Boks give no hint of analysis how to fix flaws
World Cup-winning coach Jake White slams technical team for apparent lack of preparation against Japan
THERE is a hint of confusion in the Springbok set-up this week, with players and management sticking to a script of bringing pride and honour back to the jersey but noone offering any real technical analysis of how that will happen.
After losing 34-32 to Japan in their World Cup opener in Brighton last Saturday, the Springboks have been forced into a situation in which they have to win their remaining pool matches to qualify for the quarterfinals.
They face Samoa at Villa Park on Saturday, in a game they would normally expect to win. But after Japan, nothing is normal anymore — except the same platitudes offered to the media.
Attack coach Johann van Graan trotted out stats from the Japan match. “We scored four tries, had 100% set piece and only lost four of over 100 breakdowns, but we still lost the game and you have to ask yourself why,” he said.
“It’s pretty simple — our discipline let us down and we didn’t take our opportunities. We’ve got to fix that over the next few days.
“We took decisions on the field that we have to live with.”
Former Springbok coach Jake White, criticising the Boks’ preparation for the Japan match, offered the most technical insight.
In an interview with online radio station XVR, the 2007 World Cup-winning coach questioned the Springboks’ homework.
“People are so shocked, but (Japan coach) Eddie Jones has been around a long time and a couple of the things his team did are things that he’s been doing for ages,” White said.
“The (Boks’) collective preparation looked poor. They (Japan) kicked the ball along the ground from restarts. The Brumbies did that against the Bulls a few seasons ago and the reason for that is you don’t want to give the Bulls any mauling opportunities. Japan did the same to the Boks.
“Secondly, Japan beat Wales about 18 months ago and there they kicked long and not out. They didn’t want to engage in lineouts and give the Welsh any set piece.
“They did the same to Zane Kirchner at the weekend. They didn’t mind if it was a 22 drop-out because the ball came back to them and they could play from unstructured play.
“All those Japan-based Springboks would’ve warned the coaches of what was coming.
“I don’t want to be an ex-coach with all the answers, but they had years to prepare for that game and it didn’t look like they did.”
The Bok players and coaches have been shying away from dissecting the game publicly, preferring to peddle the rah-rah line.
“We want to bring honour and pride back to the jersey,” said wing Bryan Habana.
“We are a tight group and will die for each other,” fullback Kirchner said without a hint of irony.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis said: “We have got to trust our process and execute. Last Saturday was very emotional, but we have to put that aside. We have another chance now.”
And so it went on.