Goal-kicking is as much a matter of mind control as it is mastery of technique. Naas Botha and Joel Stransky, two of Springbok rugby’s greatest marksmen off the kicking tee, owe much of their success to this maxim and have urged Manie Libbok to take heed.
The Springbok flyhalf has struggled with consistency when kicking for goal and has had to endure stinging criticism during this Rugby World Cup.
“Place the ball, step back, kick and it’s done. It’s like golf. You can’t overthink it,” said Botha. “I always tried to keep things as natural as possible. Anything that could disrupt or disturb my process I simply removed from the equation.”
Botha and Stransky — sixth and seventh respectively in the Bok point-scorer rankings — believe a simplified kicking routine can help in achieving accuracy.
“I’m not saying it is so, but it appears as if Manie is bothered by the shot clock,” said Botha, referring to the digital countdown for completing a kick at the posts. The kicker has 90 seconds to take a conversion and 60 seconds to kick a penalty. The countdown appears on the big screen and has been introduced to reduce time-wasting.
Manie has a very average technique, to be frank. I think he tees the ball up terribly
— Joel Stransky
Stransky said standing over a static ball for too long gives the mind time to drift. “In that way it is similar to a penalty- and freekick-taker in soccer, and a golfer playing a shot.”
Botha said in the National Football League in the US, where he played as a specialist gridiron place-kicker in 1983, the time allowed for a kick was far shorter than in rugby and mental focus was key. “That’s what I learnt at the [Dallas] Cowboys all those years ago. You don’t have time to think about anything.”
Stransky, who scored the winning points with a drop kick in the final of the 1995 RWC, said there were two main reasons for a goal-kicker to lose the plot.
“It could be your body tensing up because of an injury or because of stiffness; or the body is tensing up because you are struggling to control your emotions. It is almost always the technique that goes. Manie has a very average technique, to be frank. I think he tees the ball up terribly. It makes it harder for him, not easier.”
Both veterans advocate an uncluttered kicking routine. “You have to rely on the natural part of your brain. I always said kicking is one of the easier aspects of rugby, but the way it is done these days ... I don’t know if the [TV] cameras play a role,” said Botha, referring to the elaborate rituals and mannerisms displayed by many kickers.
“There are little things goal-kickers should do to make the process [simpler],” said Stransky. “Seek a more consistent process. He [Libbok] makes it harder and the pressure gets to him and he tenses up. You can almost tell when he runs up to the ball.
“If I were in his shoes, I would not go and practise for hours. You can actually kick yourself out of form. You can also kick yourself into a sore place because kicking hurts the body. It is quite jarring impact.”
Botha said he does not believe in kicking coaches. “I think the principles and concept of goal-kicking can be taught. Then it is practice, because you have to get the confidence. No-one can give you confidence.”
In terms of physical technique, Botha said it was crucial to hold the body upright when the foot hits the ball. “If you jackknife, it is the leg that provides the thrust to kick the ball, not your hips. That’s why some blokes can kick 70m and others can’t.”
Goal-kicking apart, both he and Stransky agree Libbok has done well since becoming the regular Bok flyhalf this year. The Springboks now attack with more variety and finesse.
“He has not let [goal-kicking woes] affect the rest of his game. He’s played pretty well,” said Stransky.
Botha said the best option was just to drop the sniping. “People should stop talking about him. Just let him be. It is clear that he can kick. You don’t become the URC [United Rugby Championship] top scorer if you can’t kick.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.