It’s nice to have a coach
June 13, 2012 in Uncategorized
First of all, I mean no desrespect to Peter de Villiers with this post. I have said many times that I think he is a brilliant coach and on the accounts that I’ve read by Matfield and John Smit as well as a few extracts from his own book it’s clear that he knows how handle his players, but his technical accumen still needs some work.
I was pleasantly surprised by the baby Boks’ performance yesterday. Like many of you I didn’t think that they would make it, but I was wrong. After trailing 3-0 at half time the four tries seemed out of reach, but whatever was said by coach Dawie Theron and the substitutions he made payed off.
This reminded me of what happened on Saturday in the test between the Boks and the Poms. The Boks came out firing in the second half and managed to lift the pace and broke the deadlock. The similarity between these two matches lies in the fact that whatever was said during the team talk, worked. It shows that the coaching staff of both teams were able to evaluate procedings in the first half, worked out a remedy for what went wrong and they were able to get this message through to the players.
But, a team talk together with tweaking your approach at half time is not enough. These scenario’s must be prepared for in advance during the lead up to the match so that you can still change your approach to something that the players are familiar with and all credit must go to the coaches for this as well.
Meyer and his men will, at some stage, make a bad coaching decision which might cost us the match. They will always be up against equally astute personell from the opposition who’s job it is to outsmart their opponents, but this time the decisions made by the coaching staff of both SA teams payed off and it bodes well for the future!
Cheers!
Bloues
Randy85 said on June 13, 2012
True story ja..
I read in Peter’s book that his leaders often took it upon themselves to talk to the troops, John Smit got so upset that he broke a glass against the wall…..they won that game…
uysh said on June 13, 2012
Maybe Dawie Theron told them that this will be his last speech to them unless they go out and win this game…
TBH I don’t think he is a good coach at jnr level. What have we done all this time and we can’t even win our own lineouts? Did these boys even practice their lineouts?
The first time Serfontein (everyone is raving about him, I’m not convinced!) actually passed the ball the Small-Smith we scored a try. Serfontein reminds me too much of WO, he hoggs the ball. Many times we don’t play as a team, each individual wants to go and be a “hero” by scoring a try, rather than giving it to the man in a better position, or setting up the ball.
We got away with it last night by putting up a sterling performance in the second half and a few individuals putting their hands up and making the difference. But if we play like we did against Argentina we may not be so lucky. Also, I think the English approach was wrong (for them). They just played for the single bonus point iso going for the win. They never looked like they wanted to go and score tries, until it was too late, then their cages were rattled and the Boks tails were up.
Happy with the second half performance, but these boytjies have a long ways to go still to be champions, and it is up the Theron and his team to get the lineouts right before our next game!
StormyRodger said on June 13, 2012
I saw Dawie Theron’s reaction when they won. All I can say is RESPECT Mr COACH!!!! That is how it is done. They deserve all the accolades given to them.
GertBloues said on June 13, 2012
I think you meant Dawie Theron, but I can see the resemblance.
uysh said on June 13, 2012
Ag blind!!! Ja, Dawie! I keep forgetting his name!!
uysh said on June 13, 2012
On that note, Gert might not be a bad option….
Tumcashm said on June 13, 2012
I also think the boys are not well coached because there are very good players in that team but it doesn’t play as one and that is Dawie’s job to make them gel as one.
I agree with MU on line-outs and basic play of rugby has been poor, so I would put yesterday’s effort to the players instead of Dawie
perrin said on June 13, 2012
Totally of the point but if you walked away from the stadium last night and said to yourself that that is not a kick ass stadium you are lying to yourself, everything is so accessible and you could have a beer on the stand it is an awesome stadium
powachair said on June 13, 2012
One game hasn’t said enough yet. Whitewash of England before I get comfortable with HM’s coaching. Then go on to play champions cup and get top two if not win.
Anonymous said on June 13, 2012
Problem started up front. Kebble is no tighthead. His back was never straight after the engagement. It’s not about pure size (he is massive) but more about the hit and body position. Lineouts were abysmal…PASSION was there in buckets. Well done and good job of early substitution of tighthead.
Mickeynelster said on June 13, 2012
Totally agree
ESBLs said on June 13, 2012
I am referring to the Bokke, not Bokkies.
On Sat we played with a lot more structure (didn’t always work – but there was structure to their approach).
Under Piet Planne, we played well some of the time; but I just felt there was a lack of structure. Especially when things started going bad…. i.e. bounce of the ball etc etc. And when Piet used the substitutes; the little structure there was, just vanished.
I always had the sneaky suspicion that the players made most of the on field calls .. not Piet. And players on the field cannot be objective… Doesn’t matter how good a leader you are.