Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer does not agree with suggestions that his team is conservative and over-reliant on kicking.
South Africa traditionally enjoy a confrontational approach with an uncompromising pack and a well honed kick-and-chase game.
But Meyer feels his side is being labelled unfairly as a kicking team.
"The one criticism I sometimes feel is unjust is that we kick too much," he said.
"In the six Tests we played in the recent Rugby Championship, we kicked less than the opposition and the All Blacks kicked 13 more times than us.
"Against Australia in Pretoria we scored five reasonably good tries and we missed three chances. Everybody said that was a bad Australian side.
"Then Australia draw with New Zealand and the All Blacks don't score a try.
"Yet I don't hear people saying New Zealand are conservative and they don't play great rugby.
"Look at last year's World Cup final - New Zealand scored one try through a line-out and won 8-7, but it's said to be one of the best games in the history of the tournament.
"Test rugby is all about winning. You can play any-which-way, you simply have to win and that is what we are aiming for. But we do want to play better rugby.
"We've been in a position to win every single game, but the one thing that let us down in 90 per cent of the games was our goal-kicking - that should have been better.
"It is not conservative or expansive rugby, you have to kick your goals and that is one thing you need to rectify."
Meyer's record in nine Tests, since replacing Peter de Villiers, is won four, lost three and drawn two. This has earned him plenty of criticism from supporters in South Africa.
"I am not a guy who thinks he knows everything," he added.
"I have made a lot of mistakes and I will take that on the chin. I have spoken to a lot of coaches and players out there.
"Obviously you want to improve, but first you have to put the basics in place."
Comments
philipjfry says...
"You can play any-which-way, you simply have to win and that is what we are aiming for. But we do want to play better rugby.'
Then score more tries from first phase ball. Lip-service.
Posted 22:12 09th November 2012
melkdave says...
Well i have to say at the start of his tenure as coach,SA did kick and chase alot,and tried just bulldozing their way forward.But i also have to admit SA are now running the ball ,and giving it some air.Dont know why,perhaps HM had yjis in mind from the start a gradual progression .Or most probily it was because of the unrest ,and complaints from the bokke fans.Eitherway the bokke now look alot better team imo.
Posted 22:02 09th November 2012
letsgoboks says...
hear hear!
Posted 20:34 09th November 2012