Merwe – Bulls
Steggman- Bulls
Like your take on Lambia at 15 and not 10 but I will still let the guy be a normal CC and another Super Rugby player
August 4th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
I have some exercises that I can thumbsuck with some imagination, but I was hoping for a drill devised from experience with points to concentrate on and that can be built onto
August 4th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:56 pm:
I just do that at every tackle technique drill with 1v1, 2v2 etc.
I focus on the tackle and the tackler getting into position over the ball. BUT with the new law interpretation it is better for the tackler to get up and the 2nd player at the breakdown to go for the ball while the tackler gets up and “rucks” the oppositions 1st support player away from the ball which gives your 2nd player at the breakdown the extra secoond to steal the ball or at least milk the penalty.
August 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 2:56 pm:
WP nel – gets his head pushed up his arse every game
Bees – ok!
Flip = Linkerhakhou….
Stegman is injured!
August 4th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Coenie Oostuizen?
August 4th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:02 pm: WP just need a decide prop and hooker to play with him give him a change last year he was one of the tops in the CC after Guthro.
August 4th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 3:05 pm:
I don’t know… SA does have a lack of STRONG scrummaging TH props but as I say there are no problems only opportunities… the opportunity is to unearth a mobile TH prop like Pat Cilliers? from the Sharks
CJ is IMO the best we have but does not seem to be an 80min man so Start with BJ for the moment.
Werner Kruger IMO deserves a start to!
August 4th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:05 pm:
he is a LH & is he really better than Beast, Gurthro and even Smit?
August 4th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Reply to JT @ 3:18 pm:
Steenkamp needs a rest.
BJ and CJ has never convinced
me.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:49 pm:
So who do you suggest at test level?
LH and TH?
August 4th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
TH bit of a problem, not sure there. Two Bulls Greyling and Roux maybe, not convinced at all about Werner Kruger.
Maybe the rest did Bismark good, he might even be pulled up for 3N.
Locks we can make a plan with, there are plenty around, incl. Snor’s lovechild Hargreaves.
Loosies are in abundance, no problem there. Please keep Stegmann far away from the Springbok team, we have enough yellows already. Play Francois Louw like the fetcher he is. Maybe Brussouw is back by them, hos does one know if he’s sharp though and adjusted to the new interpretations(keeping those yellow’s in mind…)?
Now that FdP and Pienaar is out, en die swanger meerket net nie meer kan byhou met sy logge liggaam nie, would it be that bad an idea to give Jano Vermaak a chance? He should have gone on last year’s EOYT (if not injured) but they took a 29 year old Heini Adams who had twice broken his leg and is now overseas to play for the Upcoming Boks. Ironic, very ironic.
I don’t know about FH, that’s seems somewhat problematic. Butch again a walking yellow and his stint on 3N tour not very convincing. I’d rather not toy with Lambie now, let him get a S15 under his belt first. JLP maybe?
Move JdV back to center, he knows the NH and played against many of them there. Tina might also work if whatever is bothering him/the coach now can be sorted out properly & finally. JdV & Mossie also there, seems solid.
Habana needs a wakeup call, not sure where he’ll get it though. Can do much worse than Basson, not a bad idea. Who else? JPP if he shapes in the CC. Aplon can cover FB although he’s short.
Real problem is FB, Kirchner solid & solid only. If you want to swop him for Danniler, you might as well bring good ol’ Goosestep back. Riaan Viljoen?…but very quiet this whole time.
August 4th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Reply to JT @ 4:07 pm:
I really don’t know who is
good. I only know who is at
best average.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Okes what do we need from this EOY tour?
1) to rest those we KNOW will start big games
2) to re-introduce those injured who we KNOW will also start.
Thats the main mission of this tour.
So Smit rests and Brussouw gets back to form. Fine
But what about Meisie and Kirchner? Do they just tag along now even though we have seen their limitations?
Or do we give some hungry youngster a shot to overtake the above in the pecking order?
August 4th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Simple scenario: we all know Habana and JPP are the best.
But is Ndugane and Aplon and Jean Divs etc the second best without a shadow of a doubt?
What happens for example if we leave Lambie to ‘grow’ yet next year he is by far the best 10/12/15 in the Super 15?
Do we then draw him into WC squad and play him with a fuckall caps on his belt?
August 4th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Reply to Brendon Shields @ 10:44 pm:
My point too. Ditto Hougaard
vs Meerkat etc. We need Lambie
at 15.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 10:46 pm:
Boer why I punt lambie at 10 on this tour is because we have no stand out 10′s anyway.
In the world cup Lambie will not play a central role but will be required to fill many positions. F Steyn was the same in 2007. But Jean got injured so Steyn started most games.
Both lambie and Hougaard are young enough to one day specialise, but both are talented enough to cover many positions in the world cup.
Hougaard 9/11/14 Lambie 10/12/15
But both need 8 or 9 caps before they can confidently fill this role.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Despite all my protestations I’d be happy to play a fresh Jean Divs and Fourie as 12/13 at the Cup.
World Cup rugby is all about the occasion and who can best handle it. So experience trumps all else.
But then you again MUST have De Jong as the cover 12/13 with a good 15 caps behind his name.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Makes sense.
Gotta knock off early.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
cheers boer