Springboks goal-kicking is a major problem says Jake White

Bulls Director of Rugby and World Cup-winning coach Jake White feels that the Springboks’ goal-kicking problems are a major obstacle.

White feels that having a world-class goal-kicker in the starting XV is non-negotiable for a Test side.

Springboks kicking concerns Jake White

White points out that the Springboks paid the price for not having a world-class goal-kicker against Ireland.

In his column for Rugby365, White wrote: “One of the first things you learn on coaching courses is that there are certain prerequisites you need in a successful team. 

“One, you need a captain. Two, you need a goal-kicker and three you need a solid set-piece. Whereas other trends come and go, those fundamentals have never changed.

“Looking from the outside in, if you don’t go into a Test match with a Test-standard goal kicker, you’re generally going to lose. Any coaching manual will tell you that you need those nuts and bolts, like a tighthead that can lock down the scrum, or a decent set of locks.

“For that reason, I was surprised that Ireland didn’t win by more. 

“That’s what everyone feels in South Africa, and I feel the same. Why? 

“Because the Boks didn’t play particularly well, but most importantly, they didn’t have a goal-kicker, which probably put us at a five-point handicap anyway. As it turned out, we lost by three.”

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Willemse clearly not the guy

White dismissed Springboks supremo Jacques Nienaber’s reasoning on giving Damian Willemse the kicking responsibility.

Willemse’s goal-kicking has never been a strong point and White feels that the move was just a gamble and not a calculated move designed for player development. 

“I saw earlier this week Jacques Nienaber defending the fact Damian Willemse was kicking on Saturday night. 

“He explained that the only way you improve is by kicking in front of big crowds, but I don’t understand that logic because Willemse was demoted as a front-line goal-kicker by the Stormers for Manie Libbok because he wasn’t sticking the ball through the uprights regularly enough, so that rationale doesn’t really wash. 

“The reality is he wasn’t kicking at provincial level and then they thrust him into a Test match as the main kicker, so got what they deserved. 

“There’s no use dodging the bullet; Jonny Wilkinson won England the World Cup, Percy Montgomery won South Africa the World Cup, Dan Carter won the All Blacks the World Cup because they were brilliant kickers. Hindsight doesn’t win you Test matches and they missed a trick.”