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Durban - It was to be expected that the Springboks' attacking prowess would be rather ordinary. Having only a few days to prepare for a massive test against our old foes I think that the Boks did rather well.
Yes we did play a very “Blue Bulls” type of game with kicking away possession with the hope of retaining the ball, but that was to be expected. Heyneke Meyer made no secret of how they would approach this test.
The 4 debutants did indeed step up to the plate and did more than was expected of them. Personally, the pick of the debutants was Juandre Kruger, having to fill the huge void left by lineout maestro Victor Matfield, he did quite well.
His ball carries was a bit pedestrian at time, but he did the most important job in the lineouts, make the correct calls to ensure we kept possession.
The one thing that does worry me quite a bit is the lack of an attacking fullback. Zane Kirchner sometimes seems to be caught flat footed and he also doesn’t join the backline enough.
If he is able to join the line at pace and create the overlap – we would be a much more potent attacking force. Some might argue that Patrick Lambie is best at flyhalf and other feels that fullback is his best position.
I personally feel he is a fullback – solid on defence, enough pace to make his presence felt around the backline, and of course – a solid kicker of the ball.
If I was Pierre Spies, I’d start worrying about my place in the side. He just doesn’t seem to be as effective these days.
With all that pace and power he should be a wrecking ball and produce go forward ball time after time – but alas, that is not the case.
It might be because the other teams are wary of him so they commit 2 or 3 defenders to watch him.
Last but not least – Sir Willem “Bone Collector” Alberts – Take a bow! Best test in a Bok jersey to date.
Deservedly the MVP on the day, I’m pretty sure a few English players are going to have nightmares for a few more days after the battering he gave them.
Yes we did play a very “Blue Bulls” type of game with kicking away possession with the hope of retaining the ball, but that was to be expected. Heyneke Meyer made no secret of how they would approach this test.
The 4 debutants did indeed step up to the plate and did more than was expected of them. Personally, the pick of the debutants was Juandre Kruger, having to fill the huge void left by lineout maestro Victor Matfield, he did quite well.
His ball carries was a bit pedestrian at time, but he did the most important job in the lineouts, make the correct calls to ensure we kept possession.
The one thing that does worry me quite a bit is the lack of an attacking fullback. Zane Kirchner sometimes seems to be caught flat footed and he also doesn’t join the backline enough.
If he is able to join the line at pace and create the overlap – we would be a much more potent attacking force. Some might argue that Patrick Lambie is best at flyhalf and other feels that fullback is his best position.
I personally feel he is a fullback – solid on defence, enough pace to make his presence felt around the backline, and of course – a solid kicker of the ball.
If I was Pierre Spies, I’d start worrying about my place in the side. He just doesn’t seem to be as effective these days.
With all that pace and power he should be a wrecking ball and produce go forward ball time after time – but alas, that is not the case.
It might be because the other teams are wary of him so they commit 2 or 3 defenders to watch him.
Last but not least – Sir Willem “Bone Collector” Alberts – Take a bow! Best test in a Bok jersey to date.
Deservedly the MVP on the day, I’m pretty sure a few English players are going to have nightmares for a few more days after the battering he gave them.
