THE Springboks’ glaring shortfalls at the breakdown in the recent series against Ireland made it look as if a giant billboard were erected over the stands advertising for a fetcher.
The absence of a man to affect steals, slow opposition ball down, and get to the breakdown first cost the Boks in the defeat to Ireland at Newlands. But gradually, as the loose forwards upped their work rate, they got back into the contest on the floor and eventually clinched the series 2-1.
Lions open-sider Jaco Kriel, who affected the turnover at the death in the 19-13 series-decider in Port Elizabeth, said he would bid for the opening by upping his fetching ability as soon as he rejoined the Lions.
"Me and coach Allister Coetzee spoke every week and from the start I understood that he would go with Francois Louw, who is a really good open-side flanker that has proven himself in the past," Kriel said. "On a personal level, I would like to specialise more in the fetching role as a No6 flanker. I really believe my running ability and my support play is up-to-date.
"The message from above in the coache’s box when I came onto the field was to keep discipline and not to make any stupid errors. I remained focused on staying within the defensive system. But I also had a thought in my mind of turning the ball over," he said.
"It’s difficult to have those two thoughts : stealing ball without conceding a penalty. Luckily, it worked out well for us. We really showed some character in the final minutes when we defended our tryline."
A lot was expected from Louw, an experienced campaigner and captain at Bath, but he delivered the mundane. It was a surprising below-par performance for a player that has been the go-to open-sider in the past four years.
Louw got three turnovers in the three Tests against Ireland and was outdone by his opposite number Iain Henderson (6) and flyhalf Paddy Jackson (4).
More alarmingly, the Boks managed just six turnovers in the three outings, while Ireland stole their ball 26 times. It explained the often stuttering Bok attack, which was soothed only by Elton Jantjies’s ingenuity and Faf de Klerk’s swiftness in the Port Elizabeth win.
SA’s other open-side option. Marcell Coetzee injured his anterior cruciate ligament in April, which ruled him out for the rest of 2016. By the time he returns, Coetzee will be an Ulster player, after confirming his departure from the Sharks early this year.
His involvement will still be in doubt if SA Rugby were to impose strict selection policies for players based abroad.
The Southern Kings boast the dynamic duo of CJ Velleman and Chris Cloete, but the latter could be out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
But while Kriel is fit and playing well it is open season at open-side. The Lions flanker is known for his bullish running and gain-line breaking, even though he could not fully show off those wares when he came on as a second-half substitute at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last weekend.
"Though I was more defensive and didn’t have a lot of opportunities to run with the ball, it was the best 20 minutes of my life," Kriel said. "The real hard work started since getting back at my union on Monday. Sides will start to target you because they know about you now and they analyse you more.
"The challenge is to keep up your performances and to keep your level of rugby really high. But if you work hard the rest will follow."
Jaco Kriel. Picture: GALLO IMAGES
THE Springboks’ glaring shortfalls at the breakdown in the recent series against Ireland made it look as if a giant billboard were erected over the stands advertising for a fetcher.
The absence of a man to affect steals, slow opposition ball down, and get to the breakdown first cost the Boks in the defeat to Ireland at Newlands. But gradually, as the loose forwards upped their work rate, they got back into the contest on the floor and eventually clinched the series 2-1.
Lions open-sider Jaco Kriel, who affected the turnover at the death in the 19-13 series-decider in Port Elizabeth, said he would bid for the opening by upping his fetching ability as soon as he rejoined the Lions.
"Me and coach Allister Coetzee spoke every week and from the start I understood that he would go with Francois Louw, who is a really good open-side flanker that has proven himself in the past," Kriel said. "On a personal level, I would like to specialise more in the fetching role as a No6 flanker. I really believe my running ability and my support play is up-to-date.
"The message from above in the coache’s box when I came onto the field was to keep discipline and not to make any stupid errors. I remained focused on staying within the defensive system. But I also had a thought in my mind of turning the ball over," he said.
"It’s difficult to have those two thoughts : stealing ball without conceding a penalty. Luckily, it worked out well for us. We really showed some character in the final minutes when we defended our tryline."
A lot was expected from Louw, an experienced campaigner and captain at Bath, but he delivered the mundane. It was a surprising below-par performance for a player that has been the go-to open-sider in the past four years.
Louw got three turnovers in the three Tests against Ireland and was outdone by his opposite number Iain Henderson (6) and flyhalf Paddy Jackson (4).
More alarmingly, the Boks managed just six turnovers in the three outings, while Ireland stole their ball 26 times. It explained the often stuttering Bok attack, which was soothed only by Elton Jantjies’s ingenuity and Faf de Klerk’s swiftness in the Port Elizabeth win.
SA’s other open-side option. Marcell Coetzee injured his anterior cruciate ligament in April, which ruled him out for the rest of 2016. By the time he returns, Coetzee will be an Ulster player, after confirming his departure from the Sharks early this year.
His involvement will still be in doubt if SA Rugby were to impose strict selection policies for players based abroad.
The Southern Kings boast the dynamic duo of CJ Velleman and Chris Cloete, but the latter could be out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.
But while Kriel is fit and playing well it is open season at open-side. The Lions flanker is known for his bullish running and gain-line breaking, even though he could not fully show off those wares when he came on as a second-half substitute at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last weekend.
"Though I was more defensive and didn’t have a lot of opportunities to run with the ball, it was the best 20 minutes of my life," Kriel said. "The real hard work started since getting back at my union on Monday. Sides will start to target you because they know about you now and they analyse you more.
"The challenge is to keep up your performances and to keep your level of rugby really high. But if you work hard the rest will follow."
