Many have tipped the All Blacks to wipe the floor with the Springboks in Christchurch on Saturday but things might not be that simple if coach Allister Coetzee’s troops get five key issues right.
Five key areas the Springboks have to get right in tomorrow’s Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks.
1) Target the All Blacks lineout
When asked about his team’s wonky lineout against Argentina‚ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen laughed it off as a probable weakness England’s garrulous coach Eddie Jones’ referred to earlier this week.
Truth is‚ their lineout didn’t rise to the occasion against Los Pumas but Hansen didn’t seem overly concerned.
He did however ask the media to finger the right culprits when lineout shortcomings are reported on.
“Don’t just blame the hooker‚” Hansen demanded.
2) Driving maul
This much underutilised weapon in the Bok armoury has brought them much success in the past.
They did have Victor Matfield as their lineout talisman and Bakkies Botha as the driving force then‚ but it doesn’t mean that this is an element of their game that should be neglected.
Apart from playing to a traditional strength‚ it potentially also imbues forwards with confidence that can permeate other areas of their game.
3) Kicking game
The Springboks’ kicking game has lacked the necessary accuracy to put their opponents under real pressure.
If it’s wet conditions‚ they need to get this element of their game spot on or the All Blacks will lay in the boot.
Problem is‚ we expect Elton Jantjies and Faf de Klerk to bring their A-game in this department despite the fact that the Boks haven’t had a kicking coach since Louis Koen departed the scene.
Hopefully things won’t get worse before they get better.
4) Fitness
Kiwi country has been gushing at the All Blacks’ ability to pull away from their opponents in the final quarter of their matches this season.
They grudgingly concede it is not through being endowed with super human powers but rather superior fitness.
While the Springbok team is assembled from different parts of the globe‚ the Kiwis pick their team from local-based talent who are exposed to more or less the same training regimen in Super Rugby.
The Bok bench cannot afford to be left behind and Coetzee has loaded his bench with six forwards.
Morne Steyn provides cover with his tactical boot but he will be rendered ineffectual should the Boks be chasing the game in the closing minutes.
5) Bruising backrower
The absence of a big‚ bulky‚ ball carrying backrower in the Bok ranks has been much lamented this season.
That’s why Willem Alberts was told to forget Paris‚ where he plays‚ momentarily. The Boks can do with his bulldozing presence.
Yes‚ Alberts yields to injury far more than he ought to but at full tilt he has probably been the Boks’ most irresistible ball carrying force over the last decade.
He‚ however‚ hasn’t had the impact in the southern hemisphere as he’s had in the north.
But this is a good time to rectify it‚ especially coming off the bench. — TMG Digital
Five key areas the Springboks have to get right in showdown against the All Blacks
Many have tipped the All Blacks to wipe the floor with the Springboks in Christchurch on Saturday but things might not be that simple if coach Allister Coetzee’s troops get five key issues right.
Five key areas the Springboks have to get right in tomorrow’s Rugby Championship test against the All Blacks.
1) Target the All Blacks lineout
When asked about his team’s wonky lineout against Argentina‚ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen laughed it off as a probable weakness England’s garrulous coach Eddie Jones’ referred to earlier this week.
Truth is‚ their lineout didn’t rise to the occasion against Los Pumas but Hansen didn’t seem overly concerned.
He did however ask the media to finger the right culprits when lineout shortcomings are reported on.
“Don’t just blame the hooker‚” Hansen demanded.
2) Driving maul
This much underutilised weapon in the Bok armoury has brought them much success in the past.
They did have Victor Matfield as their lineout talisman and Bakkies Botha as the driving force then‚ but it doesn’t mean that this is an element of their game that should be neglected.
Apart from playing to a traditional strength‚ it potentially also imbues forwards with confidence that can permeate other areas of their game.
3) Kicking game
The Springboks’ kicking game has lacked the necessary accuracy to put their opponents under real pressure.
If it’s wet conditions‚ they need to get this element of their game spot on or the All Blacks will lay in the boot.
Problem is‚ we expect Elton Jantjies and Faf de Klerk to bring their A-game in this department despite the fact that the Boks haven’t had a kicking coach since Louis Koen departed the scene.
Hopefully things won’t get worse before they get better.
4) Fitness
Kiwi country has been gushing at the All Blacks’ ability to pull away from their opponents in the final quarter of their matches this season.
They grudgingly concede it is not through being endowed with super human powers but rather superior fitness.
While the Springbok team is assembled from different parts of the globe‚ the Kiwis pick their team from local-based talent who are exposed to more or less the same training regimen in Super Rugby.
The Bok bench cannot afford to be left behind and Coetzee has loaded his bench with six forwards.
Morne Steyn provides cover with his tactical boot but he will be rendered ineffectual should the Boks be chasing the game in the closing minutes.
5) Bruising backrower
The absence of a big‚ bulky‚ ball carrying backrower in the Bok ranks has been much lamented this season.
That’s why Willem Alberts was told to forget Paris‚ where he plays‚ momentarily. The Boks can do with his bulldozing presence.
Yes‚ Alberts yields to injury far more than he ought to but at full tilt he has probably been the Boks’ most irresistible ball carrying force over the last decade.
He‚ however‚ hasn’t had the impact in the southern hemisphere as he’s had in the north.
But this is a good time to rectify it‚ especially coming off the bench. — TMG Digital
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