Sir John Kirwan has made his position on the Springboks’ style of play very clear saying, “I don’t believe that’s in the best interest of the game and not within what I would call the values of the game.” But not everyone agrees with the All Black legend.
So much has been written about the persistence of the Springboks to stick with their kick heavy game plan and so much criticism spoken about it, that you’d almost think we were in the middle of the Bodyline Ashes series of 1932.
The former All Blacks winger joined the debate this week and shared how he was not only disappointed in the style but also concerned that the South African team and management viewed the approach as a good one.
“I think the scary thing for me was after the game the coach and the captain thought they’d had a good game,” said Kirwan speaking this week with Newstalk ZB.
Whilst many share Kirwan’s frustrations, there are plenty who feel that the Springboks’ game plan makes perfect sense given the talent available to coach Jacques Nienaber.
South Africa flyhalf Handré Pollard was asked about the approach and his answer made it clear that fans shouldn’t expect any change for the Test this weekend against the All Blacks.
“The aerial contest is an aspect of the game where we feel we are the best in the world, and we work hard at it, and will keep doing it because we trust Jacques’ plan and the process,” explained Pollard.
The DNA phrase must be at the top of the South African media talking points advice sheet – it’s been rolled out in practically every interview for the past two weeks and Pollard had learned his lines clearly.
“We have a specific soul and DNA in this team, in which we believe we are the best at, and we trust our systems and our plan,” Pollard explained this week.
Whilst the messaging might be getting a bit tired, there seems to be a strong alignment and trust between players and coach within the South African camp and that’s crucial at times like these when results and the press are going against you.
Beyond the kicking game, it’s clear that the Springboks will be looking to their forwards to create a strong platform against the All Blacks. In last week’s 100th Test between the two sides, the Springboks dominated the Kiwi’s line out at times, stealing four of their throws and denying their rolling maul several times with a well organised defence.
Bench prop Steven Kitshoff confirmed the importance of this aspect of the game when speaking this week. “As a pack of forwards, we are focusing on the execution of our lineouts and mauls and our other strengths which we would like to nail down this week,” shared Kitshoff who with the likes of Malcolm Marx are often required to deliver crucial points and control off the bench.
Some disagree completely with Kirwan about the appropriateness of the Springboks’ game plan. Kiwi journalist Ben Smith, writing on RugbyPass, shared that “last time I looked, a team should always play to its strengths. If that means 10-man rugby or, in the case of the Boks right now, nine-man rugby, then so be it.”
Faf de Klerk is an expert exponent of the box kick. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
But for Kirwan, rugby teams have an obligation that goes beyond the result on the field. “We do have an obligation to the fan, we want to make this game entertaining,” Kirwan explained.
The World Cup winner also believes that Ian Foster should use this opportunity as a chance to give some game time to a few less experienced players. For him, the Championship is won and the trophy assured so why not have half an eye on the future.
“The biggest and most courageous thing to do is to throw some of those young guys out there, here we go boys,” said Kirwan when asked about the All Black’s selection ahead of Saturday’s test.
It would seem that the only way the Boks can start to quieten the questions about “kick gate” is to defeat the All Blacks this weekend. Many still won’t be happy with the tactic, but at least Nienaber can let the scoreboard do the talking.
Kolie Louw
Guest
It seems to me that if Sir John Kirwan can have it his way rugby should become entertaininment in stead of a contest. The same way wrestling went from a contest to WWF.
Rugger
Guest
I personally believe the Boks miss Matfield. He was like a hybrid of John Eales and Martin Johnson, Eales line out prowess, natural talent and athleticism combined with Johnson’s ferocity and renounced leadership. Throw in Bismarck, FDP at half, a centre combination of DeVilliers and Kriel with Habana on a wing. That was one scary side
wre01
Roar Guru
Think Gatland got his selections badly wrong. Don’t think Eddie will be that stupid.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Seems the current Boks wings don't suffer Kirwans bias, nor any of their other players.
Vman2
Roar Rookie
Test rugby has never been about entertaining. It has always been about winning. Any national coach has a single focus. That is to win. Either in this game or if that is simply impossible, then future games. Entertainment simply is not a KPI. Especially at the top of the table. That said, in the professional era things have changed and people are paying to be entertained. However that is the responsibility of the referees and rule makers not the coaches. If kicking away 98% of possession and playing with 9 players is a winning formula for South Africa then I expect nothing less from them. A big IF, but I get it. The problem I have is the 60 minutes of tea brakes, go slows and non existent injuries. But again, if the coach gets away with it, in his single focus of winning, who is really to blame for this? In my view it is very firmly the fault of the referees and other match officials. They need to stamp this out. So yes play a 9 or 10 man game and be boring. You have the right to try that strategy. I hope it fails but you have every right to try it. What we should be focusing on is all the time wasting and we should be coming down hard on the referees, match officials and rules that have allowed this to occur. Rule strongly in favour of the side that is trying to play open, fast and continuous rugby. 20 seconds to throw into a line out and play on while that player is sitting on the ground have a water break. I think, by a scientific miracle, the Spring Bok would suddenly discover they have always had plenty of other DNA at their disposal. Plus this sudden discovery of suppressed DNA would miraculously solve all their injuries in a medical panacea. Win-win.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
I’m starting to think they are the Wallabies of 2015, the difference been RSA managed to avoid the ABs in a knockout game of the 2019 World Cup. Both teams were very successful in the lead up to the WC but the general results over a larger sample size suggested they weren’t as good as they thought they were. Both sides managed to double down on a style without the flexibility to move with the always changing nature of the game. Consistently believing what they were doing was the way forward to sustained success but the reality of things was there never was any sustained success under the method, just a string of positive results over a 10-15 game span where they managed to play the right opponents at the right time. This Rugby Championship might well be the Boks version of the Wallabies 2016 series against England. Like in business adapt of be lapped.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
I thought the SA-Pumas semifinal was quite good. The Boks knew how the Pumas were going to play, waited for them and pounced. It was a good game (Though I still hate Habana from that day on).
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Two things. Kirwan was a wing. He likes to get the ball and run with it. Expectation bias. DNA virus insert themselves into the host DNA and modify it in order to get the host's cells to produce virions. Someone needs to "infect" the Boks with an "options" DNA virus.
Hfunk
Guest
As someone else mentioned on this site a couple of weeks ago, the narrative of forward-dominated, kicking SA teams and skillful, athletic ABs teams has not always been around. I'm a high school teacher and did some research a while back for a unit on the '81 Springbok Tour. I read up on the '56 Tour in order to give my students a sense of the importance of the rivalry. It turns out that the All Blacks were derided as one-dimensional, forward-oriented, quasi-thuggish kick merchants and the Boks were the quick-witted, athletic multi-faceted team with devastating backs that could cut a team to ribbons. So, this whole DNA BS is exactly that, BS. I know I am preaching to the choir here, but this isn't about culture and it certainly isn't about genetics. It's about fear and a lack of imagination. Mix that in with a healthy dose of cynicism regarding cheating (16 penalties conceded by a team that, if you listen to the coach was dominating most aspects of the contest) and you have a pretty toxic mix. I 100% agree that the coaches have no remit to 'entertain' per se. But if you can't achieve your goals without resorting to cheating, time-wasting and cynical play then I don't see the strategy as a legitimate one. Let's see how the Boks go against the All Blacks when they are not allowed to waste minutes at a time with fake injuries, shoelace tying, repairing blood bins on the field, purposefully knocking down the ball, throwing players into the air with no real intention of competing for the ball or any other of the BS time-wasting tactics. Let's see if they can play the game they want to play without cynical manipulation or outright cheating. If they can still do that and win then they absolutely deserve the accolades that will come their way. Until then, they remain a team of also-rans, exposed by anyone with the skill and courage to have a go.
Ash
Roar Rookie
What is it with people who think rugby should be played the way their own country plays? Honestly it’s arrogant and selfish to expect it. I loved JK as a player growing up but this is shoe gazing at its finest. Rugby would be extremely boring if we all played the same way.
pm
Roar Rookie
I'd also be concerned at frustration levels among the forwards, who are winning hard ball only to see it kicked away, thoughtlessly
pm
Roar Rookie
Most boring game i can remember. Or the game i most remember for being boring... More interesting for me to ponder how best to put it than watching it was
Micko
Roar Rookie
I have no memory of that awful 2007 WC Final due to how boring it was. :sick: If everyone played like that then I'd never bother watching the sport full stop as it'd have no appeal to me.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The WC in France in 2007 was a dire affair from the QF on. Something had to change if our showcase was so poor. BTW, I know JK is all about the clicks but what sort of BS is "not within what I would call the values of the game"? Get off your highhorse.
Thumper
Roar Rookie
Played at different levels and ages over the last 45 years, never had a coach tell the team the goal was to "entertain". I'm not defending Nienaber's game plan, but entertainment should be the last thing on any international teams mind, that's for the old boys team.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
I watched a reply of an old 2002 game played between the ABs and Boks recently, brilliant game - fairly low score but every skill in the game utilized by both sides. If they'd swap jerseys at halftime, by style alone no one would have known. It's a shame what happened to Bok Rugby, hopefully no other side chooses to replicate this style. It would be the death of the game watching two sides play like the Boks did in their last outing. Imagine the game stats. Kicks 120 (with neither side willing to run the ball ) Offloads 2 Passes - couple more than kicks. Tacklers beaten o Run meters 100 penalties 60 Seems terribly hard to defend a style if it is dependent on the fact that only one side should play it, or else the game turns into a farce. You couldn't say this for any other style, than that of this current Bok side. Boks need to change style, not just because they're losing games.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Pretty sure they're playing ENG not FRA, shame I'd have loved to have seen them against a full strength French side.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
Sounds eerily similar to another national coach who surpassed expectations at a world cup. He too then proceeded to put his blinkers on and stubbornly continue with a pre-conceived game plan regardless of what the results screamed.
WEST
Roar Guru
Not sure? Have you heard of the term, helicopter parenting? It doesn’t work out so well. But your question is valid as to whether the Springboks are over-reliant on Rassie “knowledge” You would like to believe Jacques is seasoned enough as a coach to be his own man.. There’s certainly a perception that Rassie is overpowering and he’s coaching the team through his proxies. So it’s preventing Jacques and co from stamping their own authority on the team. If his word is “gold” it must be fools gold at the moment
biltong
Guest
No idea mate. I used to wonder about Owen Farrell's finger pull after he kicked a goal, only to find out it was in support of some charity.