Jean de Villiers, the former Springboks captain who defeated the All Blacks nine times, has called on South Africa to use some ambition as the Springboks take on New Zealand in the final game of The Rugby Championship on Saturday.
De Villiers called the kick heavy tactics of Jacques Nienaber “disappointing” in an interview this week as the Springboks continued to receive criticism for a game plan that saw them kick the ball away 38 times – more than they averaged against the British and Irish Lions in a series that has been derided by pundits all over the world for being boring.
When asked about how his own side had managed to beat the All Blacks, de Villiers explained that the kicking tactic was useful but only as one aspect of a successful game plan. “It was about using the kicking game to get into the right positions on the field and then using some ambition with attacking play to capitalise on that,” said de Villiers on The Breakdown on Sky Sport NZ.
Unfortunately, the Boks didn’t play with that ambition even when opportunities were created. They passed just 66 times in the match, made just two clean breaks and offloaded only once.
De Villiers is not the only person calling for a change to the South African tactics with some pointing out that not only is it boring, but it’s not effective either.
Kiwi journalist Ben Smith, writing on Rugby Pass, commented this week that their style is “clearly one-dimensional and is not that reliable, going 2-2 when kicking more than 35 times since that semi-final in the World Cup.”
It’s worth noting as well that the repeated statement from the Springboks that the kicking game is in their DNA, doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, or at least doesn’t hold up as a defence for sticking with the same game plan.
Against the All Blacks they kicked 38 times and struggled to create opportunities to score tries. When they played England in the 2019 World Cup Final, they kicked just 24 times, scored two beautifully worked tries finished by wingers in full flight and beat England by 20 points.
The Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpihas is a serious threat when given some space. (Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)
Success isn’t far away
Despite the criticism, there are those who feel that the Springboks still have the ability to challenge the All Blacks in this weekend’s clash.
De Villiers believes that the kicking game shouldn’t be replaced but instead the Boks need to add in some ambition and other attacking threats to challenge New Zealand.
“If they did that, they would have won the game, and then the strategy would have executed perfectly. It’s the lack of having that little bit of variation that I think is costing them in the big games” suggested de Villiers.
They don’t have to look too hard for these attacking options either. Faf de Klerk is so much more than a box kicking wonder and his ability to snipe from around the breakdown can surprise any defence. Then you’ve got the likes of Damian de Allende who can be more than just a wrecking ball in midfield and the pace of Makazole Mapimpi that will leave most defenders for dead if he’s given some space.
Curiously, there are also some who feel that the closeness of the result against the All Blacks last weekend is clear evidence that the Springboks approach is working already.
Ben Smith suggested in an article this week that “tactically, the All Blacks were outplayed in many aspects of the game, including up front,” and that “the game plan did put the handbrake on the All Blacks, forced them to play perhaps their worst performance of the modern era”.
Others have pointed out that by focusing on contesting the All Blacks’ line out, maintaining an effective defence and using the highball, South Africa were able to gain good ground and score a well taken try.
Keeping the All Blacks to under 20 points and only losing by two points at the depth doesn’t sound like a game plan gone horribly wrong does it?
Whatever your view, it doesn’t look like the Springboks plans are going to change
Nienaber has faced question after question about the Springboks approach and based on his answers, and team selection for this weekend, there are no signs anything is going to change.
“I thought the game plan worked. I thought we had opportunities,” he commented this week.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
He went on to explain why he feels kicking the amount they do is the right approach, explaining “Rugby will always stay the same in terms of that – you try and attack space and you also try and attack space with what you feel you are good at, your DNA as a team. We feel that (kicking) is our DNA, we feel that is what we are good at.”
Nienaber backed up his commitment to the same style by making just the one change to his starting XV for this weekend’s Test with Ox Nche replacing the injured Frans Malherbe in the front row.
Whatever your point of view on the tactics South Africa use, last weekend’s game went down to the final kick of the game and the Boks were two minutes away from defeating New Zealand.
If this second game between the two can be just as tense, then it promises to be a dramatic climax to this season’s Rugby Championship.
Chucked
Roar Rookie
I read today the Rabbitohs lodged a complaint against Penrith Trainers coming onto the field. All Blacks probably cant do that but the moment the microphones flood the field send them off...with penalty as well
Dean
Guest
DNA = Do Not Attempt (anything other than a
boxBoks kick)Jacko
Roar Rookie
Agree. I watched the 2 2018 tests the other day and this current style is nothing like they played in 2018 thru to the WC. Has a DNA swap taken place?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Biltong I have it on good authority that Jordie Barrett was yelling impersonations of Neinaber saying "kick it to me"
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Surely Bok fans and previous Boks players find Nienaber's DNA explanation of this current style laughable, possibly even offensive. Bok rugby, as much as I know it, has been about doing all things well and not being reliant on just 2 or 3 facets of the game - (that was more for the boys up Nth, and not even true of them anymore). I've defended the right of the Boks to play as they choose, it's their prerogative right? But it seems to me now it's only ok so long as no other side adopts this approach. A Wallabies v Wallabies style would be fine, as would FRA v FRA etc. But imagine for a moment two sides playing each other in the manner of this current Boks side - I think they'd both be booed off the park.
biltong
Guest
They can, the coach can't.
Dirk
Guest
they
only playedcan only play one half of what rugby requires to win. The only thing they know to do with the ball is kick it. Can't pass it, can't run it. They are scared of it.Phantom
Roar Rookie
Of the modern teams.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hello Aiden...! I think that it is not a question of inserting a Plan B but rather of introducing a variant in the original Plan. De Klerk's offensive kicking game near the NZL 22M line was something really disruptive. These types of variants are those that generate permanent doubts in the defense. The structure of a good game plan must take into account the unexpected variation in the series of repetitions. RSA cleverly posed the game against NZL and came very close to achieving their goal: to win.
wre01
Roar Guru
Think that’s a key point. That side led by Smit between say 2006-2010 was probably the best SA side of all time. Powerful pack, brilliant line out, balanced back row, well rounded 9, 10, 12, weapons out wide… In fact behind McCaws side and Eales’ side, Smit’s side was probably the best of all time ahead of Johnson’s England.
Harry Jones
Expert
Wasn’t captain for most of that— John Smit
biltong
Guest
Yep, been saying for a long time, no massive change necessary, just willingness to attack when it is on, rather than kick.
biltong
Guest
That would require multitasking, looking at how they are currently coached it wouldn't work. :silly: The KISS principle would apply.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Beautiful. Wouldn't it be great? It only needs to be when within 30m of the opposition line and with the defence not in your face. Probably will happen less than 5 times in the match so not a massive change to Plan A and not a massive risk given the quality of the guys you are trusting to implement it.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yeah, the author's description of Nkosi's try as well taken, is more generous than it merited. The ball was kicked in the air and landed without a Bok player within 5 metres, so actually not very well executed at all. Should have been an easy catch and the situation defused. It was ugly luck and depended on a howler of a mistake. Absolutely nothing to do with good planning.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Maybe they should use small microphones in the ear for such communication.biltong
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Would that make him the most successful captain against AB..MK
Highlander
Roar Guru
When JvD talks you should listen, hellova footballer
biltong
Guest
Smart attacking play requires rugby ip. But in this case Nienaber can fake it till he makes it. "OK boys, when you are inside the opponent half you look for space and overlaps. There are only seven backline players in the opposition team. Count how many are on your side of the ruck. Then count how many are on your side. But don't count out loud, if there is an overlap you don't want the opposition halfback or flankers to hear you, because then they will cover the overlap." " Faf, if you see a gap around the fringes, run. If not, pass." "Handre, when you get the ball, same thing, run or pass, but at least try to draw a defender before you pass, if you can draw two defenders, pass then " Damian and Ammie, when you guys get the ball, straighten the line, draw and pass" Willie, Mapimps and S'bu, score tries." If that doesn't work boys, stay up as long as you can so the forwards can secure the tackled ball" "Then rinse and repeat until you score"
Aiden
Guest
You’ve got to have some variation, plan B. The game was there for them to win at a few points and they were clueless. The whole game plan is based on hoping the ref blows their whistle in the right position, and in that sense it’s not a game plan entirely in their own hands. In terms of the close result, I did like the Boks intensity in the first half and ability to stop the ABs game. However, how many balls did the ABs drop cold, and not all from Bok defense in their face. They were just off. You can’t count on them stuffing your so badly again and assume that the game plan was successful.