Rassie Erasmus says Heyneke Meyer is tweaking his game plan ahead of next weekend’s clash with the Wallabies in Pretoria.
Rugby365
SARU’s High Performance Manager admitted that the Springboks’ much-maligned kick-and-chase approach has been gradually losing its efficiency in recent seasons.
He was quick to add, however, that the Boks should not veer from their conservative game plan but rather make minor changes to add more strings to their bow.
“It’s definitely a strategy that worked in the past but I agree that we have to make some adjustments. In the past it was New Zealand’s weakness with players like [Sitiveni] Sivivatu and [Joe] Rokocoko,” said Erasmus during a questions-and-answers session on the team’s official website.
“You always knew they couldn’t really handle the kicking game. Over the last couple of years, however, they’ve played fullbacks at wing like [Cory] Jane and [Israel] Dagg. I can assure you Heyneke is well aware of this and is busy hatching some plans.”
BETTER PLAYER MANAGEMENT
Erasmus said South Africa are on the right path but would have to take a hard look at their player management, which he considers a major cause for concern at this stage.
“I think we will have to put a structure in place to prevent that players are burned out by Super Rugby Final time. That’s where New Zealand currently have the edge over us, with the management of their players rather than their coaching.
“I think our biggest challenge is the fact that we don’t have central contracts like New Zealand. Our franchises own the primary contract with the players and therefore control the amount of game time.
“Obviously we sometimes request that a player must be better managed, but one do have to understand that the franchise coaches are also under immense pressure to perform. Not an ideal situation but one of my first challenges I want to get right.”
‘BAKKIES WAS ONLY A RUMOUR’
Erasmus also clarified his role in the national set-up and denied that they were considering to recall veteran lock Bakkies Botha.
“Sometimes the media can make a rumour reality, I can assure you there was no plan to bring back Bakkies. The challenge always for a new coach is to balance winning with rebuilding.
“I guess that’s where my new role comes in to create some continuity when the one coach leaves and the next coach takes over. It should not always be a new beginning if all the correct structures are in place.”
Explaining why he is no longer involved in a coaching capacity, Erasmus said: “The plan was always for me just to help and be hands-on with the coaching until after the series against England.
“The main reason for this was the fact that the Bulls’ coaches [Johann van Graan, Ricardo Loubscher, John McFarland and Basil Carzis] were still involved in Super Rugby and Heyneke needed some hands on deck. They [are] all now just involved with [the] Springboks so I am back at the office running the HP Department.”
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September 23rd, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Liptalk.
September 24th, 2012 at 4:43 am
much-maligned kick-and-chase approach has been gradually losing its efficiency in recent seasons.
So why the hell is it the corner stone and most widely used tactic of the game if its on the way out. I have yet to see anything else that resembles an attacking game plan.
Secondly, Refs have said quite clearly that they will reward sides with ball in hand. This has been a directive for a lest a year now.
So enough kak talk lets see some action.
September 24th, 2012 at 5:56 am
All Rassie is really saying under all that is that he is not involved in the Bok setup, he is not responsible for the gameplan.
September 24th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
I heard Rob Louw on Superrugby mention that he never played in Bok teams where the Bok forwards dominated which made me wonder, where does this notion of dominating Bok forwards being a traditional strength come from? Definitely not from history?
September 24th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Reply to Craven @ 9:16 pm:
Complex answer. Keeping it short:
All Blacks fooked us in 1956 and 1965 because
we did not at least have parity. Ditto 1974 Lions
(the best team ever assembled IMHO).
In 1960 the Boks had the better pack vs All Blacks, with
their hooker and captain Wilson Whineray popping out
of scrums (the days of Chris Koch, Bertus vd Merwe,
Piet ‘Spiere’ du Toit.)
In the years prior to that the Boks always dominated
up front – also on the Grand Slam BI tour of 1960-61.
September 24th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Dit lyk of Goosen sy hakskeen geknues het en Frans Steyn was op krukke.
Morne gaan speel en ons is nog verder gevok as Frans nie speel nie.
Hoeveel meer kak beserings kan nou nog gebeur, en alles ly daartoe dat Morne nog steeds gaan speel.
September 25th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Think the pressure from the one-eyed crowd will be massive on Goosen if he plays. Rather select their hero and swap Goosen after halftime – so much easier to see difference in our play then as well.
September 25th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Reply to Bekke @ 1:13 pm: Surely even the one eyed crowd must admit there is a problem with Morne?
September 25th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
There is only one one eyed crowd Bekke…
Your hysteria is it.
And billies ja Morne Steyn is in desperate need of rest… I’ve been saying that since before RWC2011.
Apparently Taute was running at 12 with Jantjes 10 whilst the Steyn & Steyn partnership nursed wounds.
September 25th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Touchie, are we now…
September 25th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
Attcking coach Van Graan says the Boks are looking to add some string to their attacking bow, but insists it is more the option taking that has been poor.
Yeah Fuck!
We’ve been saying that all along, when your players can’t read the situation and make the FUCKIN’ pass, you ain’t going to go anywhere.
September 25th, 2012 at 4:32 pm
If you pay any attention when you watch rugby you will see significant numbers of Sharks and WP fans at Loftus games whenever the Bulls play these teams. At least 30% and probably as high as 40% of the crowds being for the opponents. The same went for games at Ellis Park during the times that the Lions could still attract large crowds.
It is the nature of Gauteng as an economic power to attract people from all over, bringing with them their preferences.
In contrast the crowds in Durban and Cape Town are much more homogeneous with support for opposing teams more in the order of 20% or as low as 10%.
Where, in SA, then can we find the most one-eyed crowds? Most certainly not at Loftus.
September 25th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
For a Bok game, given the hysteria cadre defence if everything re: Hak Hak and Morne, the moftus crowd is extreeeeemly one-eyed. This is no S15 game, or am I missing something?
September 25th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Apparently Goosen trained with the backline for 90% of the time today.
September 25th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Reply to Bekke @ 9:02 pm:
You’re missing something.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:14 am
Not from your mail m8. Blah blah on crowd compositions of S15 games?