Cyclic patterns are prevalent in the weather, in economy, in markets, in life in general and in Sport. Old Joseph in the bible secured himself a position of status and wealth by explaining this concept to the Faro. South Africans rugby has just completed one of those cyclic patterns with players like Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez, John Smith, Percy Montgomery and so forth. These players carried South Africa for longer than a decade.
The saddest thing for me was when these players were at the top of their game SARU in their wisdom negated all that experience and talent by selecting a puppet as a coach.
I blame PdV and SARU for last year’s disastrous RWC results. When we were at the top of our cyclic pattern we nullified that moment by selecting the wrong coach. A significant part of our downfall was of course the fact that the game changed halfway through PdV tenure and he just did not have the stature and strength of will to change the way we play. The senior players started to run the show and what was needed was somebody like Fred Allan who had vision and who was prepared to sack the Matfield and John Smit’s in order to enforce a change in style.
Like in 1965 we are now at the bottom of the next cycle. We need to rebuilt and bring some new players through but the challenge is harder than before because the game has changed and we are still suffering from having had a puppet and not a visionary as a coach for the previous 5 years.
It is the national team that set the pace in how the game develops. The S15 franchises need to work in alliance with the national coach to set and develop a certain style of play.
That just did not happen during PdV tenure so we not only wasted players at the peak of their careers we also wasted opportunity to develop the game in South Africa.
We proceeded with the ‘Skop en Hoop’ (kick and hope) pattern and saw no development in backline play or with regard to rucking at the trenches. The lack of vision in SARU and among SA top coaches is shocking. The Stormers scored the least amount of tries in the S15 and based their whole game around defence. Their backline play was non-existent even though they fielded some of best backs in the country.
The Bulls persisted with the ‘skop en hoop’ game plan while player power saw the end of Mitchell at the Lions. Shockingly some of the top coaches are now suggesting that SA players don’t have the skill to play differently. All the while the other New Zealand coach in SA namely John Plumtree took the Sharks against all odds to the final of the S15 by playing a brand of rugby that is pretty close to latest developments in the game.
Everyone (including me) has been pretty critical of Heynecke Meyer over the last few weeks for good reason. Meyer seems hell bent on staying with the old ‘skop en hoop’ and ‘stamkar’ style of play. His player selections (even though some selections was forced on him through injury) indicates a certain rigidness in thinking and a unwillingness to change.
Personally I would have preferred John Mitchell or John Plumtree as Springbok coach. Even Naka Droske might have been a better option as the Cheetahs are the only other team in SA that does play an entertaining style of rugby.
That is all down the drain now as we sit with Heynecke. I am, however, still hopeful that old Heneycke might get it right. The boks have kicked less than in previous years and at least they did take the ball to the wings in all 5 test matches so far with him as coach.
South Africa does need to play to its strengths and set piece and size is one of our strengths so it is important that we get that right and Heynecke is the man to do make certain that our next cycle of players does not start to totally disregard our traditional strengths. The All Blacks still honour the scrum and lineout and still play to their strengths namely midfield dominance with strong centers who can offload and loose forwards who can dominate in the trenches with solid tackling and superior rucking skills.
I believe Heynecke Meyer need to do three things in the national team (and then make sure it also happen at the S15 franchises) to move the new crop to the top. 
Firstly, he needs to pull an Aussie league coach (or Edie Jones) into his coaching set-up to learn the backline to run with the ball. He and his backline coach also need to go and make an intense study of how the New Zealand teams create space in the backline from set piece. 
Second, and very closely linked to that he need to put in some really serious effort to sort our rucking skills. Break it down into step by step process and work at it at walking pace until its perfect and then sped it up. Pull an ex-New Zealand player or coach into the frame to help with this and then make the rucking drills part of fitness training.
Lastly he needs to select the right players to be effective at the tackle ball. Players who can actually play the fast pace flat on the defensive line game. His loose forwards combo is crucial as well as his No9 and 10. Our halfback combo at the moment is by far the least suited to play the fast pace, flat on the defensive line modern game of all the top nations (England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and France).
Our props and locks are also not as effective and industrious at the breakdown as for instance the New Zealand props.
Meyer is starting a new cycle with new faces and he need to make sure he take the game in the right direction as that will determine his selections. He need to make sure he does not push players that can play the modern game to Europe because that will be detrimental to how the game grow and develop at National, Super15 and Curry Cup level. The right players need to stay in the country so that the game can grow and evolve in the right direction.
Meyer need to set the tone in who is going to be tomorrow stars and how the game is going to be played in South Africa. The players with flair and ability to play the expansive fast pace game will be in high demand at European clubs and Meyer need to make sure they stay in the country.
The statement by certain SA coaches that SA players just don’t have the skill to play a “modern” game got a serious wake-up call this weekend. As a Lions supporter, I was tempted to watch cricket instead of the Lions going under against Griquas, but the boys in blue where superb. They had a very direct game, playing to SA players’ strength, i.e. the power game, but when the opportunity presented itself, they ran into space, created opportunities and offloaded in the tackle. They where incredible to watch. Same goes for WP vs. the Bulls. Province looked on fire, and the Bulls just kept kicking the ball away! If there is indeed a need for a new game, look to the younger players coming through the ranks, they have the skills, and the “hunger!”
Naas Botha said after the Springboks’ near loss to Argentina that there is a big misconception that South African players do not have skills to play a different brand of rugby and went as far as to state that he is very much aware of the great skills our players do possess and that there is absolutely no reason for us not adapting our style of play.
Meyer’s funcion is to pick a team that can balance our strengths while incorporating the new laws and rugby methods used to success by teams like New Zealand. After he has done this, with the help of Rassie Erasmus, it is then the latter’s job to create the blueprint for the entire country to follow; as has been mentioned before:
“Our aim is to always produce winning teams and Rassie’s main task will be to establish structures to do this,” said SA Rugby Union (SARU) CEO Jurie Roux here on Sunday.
“He will be tasked to create a blueprint for South African rugby that can be implemented from junior to senior level, for our men’s, women’s and sevens’ teams.”
Interestingly enough Rassie has also been tasked to create the blueprint for the sevens’ teams, which would indicate that some form of more open play will need to be put forward on the table and indeed tested at some level to determine its effectiveness. This will take a while to happen, again, I quote:
“We are looking beyond the next World Cup, to the 2019 World Cup, in fact,” he (Jourie Roux) said.
I think we are being far to hasty for success. Meyer must still gain trust with his new troops, some of them have never been coached by him. He has a wealth of experience that is unavailable to him right now and going by the forwards that are touring Australasia over the next few weeks only 171 caps among them.
Yes, he is stubborn with his selections, yes some have not paid off, but ultimately Jake White went through something similar where his “team of average players” excelled by the time we reached the RWC in 2007. Also to keep in mind however is that Meyer’s intention is to win every game and I sincerely believe he means it.
Meyer is going to pick an ever more youthful squad come the end of year tour I believe like Kitshoff and Oosthuizen (the latter whom has already played under Meyer’s tenure) and Kolisi had he been fit. So give it time, at least until the end of next year, then judge.
I agree with Naas.
I disagree with the idea that Rassie can create a blueprint. A new blueprint will only get adopted if the Springboks play like that and win. For the Springboks to be sucessful with a certain style means the national and S15 coaches need to coach of the same page. That page or blueprint can not be enforced by somebody other than the national coach.
I don’t agree that we are too impatient. Most supporters accept and understand that it is going to take time. What is starting to worry most of us is the player selections because the selections indicate a style or game plan that is outdated and not inline with how the game has been developing over he last 3 years.
I think the game plan from the Boks will evolve over the next 18 months, that is the point I tried to make with us being “impatient”, because Heyneke needs to see who he can take forward with him. I think two players have already cemented their names and that’s Etzebeth and Coetzee. He now needs to find the rest of the backrow and also test out some of the players who are more likely to be there in 2015 and beyond.
I’m certain that we will be more optimistic by the end of the year.
OK I see where you are coming from re impatient. You might be right. I hope you are but it’s not only the back row that concerns me.
His unwillingness to play Lambie and Aplon and his persistence with Zane, Morne Steyn and Hougard is extremely irritating and does not suggest to me that he plans to make much change in how the boks is going to play the game. Maybe he think Goossen is the solution on 10 but why not give Lambie, Pienaar and Aplon a opportunity?
I fully understand your point regarding Lambie and co, however, he was appointed based on his prior work with the Bulls which includes a number of titles. He had no formal interview as he was picked out by SARU and not the other way round. Therefore we can conclude that he was appointed based on his coaching credentials and style which we saw at the Bulls.
As a result I think it is fair to say that any person trying to achieve success will try and bring around him those who he used to have success with. This is already evident with the whole of the coaching staff and a host of players. We must however not forget that up until now, Kolisi, Burger and Vermeulen were injured whilst Kitshoff has basically been promised a role during the end of year tour while a lot of the squad also consists from the Sharks franchise.
My point, I think these newer players will slowly but surely be incorporated and be taught just in the way Meyer taught those players at the Bulls, remember that many of the Bulls players were recruited from other unions, now Meyer doesn’t need to do that, he can simply select who he wants and then get them accustomed to a way of playing.
He does not have that much time with them though so that’s why I’m thinking 18 months or at least by end of next year will be a good time to judge him and his team.
“Personally I would have preferred John Mitchell…as Springbok coach”.
Jeez, McLook. I always want the All Blacks to beat the Boks, but after the craziness that Mitchell inflicted on the All Blacks leading up to RWC2003 (admittedly not as crazy as what Rudolf Straeuli was doing to your national team at the same time), I wouldn’t wish John “it’s another step on the journey” Mitchell on anyone.
Nevertheless, your comment no doubt reflects knowldge from on the ground in South Africa, and Mitchell has probably (like all of us) grown and improved as a person and in his job since then. He’d have to!
No I don’t know Mitchell at all and it seems that he has some issues and are a hard man to work with.
My preference for Mitchell is a reflection of how desperate I am to see our inabilities at the tackle ball and in the back line sorted. Any Kiwi coach for that matter could be helpful in my opinion.
You need a bit of a hardnose person in charge of your international side. Someone who takes know nonsense and know what he wants.
Hmm.
I just wonder if it is possible for a non-South African to coach the Springboks (Ian McIntosh as a Zimbo is sort of the same thing).
The Aussies, who have no where near the rugby heritage or domestic pressure because they are not a real ‘rugby nation’ can turn to a Kiwi – but even that is starting to come unstuck.
Put it this way – as an outsider, South African rugby seems so political, it seems incomprehensible an outsiedr could unite all the supporters.
Then again, sometimes outsiders can be useful, becuase all the factions recognise they are neutral! Also, the practical reality is that the two Kiwis you mentioned have been coaching for years at the top level in SA – so I’m probably projecting NZ values. Sorry about that!
Put it this way – we have no pride in our cricket, and would willingly take a saffer, aussie, pom, or whatever as our national cricket coach. But a non-Kiwi to coach the All Blacks?! Impossible!
Yes the two kiwis have been in the country for a while and has tasted certain levels of success.
A few years ago I would also have thouht it impossible for a non-South African to coach the Springboks.
I am getting increasingly frustrated with the seeming inability or unwillingness of SA coaches to change or enforce a different/modern style of play.
I don’t think we need a New Zealander to do skills coaching. Instead we need a coach with a mindshift to say “I want to teach my players some skills”.
The oppisition always knows Alberts won’t pass and that allows them to double-up in the tackle and this compounds our breakdown issues because it often results in turnover ball. So simply teaching Alberts, as an example, the ability to offload in the tackle and keep the oppisition guessing will already negate that advantage they may have. Now suddenly if there’s two tacklers he can offload and when there’s one he can barge through like a tank.
Teach everyone to offload and tell every forward he must come to the party when it comes to cleaning out at the ruck. If you are at the breakdown early and you’re physical there’s practically no need for a fetcher as you are unlikely to lose the ball and strong counter-rucking will result in enough turnover ball already.
In that sense I understand what Heyneke wants from dominating the oppisition physically.
The writter refered to PDV as as a clown. Maybe so, but he must kept in mind that PDVwas never allowed to choose his own player. The playeres was given to him by Oregan Hoskins who was never in favour of PDV’s appointment. HM has the luxury of starting fresh and is given the comfort of choosing young blood, but he is too stupid to see that. 18 months is a little more to ask for. He is never gonna change his gameplan. I never was a HM fan and never will be. In my view, whether the boks win or loose, I dont care
Not a clown but a puppet. Not entirely the sme thing. You ‘admit he was a puppet with the following remark:
“The players was given to him by Oregan Hoskins who was never in favour of PDV’s appointment. HM has the luxury of starting fresh and is given the comfort of choosing young blood, but he is too stupid to see that.”
PdV did start out with the idea of running the ball in did so in his first two test matches against Wales with equivocal results. The boks scored some good tries but the team looked frantic at times. The senior players then by the looks of it (for me as an outsider) took over and started to dictate terms. The senior players were the determining factor in terms of primary game plan and who got selected and who not. That worked up to 2007 when we won the tri-nations. At the end of 2007 the rules got changed and with the new breakdown rule interpretation and stricter officiating of the offside circle after a box kick the senior players predictable and one-dimentional game plan was doomed to failure.
The ‘puppet’ did what puppets do and allowed the string pullers to keep on dictating his game plans and player selections.
Who is to blame for PdV mediocre success? I reckon SARU and the senior players as much as the coach. If PdV were allowed or had enough status and knowhow to convincce the players in the group to return to his original idea of running the ball we might have seen some progress.
What it irksome at the moment is that SARU then went ahead and selected a coach that re-inforced the one-dimentional game plan with even more conviction. Teams stick to their strenghts and so they should and my hope is Meyer will make sure we keep getting better with regard to our strenghts but also put in a concerned effort to develop our national team to be competitive in areas essential in how the new rule interpretations have fashioned the game.
This is Meyer biggest challenge and I believe he is better suited than PdV to take us forward. It is essential the Meyer understands his limitations and contract individuals to help develop our team in areas that are essential for success in the modern style. Equally important is that he keep players that can play such a style in the squad and that he does take calculated risks in terms of trying out variations and add-ons to the tried and predictable SA style.
Part of that risk taking would be to play certain players of the bench or start with certain combinations against seleceted opposition. Also its unfair to these players with flair to only bring them on late in a game against for instance the All Blacks after the game is lost and then expect them to work miracles only to reject them if they are unbale to work magic.
Amen to that Sir!
Before his appointment, I also thought that we may not be worse off if they appointed someone like Plumtree, even as a consultant. In actual fact, if and when they get the Franchises on board, all 5 coaches should in actual fact have some sort of say because they in actual fact work with these players more. i think the Sharks started adapting their game after the brief horrendous spel of Kevin Putt and Dick Muir and John Plumtree took over the reigns.
They had 5-10 players coming straight out of the Sharks Academy, and they needed to teach these boys how to play their rugby at SRugby pace and style. They bought in David Campese who bought in one or two very simple tricks, like running on the shoulder of another player and off loading in the tackle. Most of those new players went on to represent their country, and still do..JP Petersen, Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Beast, Keegan Daniel etc etc.
Point I am making is that Saru and Heyneke tells us it will take time…well obviously it will, but in the case of these youngsters, they learned as they went along, and within that same year, they came seconds close to winning the Super 14, and the bulk of that squad helped SA win the WC a few months later.
Didn’t Plumtree take over in the Currie Cup of 2007, with Muir still the coach in the 2007 Super 14 final. The year which was arguably one of the Sharks finest?
Just trying to say that the combination of Muir, a possibly overly offensive coach, along with Plumtree, a NZ “skills” coach, seemed to work very well.
You might be right. A mix of NZ and SA coaches that could each work on the various strenghts that the bring to the table might be the way to go.
SA coach to keep improving our strenghts with regard to set piece and defence and a NZ to develop our rucking, ground skills and structure at the tackle ball. A good backline coach would then complete the package. What about a Aussie for that part?