Publications
Partners
Gary Boshoff
While the first round of Vodacom Super Rugby produced one or two surprise results, the most disappointing for me was the performance of the Cheetahs against the Sharks in Durban.
Well, not so much the outcome of the match (we all expected and tipped the reigning Currie Cup Champions to win this one), but the game plan employed by Naka Drotske left me disillusioned at the end.
The Cheetahs (of all the South African teams) employing the tactic of kicking and charging (and hoping for the best)? Come On? Off all the things, this is the last thing I expected from a Cheetah side.
It was indeed a sorry sight to see Naas Olivier kicking possession away time after time after time; and to add insult to injury – falling way short of the tactical objective these kicks were supposed to achieve. I think Drotske need to seriously reconsider this game plan for the Cheetahs as it is one game plan or tactic that will never ever work for the men from the Central Region!
In fact, the message from all the other teams in the first round was that the team willing to carry the ball through phases with speed and patience, were the ones rewarded.
So the Highlanders managed to scrap a win (against the run of play) by suffocating and frustrating the Hurricanes on their home ground in Wellington – these kinds of “surprise results” happen from time to time, especially higher ranked franchises play against a team (the Highlanders have not exactly set the competition alight the past eight years) which has been the weakest New Zealand team for some time now. My guess is that the Highlanders will find it more and more difficult to manufacture wins like they did this past weekend as the competition progresses.
The outstanding performances of the weekend came from the Crusaders, Blues, Bulls, Lions, Waratahs and Brumbies.
It was especially the Blues and Crusaders who impressed with a meticulous first round display of highly skilled, highly intense, high tempo rugby! While one usually do not expect this kind of application and slickness in the very first fixture of the competition, this performance by the Blues especially, signifies the importance of the 2011 rugby year for New Zealanders, particularly since it will culminate in the seventh Rugby World Cup!
The cream of the All Blacks were on display and they did not disappoint. I’m sure after what he saw in Auckland, Graham Henry must have grown in confidence as the core of the All Black team were in top form.
Dan Carter, Jerome Kaino, Kevin Mealamu, Ali Williams (back after an extensive injury lay-off), Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, Joe Rokocoko, Isa Toeava together with the All Black reserve scrumhalves, Alby Mathewson and Andy Ellis, were on top of their games and demonstrated the seriousness with which the New Zealanders are approaching the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Back on home soil I was similarly impressed with the way the defending champion Bulls approached their very tricky first round fixture against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
The level of application in both attack and defence was of the highest quality and for the first time in a very long time there was certainly no “slow start” for the Bulls. Fourie du Preez did not look like a player that hasn’t kicked a rugby ball in a competitive match for nearly a year while Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield registered a definite intent and desire to close off their international careers on an ultimate high! Zane Kirchner looked revitalised while Deon Stegmann responded like a dung beetle when he saw a ball on the floor.
The table has been set for a very special Super Rugby competition in 2011. I believe that the introduction of the “Conference Concept” is a welcome incentive for local franchises and is going to revitalise the rivalry among the South African teams. It offers an opportunity for teams like the Cheetahs and Lions (perennial under-achievers in Super Rugby) to leapfrog the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers to the playoffs. An interesting year waits!
Gary Boshoff is a former SARU player and current Afrikaans rugby commentator on SuperSport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
While the first round of Vodacom Super Rugby produced one or two surprise results, the most disappointing for me was the performance of the Cheetahs against the Sharks in Durban.
Well, not so much the outcome of the match (we all expected and tipped the reigning Currie Cup Champions to win this one), but the game plan employed by Naka Drotske left me disillusioned at the end.
The Cheetahs (of all the South African teams) employing the tactic of kicking and charging (and hoping for the best)? Come On? Off all the things, this is the last thing I expected from a Cheetah side.
It was indeed a sorry sight to see Naas Olivier kicking possession away time after time after time; and to add insult to injury – falling way short of the tactical objective these kicks were supposed to achieve. I think Drotske need to seriously reconsider this game plan for the Cheetahs as it is one game plan or tactic that will never ever work for the men from the Central Region!
In fact, the message from all the other teams in the first round was that the team willing to carry the ball through phases with speed and patience, were the ones rewarded.
So the Highlanders managed to scrap a win (against the run of play) by suffocating and frustrating the Hurricanes on their home ground in Wellington – these kinds of “surprise results” happen from time to time, especially higher ranked franchises play against a team (the Highlanders have not exactly set the competition alight the past eight years) which has been the weakest New Zealand team for some time now. My guess is that the Highlanders will find it more and more difficult to manufacture wins like they did this past weekend as the competition progresses.
The outstanding performances of the weekend came from the Crusaders, Blues, Bulls, Lions, Waratahs and Brumbies.
It was especially the Blues and Crusaders who impressed with a meticulous first round display of highly skilled, highly intense, high tempo rugby! While one usually do not expect this kind of application and slickness in the very first fixture of the competition, this performance by the Blues especially, signifies the importance of the 2011 rugby year for New Zealanders, particularly since it will culminate in the seventh Rugby World Cup!
The cream of the All Blacks were on display and they did not disappoint. I’m sure after what he saw in Auckland, Graham Henry must have grown in confidence as the core of the All Black team were in top form.
Dan Carter, Jerome Kaino, Kevin Mealamu, Ali Williams (back after an extensive injury lay-off), Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, Joe Rokocoko, Isa Toeava together with the All Black reserve scrumhalves, Alby Mathewson and Andy Ellis, were on top of their games and demonstrated the seriousness with which the New Zealanders are approaching the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Back on home soil I was similarly impressed with the way the defending champion Bulls approached their very tricky first round fixture against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
The level of application in both attack and defence was of the highest quality and for the first time in a very long time there was certainly no “slow start” for the Bulls. Fourie du Preez did not look like a player that hasn’t kicked a rugby ball in a competitive match for nearly a year while Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield registered a definite intent and desire to close off their international careers on an ultimate high! Zane Kirchner looked revitalised while Deon Stegmann responded like a dung beetle when he saw a ball on the floor.
The table has been set for a very special Super Rugby competition in 2011. I believe that the introduction of the “Conference Concept” is a welcome incentive for local franchises and is going to revitalise the rivalry among the South African teams. It offers an opportunity for teams like the Cheetahs and Lions (perennial under-achievers in Super Rugby) to leapfrog the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers to the playoffs. An interesting year waits!
Gary Boshoff is a former SARU player and current Afrikaans rugby commentator on SuperSport.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
