South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber has defended himself against critics of the Springboks’ style of rugby and is bracing for a “different challenge” in The Rugby Championship against New Zealand and Australia this month.
Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was the latest prominent rugby voice to pour scorn on the Boks’ approach, saying the rugby they played in a series win over the Lions was “not a game that anybody wants to watch”.
Nienaber was diplomatic in his response, when asked about Hansen’s comments in a press call.
“To be honest, I didn’t see the comment,” Nienaber told media.
“With all the other things happening and we doing our reviews, I promise you I haven’t read anything.
“It’s been about determining what we want to achieve out of this week.”
The Springboks will play Australia twice before two Tests against New Zealand.
“It’s always nice to test yourselves against Australia, New Zealand and Argentina,” Nienaber said.
“It’s phenomenal to play against them again. It was hard to miss out last year and it kind of left us wondering where we were in terms of our strength and ability.
“Pitching yourself against the SANZAAR teams allows you to measure yourself.”
South Africa top the standings having beaten Argentina twice in the past fortnight.
Nienaber defended his side’s emphasis on forward domination and kicking for territory, which turned the Tests against the Lions into dour contests.
“Each team has its own skills set and its own unique athletic ability,” he said. “They all play towards the DNA of the team. That’s the beauty of rugby, there are different styles and ways to win Test matches.”
Nienaber said he expects the Wallabies and All Blacks to present a different challenge to that of the Lions.
“If you look at Australia and New Zealand, I think their style of play has a lot of similarities, a lot of movement, fast, quick, confident. They are quality sides with quality coaching,” he said.
The Springboks come into TRC having missed out on Super Rugby refining this year, but Nienaber said that wouldn’t be a factor.
“We haven’t played against them, so you haven’t been exposed to the individual player.
“But Super Rugby is different to Test match rugby and we saw it.
“The last time we had Super Rugby and a Rugby Championship was 2019 and the Jaguares and the Crusaders played in the final.
“I don’t think one of our teams got to a semifinal, but we still went on to win a Rugby Championship.”
Nienaber said Boks prop Thomas du Toit returned to South Africa on Tuesday due to a family bereavement.
Faith
Roar Rookie
I'm a gentle soul, Adam. NZR no longer seems to produce as many out and out sprinter/players like before. Rocketman. Howlett. Sivivatu. When I catch the odd Currie Cup game there is always an incredibly new fast player. Once Boks get their systems right - get new blood they will be like wow. I would like to see Fassi coming in more for Willie for instance. Nkosi hasn't really pushed on even if the player keeping him out is the best winger in the world - Kolbe.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Hahaha, have to admit Faith, when I quickly scanned your reply before reading it, I thought I was going to be copping both barrels from you! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Only my Mum & Wife call me “Smith” & only when I’m in trouble… :laughing: :laughing: :silly:
biltong
Guest
They are beginning to come through the system Faith, Rassie has opened the eyes of South African coaches in regards to taking the blinkers off when it comes to contracting coloured and black players. Some of the most exciting backs in domestic rugby are non whites.
Faith
Roar Rookie
And I agree if they continue getting Afrikaner farmboys for tight 5 and loosies and coloured and Black players for all other positions they could easily match if not beat NZ's rugby gene pool.
Faith
Roar Rookie
For sheer speed its hard to argue against you Smith - unfortunately, not as many of these flyers are at the level of Mapimpi and Kolbe. And its true - other than Rieko and BBB I am not sure even Sevu is as fast.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
That’s true, still don’t think they’re as fast as some of SA’s flyers. I don’t think any of the four you mentioned are as fast as Sanatla, Cecil Africa, who potentially could play for the Boks (not certain if they have) with Specman, Nkosi etc amongst other SA Super Rugby players. And yup, I agree on the experience side of things. But they’ll be absolute weapons when they are (experienced). I’m basing my assumption on talking all things rugby with a cousin of mine who played for the All Black 7’s for near on a decade, & my nephew who is a former AB. Both were quicker (according to them) than BB over 100m (nephew running 10.7 at 19 years old before he “bulked up” for Super Rugby), and both saying they were “left in the dust” by some of the SA players I mentioned. I would love to see a race on Grand Final day like the ARL used to do in League. Loved it when Lee Oudenryn beat Martin “Chariots” Offiah, then the young Brett Dallas beat Lee. Great “warm-up” entertainment before the game.
biltong
Guest
Geez Adam, The Barritt brothers, Mo'unga, Reece etc etc, NZ has had one of the fastest backlines in world rugby for as long as I can remember. Nienaber is building depth at the moment, however we don't have near the depth NZ has in the backline, plus comparing to other nations our backline isn't vastly experienced either.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
@ biltong, I agree that the belief that SA doesn’t have the players nor ability to play “running/more expansive” rugby is a fallacy. Pollard has ripped us to shreds previously, & I don’t believe that Nz has anywhere near the depth of players with “sheer pace” as SA. If SA can ever “marry” the two styles together, they will be very formidable. Only team with more athletic potential than SA is the US.
NH Fan
Guest
You know you are doing it right when others complain how you win. If that be NZ not scoring enough or SA/Eng being to physically focused or even Ireland being to predictable. Until you get passed by the rest of the chasing pack your way is as good or better than them. It's hard to believe from some comments but the Bikes have won the last WC, Lions tour, last RC the played in and undefeated in their last two trip to NZ. Considering it was only 2017 they lost 57-0. No wonder Hansen is worried (much like Woodward when England do bad).
NH Fan
Guest
England, France and SA have gone back to what they do best which has seen all three improve. It's hard enough to get club/regional teams to change being with them every day. In Soccer Belgium following Euro 2000 and as hosts failed they had to rip up their youth system and change how they played. It resulted in the team they have now but it took missing out on 3 euros and 2 WCs to do it and did poorly in the qualifiers. Play to your strenght and let others play to theirs. I don't know many teams who managed to last the 10-15 years of badness to succeed.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
if Wisemantel can just improve their decision making on attack If that happens, I'm buying a lottery ticket...
biltong
Guest
WL, I don't think the Wallabies are short on attacking plays. if Wisemantel can just improve their decision making on attack, eliminate those 50/50 decisions and executions it will go a long way.
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
It blew me away how fast the old games were in raw time - I know the games didn’t have TMO’s and the ball in play time was lower but they power through the scrums and line outs way faster - the players are quicker today and clearly way more athletic - but the actual durations of the games were mostly pretty close to 80 minutes of football. It would be interesting to look at some super rugby TT or 6 nations games for a wider sample. I mostly just did the games I watched live so far this year because I was trying to work out why they felt so long.
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
Stan sport replays of the test – run time of the game from first whistle to last – you can add or subtract the 10 minutes for half time – I subtracted it for the amount of time per half, but it’s much of a muchness so long as it’s consistent between all tests.
biltong
Guest
Jimbob, can you please provide the source of this information?
Wayne
Roar Rookie
To be honest with you NHF, us Saffas are loving all this "the Boks are boring", "the Boks are destroying the game" etc., etc. The most underdone Bok side in history just beat the Lions, who could only score two rolling maul tries and Argentina only managed one after full time. Let them have their time in the sun. I just hope for their sake that their teams can win...
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
injuries every 5 mins, water boys and water girls Faith, Those actions soured the series more so than any playing style, because without them the "boring" playing style might not have succeeded. That the Boks felt those people/actions were necessary says they lacked confidence in the team winning without the distractions. Otherwise why do them?
Praetorian
Guest
NZ desperate to defend their number 2 ranking in WR .
Jimbob
Roar Rookie
Well… might be because its the only team its happening to – also weird that it happens only in their games – TMO happens in other matches too – I watched all the games in real time – I’m sure you did too – did you leave the match thinking that the time wasting was not at all connected to the Boks? You may have but it wasn’t impression I got… Also I did say I don’t have a problem with the boks doing this – the question really is what is the broader implications of having 15/20 minutes of breathing time per half in test rugby? Not that the boks are “bad” for doing it – just more if it something we want to value collectively as a feature of test rugby?
Ex force fan
Guest
It is Bok bashing season in Australia. A lot of the time used was TMO referrals and injuries from both sides, however the Boks gets all the blame.