The Springboks will tell you that their win in the 2019 Rugby World Cup had nothing to do with luck.
They’ll tell you that ‘luck’ is the purpose of tenacity, the result of a well-coached team, a talented pool of players and a cohesiveness that peaked at the right moment in time.
No argument there.
But all sports have a benchmark and perhaps no other sport outside of rugby union has endured the longest single one – that of the All Blacks.
Going into Japan, the Boks’ last victory against the All Blacks had been on September 15, 2018 in Wellington, beating New Zealand 36-34.
A 30-32 loss at Loftus that year followed and then the 16-16 draw in New Zealand in 2019. That same year the Pumas, in a historic win, beat the Kiwis for the first time, thus securing the Boks the 2019 Rugby Championship for the first time since 2009.
Enter the Boks to the Land of the Rising Sun and their first game of the 2019 World Cup – a loss to the All Blacks to the tune of 23-13.
We know how the rest of the tournament played out. The 11th commandment sayeth that to beat the All Blacks one has to play close to error-free rugby and find that fifth gear within one’s self for every second you’re on the paddock.
England found that gear that night in Yokohama. They would not find it again a week later.
And as the All Blacks loom in a fortnight for South Africa, one has to face the stark reality that nothing has changed.
New Zealand may currently not have the silverware they are so accustomed to, but they have a dearth of talent that’s ripe for the expansive game they play at an ever-increasing pace.
The Boks need more than a fifth gear to beat the All Blacks. They need a coach to instil discipline, cultivate a style of rugby that relies as much on the backline as they currently do on their forwards.
Perhaps most importantly, they need to instil a culture of keeping one’s foot on the pedal until the final whistle and not a moment before.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
"Boks average 80 runs per game" Does step, step, kick count as a run?
chucked
Guest
Thats not how it works. missed conversions can change the result. As soon as one penalty or try is scored that was not, play starts at halfway again - the game will not be the same.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
ABs negate SBs forward power and game plan with nous, intelligence, skills and fleet of foot....end of story actually...
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Run the SBs all over the field, deny them at the collision, match them (don't need to beat them) in the scrums....deny them their kicking game and hey presto...Game plan x y and z kicks in and they lost the plot....
P2R2
Roar Rookie
They ALWLAYS have the crowd....and everytime ABs win....
Atapene
Roar Rookie
That's like the saying practice makes perfect. It's not true. Practice makes permanent. If you play the wrong way, with rubbish mindset or technique, it won't suddenly become good one day.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Exactly...!
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Everything works fine until something starts to go wrong: it's the strictest and most defining rule I know of, and it applies 100% to the current RSA game plan.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hello Emery Ambrose..! #AUS conceded 17 penalties of which 5 were executed to the sticks with a 60% effectiveness. By just raising the degree of effectiveness and validating some canceled tries, #RSA would have been the winner in Rd.3
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hello Fresney...! I think if RSA tries to generate a more expansive game, controlling midfield, it could raise the possibility of victory. But the expansive game, combining speed and precision is the original brand of the NZL game. The best defense of # TRCH2021 should defeat the best breakdown of the championship and vice versa. Will they make it ...? Personally, I always hope that the attacks will achieve their goals.
Unfortunately, the author cant choose his/her own headline, they're made up for them by editors.
biltong
Guest
This is a hilarious comment, unfortunately debating the points with you is about as worthwhile to contemplate as your ignorance of the game.
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
I think the attack works, it’s a energy conserving plan to keep the forwards fresh for inside the 22, but they could bring in variations, maybe a centre crash, or a couple more phases, even a 10 phase play up the field to get a penalty. Some of the kicks went only or 15 metres and they could have that in 3 or 4 good phases. WBs held back knowing they were going kick, there were 10 or so easy metres for SA.
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
Yeah, depends on the game plan and team on the field. 2019 was fast recycled ball will always win out, that was not so Steve. Respect the ball and the defence of the opposition. AB v Bokke will be another test between two philosophies. NH defensive game vs the open following game of the ABs. Same ole same ole or suma suma challenge. Be good to see the Bokke playing the ABs again
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
I know Erasi has copped a panning in the press recently, that aside I believe his SA version of Eddie Jone (sorry SA fans I could be wrong) ...anyway his a thinker and I just feel his got them and the current coach holding back on the gun powder. Yor right everything thing is there or nearly there to ignite them. I think we will see the status quo against aussie, will be interesting what the do against darkness in a few weeks time. I think that will be there cross road.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
The only thing SA need to evolve, is a change of mindset and the courage to "have a go". They certainly have the backs with the required skill sets and talent. And of course the coaching team setting the game plan needs to place some trust in the players.
Brian Thomson
Guest
This is a nothing article that doesn't even answer the headline.
Lara
Guest
TR ,totally agree. Until the Boks are thrashed by using their tactics n they know it won’t work against the best teams in the World, they won’t change. If there are only one or two teams that can do that, they will only change reluctantly. Therefore , the standard of World Rugby needs to improve ……n that is another issue, an even bigger issue. There is only one NH nation that will take the Boks on at the moment, the rest play a similar game or just lack the skill set required. I believe Rugby does need to look at rewarding tries more n reduce the penalty goals to 2….the Boks will say we scored 3 to 1, granted, but how were they scored….another rule issue for debate. Once the Boks lose their top ranking n their treasured titles, maybe they will think about their game .
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Nice points Bill Shut. The last two games SA v a weakened NZ will be interesting to watch. If darkness rattle up some points I feel SA will have no choice but evolve. Starting point 10 H Pollard. The Bokkies have some dangerous backs that aren’t getting into the game enough. Even with some open space they elected to kick. Pollard is like an extra back rower in size but do they need an extra back rower in there approach or game management. They don’t need to change to much to evolve, they have the power game and set piece nous however a few tweaks and they could be anything.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Hopefully they prove us both wrong my friend.