Springbok utility back Patrick Lambie admitted he's getting fed up warming the bench for South Africa during the Rugby Championship, and is itching for more game-time.
Under new Bok coach Heyneke Meyer, the talented 21-year-old has been forced to play second fiddle to full-back Zane Kirchner during the last three Tests against Argentina and Australia.
Lambie's services weren't required against Argentina, but cracked the nod in the last 10 minutes of South Africa's 26-19 loss to Australia in Perth.
Many observers believe that Lambie's play-making ability is being wasted on the bench, whilst the powers that be cling to players who are evidently past their sell-by date.
Whilst it's likely Meyer will once again opt for Kirchner in his run-on XV against New Zealand, a frustrated Lambie made it clear that he will stop at nothing to break into South Africa's starting line-up.
"I'm desperate for some game time," Lambie told supersport.
"I've been training hard, as hard if not harder than the guys that have been starting to try and get into the starting XV.
"I'm hoping and looking forward to some more game time and making the most of my opportunity. If I get a chance to get on the field I will be doing all that I can to impress the coach and other players,
"It was really nice to get on the field against Australia. I sat on the bench for the other two games and didn't get on, which was very disappointing and a bit frustrating so it was nice to get on albeit for 10 minutes.
"It's not much time to do anything but I got my hands on the ball a couple of times, cleaned a few rucks and did everything that I could, unfortunately it was a bit too late," he added.
The 2012 Super Rugby final aside, Lambie is a proven match-winner with that all-important X-factor and an innate ability to create something from nothing - whether it be at full-back or fly-half.
Lambie, who has amassed 14 caps during his fledgling career, said that he did not mind where he played as long as he was starting.
"I've had an ankle injury so I've played all of 10 minutes of rugby in the last six weeks and before that 80 minutes in the last 10 weeks so I'm feeling fresh and raring to go," he said.
"I just want to be in the starting line-up so whether that is at full-back or fly-half I don't mind at the moment.
"It would have been really nice to have got some game time at fly-half against Argentina but, in saying that, if I get time at full-back this weekend that will be great too."
Comments
scot_rsa says...
@melkdave, nicely summed up. It made me think that perhaps PdV was untouchable not for political reasons but because his old guard won just enough games for him. Nobody knows what goes on in the minds of SARU officials but perhaps his win ratio was adequate. Makes you wonder what will happen to HM if he loses a lot more, and how much time they'll give him. I think he may have an agreement that change will be gradual and that results won't be expected in the next year or so. Still, doesn't excuse the dull game plan. At least Divvy wanted to change the Bok style and could see it wouldn't be effective forever.
Posted 10:47 13th September 2012
BLASICO says...
What about Jaco Taute ? In my opinion he's much better than Zane.
Posted 10:03 13th September 2012
jonesy2 says...
hes a good young player the fact his place is occupied by kirchner is hilarity
Posted 05:42 13th September 2012
melkdave says...
@Scot_rsa
I dont think anyone is saying PDViyyy was a brillant coach,after all he didnt build anything or leave a legacy of players ect.But i do remember in 2008 his 1st year ,he tried alot of new players ,beat Wales twice ,had a torrid 3Ns and the rugby public in SA started crying out for the 07 boys .Also remember once he did play the 07 boys SA became Number 1 in the IRB rankings,and managed to beat the Lions in 09.His problems really started after that,how could he drop those players ect in 2010,after such a stellar 09.I also feel that the senior players took/had to much control of the team ,and sidelined PDViyy.Thus no legacy of players or movement concerning gameplan/style,he was a weak coach really. HMs problem seems to be an unrealistic idea of the strength of SA rugby,and the unabilty to want to move the gameplan forward ,or pick the best players to exacute it or expand on it .Living in the past maybe ,and to stubborn to see just how outdated the gameplan is ,thats HMs problem imho.
Posted 22:24 12th September 2012
Sharkies says...
HM only wants his connections to play.
Posted 12:57 12th September 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
Seriously if the Bok management and coaching staff have a brain among them, they will get this kid on the field for the full 80 mins.... also maybe M. Steyn should go to the bench and be brought on possibly later if plan A is failing with Goosen.
I have never seen a nation that has such riches in back line talent go to waste...
Look I am not knocking their traditional roots when it comes to their rugby mentality, they do what they do well, but if they let the backs have a go with the right people in the right positions, they could be even more threatening than they are... seriously guys you are an SH team, leave the route 1 mentality to other teams?
Posted 09:23 12th September 2012
kiwilad says...
Daibok, Have to agree, and what do you think Dagg, Jane ans Savea will do with athat ball???
Morne fish Steyn has to go, eithe Lambie ofr Goosen at 10 would be a vast improvement.
Posted 03:48 12th September 2012
volbrechtt says...
It is truly deplorable that Lambie's exceptional talents are being wasted by Meyer's preference for journeyman Kirchner. It is debatable whether Lambie's talents are wasted at fullback. I don't hear people saying that Israel Dagg's talents are wasted at full-back. Dagg and Kurtley Beale at his best pose major counter-attacking threats. This is not true of Kirchner who is quite good at coming into the line but rarely if ever shows an ability to counter-attack or to be creative once he has fielded the ball. Lambie on the other hand has great vision and play-making abilities. Lambie or Kirchner vs the All Blacks? It really is no contest!
Posted 00:20 12th September 2012
georgesmith says...
P. Lambie is starting line-up player. If Springboks field their best line-up then ABs will lose.
Posted 00:15 12th September 2012
scot_rsa says...
I hope the people asking for PDivvy to return are just having a laugh. Really, have you forgotten the guy's complete inability to actually develop any new players, combos or structures? It is his lack of a legacy that has made his successor's task such a nightmare. He built nothing. The silence when he looked for job offers after running the Boks into the ground was deafening. I don't think much of Meyer's start but he did the hard yards in Super rugby and is building combos from nothing, something the untouchable PdV never had to do. God sakes, if you're going to clamour for a new coach then at least demand a good one like Mallett or Mitchell.
Posted 22:23 11th September 2012
boksmashoffice says...
I fear Lambie could pack his bags and head north and wait till HM is gone. Its such a shame that this guy is not fast tracked. He along with Goosen should be fighting for the 10 jersey, I might even start lambie on a Spurs diet and put him in at centre with Steyn. Sideshow Bob Zane should be gone along with Morne who has done his country proud.
Posted 21:51 11th September 2012
JayStarr says...
@ SACanuck: Exactly - just look at the difference Lambie and Goosen made to the complexion of that game when they came on... Pity HM expected them to turn the game around in less than 10 minutes - especially after Lambie has had no game time for weeks and Goosen just came back from an injury. The guy is more bonkers than PdV sometimes...
@ daibok: I think Lambie will play well anywhere in the backline, but he is a complete 10 - and that is rare - so we must keep him there. Otherwise he'll become another Ruan Pienaar and go play 10 for somebody else overseas. As for centre, I think Steyn and JdV are too similar to play next to each other. Steyn is very effective at 12, but then there is nobody around him to exploit the gaps he creates. If Steyn is playing 12 (which I think he should), we need somebody like Juan De Jongh, Paul Jordaan or Robert Ebersohn who can take the offloads Steyn always tries to offer and exploit the gaps he creates... otherwise Steyn's effectiveness means nothing.
@ Ramage & melkdave: ha ha ha - maybe I wasn't so wrong about PdV then..! :P
Posted 19:52 11th September 2012
kooper says...
The sooner Lambie replaces Jar Jar Binks (Kirchner), the better.
Posted 18:52 11th September 2012
philipjfry says...
I fear for Lambie in the same way I feared for Brett Russell. Ultimately, his versatility is going to cost him some.
Posted 17:55 11th September 2012
melkdave says...
Echo @Jaystars comments ,he is being wasted warming the bench ,and 10 should be between Lambie and Goosen in the future.This RC and year,i cant see HM moving from his gameplan,and M.Styen /Z.Kirchiner though,Im also starting to think PDViyyy was a better coach,and we are only 6 games into HMs tenure.,Just how sad is that.
Posted 17:38 11th September 2012
Ramage says...
Bring Back PDV
Posted 17:26 11th September 2012
olepete says...
Terrible waste of talent.
Posted 17:24 11th September 2012
leebok says...
Dont blame him, especially when your rightful place is taken by a muppet. SA will be gutted when he leaves for England or France
Posted 17:16 11th September 2012
daibok says...
Agree with JayStarr about Lambie being better at 10 than 15. But he also plays centre and we are sadly lacking any creativity there.
Any position is better than on the bench watching M Steyn and Kirchner kicking the ball back to the ABs.
Posted 16:04 11th September 2012
JayStarr says...
I too am getting fed-up with him being on the bench - especially since he is not only a better fullback than Zane Kirchner, but also a better fly-half than Morné Steyn. Those two have had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity... I wonder how many opportunities Lambie will get once he gets a start.
In my opinion the no.10 jersey should be between Lambie and Goosen - Lambie's talents are wasted at fullback. Fullback should be between Aplon and Taute. Morné Steyn and Kirchner are not the future - the sooner they are dropped the better for the Springboks. Let's see who HM picks for this weekend...
Posted 15:34 11th September 2012