Decisions decisions: Robshaw
This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with decisions, South Africa's staying power, literature and Scotland's woes...
It's tough at the top. If you really are in any doubt about that, ask Chris Robshaw. Questioned to the edge of his mental toughness last week over his decision to go for tries rather than points against Australia, he opted for points over tries against South Africa this week. Opposite decision, same result: narrow loss and an instant bout of highly public and ill-informed finger-pointing.
Robshaw is not an inexperienced captain. He is in his third season at the helm of Harlequins and has led them to an English title. He knows what's what and where the big decisions are made and he's never shied away from standing up to be counted.
So were the decisions really that wrong?
England could have kicked for the corner and looked for a try, but the line-out was not going well and South Africa were hardly letting people through gaps. England's best opportunity all game came from an intercept (an opportunity more thoroughly butchered than an haute cuisine Springbok shank by the way). To have gone for a try and not got it - a reasonable expectation given the flow of the game - would have left England four points adrift with only two minutes left and with no chance of winning. At least taking the three gave them that sniff.
Against Australia on the other hand, England had breached the line several times. Thomas Waldrom had knocked on over the line. Ben Youngs was causing problems. There was reason to suspect a try would come, even if that was paying scant regard to just how well Michael Hooper was ruining things at breakdown time. But going for a try was a realistic target - even if the question of 'how' to go for that try was poorly answered.
Those questions of 'how' are the ones which ought to be dominating the English press right now. How can England be better able next time to finish off sitters such as Manu Tuilagi's intercept. How can the team best score tries? How can they ensure more fluidity to a strong-arm but terribly arrhythmic attack. That's just the opening three.
Robshaw, and most other people in the England camp, should be able to identify the Whys from this November pretty fast. The Hows will take a lot more time...
Moving swiftly on to England's opposition for a moment, it's a strange Test series when there's little to say about the Boks but this November has yielded merely the same set of questions that existed before.
You can criticise Heyneke Meyer for many things. Pat Lambie got his chance, but especially against England got a chance desperately sullied by his having to watch Ruan Pienaar hoof away much of Lambie's possible possession.
Against Scotland and Ireland there was still a glaring lack of imagination, even more apparent against England where only a monstrous stroke of good fortune turned the game. The knives are being sharpened in some quarters. After all, the All Blacks managed more tries and points in one game against Scotland than the Boks have managed in the whole tour.
But in other quarters the knives have been sheathed. Whatever else you say about Meyer and his conservative style, he wins. He returns home with three from three, a record only the All Blacks will be able to match. However much his team lacks in sharpness and guile, the willingness to obliterate the opponent in the name of the Springbok is still there, with Meyer very much ensuring that spirit lives on.
Yes, the Boks need to develop. Meyer himself is known to be deeply frustrated with the ignorance of skill development and dictatorial adherence to structure in SA at schoolboy level, which propagates a top level of abrasive but frequently clumsy behemoths. There needs to be a change in SA to ensure long-term success. But Meyer is on the brink of proving his own critics wrong - it will probably only take one dazzling display to complete that process. Then he might be able to relax and begin the real work of taking the Boks forward.
Back to decisions and captaincy: landing with a thud (and suspiciously from the side) on our desks this week was a copy of Richie McCaw's autobiography.
Clearly the best on-field marshal of his generation, Robshaw and other aspirants might do well to read and learn from dispatches.
More than anything, the book - a cracking read - dwells remarkably long on that long night in Cardiff, 22 per cent of the final page count is about, or immediately related to, that night; a huge percentage when you consider all McCaw has gone to.
Most of us know that New Zealand easily had enough territory and possession to have conjured up a drop goal shot, regardless of the reluctance of Wayne Barnes to give a penalty or the inability of the All Blacks to somehow force the pill over the line.
But McCaw raises that all-important point: the team just didn't know how. They'd never rehearsed it. A passage is described in intimate detail where McCaw feels ill-empowered to call for the drop goal because he couldn't work out how it would work as it had never been run in training.
Shortly after, he recalls a moment where the team was in the right position to go for goal, but when he looked back in the pocket, the sole occupant was Tony Woodcock. Even McCaw might have been hard-pressed to recall that Matt Dunning had managed it once from a similar distance...
Off goes Andy Robinson once more, with the ghost of failure raising claws and roaring at his retreating back.
Well, time to exorcise that one. Robinson's time at England's helm was not great, but for Scotland he has been a good servant. He has seen the game in Scotland increasingly stripped away from him, seen many players heading off to contracts elsewhere, faced unique challenges of management and had to deal with the clash between a history of achievement in the amateur era and the grim reality that professional rugby in Scotland is a constant struggle, playing a deep and squeaky second fiddle to soccer on a permanent basis and facing unique challenges of talent discovery within an amateur development structure.
Yet several new players have emerged under his guidance and shown promise - not least in the June Tests. Scotland were whipping boys when he took over, these days they are closer to the big teams, but still just unable to find the way of winning the tight games.
He's taken the responsibility this time, and off he goes. But the next candidate needs to look at what Robinson has done and realise he was on the right track. He then should look extremely hard and identify some assistants who are all about polishing the skill within the spirit. The failure to do that was Robinson's ultimate demise, but he should leave Scotland with his head held high.
Loose Pass compiled by Richard Anderson
Comments
kakapo76 says...
@ stellenbosch
Fair call, an awesome Captain, generally the Boks played better with him than without, perhaps played 1 season too many- a risk that NZ face with McCaw as we try to string his body out 3 more seasons to the next world cup.
I always felt Smit had the ear of the ref in a way that Matfield never did- again the sign of a very good Captain. Anyway ruggers almost done for the season- well done to the Boks for pulling out a clean sweep- look forward to going toe to toe next RC.
Posted 06:58 29th November 2012
scot_rsa says...
Excellent summary of Robinson's time at Scotland, well written.
Posted 18:47 28th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi kakapo76,
You make many good points. However you haven't mentioned someone who was of the same generation (more or less) as RM. In my humble opinion John Smit was every bit as good a captain as RM.
Posted 11:17 28th November 2012
kakapo76 says...
@ lacroix
McCaw has taken time to become the complete player. If you list every aspect that makes up the complete rugby captain he will pretty much tick all your boxes. No one is born to captaincy and most rugby fans who actually follow a players career will notice those who mature into the role, is he the best Captain on the pitch now? absolutely. does anyone really remember MJ? perhaps, but to a far lesser extent- his only claim to fame was a world cup victory followed by a complete collapse as a player and a coach. Dont agree? history books and the score board dont lie. Don't get me wrong, MJ was awesome on his best days- and I loved his hard edge, however on any given sunday McCaw is the first name on your team sheet head and shoulders above all others.
Your cheap crack about McCaw being a bad sport is actaully unfounded. Note his actions this last weekend when the Welsh prop was streteched off, but hey dont let recent examples (of which there are many) get in the way of your sour grapes.
If you are the captain of the best rugby team in the world, have won the most tests of any captain in history, play the most physically taxing role in the game, endure the weight of expectation of a rugby mad and bloody unforgiving nation and still command absolute respect from anyone who plays with, plays against you and are hated by the oppositions fans for being so good at what you do... wtf else do you have to do to earn the title?
PS should I mention his 3 times IRB player of the year awards? Great captains are a once in a generation event. Like him or hate him McCaw is the current title holder.
Posted 02:47 28th November 2012
jontheref says...
milkslave
banging on about the Pro12 again.
No one is listening, flogging a dead horse comes to mind.
Posted 19:04 27th November 2012
NHsaints says...
Good article. I completely agree with that about robinson, he didn't go wrong, he just hasn't got the player pool or the public interest in scotland that other countries could have provided him.
Posted 18:25 27th November 2012
Waz4before says...
@ Sasquatch - fantastic graphic, and in the match for real you could feel Robshaw going through all these options right :-) Funny though it is I think (for a nice change) PR have done a pretty decent write up on this: the focus in both games has been on Robshaws decisions but the reality is the focus should be on the teams inability to prosecute and benefit from those decisions - the missed try against Oz, the inability to secure restart ball and move up field against the Boks ...
Posted 22:39 26th November 2012
lacroix says...
"Clearly the best on-field marshal of his generation, Robshaw and other aspirants might do well to read and learn from dispatches."
really? is mccaw really the best captain of a generation? he's been captain of the best team but thats far from the same thing. its interesting that when they get put under real pressure, and things don't go to the script mccaws teams look very fragile and he looks less than a solid leader getting bogged down in whinging to the ref...and if we're going to be blaming wayne barnes for cardiff then we'd better look at the execrable performance of craig joubert in the 'defining' match of mccaws career, the RWC final.
lets ignore both- mccaws not the best captain of a generation- he is lucky enough to lead a remarkable squad of players drawn from a deep pool of talent. martin johnson and john smit are far more wirthy of that accolade, often doing what captains need to do- getting more than the sum of the parts out of a team. mccaw very often fails to do that. and mccaw also sadly fails in another respect: he has little grace and often displays respect for opponents. he's a bad sport. which is sad because he's a great player (though never man of the match in a world cup final tellingly)
Posted 21:16 26th November 2012
JayStarr says...
@ Stellenbosched: Good post. Agree with most, except Lambie. He is the complete fly-half - he's got everything (and he has proven that at Super Rugby level). But what he needs is good ball from his scrum-half and players around him who understand what he's doing. Pienaar's passing has been terrible in comparison with someone like Charl McLeod - nevermind the All Blacks' Aaron Smith (who has the best pass in the game right now in my opinion). We need a quick scrum half with a crisp pass and Lambie and Goosen at 10, then we'll be sorted.
@ philipjfry: Please name all these youth championships our schoolboy teams have won over the last few years... As far as I can remember the far more skilled NZ youth teams have been consistently better than us...
The skill level in SA is NOT good enough. Just look at the passing of the All Blacks and then compare it to South Africa. It is one of the most under-rated aspects of the All Blacks' game, but the one I think contributes the most to their high try-scoring rate. When the AB's/Aaron Smith passes, the ball not only gets to the receiving player fast, but it is right infront of them so they can run onto it. When Springboks/Pienaar passes, the ball wobbles through the air half the time and the receiving player either has to bend down or reach up, or wait or even turn around - all with the result that the receivng player basically stays where they are until they get the ball... and by then the defense of the opposition has come up with a meter or two and has the forward momentum. With the AB's it is them who would've been the ones with a meter or two advantage (and forward momentum) because they received a a crisp, accurate pass that they could run onto, before the opposition defense had time to organise themselves, which also means more space to run into... which all adds up to more try scoring opportunities.
Posted 20:05 26th November 2012
pog_mahone says...
"The future is bright, the future is green"... thanks Jaystarr. I'd agree except that Earls seems to have gotten himself entrenched in the Irish setup as O'Driscoll's successor, and Murray as the starting scrum half, but at least out of this series we've found a kid with a bit of pace and a step in Gilroy.
Posted 19:11 26th November 2012
JayStarr says...
I agree 100% on England and Robshaw, and fair writing on Meyer and the Springboks.
I was one of HM's biggest critics this season, but after seeing him learn on the job and change (or rather adapt) his tune from a conservative to a more progressive one, I have new hope. After all, this Autumn test series was conducted without our (remaining) experienced stars (Beast, Bismarck, Bakkies, Bekker, Burger, Smith, Spies, Kankowski, Du Preez, Fourie, Habana)... but the young guys still managed to get 3 from 3 against 6-Natioins sides in their own back yards! That is better than the previous legend-filled Bok side. Their attack and tactics were poor, but their defense was really good (they only gave away 1 try), so there is a good foundation to build on...
I don't know of one international coach who created a perfect team in 1 year - not even Jake White or Clive Woodward. So what I'm looking for now is potential - does this team have the potential to be great? And the answer is: with a couple of changes to the coaching staff (Loubser and Koen out) and players (Kirchner out, Aplon/Ludik/Le Roux in), and a little bit more experience, YES! With Lambie/Goosen playing flat and dictating from 10, Pienaar kicking less (or Hougaard finding form at 9 - or some of the young half-backs stepping up), our dangerous backs (De Jongh, Pietersen, Habana, Mvovo, Taute/Aplon/Ludik/Le Roux) will eventually get more and better quality ball. And with guys like Beast, Bismarck, Bekker and Burger back in the forwards, the backs will also have more front-foot ball to work with. When a team containing these incredible players finally stop playing as individuals, click and find a collective rhythm, I think even the All Blacks will find it hard to stop them.
So as far as I'm concerned, the future is bright - the future is Green. ;)
Posted 16:49 26th November 2012
Sasquatch says...
Sorry England fans but I had to throw this in:
http://ruggarant.co.za/wtfr/
Posted 16:00 26th November 2012
melkdave says...
Well i have no problems with Robshaws decsions against Australia or the bokke.The failure to exacute is Englands problem atm.We threaten and come oh so close,but just fall short .It will eventually come,after all it took the 2003 side a fair few years to learn how to take their chances.Hopefully this team wont take as long LOL
H.Meyer to me is a very preplexing man,he says one thing ,and does something completly different.He has got the bokke defending very well though,they are a very tough team to open up ,as even the ABs have found out.Im sure he will be trying to instill a more attacking mindset/gameplan in their game asap.
A.Robnson has absolutly nothing to feel ashamed or sorry for,though i do feel his resignation was due to frustration more than anything else.Scotland after the summer tour had seemed to make alot of progress.Only for the players to fallback into their half hearted efforts this aurtum.Whjere was their hard edge this campaign They really have to take a long hard look at themselves.I also dont think the Pro12 the way its set up is good for any of the celtic nations .What good is a league with absolutly no consequences for wining or losing ,it just makes for an atmosphere where the players just turn up ,and dont have to give 100% every game as the games dont matter .So is it any wonder that come international time ,the same attidude prevales the celtic nations teams..Note all of them are in the doldrums Scotland,Wales and Ireland despite their good win over the pumas.Only Itlay from the Pro12 battled this aurtum and gave 100%
Posted 14:55 26th November 2012
philipjfry says...
'Meyer himself is known to be deeply frustrated with the ignorance of skill development and dictatorial adherence to structure in SA at schoolboy level, which propagates a top level of abrasive but frequently clumsy behemoths.'
This statement does not ring true. If our young players lack skill then why do our schoolboy Springbok teams regularly win youth championships? It's a combination of multiple factors, the conditioning of South African teams through-out the season being at the top of a sizable list. Yes, they were boring and lacked a cutting edge for the overwhelming majority of their games but they ended the season with three away wins and it would only be the world's biggest cynic that does not see the potential for success in the future. But they need to adapt better to modern rugby; you don't have to 'earn the right to go wide' anymore, teams need to score from first phase possession and the franchises have to condition the best players during Super Rugby so they can be fit for internationals.
Posted 11:48 26th November 2012
provyd says...
Agree with you about Andy Robinson - he has nothing to be ashamed of and has done a very good job with a poor quality set-up and players who have a rare gift for hitting the panic button as soon as they reach the opposition 22. I'll be very surprised if the next coach can do any better. The players were shocking against Tonga - how they failed to score from their two mauls over the line is beyond me.
Posted 10:44 26th November 2012
leinster_goy says...
"with the ghost of failure raising claws and roaring at his retreating back."
it's like reading a dan brown novel
just a thought: why don't the scotch appoint michael bradley to replace robinson? bradley has a track record of taking mediocre teams like connacht and edinburgh, and getting them to punch far above their weight, while also playing a nice brand of running rugby. he'd certainly be a much safer pick than the volatile mallett
Posted 10:26 26th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Good Loose Pass this week. Thank you. Refering to Robshaws decision to kick, I think you need to add that all England needed to do was catch the Bok restart and get into kicking distance. The way Owens blew this game I would have put money on another England penalty being awarded before the game ended.
As far as the HM and the Boks are concerned, he inherited a team that had lost a huge amount of experience. The positives are that the Springbok spirit is still there and the defence is unequalled. Now we really need to add a lethal attack to our arsenal. I am still not sure whether Lambie is an international fly half. He doesn't seem able to dominate a test the way he needs to.
Posted 10:26 26th November 2012