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Schalk Burger questions if 'balance of power' is shifting for Boks

South Africa's lock Franco Mostert (R) leaves the pitch after an injury during the second Rugby Union test match between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park stadium in Durban on July 13, 2024. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)

Former South Africa flanker Schalk Burger has questioned whether Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus will stick with a 6-2 split on the bench for the Rugby Championship, claiming the “balance of power” within the squad is shifting from the forwards to the backs.

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Erasmus has been the paragon of pragmatism in recent seasons when selecting his bench, switching between a 5-3 and 6-2, and occasionally a 7-1, split depending on the Boks’ opposition.

While the 6-2 split has been frequently deployed by the world champions, allowing them to flaunt a welter of world-class options in the pack to outmuscle any opponent in the final quarter of a match, a deepening injury crisis among the forwards combined with some returning backs has led Burger to question whether Erasmus will reassess his options.

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Speaking on RugbyPass TV’s latest episode of Boks Office to be released this week, the 2007 World Cup winner looked at lock Salmaan Moerat’s limited game time against Ireland in the second Test of their 1-1 series as an indication that the ‘Bomb Squad’ might not be as potent as it has been in recent years.

With locks Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert all out, and with backs Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie nearing returns, Burger wonders whether the Boks will soon be better suited having an extra back on the bench to change a game rather than a forward.

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“I think the balance of the 6-2 split, is it something we’re still going to chase?” he said.

“You look at the Irish game, I think Salmaan Moerat only got a couple of minutes in that one. They didn’t use him at all, they didn’t empty the bench.

“The whole premise of the 6-2 split is that you’ve got the best two packs of forwards, you’ve got to use them early.

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“Obviously, having locks injured puts pressure on our squad, but also gives opportunity for development. There’s Ben-Jason Dixon, a guy like Ruan Venter, and how they’re going to be utilised.

“The main question is who is your first pick at No.10. At the moment it’s still Handre [Pollard], but you see a guy like Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] that wants to play at fly-half, he’s filling the utility role.

“Once a guy like Damian Willemse comes back, Canan Moodie, will we then go to a 5-3 split? Because then the balance of power shifts to the backs more than the fowards.”

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2 Comments
D
DS 97 days ago

The current winning style of heavy contact, constant attritive gameplans favors SA with their assembly line of huge bodies. Teams, like the Blues in the Super final, have been winning tournaments playing heavy contact, one off the ruck.
For some, this style of rugby is mind-numbingly boring but more important is the impact this continuous contact has on short term injuries and especially long term health issues. Player's welfare just seems collateral damage.

S
SF 97 days ago

Something to think about. The utility value of SFM, GW and DW will allow Rassie to pick a 6-2 bench though. But I also think that SFM must be blooded as a longterm flyhalf. Keep Pollard around to finish tight matches. I have always been for getting the youngsters in now. Give them 3 years to settle in and let the play the AB's, France etc… WLR, HP and Faf is getting on.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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