Keeping the Boks’ bruisers on a leash
With the Irish No 10 jersey now firmly in his possession and touted by most as the likely test out-half for the Lions in Australia next summer, Jonny Sexton has finally established himself on the international stage — which seems strange for a player winning his 33rd cap.
A candidate for the Irish captaincy in the absence of Brian O’Driscoll, Sexton is now one of the three key leaders in the side. As if to underline his new found status, in a contest between master and pupil in the pivotal role today Sexton is, by a long way, the senior figure.
Sexton is now the finished article with an excellent all-round game. While the captaincy may have passed to Jamie Heaslip on this occasion, from a tactical perspective, Sexton’s role today is more important than that of the Leinster No 8. To beat South Africa, Ireland will have to play with pace and width in order to shift this massive Springbok side around the field and expose their defensive vulnerability in broken play. Defensively, Ireland will also be required to build an impregnable wall across the midfield and in Sexton, Ireland have the best defensive No10 in the northern hemisphere.
Opposing him in the famous Springbok jersey is a young man who has been slowly introduced to the rigours of international rugby as a full-back but has been South Africa’s out half in waiting since making his debut in this fixture two years ago. That said Pat Lambie played the majority of the Super 15 season at full-back, losing out to the recalled French international Freddie Michalak in his fight for the out half slot for the Sharks and has only started one of his 17 internationals at No 10.
As a result Lambie has nowhere near Sexton’s ability when it comes to directing and controlling games at this level. His natural instinct is to play flat and run but he will be under strict instruction to kick for territory from inside his own half today. As with Paddy Jackson in Ulster, scrum half Ruan Pienaar will be expected do reduce the decision making options for Lambie and will do much of the kicking from the base. Lambie certainly has more to offer than the relegated Morne Steyn and will be a lot less predictable. Ireland, however, has a distinct advantage in this head to head.
This is the key battle of the open sides despite the fact that Louw continues the Springbok tradition where the groundhog wears the No 6 jersey. South Africa suffered in the initial stages of the Rugby Championship without a traditional fetcher in the back row in the absence of Heinrich Brussow and Schalk Burger. The introduction of Louw for the fourth game against New Zealand in Dunedin had the desired effect and had Morne Steyn brought his kicking boots that day, South Africa could well have won. With Louw competing on equal terms against Richie McCaw, his fellow South African back rowers Duane Vermeulen and Willem Alberts created havoc. That trio have been together since and have been highly effective, making light of the absence of Brussow, Juan Smith, Burger and Pierre Spies. Louw had been surplus to requirements since moving to Bath in 2011 but has been a revelation since his recall, winning the man of the match award in South Africa’s emphatic 31-8 victory over Australia in Pretoria.
For Ireland to have any chance of winning, Chris Henry has to impose himself against Louw. It will help the Ulster man that fellow back rower Peter O’Mahony has plenty experience of playing open side and should be able to supplement his efforts along with new cap Richardt Strauss who is also excellent at manufacturing turnovers. Henry was superb in Ulster’s march to the Heineken Cup final last season and has real physical presence over the ball but this is a massive step up in class. The biggest problem facing him today is that South Africa have far more ball carriers in their pack than Ireland which means he will be challenging for possession on the retreat. That offers Louw a distinct advantage.
Despite suggestions to the contrary, Simon Zebo has never played full-back for Cork Constitution or Munster but now finds himself in the last line of defence against a side who will kick early and often. In fact as a unit, the Irish back three are about to find out what it was like to play against Ireland in a bygone era when balls rained down from the skies like missiles accompanied with manic Irish chasers. The game may have got more complex since the days of Barry McGann and Ollie Campbell but for this South African team, applying pressure through their kicking game has become a staple part of their tactical approach.
That is why Declan Kidney’s decision to select Zebo out of position could either be a stroke of genius or blow up in his face. Wingers and full-backs are very much interchangeable in the modern game and Zebo has been outstanding under the high ball for Munster when singled out for special attention in recent months. He also has a massive left boot and can kick the ball prodigious distances. The one issue of concern is that, as a unit, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble and Zebo have never played together but will have to find an early understanding to cover and support each other given that they will be under constant attack. Zebo is a very confident young man and won’t be in the least fazed with what faces his today which is just as well.
Zane Kirchner played in the centre in this fixture in 2010 due to another South African injury crisis but is much more at home with No 15 on his back. He is a solid but unspectacular player who is known to make the odd howler. Jonny Sexton has the tactical acumen to stretch Kirchner to his limits. His form has been far more consistent lately and he appears more confident operating under the direction of his former Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer.
A big plus for Ireland in this battle is the absence of Bryan Habana whose unselfish chasing of the relentless South African kicking always puts the opposition full back under big pressure in addition to his try scoring exploits — seven tries in six games — in the Rugby Championship.
Zebo isn’t the only Irish player who is grateful the electric Stormers winger is home in Cape Town today.
