Greetings from far off lands rugby lovers, thank goodness for a site called www.sportlemon.tv, because without it there would be no rugby viewing for me.
I will focus most of my synopsis this week on the Boks because they have been by far the biggest disappointment so far this year in all their test matches, but not because of the results, but because of their failure in my mind to realise their full potential...or is this their full potential?
Let me start off with Aus. My heart really goes out to Robbie Deans, I dont think anyone can really argue that he is a good coach, but perhaps it could be that Australian rugby is just in a really bad place at the moment. The players do have ability, look at the likes of Poloto-Nau, Sharpe, Timani, Pocock, Higginbotham, Genia, Cooper, Ashley-Cooper, Ioane, Mitchell, those are all quality players with plenty ticker. But the lack of dept and penetrating centres, thats whats killing them at the moment. Gone are the days of Mortlock, Horan, little, Herbert, Nathan Grey, even Flatley. I cant think of a centre in Australia that makes me think wow! and thats a problem. Also when their front line gets injured they are lost. Their rugby is just currently not up where it used to be. I think an extra team in the super rugby champs didnt help them much. I think it would be in their best interest to drop one team, have 4 maybe even 3 and just get people comfortable playing with each other, get them competitive, because right now in Super rugby they are hardly competitive. They too should stop kicking aimlessly.
The ABs were efficient against the Ausies, ruthless at the break downs, positive in their game plan, useless in converting their hard work into tries though, shakey line-outs, but that for me is just fantastic. they were below par and yet blew away Aus twice, gives me hope because plenty of room to improve. Pity SBW is leaving because he really did make an impact to the ABs game.
Argentina, I missed the first game with Boks though, but the second game i caught when my internet didnt cut out. They properly outplayed the Boks in most facets of the game, which really surprised me because i had the Boks to win by 8 at least. For a team that doesnt get too much top flight rugby as a nation they really stepped up and outplayed their more fancied opponents. I like that for the good of the game. I hope that some south sea island teams get included too. i really was dissapointed they couldnt sneak one past the Boks, i would be equally impressed with them if they can put one over the ABs or Aus too, because that will only help their confidence, we dont want another situation like Italy who are almost without doubt always the 6 nation wooden spooners, i would like a competitive tournament.
The Boks, imagine if it was PdV coaching this team, the amount of vitriol that would have been spewing forth right about now after that performance. Don't tell me about inexperience, dont tell me about lack of depth. Who are these Argentinians the Boks played? hardly known to Southern hemisphere nations, bar a handful. They okay in France yes, but lets all agree that there is no tougher competition than Super rugby. They play test matches, but few and far between and when the do play they play against the lesser known teams. In 3/4 years Robbie Deans has played the All Blacks 17 times. Since 1910, they have played a total of 308 tests, with France being their most played opponent with 48 tests and then Uruguay with 31 tests, they have played Southern hemisphere teams roughly 15 times each during that whole period. Their highest capped player ever has 87 tests, so hardly an experienced side. The squad for this Rugby Championship, their highest capped player was Roncero with 50caps then Albecete with 47 and Fernandez lobe with 44, thats it. The difference, they had a game plan that involved more than just kicking useless up and unders, which has been SA's game since Nick Mallet. It makes me sooo mad! This team has the players to play a good game. Big forwards to lay the platform, and good backs to cut it up. What irks me no end, is the bully tactic they choose to employ and i have said it time and time again, esp in relation to Bulls Rugby, if you have forwards that can match you they seem clueless as to what to do next. Jannie du Plessis is just a yellow card waiting to happen and what he offers in the scrums i know not, Beast is a good player in the loose but his scrumming technique of in and up is somewhat questionable in my humble opinion. HM's woes start with his game plan then his team selection. I would sooner be giving Siya a chance, in the loose trio than Jazques Potgieter. In the front row pity my guy Coenie is injured, but i would get some proper scrumagers, Werner Kruger, Pat Ciliers WP Nel and Strauss/Craig Burden. Locks are fine those 2 WP locks should be able to do the business. No 8 leave Keegan there. He has x factor, he isnt 250kgs but he is better than any 250kg player in SA at the moment. No 9 put in Ruan, move Francois to wing. 10. Lambie/Goosen if he is up to it again, 12 JdV i still fail to see anything that Fransois Steyn consistently brings. 13 J de Jongh. 15 Gio. Change the game plan of standing deep because its so easy to read what you are going to do, defenders are given time to reset and dont have to commit early. Heynecke Meyer, isnt the answer. I know its early days yet, but his Blue Bull mentality is not the future of SA rugby. you cant tell me thats how we (the Boks) have always played and thats how we will always play!! Look at teams like the Cheetahs, Sharks, Lions they can play an expansive game, yes none of them have won the Super rugby title recently, but thats besides the point, Bok rugby can be balanced and with a little tweaking it will be successful, but not if the mindset of this is how its always been is adopted...
Anyway who am i and what do i know?
Week off now catch you all after round 2.
Have a good week
Y
