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Gary Boshoff
The Springboks finally came good on Saturday much to the relief of their embattled fans and coach in particular. I know I predicted a win against Italy, but I have to say that despite the rather convincing scoreline, I am still very worried ahead of the final Test against the Irish.
It was individual brilliance rather than a convincing team performance that carried the Boks on Saturday. Nick Mallett summed it up well when he intimated that the final score flattered the Springboks and if it wasn’t for some very poor goal kicking by his team, the Boks could have found themselves in another spot of bother. So let’s not get carried away by Saturday’s performance – things are not suddenly rosy because we won.
Back to the individual brilliance that made the difference on the day: Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie and one touch by Danie Rossouw, made all the difference. Other than those brilliant tries, the Springbok scrum struggled for most of the game except for the last 10 minutes when the Italians capitulated (this was apparently enough for Peter de Villiers to announce that the Springbok scrum is well again and all set for the Irish – if you believe that you’ll believe anything) completely.
The Springboks struggled in midfield yet again and I think we will see Fourie starting at inside centre with Wynand Olivier on his outside for Saturday’s all-important Test at Croke Park. Adi Jacobs is trying very hard but the conditions do not suit his particular strengths and it is time for De Villiers to go the “horses for courses” route.
Perhaps this will also be the best strategy when selecting the loose forward trio. Here I would pick Jean Deysel in the starting line-up ahead of Heinrich Brüssow, with the latter coming on early in the second half. In addition to his value as a ball carrier, Deysel plays towards the ball at the breakdown and will not leave the Springboks exposed in the absence of Brüssow.
The mental transformation of the Springbok playmakers (Habana, Du Preez, Fourie) was evident on Saturday and their visible confidence will surely ignite and inspire the rest of the team come Saturday. The Springboks must realise that they will only win if they’re at their very best and for that the playmakers will have to fire from the word go.
Controversial issue
This brings up the controversial issue of player fatigue and the “tired Springboks”, some of whom have played more than “a thousand minutes” of international rugby this season. This, according to the Springbok coach is something that they’ll have to manage very carefully in 2010 and 2011.
Oh please!
How many times have we heard this before? The challenge I believe, is not physical fatigue or exhaustion, but mental fatigue. How do you explain Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana’s acceptance of the invitation from the Barbarians to play yet another international immediately after the Springbok tour ends on Saturday? If they are so tired after such a long season shouldn’t they rather rest than play in a friendly risking further injury and fatigue?
The thing with professional rugby players is their level of tiredness and fatigue is directly related to the number of zeros on the contract agreement on offer. This is how it is and this is how it will stay.
What South African rugby administrators have to do is to manage this situation by increasing the number of players in Super 14 and Springbok squads and ensure that players’ psychological and mental preparation gets specialised attention by appointing mental coaches as part of the respective management teams.
While Super 14 squads are already in training, the process involves rehabilitation, recuperation, strength training and the best nutritional and medical support on offer in the history of South African rugby. Thus, to my mind the physical needs of our top players are well catered for. However, SARU and its franchises need to invest in the dedicated mental preparation of their stars to avoid the much dreaded mental fatigue that can derail Cup and international campaigns from time to time.
Judging by the urgency of the Springbok playmakers against Italy this past weekend, I believe the Springboks have shrugged off their mental constraints momentarily and will be focused and ready for Ireland on Saturday. They will have to be.
Gary Boshoff is a former Saru player and well-known rugby administrator.
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.
The Springboks finally came good on Saturday much to the relief of their embattled fans and coach in particular. I know I predicted a win against Italy, but I have to say that despite the rather convincing scoreline, I am still very worried ahead of the final Test against the Irish.
It was individual brilliance rather than a convincing team performance that carried the Boks on Saturday. Nick Mallett summed it up well when he intimated that the final score flattered the Springboks and if it wasn’t for some very poor goal kicking by his team, the Boks could have found themselves in another spot of bother. So let’s not get carried away by Saturday’s performance – things are not suddenly rosy because we won.
Back to the individual brilliance that made the difference on the day: Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie and one touch by Danie Rossouw, made all the difference. Other than those brilliant tries, the Springbok scrum struggled for most of the game except for the last 10 minutes when the Italians capitulated (this was apparently enough for Peter de Villiers to announce that the Springbok scrum is well again and all set for the Irish – if you believe that you’ll believe anything) completely.
The Springboks struggled in midfield yet again and I think we will see Fourie starting at inside centre with Wynand Olivier on his outside for Saturday’s all-important Test at Croke Park. Adi Jacobs is trying very hard but the conditions do not suit his particular strengths and it is time for De Villiers to go the “horses for courses” route.
Perhaps this will also be the best strategy when selecting the loose forward trio. Here I would pick Jean Deysel in the starting line-up ahead of Heinrich Brüssow, with the latter coming on early in the second half. In addition to his value as a ball carrier, Deysel plays towards the ball at the breakdown and will not leave the Springboks exposed in the absence of Brüssow.
The mental transformation of the Springbok playmakers (Habana, Du Preez, Fourie) was evident on Saturday and their visible confidence will surely ignite and inspire the rest of the team come Saturday. The Springboks must realise that they will only win if they’re at their very best and for that the playmakers will have to fire from the word go.
Controversial issue
This brings up the controversial issue of player fatigue and the “tired Springboks”, some of whom have played more than “a thousand minutes” of international rugby this season. This, according to the Springbok coach is something that they’ll have to manage very carefully in 2010 and 2011.
Oh please!
How many times have we heard this before? The challenge I believe, is not physical fatigue or exhaustion, but mental fatigue. How do you explain Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana’s acceptance of the invitation from the Barbarians to play yet another international immediately after the Springbok tour ends on Saturday? If they are so tired after such a long season shouldn’t they rather rest than play in a friendly risking further injury and fatigue?
The thing with professional rugby players is their level of tiredness and fatigue is directly related to the number of zeros on the contract agreement on offer. This is how it is and this is how it will stay.
What South African rugby administrators have to do is to manage this situation by increasing the number of players in Super 14 and Springbok squads and ensure that players’ psychological and mental preparation gets specialised attention by appointing mental coaches as part of the respective management teams.
While Super 14 squads are already in training, the process involves rehabilitation, recuperation, strength training and the best nutritional and medical support on offer in the history of South African rugby. Thus, to my mind the physical needs of our top players are well catered for. However, SARU and its franchises need to invest in the dedicated mental preparation of their stars to avoid the much dreaded mental fatigue that can derail Cup and international campaigns from time to time.
Judging by the urgency of the Springbok playmakers against Italy this past weekend, I believe the Springboks have shrugged off their mental constraints momentarily and will be focused and ready for Ireland on Saturday. They will have to be.
Gary Boshoff is a former Saru player and well-known rugby administrator.
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.
