Eish Bokke: still hopeful though

When PdV started talking about creating a culture of responsibility amongst our players and teaching them to think on their feet and play the situation, he was derided.
The All Blacks first try was a direct consequence of an antipodean player doing such and showing why it works. Ma’a Nonu threw a stinker of a pass, the ball found Richie McCaw (mysteriously floating around the backline — taking a break from being pummelled by Schalk perhaps?) he saw there wasn’t space or enough numbers out wide with the Bok backline closing up and he chipped through, Conrad Smith raced ahead and got there mere inches before Butch and the All Blacks never looked back.

Now contrast that with our approach, especially our 9, 10, 12 axis. World-class players all three. Undisputed first-choices for club, province and country. Indeed Fourie du Preez’s return was heralded like none since Die Os climbed off his tractor and put on an XXL orange jumper again in 2003. What does he then do? Play like an impostor desperate to hoodwink us all into believing he is the greatest halfback of his time. Where normally he’d be a calm, composed presence behind the scrum, assessing the situation, alleviating pressure of his pivot with sniping runs, keeping our forwards going well, forward with clever box kicks and crisp passing, on Saturday he was hesitant, rushed, and looked short of options.

Butch inside him was no better, but to be fair he wasn’t worse than he has been this season. Maybe he needs a break and Frans Steyn must be allowed an extended run at standoff in the meantime. Sure class is permanent but when form goes, it can be an ugly thing. Butch had all the composure of a freshly-beheaded chicken and the same vision.Jean suffered as a consequence of this and trying to take matters into his hands and make everything happen got to him. He was a shadow of his usual imperious self.

Adi Jacobs ( kids, watch how he runs off the ball; that’s attacking lines for you), Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen on the outside could do nothing all afternoon. The fair few times they got the ball it had gone sideways so much there was no space to do anything with it. On the odd occasion they somehow got good ball they made it work, often leaving the first man eating dust, but then the All Blacks were always there with blanket numbers for the second tackle and outnumbered us at just about every breakdown. Adi Jacobs once again shut-up all those who doubted his defensive abilities with another Trojan display. Percy was no more than average but he had a good excuse — I’d be distracted playing my tenth Test never mind a century.

In fact if there is one area where the Boks could take heart it would be their defence of the line. That the only other time the All Blacks convincingly broke the line in the entire 80min was due to Dan Carter genius is testament to this. By contrast remember how often the Boks got through only to be let down by poor handling, wrong option taking and being outnumbered at the ensuing breakdowns.

The breakdown is another area where PdV ought to be concerned. Richie McCaw made a great deal of the fact by tackling the ball-carrier en masse they got to have the numbers at the tackle point and could slow down Bok ball and better enforce turnovers. Of course having the kind of comical refereeing displayed on Saturday did them no harm in this regard. At some stage I was sure the Boks would be penalised for having the temerity to not wear black Adidas jerseys.

I can’t say much for the pack except good job to one and all. The front row held it’s own. The legend of the Beast grows with every game, while Bismarck made mince-meat of his opposite number and CJ seemingly wouldn’t go backwards against a Sherman Tank. Matfield and Bekker (take a bow son-good showing) gave the All-Black lineout many headaches and that laughable penalty the Kiwis conceded after a strange interpretation of lineout-throwing underlined just what a good day at the office our second row had. Schalk was as effective as one man going against three or four at a breakdown can be and certainly made Richie McCaw earn his money. Juan Smith is getting back to his best with each game and for his occasional folly with ball in hand, Pierre Spies kept Rodney Soioalo plenty honest. His work rate needs to improve still but he can be proud of his efforts.

So what then going forward? First — drop Butch. He needs a break. He’s not become a bad player but something has to give before his confidence dips. Fourie should be back to his usual self next week, Jean’s misfiring wasn’t entirely his own doing and the backline and the loosies (Juan and Pierre I’m looking at you) need to offer more support to the ball-carrier and get quick numbers to the breakdown. George Smith must have been rubbing his hands in glee witnessing what he did on Saturday. Let’s give him a rude surprise.

Go Bokke!