It goes without saying that the Boks have been out played in the last three tests against the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Although George Clancy was way out of his league on the weekend and consistency from the citing commission once again fell short, (I shall elaborate) the Boks were out done by some clinical rugby on the weekend once again.
Just to put the whole referee citing commission issue behind us, I just want to make mention of the fact that sure, Jacque Fourie got dealt with in terms of his tip tackle as well as Quade Cooper. But I talk about the consistency aspect here of, because had there been consistency in the call, then James O’Conner would be serving a match ban for tipping Victor Matfield. I don’t care that Victor may be 6 foot 6 and O’Conner smaller by some margin tipping is tipping as the “Laws” clearly state. Consistency Please!
Now that it’s behind us, let’s focus on the Boks and what is required of them to get back to winning ways. First thing is first, we need a defensive coach. In this competition you can’t have missed one tackle and so this discipline should be bombarded and drummed into our guy’s heads. SA used to be the most well rounded defenders the world had ever seen, what has happened? The chaps have gone soft on us.
The wallabies smashed us over there advantage line purely due to lack of first time tackles and the momentum going into the break down to secure quick clean ball they could then unleash the backs to,(once again) exploit us on the wings. Not to mention the poor competition at the break down, I am not sure that the chaps are scared to compete because of inconsistent refs or was it just purely just a facet of the Boks playing catch-up rugby when the Wallabies had the ball? You decide. The entire world prepare them self’s 100% harder when they know that they have the boks to play on the weekend, because arrogance got the better of the nation when it was assumed that we were leaving the world behind and we were one step ahead them, no wander we are being targeted.
What I propose is, there is pride to salvage in the next three tests of the competition. I am most certain that the Springboks won’t be able to obtain the points we need even should the wallabies beat the AB’s. 11 players have been released now to play some provincial rugby. This is possibly a good thing as it is an opportunity for them to obtain some form and utilize it when they make their return into the Bok camp. So PDV, Jake White had an Atrocious season in 2006, and he predicted it. Maybe the same is happening to you? Use the talent you have. It is very clear we are lacking in the loosies and at number 9 Pienaar distributed well but he was not fantastic. Brussouw and du Preez are sorely missed at the moment. But call up some players to assess their skills and give them game time against the bigs, you will never know until you have experimented these areas.
Combinations are key at the moment PDV, Matfield and Bakkies are pushing on after the World Cup, so is du Preez, what is the action plan? Why not start the preparation now!?
SA can’t dominate all the time, fans need to realise this as well and stick through it with the Boks like brothers going through hard times in a war. They don’t leave each others side to look out for them self’s but stick together to have each others backs. Support is the key to success, not abomination of players and the team, the supporter’s supports only when they are on top. There is WORK to be done in the Bok camp; the sooner they realise this, the sooner we can get back and play the World Class rugby South Africa have mastered in the past.
