On a brisk evening at Eden Park on August 7th, Jacques Nienaber watched the Wallabies put over four tries against the All Blacks.
He must have given some thought to Dave Rennie, the Wallabies coach, and how expansive their game had been. Yes, the Australians lost that evening, but it had been a good performance for the men from down under.
By the time the All Blacks had wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup in Perth on September 5th, Nienaber had over a month to prepare his side for the Wallabies. Sure, he had the Pumas to contend with in the interim, but if you’re going to accept the head coaching position of an iconic international rugby side in the modern era then you’d better prepare your squad to be all-rounders. Simply put, adapt or die, and the current Springbok side is dying.
Steve Hansen, former All Blacks head coach, put it bluntly when he said, “if you can’t change the man, change the man.”
Much has been written about the Springboks’ style of play; that it’s overwhelmingly forward-dominated with significant kicking. That’s not the problem if your opposition is unable to counter-attack and rapidly and successfully move the ball the width of the field off set-pieces – aka the British and Irish Lions and the Pumas. Nienaber’s problem is simply diagnosed: he believes the Springboks don’t need to adapt their style of play based upon specific competitors’ style of play.
For this reason, Nienaber was outcoached by Rennie last evening. His failure to adapt his game plan was compounded by his squad’s poor defensive effort and most importantly, by a seriously weak bench. Cultivating a new generation of top players has always been South African rugby’s Achilles heel and was most evident noticeable during key weeks of this series with the absence of Cheslin Kolbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Lood de Jager. And now, like an incoming tide, the All Blacks are gathering strength from each Test during this Rugby Championship.
Nienaber can only hope his squad will find that elusive fifth gear and meet the All Blacks wave head-on.
Harry Jones
Expert
Primarily outcoached, but also outplayed (effort, desire).
numpty
Roar Rookie
I think there are a couple of other aspects to it which are fitness and referee interpretation. Boks have been unable to keep up for 80minutes in the heat, have gotten less pay at the ruck given the Nth hemisphere refs who allow for a quicker game, and WBs have been smart enough to keep the ball in play. This meant that the boks couldn't use their set piece, power game as much as they would like. The fact that Tupou was still competing at the 70th minute and SA reserve props were getting burnt by marika due to their inability to get back in the line was telling.
Geoff
Roar Rookie
seriously? you need to get over your obsession with New Zealand Rugby, this embittered view of losses to the All Blacks does you no credit and just embeds the pain.
wigeye
Guest
Hehehehr :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
No need for name calling wigeye. Rennie is a kiwi? I identify him as Cook Islander, recently emigrated to West Island to nurture the lost rugby tribes of terra australis towards humble catching and tackling.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Come on fellas, settle down. MK, this is not cricket. And underarm is legal (or at least was).????
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I agree with Harry J. They need new water, and a new water boy.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“ Despite the plaudits and accolades the WB are getting, I thought the back 3 were appalling in the air and kept the SB in the hunt” Agreed, our catching was flaky. But teams that win, win with weaknesses managed. And that management proved crucial last night. I suspect that Rennie prepped the boys for the contingency of dropped ball. Perhaps they over prepared for dropped ball? And got it. The ABs are not likely to gift the Boks kickers (pun intended) that relief. But still the Boks , and all in their camp, will be throwing their everything at next Saturday. As exciting as the WBs Pumas at least.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I wonder how long a video would take of the Aussie cricket team, maybe at least 2 days.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
For the Boks to find that elusive 5th gear, they need to get of second gear! Call the mechanic as their gear stick is broken.
One Eye
Roar Rookie
I have to say after watching this game, a couple of thoughts spring to mind… 1. This kick and pray strategy of the SB is not new. They did it in 2007 and blagged a WC not needing to play NZ or Aus and kept with it a couple of years more with FdP and Habana perfecting the 13 man game of rugby. It took NZ till 2010 to realise the simple fix was to sub out one of the flyers on the flanks (was Rocococo and Sivivatu I believe) and put a converted fb on the wing in Israel Dagg and Cory Jane and the rest is history. With NZ able to field 2 out and out fullbacks in Will Jordan and Jordie Barrett and George Bridge incredible in the air it is a real wonder why they think this is a winning strategy. 2. Despite the plaudits and accolades the WB are getting, I thought the back 3 were appalling in the air and kept the SB in the hunt and gifted them territory and possession time after time, especially in the first half. 3. Once the kick and pray strategy had to be abandoned in order to chase the game, the SB looked bereft of ideas and showed a real paucity in class on attack. DdA is a cart horse with nothing to offer other than direct head down running – I’m sure Akira Ioane is looking forward to this… As for Am and the back 3, not sure how they are highly regarded, WlR used to be a counter attacking FB but that has been well and truly had that coached out of him and the wings appear to be there purely to chase box kicks. A few ramblings, but if the last 2 weeks is the extent of their ambition and capabilities then the next two weeks could be beyond a rude awakening especially given the ABs will run them around like they haven’t been yet.
wigeye
Guest
What a wally yea we have special powers the ref's can't see all the allblacks cheating. Bring back castle and few more kiwis and Australia can win world cup actually they have every chance now. Its an honour a fellow kiwi has nailed it in such a short time for Aussie!! Rise sir david
Rhino11
Roar Rookie
Agreed BB. Even though I've always been a huge QC fan, his tackling in the past has been poor and occasionally costing yellow cards! He covered the 10 channel well and reckon he did a career high tackle count last night! Really pleased for Rennie that he is now getting the results from the hard work he has put in.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Simply the most inane post you have ever made. And that says something.
Big A
Guest
here's hoping they go home 0 and 4 and then move on to 7 nations - good riddance - listening to their rhetoric in the lead-up to these two games against the Wallabies was like listening to royalty - almost as though they were gracing us with their presence - the hype surrounding them is so distorted - i reckon Cheikas team - as bad as they were - would have done them in the RWC semi if the ref hadn't gifted Wales a 7 minutes series of scrum penalties in that QF - so much unwarranted hype for such a restricted game plan
bigbaz
Roar Guru
That Rennie put Cooper in the front line and expected that he tackle says a fair bit about who has gone before. It is not even faith , Rennie obviously thought it was his job in the 10 channel and QC quietly delivered .
PeterK
Roar Guru
except the video would have to be 6 hours long to capture the extent of it
Gilbert
Roar Rookie
Both. Outcoached and outplayed. They need a proper HC.
Double Agent
Guest
"Nienaber can only hope his squad will find that elusive fifth gear " In my experience when you change from 2nd to 5th the result can be disappointing!!