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'I don't see him enough mixing it with our big boys': Springbok legend assesses the All Blacks back row
By Sam Smith
Former Springbok loose forward Schalk Burger has offered his thoughts on the All Blacks back row contingent following the 26-10 defeat in Mbombela.
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Speaking to former All Black halfback Justin Marshall on Sky Sport NZ after the test, Burger was expecting Crusaders lock Scott Barrett to once again take up the No 6 role like he did in the home series against Ireland.
His strong carrying was something that the former Springbok thought would give the All Blacks some go-forward up the middle.
“I thought it might have happened this week because he’s quite an explosive ball carrier,” Burger responded to Justin Marshall.
“Even though he’s a lock at heart, you need someone to go through the guts.
“We throw it back to a Jerome Kaino of old, against the Boks he’s going to front up for 80 minutes.”
Head coach Ian Foster stuck with Akira Ioane, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea in the loose for the first test against South Africa which Burger described as a ‘one man band’ around the Hurricanes No 8 Savea.
He said that Cane is not below his best perhaps due to the burden of the captaincy and managing the game situation, while Ioane is a player who can dominate in the wide channels but against the Springboks they need a No 6 to mix it with the ‘big boys’.
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“Look, every one of these All Blacks loose forwards are great players, but at the moment if anyone stands out it’s Ardie Savea, sometimes it looks like a one man band because he does a bit of everything,” Burger said.
“It’s hard when you’re a captain in any side and you’re not playing your best and you’ve got a lot on your shoulders and I think that’s where Sam Cane’s at.
“So it’s quite hard to free yourself up, because that pressure just sits there. I think it clouds your judgement on decision-making where the team’s at within a game.
“And then Akira Ioane, I think I’d pick for certain games, especially when he can dominate in the wide channels.
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“He’s like another back, such a nice skillset. But against the Boks, I don’t see him enough mixing it with our big boys and that’s where you’ve got to fight fire with fire, I think, against this Bok defence.”
The All Blacks selected Highlanders blindside flanker Shannon Frizell for the tour in place of newly capped rookie Pita Gus Sowakula as another option at No 6.
Frizell scored the All Blacks only try of the game in a second half cameo but then coughed up possession moments later for fullback Willie le Roux to finish the game in style for the Springboks with a final try.
Ive said all along for 2 years now and Ill say it again. You listening Fozzie! You cant play Cane and Savea in the same team, together they're too light. Why cant you see that you ninkinpoop! And its as obvious as to which of the 2 should be in the team also, or so you would think, but not to Fozzie. Savea is a 7, period, put him there and bring in a big ball carrying number 8 and a big 6, problem solved.
Do these guys not like lifting weights in the gym like the Northern Hemisphere forwards. Our guys look like babies next to them and just get bumped off in tackles. Foster has seen all this and done nothing. His lack of insight and planning is dumb founding. I think the boys on the team are trying but realise they have a useless coach with no idea.
Burger was right. The starting back row at Ellis Park has to be Papali'i, Savea and Barrett, with Frizzell on the bench. Fossie probably knows that too, but how does he drop Cane for this game and stlll have a life in Hamilton? His first selection decision - appointing Cane captain well before the team was announced - was his worst, because it's painted him into a corner ever since.
Did anyone at any stage , wonder why the All Blacks went from fantastic to a almost , we dont care attitude . It's called a coup d etat. Bayern Munich did very the same thing .
Good analysis by Schalk Burger.
However, considering that this dysfunctional All Blacks loose forward combination has been continually picked against France, Ireland and now South Africa, who have all dominated at the breakdown, you’d think that the selectors would have worked this out for themselves before now.
We have to face it again,under fosters watch we will get pumped this week again,and that pass from cane was a absolute shocker he needs to be droppped,this week will be more players out of position so another loss coming and goodbye foster and invisible captain dropped
Start Frizell this week, keep them all tight around the ruck on def and attack.
To be fair to Frizzell, the pass to his shoulder was a shocker... Thrown by none other than Sam Cane.