Friday 22nd August 2008 | wwww.planet-rugby.com
Writing is often made easier when you listen to music, and this writer's particular trick is to simply open up his media player and switch it to play all at random. The first lyric to hit the ears ran as follows: "It's oh so quiet, sshhhh, sshhhh, it's oh so still, sshhhh, sshhhh, you're all alone, sshhhh, sshhhh, and so peaceful until..."
It was far too appropriate a musical line to leave out, for the build-up to South Africa's Tri-Nations clash against Australia in Durban on Saturday has been as low-key as any I can remember.
The musical coincidences didn't end there. Genesis were up next: "Too many men, too many people, making too many problems." It hits the spot as far as South Africa's problems at ruck time go, or rather, it offers a far more perceptive insight into why the Boks are losing such a steady stream of turnover ball. The subsequent line: "There's not much love to go round. Tell me why this is a land of confusion" was also an indicator of the South African fans' level of patience with their coach at the moment, both for his tactics and his press conferences.
I was also compelled to dredge up some lines from past reports to back up Phil Collins' damnation of the Boks' loose play, and found the following gems: "But it was Australia's loose forwards who stole the show, completely dominating their illustrious opposite numbers" from the 16-9 defeat in Perth, and "Throughout the match (Richie McCaw) dominated the breakdown, pulled off numerous telling tackles..." from the 19-0 defeat in Cape Town.
It was never going to be easy for Peter de Villiers. The first black coach of South Africa, the political darling of SA Rugby's transformers, the man tasked with defending the World Cup despite the imminent departure/retirement of many of Jake White's players.
But he is not handling it well. He has tried to implement a gameplan which is antithesis to his predecessor, using - by and large - his predecessor's players. It doesn't play to their strengths, and it doesn't suit the current climate: namely to get defence in order first, and then build an attacking platform off that. Even his players are reminding him of that, and Jean de Villiers went as far as to remind the press of that as well on Thursday.
Peter de Villiers may have become the first SA coach to win in Dunedin, but he has also become the first SA coach to see his team nilled at home. The second of those achievements is far more significant than the first, especially given the nature of the two matches. Dunedin was conquered by the players' will to win and inflict revenge, and ultimately, by one moment of inspiration against a team still struggling to find its tactical feet. That can happen anywhere.
The nil was a result of pure tactical ineptitude, which should never happen anywhere. There were flaws all over the place, flaws there because the coach simply failed to acknowledge what the other team would try to do to stop his plan - in fact, he appears to have failed to acknowledge the opposition and what they might do at all at times, believing his expansive game would simply win. The Lightning Seeds: "Dreams go bouncing in your head, pure and simple every time."
Then A-Ha: "Cry Wolf, oh-oh, time to worry." Moaning about the referee has alienated De Villiers from the officials and from his supporters, as has the failure to publicly address what was painfully obvious to all watching: namely that the gameplan did not commit enough people to the rucks to secure the necessary quick ball. If Richie McCaw was there too much in the last game, it's because he was able to be. Official criticism means he now won't be able to count on official support in subsequent games; he has been too acidic too often.
Australia are in town, and every bit as relaxed as the All Blacks were last week. Chumbawamba's "I get knocked down, but I get up again, you ain't ever going to keep me down" is about right. There's little form to go on except for one excellent win and one crushing defeat, but this is a team with a strong nucleus of players, and nothing has been heard of the Auckland hammering since. In fact, the most interesting piece of info to emanate from the camp all week is that Matt Dunning has Metallica on his i-pod and Sam Cordingley breakdances in his spare time.
But they are focussed and ready. Having been on the end of both kinds of result so far this tournament, Robbie Deans will not let stubbornness sway his tactical thinking. Morcheeba's "You'd think I'd know by now. There's never an easy way" will be his mantra. Just as in Perth, Australia can keep things tight, keep the focus, and wait for the Boks to slip. The Wallabies are waiting.
So this Test is about South Africa, and more and more about Peter de Villiers. His noises this week have been a mixture of Robbie Williams "Let me entertain you" and the Fine Young Cannibals' "Good thing, where have you gone." He will stick to his expansive running game, even if it means losing the senior players who once led the team to a World Cup, but are now apparently not pulling their weight.
Paul Simon can advise him as well as the rest of us: "Problem is all inside your head she said to me, the answer is easy if you take it logically." There has to be an element of conservatism to this week's gameplan, a basic structure to improvise off, a move to address what was missing last week. Hopefully De Villiers' intransigence will at least bend to that. Otherwise, the Boks will slip to defeat once more, and De Villiers will have to listen to Aimee Mann: "It's not going to stop. Until you wise up."
Ones to watch:
For South Africa: Fourie du Preez is another of those to flourish under Jake White, but to struggle under De Villiers. Is it because his inspiration can shine in a structured gameplan, but fades to grey in an expansive one? Du Preez's strength was always to be solid with boot and hand, and to make two or three game-turning breaks, and he is in a position to control the game his way. He will have to, expansive gameplan or not.
For Australia: Drew Mitchell might have plenty of work to do at the back if South Africa do wise up and try to play the game down the other end. Mitchell is not one naturally given to pragmatism, which may have restricted his selection chances in the past, but now is his chance to prove he is the full deal.
Head to head: The loose forwards hold the key, as with every game, but with Australia now at full strength the same question arises for this Test as with all the others: Will South Africa have enough people to clear out the Australian loosies, or will Smith and co. take all their ball. The game will be won and lost here.
Recent results:
2008: Australia won 16-9 in Perth
2007 Australia won 25-17 in Sydney
2007 South Africa won 22-19 in Cape Town
2006 South Africa won 24-16 in Jo'burg
2006 Australia won 20-18 in Sydney
2006 Australia won 49-0 in Brisbane
2005 South Africa won 22-19 in Perth
2005 South Africa won 22-16 in Pretoria
2005 South Africa won 33-20 in Jo'burg
2005 Australia won 30-12 in Sydney
2004 South Africa won 23-19 in Durban
2004 Australia won 30-26 in Perth
2003 Australia won 29-9 in Brisbane
2003 South Africa won 26-22 in Cape Town
2002 South Africa won 33-31 in Jo'burg
2002 Australia won 38-27 in Brisbane
Prediction: This time, South Africa will not bounce back... although they will be closer to the mark. Australia by six points.
The teams:
South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Joe van Niekerk, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.
Australia: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Timana Tahu, 22 Ryan Cross.
Date: Saturday 23 August, 2008
Kick-off: 15:05 (13:05 GMT)
Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban
Weather: Sunny and hot - 28°C - with a fresh NE wind about 18 km/h
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Rob Debney (England)
Television match official: Romain Poite (France)
By Danny Stephens
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