'When the steak is being served, you've got to eat': Ex-Bok coaches dissect Wallabies loss
Two former Springbok coaches have highlighted where they think South Africa’s attack could improve after the side went down 25-17 to the Wallabies.
Former head coach Nick Mallett and former assistant coach Swys de Bruin shared their views on SuperSport’s Final Whistle.
De Bruin, who coached the Lions to consecutive Super Rugby final appearances, thought the side could show more intent from turnover ball and implement some of the philosophies he believes in.
“We still have Duane [Vermeulen] who got one [turnover], Siya [Kolisi] got one, a brilliant one, Malcolm [Marx] when he comes on he steals a few, Kwagga [Smith] also,” he said of the Boks ability to create turnovers.
“So we’ve got those guys. On turnover attack, if they lose the ball and you steal it from them, the defence is in trouble.
“They have to scramble, but what do we do, the cricket guys will tell you, as soon as you get the ball you go to covers, but our guys out the back aren’t ready.”
De Bruin showed a clip from the 10th minute where No 8 Duane Vermeulen had a turnover on Wallabies centre Len Ikitau, holding him up and stripping him.
The ball was immediately passed back to Damian Willemse, who was inside his 22, and he proceeded to clear the lines with an exit kick.
“Now Duane Vermeulen’s turnover was a great turnover, now look at what their wingers are doing, they know we are going to kick,” he said pointing out the retreating Wallaby wings.
“They are running back, we could argue there is no defensive line.
“I don’t want the thinking of ‘we’ve got the turnover, let’s get rid of it’.”
“We steal the ball, it’s brilliant, their defence is not organised and what do we do? We take the foot off the pedal and kick it away.”
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett also thought the team is programmed too much into taking the kick as a default option.
The strong preference for kicking is part of their pressure game which tries to find territory and force turnovers.
“There is no doubt that when we are in trouble, our ‘go to’ is to kick it,” Mallet explained.
“Not to hold onto it. Our ‘go to’ is to kick, and pressurise their attack and force them into a mistake.”
The former Lions head coach showed another turnover around midfield this time with more territory to try and launch a counter-attack.
“There comes Siya [with the turnover], what’s in Siya’s mind? I’ve got to take it wide,” he said.
The Springbok captain is seen linking up with the backs, finding his fullback Willemse once again.
Once Willemse had the ball with an overlap brewing, the Springbok fullback went for a 50-22 but his kick didn’t get the bounce into touch.
“The Springbok team that I watched there, the talent that we have in the country, this is a typical, typical example where you’ve got to back yourself and play,” De Bruin said.
“You will not find [at this level] a two man overlap. Don’t tell me we are in trouble there, we aren’t.”
After some conjecture with host Owen Nkumane over the decision to go for a 50-22 in that situation, Mallett said it came down to execution.
”You are asking for our opinions as ex-coaches and I would say, had he got the 50-22, I would say good kick,” he said.
”It’s like a player going for a drop goal. Kick the drop goal over and I’ll say ‘well done’, miss it and I’ll say ‘why did you stuff up an opportunity to attack?’
“When the guy takes the decision to execute something, he must do it right. His job is to kick it out in the 22. So if he hasn’t done that, he’s spoiled an opportunity to attack.”
De Bruin had the final say summing up the situation with an analogy about taking advantage of the opportunity.
“When it is time to eat and the steak is being served, you’ve got to eat that steak,” he said.
“Don’t now eat the potatoes and the other stuff.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments