When the Springboks raced into a 22-0 lead against the Wallabies last Saturday, the immediate reaction was widespread adulation on social media, with many supporters quickly claiming that there was no doubt that South Africa remained the No 1 team in world rugby.
And then, it all went in a different direction.
Over the next 60 minutes, as the Wallabies mounted a famous comeback – scoring 38 unanswered points – suddenly all that praise for the Springboks turned to fierce criticism as they effectively ran themselves off their feet, while making an inordinate number of basic errors.
Although the Springboks have made it clear that they’re looking to evolve their attack, Rassie Erasmus has openly admitted that they overplayed their hand at Ellis Park, with a fast and loose style of play ultimately leading the hosts to become the architects of their own demise.
It’s not to say the Springboks will now completely abandon offensive attempts to use the full width of the field, but there is a need to balance pace of play with precision on attack. In short, and to use an old cliche, it’s about ‘earning the right to go wide’.
With experienced generals Handre Pollard and Willie le Roux back at the helm at 10 and 15 respectively, and with some wet weather forecast for Saturday, the Springboks will go back to basics and a more traditional DNA this weekend, which includes a return to a 6-2 split on the bench.
“We feel we need that in this game (a 6-2 substitutes strategy),” Erasmus said this week. “At altitude, we thought running all over would tire their legs but we got that totally wrong and maybe outsmarted ourselves. They really played clever.
“The 6-2 points more to a grind than a running game, and I think the weather will also not allow us just to run around.”
Springboks need to bounce back in Cape Town
Rassie Erasmus and attack coach Tony Brown are fully aware that the Springboks have to find a better balance with their ball-in-hand evolution.
“Tony was 100% in agreement that we didn’t employ the kick-to-ruck strategy enough. Tony was saying the whole time, ‘boys, we’re overplaying, we’re overplaying,” Erasmus commented.
“It’s not Tony’s fault that we overplayed. It was more a case of the guys seeing opportunities.. but Australia’s defensive system is such that you constantly feel something’s on (to attack).”
What were your thoughts on the latest performance?
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