Springbok backline needs foreign touch

Whilst happy with the two-nil series triumph over England, sport365 columnist Robbie Fleck is very concerned at the lack of impact by the Springbok backline. Fleckie, however, might just have a solution for Bok coach Jake White.

First up, I must say well done to the Boks for securing a two-nil series win over England, which itself is no mean feat. As I said last week, any win over England is special – especially when considering the past – but it is important to keep these wins in perspective, too.

This was a fairly weak England side, which got weaker as the tour progressed, but I must agree with Jake White – the wins (our third in a row over England) will give the lads plenty of confidence and a significant psychological advantage going into their World Cup pool match in France later this year.

Remember how much England took out of that record win over us in 2002? England did not fear us at the 2003 World Cup, you could see that, even though the game was quite tight in the end, it never looked like the Springboks could beat them. England knew it and the Springboks knew it, too.

As we move swiftly towards the World Cup I can’t help but believe that the tables have turned rather dramatically from four years ago. Back then England were the form team in the world, they had a superb tour of New Zealand and Australia in June – where they won both Tests – and in Martin Johnson and co. they had an experienced and settled unit well before the first tackle was even made at the 2003 World Cup.

Now I hear England coach Brian Ashton has said just five players are assured of their World Cup places at the moment; how can you say that just four months out from a World Cup? England, quite frankly, are in serious trouble and the only way they could revive their hopes would be to get Lawrence Dallaglio back in the mix, whether he is first-choice player or not, just like Jake has done with Bob Skinstad.

Jake, on the flipside, is fretting over who to leave out – sadly, amongst other things if the politicians have it their way… – and his shrewd building of a squad, since 2004, is beginning to bear fruit.

Many people have questioned Jake’s selections and loyalty to certain players, but that self-same continuity is why the Boks are suddenly in such good shape with the RWC just around the corner. They have the perfect mix of youth and experience and I would say SA are pretty close to pole position in the lead-up to the RWC; even ahead of New Zealand, who I believe got it wrong by resting their key men in the Super 14. The All Blacks were not particularly good against France last week. Their stars normally have that split second more than the rest of the ‘mere mortals’ to make decisions – but they seem to be lacking that at the moment and with that goes their renowned ‘X-Factor’ that comes from playing week-in and week-out.

A World Cup is not a place for youngsters, it’s about playing tried and trusted combinations. Look at someone like Frans Steyn; the kid’s got plenty of talent and probably offers more than Percy Montgomery on attack, but Monty’s kicking his goals and keeping his mistakes down. Yes, Steyn is creative, but he could also lose you a game – just take the Super 14 Final as a prime example. I think Pierre Spies has a massive role to play for SA this year and he should be starting ahead of Danie Rossouw, but on Saturday he only really came into the match in the second half, after making quite a crucial error in the first half. Would old hands like Bobby and AJ Venter have made those mistakes? Don’t get me wrong, players should be allowed to make mistakes – I should know that – but those mistakes could be the difference between winning or losing a World Cup Final.

One area we really need to improve dramatically though is our backline play. The Bok forwards took over in the second half on Saturday and managed to get behind their opponents, but the backs, as a unit struggled to fire and attack properly with first phase ball. First phase ball is ideal ball to attack from. Nine out of ten times, New Zealand and Australian sides will go wide from first phase ball in their opponents’ 22 – we can’t do that and are well behind our SANZAR cousins, and also France, in this department.

Individually we have got the backs, look at Bryan Habana’s tries on Saturday (Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie are, thankfully, due back soon from injury), but, quite simply, what it boils down to is coaching.

The Bok backline has not improved at all since Jake first took over in 2004 and here I believe Allister Coetzee should put his hand up and take responsibility. There have been no flowing movements, the running lines are wrong, passes are not going to hand and the backs are too static. In order for the Springboks to become a truly world-class outfit, the backs need to make a 110 per cent improvement.

Aside from better coaching, the Bok backs need to believe in themselves, but they also need a foreign influence to lead the way. Look how much the Bulls’ backs have improved in just one season with a foreign coach and how exciting are the Sharks’ backs, who have had David Campese working with them over the past two years? I played under Tim Lane in the Springbok set-up and I thought he was brilliant, but not everybody bought into his way of thinking and playing and that’s why he did not make the impact he could have. If your players don’t believe in you 100 per cent, you cannot change the way they think… or play…

Just like forwards need to play together as one, so, too do backs. I’m sure some of the Bulls questioned Todd Louden at first – you could see so in their first few Super 14 matches – but by the end of the season guys like Hougaard, Habana and Roets were playing the best rugby of their lives. They believed in him and his influence rubbed off on the team’s style of play.

Of course, backline play is not only a problem in the Bok side – it’s a problem which starts at grass-roots level, but it’s a problem that can be sorted out. There is no doubt that we have the players; it’s just a case of giving them the necessary understanding and confidence to let the ball do the talking for them. And having the likes of Louden, Campo and Lane around would not be a bad thing either…

Until next week, enjoy the Samoa game!
Robbie Fleck

PS. Thanks to those of you for all the superb email feedback last week – I didn’t realise anybody but my family and friends would read this column! Keep it coming and hopefully I will be able to reply to some of your questions as the season progresses.

* Fleckie’s ‘Last Word’ will appear weekly on iafrica.com – and also on sport365 and rugby365 – so log on next week for some more opinions and in-depth analysis from the 31-times capped Springbok centre. Also, feel free to mail Fleckie at sport365@365digital.co.za with any comments or queries.