THE PRESS, Christchurch Wednesday, September 12, 2012 SPORT B17 RUGBY Boks will stick with game plan – Smith Richard Knowler in Dunedin Conrad Smith doesn’t believe Bakkies to add steel to pack Dunedin’s enclosed stadium will seduce the conservative Springboks into making any By Richard Knowler in Dunedin Romano promoted himself to reckless moves on Saturday the top of the stats sheet in night. Luke Romano should be several columns: he won nine Although ball and grass spared one of life’s edgier lineouts as the All Blacks are guaranteed to be dry adventures, with Bakkies elected to throw more to the under the covered arena, All Botha not likely to suit-up for front in the dreadful weather Black centre Smith cannot see the Springboks on Saturday and also made 12 ball carries. the South Africans burning night. Giving more protection to their orthodox playbooks. With Eben Etzebeth the halfbacks, whether it is But he maintains that does suspended for two matches Piri Weepu or Aaron Smith, not make it easier to unpick after headbutting Wallabies Bakkies Botha should also be a priority. their game plan. opponent Nathan Sharpe last The latter was manhandled “You would like to think weekend, Botha, who now Kruger and van der Merwe in at least once by the Argentina we have a fair idea how most plays in France, is expected to the Super Rugby qualifying forwards in Wellington and teams play – but you still have join the Springboks as final at AMI Stadium on July subsequently produced his to deal with it and I think emergency cover. 21, which the Crusaders won least-convincing display in that’s one of the strengths of However, the big lock, who 28-13, lock Romano knows his six outings for the All South Africa,’’ Smith noted. if legend is to believed will be how big the Bulls duo are. Blacks. It has also raised “They don’t mind playing a required to pass a spiked A rugged reunion beckons, questions as to whether he similar game week in, week mace through customs as part he concedes. will be replaced by the out. But they back themselves of his rugby kit, is not mooted “It probably does help that experienced Weepu. to put opposition under pres- to suit up at Forsyth Barr you play the Africans and “That probably comes back sure even if you know what Stadium. Aussies Super Rugby-wise to us as a forward pack. We they are doing. Heyneke Meyer also has and you have a general idea need to do our jobs properly “I don’t think that will another giant in Andries how their methods of play around the breakdowns,’’ change this week.’’ Bekker in his travelling squad work and that. But the Romano admitted. “If we had With former Bulls coach but may elect to pair the Bulls’ physical side doesn’t get any removed all the threats, Heyneke Meyer and play- Juandre Kruger and Flip van easier, they are a big side that maybe he wouldn’t have been maker Morne Steyn control- der Merwe as his second love the confrontation.’’ pestered like he was. ling the side, the Springboks rowers when he announces Although large chunks of “It’s an area we as a have displayed little flair or his team today. the 21-5 win over Argentina forward pack need to work on innovation during the Rugby Having started against last weekend were shoddy, and control.’’ Championship. Coach Meyer has drawn some dissatisfaction from some fans in the Republic for Rather than try to shock Nations title that season. Smith concurred the All managing only a win, draw the New Zealanders by unfurl- Steyn kicked three massive Blacks were searching for a and loss in the matches ing an unpredictable attack, penalties – the biggest was more polished effort after against Argentina and Aust- Meyer is predicted to demand from 60 metres out – in their their ragged display in the ralia. better execution in a chess- 32-29 win in Hamilton before 21-5 win over Argentina last Last week’s dour 26-19 loss with-muscle approach. heading to France. weekend. to the Wallabies in Perth One of the Boks’ most He returned for the World “The opposition had a fair resulted in an increase in the potent attackers is Frans Cup but was invalided out bittodowiththat.Theywere critics’ tempo for Meyer to Steyn. before the playoffs because of as much to do with our change his No 10 and he has Steyn, who played second- injury. performance as the conditions options in the more flamboy- five in Perth and had spent “He’s different player, he last week. I don’t think we ant Johan Goosen and Patrick several seasons playing in has a different skill-set. I handled them well, early, the Lambie. France before returning to haven’t played him much at Argentinians, and I think we However, Meyer, whose Durban late in the Super all, really, at any level,’’ Smith adapted better as the game links with Morne Steyn Rugby season, last confronted said in reference to the went on. stretch back to when they the All Blacks in 2009. talented Steyn. “We have just got to make worked together at the Bulls, The Springboks’ kick-and- “But the Springboks, like sure we deal with the Africans is not tipped to rewrite his chase game flourished under any team, like to win the and everything they pose game plans following the the experimental law vari- physicality stakes and he’s immediately and hopefully Perth loss. ations when they won the Tri the same in that regard.’’ get our game under way.’’ Experience valued: Steve Hansen is monitoring veteran lock Ali Williams’ recovery from injury ahead of the All Blacks’ northern tour. Photo: GETTY Flynn sidelined for shield challenge Williams gets surprise call south Matt Markham their best performance of the Richard Knowler in Dunedin monitor the knee injury Although Hansen has car- Wellington last week, is Coreyhasdoneacalf,andit’sata season so far, the Wellington which has prevented him ried just three locks in the retained it will be their first Canterbury may have to face match left Matson feeling Ali Williams continues to playing any ITM Cup matches Rugby Championship because outing against the Spring- the rest of their national reasonable grade so it looks like he will be there was still plenty to work figure heavily in Steve Han- for Auckland. he believes No 8 Kieran Read boks. rugby title defence without ‘ out for four weeks. on. sen’s plans for the All Blacks’ “We are obviously pretty can provide cover in an Meanwhile, getting to the services of experienced “It was a good effort, but at northern tour. keen to track his progress,’’ emergency, four will be Dunedin also proved problem- hooker Corey Flynn, who Tabai Matson no time in the game was [I] at Although Williams, who All Blacks manager Darren required for the month-long atic for Williams. He had to played just five minutes of his all feeling confident. Welling- hasn’t played since injuring Shand said. “He was down northern tour. overcome three aborted land- first match for the Canterbury ton are a great side and a team his knee against Ireland in last week, he is in this week Taranaki’s Craig Clarke ing attempts at Dunedin side this season on Saturday end’s Ranfurly Shield chal- “But he’s come back we expect to be finals Christchurch on June 16, took and has got the best part of a and Jarrad Hoeata are leading Airport on Monday evening before being substituted with lenge against Taranaki. through it really well and is contenders. only a limited part in yester- couple of weeks [with us] – candidates if Williams is not before being forced to return a calf injury. However, the news is a lot back to full training for “We still had some issues day’s training at Forsyth Barr and we are hoping that he fit; the former, given his gritty to stay in Christchurch over- It has since been diagnosed better for Ryan Crotty who Saturday. around our defence, and need Stadium, his presence in the might get some action in the performances when he led the night. as a serious muscle tear left the field on Saturday with “Corey has done a calf, and to work on honing our set All Blacks camp reinforces ITM Cup before we pick the Chiefs to their Super Rugby Yesterday morning Wil- which will see him out for at suspected concussion. it’s at a reasonable grade so it piece. Also we aren’t execut- the value Hansen places on side for the end of year tour.’’ title, is likely to be at shorter liams, along with No 8 Kieran least four weeks. “Ryan had put a big shot in looks like he will be out for ing our chances. We are the experienced lock. Williams had a knee oper- odds than Hoeata. Read, who had stayed with his The expected time frame and had a bit of a bell ringer,’’ four weeks.’’ creating a lot of opportunities, Hansen has always main- ation in late June. Before the Although Williams, 31, is young family on Sunday and means the 31-year-old could be coach Tabai Matson said. Canterbury began prepara- but just not nailing them.” tained that he rates what Rugby Championship squad unable to be an active par- Monday, was on a flight back in action for the final “He didn’t do too bad in the tions for their shield chal- With Crotty back in the Williams, who has played 75 was named it was discovered ticipant on the practice pitch forced to return to Christ- game of the round robin of the [match day medical] assess- lenge yesterday with a mix, Matson is expected to tests, can add in terms of he had suffered a setback it is expected he will provide church because of an electri- competition on October 14 ment but a couple of his symp- lengthy training at Rugby name a relatively unchanged experience and off-field know- because of bone bruising.