Ieuan Evans: Warren Gatland's quest for Wales skills to reach new peak
By Ieuan Evans
Last Updated: 1:33am BST 08/06/2008
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The stony face of Warren Gatland told the story of Wales's afternoon in Bloemfontein. It was disappointing for the players and supporters and shows how far the team has to travel to produce consistent performances. It was pretty ominous at times.
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The fact remains - despite Wales having won the Six Nations Championship - that the skill levels of the players are still not good enough to compete fully against the bigger and better southern hemisphere players.
It's good to talk: Warren Gatland gives out instructions ahead of Wales' defeat in Bloemfontein
Gatland knows this and has talked often about the subject. He unexpectedly engineered instant success this season but he is aware the team are far from the finished article.
It may be a case of one step forward and two steps back. It was always going to be a fierce examination in a city where South Africa rarely lose. The odds were against the visitors because of the conditions and the altitude.
Gatland knows that to improve Wales he must challenge the players and this Test series is expected to stretch everyone.
Wales have improved but the Springboks remain too powerful. Their bigger men like John Smit, Bakkies Botha and Pierre Spies have excellent, all-round skills.
At least Wales showed they have the capability of scoring. They produced two well-worked tries where they held on to the ball and showed the breathtaking ability we know they have. But overall they were well beaten.
Wales must realise that they cannot harness the talent of Shane Williams and co until they can hold on to possession for sustained periods in which they make no errors. Against the Springboks yesterday, they just made too many mistakes.
In the first half, Wales committed 10 unforced errors and no coach can plan for that. They simply did not do this in the Six Nations. Against the aggressive defence of South Africa, Wales struggled. A lot has been said about the Springboks, but when it came time to find the top gear they really put the pedal to the floor. For Wales, William's try was a stand-out moment, but before then the Springboks had won the contest in an area where Gatland's team often excel. They have made the offload one of their best aspects but the likes of centre Jean de Villiers and Juan Smith, the flanker, were too good. In fact, they were brilliant in helping to make the four tries for South Africa.
Wales will ponder their preparations. They had taken medical advice and trained in Cape Town until a day before the match. The idea was that by remaining at sea level until the last moment, the affects of the high altitude in Bloemfontein would be negated. The All Blacks and Wallabies have followed this pattern and won games.
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One aspect they might question, however, is the lack of a warm-up match. Wales have not played competitively for three weeks. Gatland has talked about going back to introducing traditional tour games but this is a tricky decision that depends on the availability of players.
South Africa produced a professional performance. If you consider all the changes from the World Cup then it was impressive.
Wales must consider making changes, but there is little time to turn things round. Gatland must look at the scrum-half situation and consider giving Warren Fury a full debut. Some people have suggested playing Williams at No?9 but he is a world-class wing. I'm loathed to move players from their best positions.
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Stagnation in Rugby Union........
By Peter Bills
The stagnation of world rugby, a reality confirmed by the recent World Cup and the Six Nations tournaments in the northern hemisphere, could be resolved in 2008's Tri-Nations
Championship.
The arrival of Robbie Deans as the new coach of Australia this week and Peter de Villiers's innovative hand on the controls in South African rugby, offers the game the opportunity to make overdue progress.Deans can lead the way in kick-starting international rugby in his first job as a national coach. Of the other countries in world rugby, only South Africa under Peter de Villiers looks to have much of a chance of matching Deans' likely progress, perhaps kicking off on Saturday against Wales in Bloemfontein.
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Like Deans, De Villiers understands the need to broaden his country's game, to expand players' personal horizons. The Springboks won the 2007 World Cup with blinkers on, playing a rigidly constructed game that had little vision or intuitive skill attached to it. It seems to me that one man can lead a much needed campaign to take rugby union on to a brighter, better plateau. That man is Robbie Deans. True, his Crusaders team won last weekend's Super 14 final through a watertight defence. But Deans has the vision, the capacity in his embrace of the game to play another way, in another style.The Crusaders' success has been hallmarked by the players' phenomenal support for the ball carrier. Options are myriad for the man in possession; to his left, his right or behind. Passes are given in the secure knowledge that a colleague will take the ball and make further progress.Under Deans, the Crusaders understand the great value of off-loading in the tackle, of extending the movement by seeking width and ensuring continuity through a pass. Support is axiomatic and this continuity is the key to breaking down modern day tight defences. Deans will bring a vibrant, challenging mind to the job of coaching the Wallabies. He will ask questions of players, demand they accept greater responsibility and make their own decisions on the field. All of which De Villiers is already demanding of the Springboks. He is right to do so for this is surely the way forward.Ironically, it could be New Zealand who will lag behind this year, as their southern hemisphere rivals seek to broaden their horizons. New Zealand has lost some talented players of the highest calibre and the loss will be keenly felt, not least during this Tri-Nations campaign.
If ever South Africa had an opportunity to win in the All Blacks' backyard it is surely next month.
I fear we will look in vain to the northern hemisphere to lead the game out of this current pit of mediocrity.
France are all over the place, a disparate group of players under a new coach.
Wales are Six Nations Champions but their pragmatic coach Warren Gatland admits he still does not yet know the extent of their capabilities, despite a Grand Slam in his first season in charge.
Ireland, too, has a new coach, or will have in September. Declan Kidney has replaced Eddie O'Sullivan but he isn't on the end-of-season tour to New Zealand and Australia. How wonderfully Irish is that? Wouldn't he have learned something about some players had he made the trip?
England remains an enigma, driven by internal strife. Like Kidney, Martin Johnson is not touring to New Zealand this summer; hence, his future impact remains unknown.
None of these nations is equipped to forge a new path for the game worldwide.
For that, we must look to innovative coaches, men of proper vision steeped in rugby knowledge. The rugby played by Graham Henry's teams in the past would suit but elsewhere, only Deans and De Villiers look remotely qualified on that front.
We must hope that the intrinsic pressures of their respective posts does not inhibit them in this task.World rugby urgently needs a new order, a new way. Australia and South Africa could lead that charge by the excellence and innovation of their play in 2008. Whether New Zealand can join them, given such significant changes in playing personnel, will be fascinating to discover, maybe starting on Saturday morning against Ireland in Wellington.
The stagnation of world rugby, a reality confirmed by the recent World Cup and the Six Nations tournaments in the northern hemisphere, could be resolved in 2008's Tri-Nations
Championship.
The arrival of Robbie Deans as the new coach of Australia this week and Peter de Villiers's innovative hand on the controls in South African rugby, offers the game the opportunity to make overdue progress.Deans can lead the way in kick-starting international rugby in his first job as a national coach. Of the other countries in world rugby, only South Africa under Peter de Villiers looks to have much of a chance of matching Deans' likely progress, perhaps kicking off on Saturday against Wales in Bloemfontein.
DisplayAds('SquarLAV',12,18);
Like Deans, De Villiers understands the need to broaden his country's game, to expand players' personal horizons. The Springboks won the 2007 World Cup with blinkers on, playing a rigidly constructed game that had little vision or intuitive skill attached to it. It seems to me that one man can lead a much needed campaign to take rugby union on to a brighter, better plateau. That man is Robbie Deans. True, his Crusaders team won last weekend's Super 14 final through a watertight defence. But Deans has the vision, the capacity in his embrace of the game to play another way, in another style.The Crusaders' success has been hallmarked by the players' phenomenal support for the ball carrier. Options are myriad for the man in possession; to his left, his right or behind. Passes are given in the secure knowledge that a colleague will take the ball and make further progress.Under Deans, the Crusaders understand the great value of off-loading in the tackle, of extending the movement by seeking width and ensuring continuity through a pass. Support is axiomatic and this continuity is the key to breaking down modern day tight defences. Deans will bring a vibrant, challenging mind to the job of coaching the Wallabies. He will ask questions of players, demand they accept greater responsibility and make their own decisions on the field. All of which De Villiers is already demanding of the Springboks. He is right to do so for this is surely the way forward.Ironically, it could be New Zealand who will lag behind this year, as their southern hemisphere rivals seek to broaden their horizons. New Zealand has lost some talented players of the highest calibre and the loss will be keenly felt, not least during this Tri-Nations campaign.
If ever South Africa had an opportunity to win in the All Blacks' backyard it is surely next month.
I fear we will look in vain to the northern hemisphere to lead the game out of this current pit of mediocrity.
France are all over the place, a disparate group of players under a new coach.
Wales are Six Nations Champions but their pragmatic coach Warren Gatland admits he still does not yet know the extent of their capabilities, despite a Grand Slam in his first season in charge.
Ireland, too, has a new coach, or will have in September. Declan Kidney has replaced Eddie O'Sullivan but he isn't on the end-of-season tour to New Zealand and Australia. How wonderfully Irish is that? Wouldn't he have learned something about some players had he made the trip?
England remains an enigma, driven by internal strife. Like Kidney, Martin Johnson is not touring to New Zealand this summer; hence, his future impact remains unknown.
None of these nations is equipped to forge a new path for the game worldwide.
For that, we must look to innovative coaches, men of proper vision steeped in rugby knowledge. The rugby played by Graham Henry's teams in the past would suit but elsewhere, only Deans and De Villiers look remotely qualified on that front.
We must hope that the intrinsic pressures of their respective posts does not inhibit them in this task.World rugby urgently needs a new order, a new way. Australia and South Africa could lead that charge by the excellence and innovation of their play in 2008. Whether New Zealand can join them, given such significant changes in playing personnel, will be fascinating to discover, maybe starting on Saturday morning against Ireland in Wellington.
When North meets South ~ South will win!!!!!!!
South Africa Defeats Wales in Rugby Test; N.Z. Wins (Update1)
By James Cone
June 7 (Bloomberg) -- World champion South Africa crossed for four tries in a 43-17 rugby Test victory today against Six Nations winner Wales.
New Zealand defeated Ireland 21-11.
Conrad Jantjes, Jean de Villers, Pierre Spies and second- half replacement Percy Montgomery touched down in Bloemfontein in coach Peter de Villiers's first match in charge.
De Villiers was named as the first black coach of the Springboks in January following the exit of Jake White, who last year led South Africa to its second World Cup title.
Butch James put the Springboks ahead after six minutes with the first of his five penalties today, and doubled the home team's lead two minutes later. He also converted all four tries.
Stephen Jones replied for Wales soon after before two more successful kicks for James put South Africa ahead 12-3. Fullback Jantjes got the opening try in the 30th minute, collecting a pass from Adrian Jacobs before touching down under the posts.
A Jamie Roberts try, converted by Jones, kept Wales in contention, but another penalty from James gave the Springboks a 12-point advantage at halftime.
De Villiers and Spies got tries as South Africa took control in the second half, though Shane Williams broke through to touch down for Wales. Montgomery's try, converted by James, completed the scoring after 70 minutes.
Both teams ended the match with 14 men after CJ van der Linde and Richard Hibbard exchanged punches.
Sitiveni Sivivatu, with his 22nd try in 22 Tests, and Ma'a Nonu touched down in Wellington for New Zealand against Ireland, which was aiming for its first win against the All Blacks in 103 years.
Fly-half Daniel Carter added a conversion and three penalties for New Zealand in its first Test since a quarterfinal defeat at the World Cup.
Paddy Wallace got a try for Ireland, which was tied at 11- 11 with 20 minutes remaining at the Westpac Stadium. Ronan O'Gara scored two penalties.
Elsewhere, Argentina beat Scotland 21-15 in Rosario. Chris Paterson, who tied Scott Murray's record of 87 Test appearances for Scotland, kicked all the visiting team's points.
By James Cone
June 7 (Bloomberg) -- World champion South Africa crossed for four tries in a 43-17 rugby Test victory today against Six Nations winner Wales.
New Zealand defeated Ireland 21-11.
Conrad Jantjes, Jean de Villers, Pierre Spies and second- half replacement Percy Montgomery touched down in Bloemfontein in coach Peter de Villiers's first match in charge.
De Villiers was named as the first black coach of the Springboks in January following the exit of Jake White, who last year led South Africa to its second World Cup title.
Butch James put the Springboks ahead after six minutes with the first of his five penalties today, and doubled the home team's lead two minutes later. He also converted all four tries.
Stephen Jones replied for Wales soon after before two more successful kicks for James put South Africa ahead 12-3. Fullback Jantjes got the opening try in the 30th minute, collecting a pass from Adrian Jacobs before touching down under the posts.
A Jamie Roberts try, converted by Jones, kept Wales in contention, but another penalty from James gave the Springboks a 12-point advantage at halftime.
De Villiers and Spies got tries as South Africa took control in the second half, though Shane Williams broke through to touch down for Wales. Montgomery's try, converted by James, completed the scoring after 70 minutes.
Both teams ended the match with 14 men after CJ van der Linde and Richard Hibbard exchanged punches.
Sitiveni Sivivatu, with his 22nd try in 22 Tests, and Ma'a Nonu touched down in Wellington for New Zealand against Ireland, which was aiming for its first win against the All Blacks in 103 years.
Fly-half Daniel Carter added a conversion and three penalties for New Zealand in its first Test since a quarterfinal defeat at the World Cup.
Paddy Wallace got a try for Ireland, which was tied at 11- 11 with 20 minutes remaining at the Westpac Stadium. Ronan O'Gara scored two penalties.
Elsewhere, Argentina beat Scotland 21-15 in Rosario. Chris Paterson, who tied Scott Murray's record of 87 Test appearances for Scotland, kicked all the visiting team's points.
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