Divisions appear in SA philosophy

Jean de Villiers: Wants more structure

With Peter de Villiers (PDV) criticising his senior players earlier on Thursday, it seems one or two may be firing back, with Jean de Villiers (JDV) opting to praise his opposition's tactical thinking so far in this Tri-Nations.

PDV insisted in the aftermath of his side's 19-0 defeat to New Zealand last week that he would be sticking to his more expansive gameplan, but JDV said that New Zealand had got the balance right on Thursday, and reminded PDV among others, of the need to mix adventure with pragmatism.

Does it point to a potential rift within the camp? It may, given that the usually ice-cool JDV ended up flinging an appallingly thoughtless and pressured pass right into the lunchbox of Keven Mealamu last Saturday, as a result of an audacious bid to run the ball away from his own tryline. If not a rift, then certainly a degree of frustration, no doubt exacerbated by that pass.

It's something few international teams would ever have thought of doing, a lunatic piece of decision-making from JDV and Frans Steyn, two of the more experienced players in the side. The players often seemed ill at ease with the new tactics, and PDV's anger will up the pressure for this weekend.

PDV criticised the older members of the team, saying that he was "going to make it clear that if (he) can't win matches with the experienced players in the team, (he'd) rather lose with inexperienced guys" a clear broadside at those who mastered the art of Jake White's pragmatic game and who were struggling to buy in to the new tactics.

"It is important for us to stop playing too much rugby in our half. We have been playing a hell of a lot of rugby in our own half, and although there have been scoring opportunities that we have created, it is has not helped us," said JDV to Supersport.

"It is difficult, because last year we won the World Cup playing conservative rugby by kicking the ball when we were in our own half and only running it when we were in attacking positions.

"People said that we were playing rugby that is unwatchable. But at this level it is about winning, and in the Tri-Nations so far we have seen that it is the team that kicks the most that wins.

"Tactical kicking has played a big role in determining the results of all the games that have been played so far. The All Blacks have kicked the most of any team in the competition, and they top the Tri-Nations log. That does not mean that the rugby has to be boring or unattractive, just that the attacks must come when the attack is on."

JDV went on to add that such an approach never restricted the Boks' ability to score bonus points before, and a bonus-point win they need in Durban on Saturday if they are to cling on to their Tri-Nations title hopes.

"When I was captaining the Stormers in the last Super 14 match against the Lions we found to our cost that playing all out running rugby does not on its own bring results," continued JDV.

"I don't think it would be a risk for us to look at scoring four tries, for attacking rugby is not always just about running the ball. Field position is important, and playing a structured game.

"If you keep to your structures for the first part of the match, then often you will find that in the last 15 to 20 minutes the game opens up and you have an opportunity to score the tries that you need.

"It is important though to build a platform first, you have to play off a platform, for the defensive lines of the All Blacks and Australia have just been too good."

There are still positives. The Boks still boast arguably the best scrum in the world, and they have a fine loose trio with plenty of speed to complement the beef in the tight five.

JDV reckons just a little more structure to the game will help his side get the necessary superiority at the breakdowns that will make the difference.

"Good play at the breakdowns depends on a collective effort, it demands input from all fifteen players. The performance at the breakdowns does become more effective if the approach is more structured, for if the game is pre-planned for three or four phases then the players know where they have to be," he said.

"However, it doesn't always work out as planned, so in the end it all has to come down to decision-making."