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'Unstoppable': Ex-All Black midfielder's verdict on new-look Springboks
By Ben Smith
Former All Black and current Tongan and Benetton centre Malakai Fekitoa has offered his view on the new-look Springboks after their first game of 2024.
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With Rassie Erasmus returning as head coach of the national side, the coaching staff includes a number of new assistants including former Highlanders coach Tony Brown.
Fekitoa, who played under Brown’s tutelage when he was an assistant coach with the Highlanders, said he could already see Brown’s influence after their 41-13 win over Wales at Twickenham.
Taking to X, he wrote that the “shapes look different already” and that the Springboks would be “unstoppable after a few tests” as they build a new identity.
Great to see South Africa 🇿🇦 moving the ball well in attack. Shapes looks different already. Some 50/50 but they will be unstoppable after a few tests. The work of Tony Brown in attack is starting to show. 🔥
— Malakai Fekitoa (@MalakaiFekitoa) June 22, 2024
With young flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse receiving a rare start at No 10, the Springboks showed a desire to move the ball early and took all of three minutes to construct a long range strike.
Wide play to the left edge saw Jesse Kriel and Makazole Mapimpi combine for the game’s first try to the Springbok centre. In the second half, Kriel turned provider to set up Mapimpi for a try down the left flank.
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Right winger Edwill van der Merwe finished the game with a solo effort, beating a handful of Welsh defenders up the middle for a blistering score.
Fullback Aphelele Fassi impressed under the high ball, defusing a number of high kicks from Wales, while reserve flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looked composed scoring his first Test points with a penalty from over 50.
The Springboks return to South Africa for their scheduled July slate, with two Tests against Ireland and one against Portugal.
Relax people. This was one game against a C team. Now we talk about the backline attacking like never before and and and. Let us talk once the year is done. Then we will have a better idea of where we are going.
Not only with attack. A better team would have ripped the Springbok defence to shreds.
ben smitheeeee is playing his violin
Will the real Ben please stand up
Ben Smith must have written this article with a heavy heart. What’s going on? It’s unlike the knob head we got to know. I guess credit is due and has to be given.
Congratulations mate for once not being a complete dick head
Not only were wales unstructured they continually kicked away possession which laid the platform for bokkie to run the attack straight back and on front foot they looked good. The Welsh managed glimpses but i’d rate them 2nd tier. The bokkie will be a worthy combatant for the abs however consistency is going to be the determining factor something they’ve struggled with in the past.
“The bokkie will be a worthy combatant for the abs” - I think you mean the ABs will be worthy combatant for the Boks. We’re at the top of the tree. The ABs are part of the chasing pack.
in Rugby respect is important, we don’t call your team the Blackies etc
My street team would be unstoppable against Wales, to be fair.
Haha when Stransky or whoever said in the URC Final the boks were the curtain razor I thought literally 🤣
Who are you, and what have you done with Ben Smith?
Bin Smut has had its account hacked.
the next gen rebuild will be crucial as most of the RWC-winners do have a certain age ….
besides, is this the first article by Ben Smith without any vitriol poured on the Boks? What happened?
NZers are well aware of what the Boks have with Tony Brown.
Mpimpi, Am, Kobe etc will have a whole new set of skills to play with.
We are potentially entering the best era of attacking rugby in a long time.
The combination of big smashing ballers up the middle and exciting backs on the outside - should be devastating. I think it’s still early days, but if TB is making an impact already then exciting times indeed.