How much more will we tolerate?
rugby365 columnist Steve Farrell says the South African public's patience with Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is wearing thin. He feels even good players need to be coached.
In the words of the legendary Formula One commentator Murray Walker, it was "disaster, disaster, disaster" as the Springboks were beaten by the Wallabies on home soil for the first time since 2000, condemning them to last place in the Tri-Nations.
It was another shambolic performance by the Boks, who have self-destructed since their magnificent World Cup triumph last year. There was genuine optimism that the Boks could win all three of their home games and lift the Tri-Nations trophy, but that optimism has changed to despair and anger - signified by the booing of the Boks at the Absa Stadium on Saturday. Peter de Villiers' honeymoon is well and truly over.
The talk all week was how the Boks needed to compete at the breakdown and look after the ball better. They promised an improvement. Instead it was much of the same as a seemingly inebriated Bok side stuttered through 80 minutes without showing much intent.
Three losses on the trot, and three performances that must rate as some of the worst in years. Schalk Burger and Juan Smith are the same two players that were brilliant throughout 2007, whilst Pierre Spies would have been the No.8 at the World Cup were it not for is lung disorder. Yet, in 2008, they are being dominated at the breakdown. They are not gelling as a unit and Spies has been a shadow of his former self this season, as has Smith. Luke Watson replaced Smith in the 62nd minute on Saturday and once again flattered to deceive. He has yet to make an impact on the international scene and is seemingly a passenger in the ever-increasing bumpy ride the Boks are enduring at present.
It is clear that the Bok squad is not a happy camp. How could they be? The so-called 'expansive game plan' that Peter de Villiers has in mind is non-existent - to run the ball you need to secure possession - something the Boks have forgotten to do. The beleaguered coach seems adamant that the Boks can succeed under his approach. But how long will the public, and more importantly, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) tolerate such performances? The Durban faithful gave their answer in no uncertain terms.
I said last week that Victor Matfield is not an international captain, and his performance on the weekend reiterated my stance on the lock. His alarming loss of form is also cause for concern. He is dropping far too many balls off the kick-off, which, for a player of his class is unacceptable. In fact a number of the senior players that performed so well during 2007 have been a shadow of their former selves this year. They know who they are.
Good players need to be coached. They need an end goal in mind, a game plan to implement. At the moment there is absolutely no structure to the Bok play. Players are disillusioned at the current situation, and this doesn't lend itself to quality performances on the field of play. Do the players buy-in to De Villiers 'masterplan'? At the moment, the answer to that question is fairly obvious and if the players don't believe what the coach is saying to them, then how do you expect them to win on a Saturday?
De Villiers has seemingly neglected the strengths of Springbok rugby, and the results are there for all to see. It's like telling Graeme Smith he cannot play through mid-wicket any longer. Another cause for concern is the Boks defence. So much has been said about how they want to play an exciting brand of rugby but their defence has, along with their attack, disintegrated this year. The way Stirling Mortlock beat a handful of defenders off a seemingly simple switch move was huge cause for concern, as was Lote Tuqiri's try - two moments that the class of '07 would not have allowed to happen.
To improve and start getting the results, the Boks need to go back doing the simple things well. Their confidence is at an all-time low so there is no point is trying to play expansive, high-risk rugby. Test match rugby is about winning. That is all that counts. Of course you need to let the ball do the work, but only when the opportunity presents itself. And you need a plan, and the Boks under De Villiers don't seem to have one.
Am I being to harsh? Maybe I am, but the performances of the Boks over the last three Tri-Nations games has been nothing short of diabolical. The question is can they motivate themselves enough to beat the Wallabies on Saturday? They will need more than motivation to beat a well drilled Australian outfit at Ellis Park, sorry Coca-Cola Park - a venue that the Boks have done well at. Another loss and Peter de Villiers will be fighting to keep his head above water.
On a more positive note, the final showdown between Australia and the All Blacks in Brisbane on September 13 is set to be a winner takes all. Regardless of what happens on Saturday in Johannesburg, the winner of that game in Brisbane will be crowned Tri-Nations champions. If Australia lose they will be a single point behind the All Blacks as they head home. A bonus point victory will put them four points clear of Richie McCaw's chargers. As the points table stands at present, the All Blacks have a points difference of 42 , whilst the Aussies are on five. If the Aussies bag five points on Saturday, and the All Blacks get four in Brisbane and deny the Wallabies a point, the two teams will be level on 18 points. But the All Blacks will more than likely have the superior points difference and claim the title. Either way you look at it, it's a Final and something to look forward to.
Who has lost the plot - Steve or Peter? Email us!