Boks’ defence hailed by White
WE ARE UNMATCHED IN THAT AREA
The Springboks are slowly regaining their proud status in world rugby because they have gone back to their traditional strengths by basing their game on a suffocating defensive pattern, according to former Bok coach Jake White.
It was this defence that earned them a recent win against New Zealand in Wellington and against Australia in Port Elizabeth, and it could again be their biggest weapon when they face the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
“The Boks are on the up and it’s fantastic to see,” White wrote in his column on AllOutRugby.com.
“What has really been pleasing to me is that we’re not being seduced into running from everywhere anymore. South Africa is again seeing that defence is the cornerstone of winning Test matches.”
While it was a concern that the Boks were worse off when it came to possession and territory against both the All Blacks and the Wallabies, White believed it was sometimes better to play without the ball in hand.
“Defensively, South Africa have never been matched by anyone. Generally, people would say the Boks are known for aggressive and organised defence,” White added.
“Across all eras and all the way down to most schoolboy sides, we field teams with really good tacklers and defenders.”
While the Boks had lost four of their nine Tests this year, the match against Wales in Washington and the dead rubber third Test against England in Cape Town were with weakened and experimental squads.
“We’ve beaten the All Blacks, Wallabies and England this year, all on the back of defence.
“The Boks were 24-0 behind against England, and 12-0 down against New Zealand, and we tackled our way to victory, but this doesn’t mean we haven’t played rugby.”
According to White, the perception was that the Kiwis were all about attack, but the reality was that they were experts at turning defence into tries.
“The Boks are starting to get good at doing the same thing, and that’s very encouraging.
“Winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has scored six tries in eight Tests and it’s not because we’re running from everywhere.”