Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Let them defend 7, 8, 10 phases': Boks not stressing All Black defence enough

(AAP Image/Darren England/PhotosportNZ)

The Springboks style of rugby in their loss to the All Blacks in Townsville has once again come under scrutiny, after the side kicked incessantly to the detriment of the spectacle.

ADVERTISEMENT

For ex-All Black John Kirwan, the game ‘brought him to tears’ and he questioned whether it aligned with the values of the game on the post-match broadcast and the mid-week show The Breakdown.

On the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall was asked whether this approach goes against the heart and soul of rugby, which is about running with the ball. William Webb Ellis picked up the football and ran with it.

Video Spacer

Healthspan Elite Performer of the Week

Video Spacer

Healthspan Elite Performer of the Week

“I think that’s the problem. For us Kiwis, it is a style that we are not used to,” Hall explained.

“South Africa has had a couple years of this, I’ve watched that British & Irish Lions series, it was a kick-a-thon, about field position and set-piece parity, putting teams under pressure through the kicking game.

“I think we struggle as Kiwis to understand it, but I don’t see it that way.

“Look at South Africa, the last two test matches against Australia when they did play, they wanted to play a little bit more and through not executing really well under pressure, not getting the points they wanted to, they went back to around 38 kicks against us which is what they had against the Lions.”

The questionable tactic was most exemplified by Herschel Jantjies who kicked away possession in the 77th minute with his side down by two points and working in field position to potentially earn a penalty.

ADVERTISEMENT

Former All Black James Parsons said that the moment ‘probably cost them the game’ in reality, and that the Springboks showed they have the ability to run with the ball more.

“Even before that, they had made some good bends through putting the ball through the hands. Vermeulen ran down the right-hand side, would’ve made 20-25 metres from using the ball through the hands,” Parsons said.

“So they do have the ability to go there if the space is there.

“Look, I was surprised they went to the box kick [in the 77th minute], and that’s great that Siya says that’s the plan but in the end that probably lost them the game. That’s the reality of it.

Parsons explained that the Springboks should consider finding more balance, just like any side that tries to overplay their hand. For South Africa, it means letting their big forwards smash the gain line and exert pressure in a different way.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s just like when we talk about teams with a lot of flair with ball-in-hand, it’s having the balance to play the tactical kicking game as well. I think there needs to be a little bit more balance.

“I think it was around the 47th minute, it’s good lineout ball off the top, quick ball, and Faf de Klerk puts up a box kick on the 22. I’m not saying it is the wrong tactic, it’s just they’ve worked so hard to get down there, they are quite good at being dominant in the collision area.

“As we know, when you get into the 22 metre zone, the forwards roll their sleeves up and suck the defence in to build up and opportunity for the backs to expose. That’s when I thought they could come into their own a little bit with their physical prowess.

“Their latch carriers, Marx and co running over that gain line, rather than one ruck and then kick.

Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall agreed and went as far as saying that ‘they are not stressing the All Blacks enough defensively’ with a low phase approach that kicks away possession after one or two phases.

Although the kicking trouble the rhythm of the All Blacks game, the Springboks never looked like scoring a try and never tested the All Blacks defence enough. Using their strength of ball carrying, they could tire out the All Blacks more than they did in Townsville.

“I agree. Every time you play a South African team, with how big they are and such big ball carriers, especially when they latch, get the guy in behind to hold on to them and push them through contact. They do that really, really well,” Hall said.

“I think that marrying up of being able to see the kick opportunity but then let the forwards exert a bit of pressure onto the All Blacks. Let them defend 7, 8, 10 phases, just having those big ball carriers.

“Sometimes you can give it out to the backs for an opportunity on the edge. The All Blacks gave away 10 penalties, they are just not stressing them enough defensively.

“When you defend that high phase count, even when you are a good defensive team, you are either going to come through with seven points or three points due to the ill-discipline of the defensive team.

“At least extracting a bit of defensive energy from the All Blacks instead of just putting up 50-50 contests in the air.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Tom 4 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

2 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Does South Africa have a future in European competition? Does South Africa have a future in European competition?
Search