Boks ‘lack tactical kicking discipline’
APPLYING the squeeze through judicious tactical kicking is something South African rugby is yet to fully grasp, let alone master.
That is the view of former Springbok flyhalves and kicking high priests Naas Botha and Derick Hougaard.
The discipline requires tactical awareness and technical proficiency, which were absent in Super Rugby and perhaps predictably in the first two tests against Ireland.
“Everybody talks tactical kicking, but no one understands it,” said the former Springbok captain Botha. “Tactical kicking is about the opponent working hard to get to the ball, not you kicking straight down the throat of the opposing fullback when you’re under pressure.
“I don’t understand what they are trying to do,” he said about the Springboks’ tactics in the first half at Newlands and Ellis Park.
Botha was quick to qualify that he is not privy to the Springboks’ pre-match tactics but as the country’s most celebrated kicker, he knows the technical intricacies.
“There is a big technical problem and it’s very bad,” he said. “Say for instance the guy wants to kick the ball to the right side touchline. His foot doesn’t go directly in the direction of the touchline and he swings from the outside, in. What does the ball do? It follows the direction of the foot.
“You kick to the right side touchline with a draw. How on earth are you going to get it out? I’m not attacking anyone but I don’t understand our kicking.”
Hougaard said: “I cannot agree more. There are simple technical elements that we are not mastering. These are things that we can’t fix overnight but they are nonetheless things that we can fix over time.”
Botha argued that the skills range of South Africa’s kickers is limited, partly due to lack of coaching. “Three-quarter of the matches are played at night but no one is kicking the ball low so that it skids.”
Hougaard believes this country has the personnel but they aren’t really empowered. “We have the talent. The onus is on coaching. We coach in fear, not for greatness.”
While Botha holds up New Zealander Dan Carter as a tactical kicker with unsurpassed touch and range, Hougaard believes Johnny Sexton of Ireland is at the top of the tree.
“He [Carter] is the best tactical kicker in the world because he can kick a torpedo accurately,” said Botha.
“The ball is quicker through the air but you know which way it will bounce. It bounces into space and it rolls out. With the punt it is in the air so long, players can run it down from behind. There is no one who can catch a well-directed torpedo from an angle.
“If you don’t have that extra trick up your sleeve to kick a torpedo pinpoint then you can’t be a good tactical flyhalf. No one kicks the torpedo because it is a high-risk kick but it’s the difference between a good player and a great one.”
The virtues of the torpedo also resonate with Botha. “The torpedo isn’t used often and you can kick the ball 30% further.”
The Sunday Times’ request to interview the Springboks’ kicking consultant Louis Koen was turned down.