SPRINGBOKS HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE
WORLD Rugby chief Brett Gosper said there would be no change to the hard line on high tackles at the Rugby World Cup and that the number of red cards would decrease once players changed their behaviour.
There were seven red cards shown in the pool phase of this year’s tournament compared to one in 2015 and two each at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
Most have been for tackles that made contact with an opponent’s head, an offence World Rugby is determined to remove from the game because of the potential for impact-related concussion.
“If there have been red cards shown, it’s because there are big issues around player welfare due to foul play whether it’s intentional or unintentional,” Gosper told reporters yesterday.
“And we’ll drive that hard line to protect the players and we’ll see diminishing red cards because the behaviour of players and coaches will change over time.
“We’re willing to risk some outcomes or debates to ensure we police that properly. That’s the direction of travel,” he added.
The loss of a player to a red card can have a major impact on a team’s chances of winning a match, particularly if it happens early on.
Gosper said that systems like that used in Australia’s National Rugby League, where offending players are placed “on report” but remain on the pitch had been considered in various committees.
“The feeling is that it’s right to punish the team despite the (imbalance) that might be created in the match at that time,” he said.
“There are some unions with strong opinions on that both ways. The feeling is that this is one of the things that upholds the values of the game.
“And the team should take that punishment as well as the player.
“Certainly the red cards are there to protect the players and we think that behaviour is changing and coaching is changing to adapt to that new reality,” Gosper said.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said he thought the referees had done a good job since the first weekend of the tournament, after which the governing body made a statement apologising for the low standard of officiating at the outset. ARE YOU a Springbok fan worried about Japan’s high-tempo attacking game? No need to fret, the Boks have got that covered, according to centre Lukhanyo Am.
Japan have been in superb form during the World Cup, having won all four of their pool games against Ireland, Scotland, Samoa and Russia.
Their offloading game combined with their dangerous backs have been one of the treats of the World Cup, but Am is confident that the Boks have good plans in place to keep the high-flying hosts in check when they meet them in their quarter-final contest on Sunday.
“We know Japan is a side that can keep the ball, and they want to improve their ball-in-play (time). We will counter that with all our plans in place.
“The Japanese move the ball quite a lot and their tempo is pretty high. We have been training hard at high tempo, so whatever they bring at us, we will be prepared for it.”
The Boks beat Japan 41-7 in their final World Cup warm-up, and while many will say the scored flattered the South Africans, it will still have served as a positive for the Springboks following what happened in Brighton at the last World Cup.
Japan’s style was highlighted in that game as well, but it’s seemed to have become better in every game during the pool stages.
While Am had words of praise for their opposition, he said the Boks will adapt when they need The referees were named for this weekend’s quarter-finals yesterday with Welshman Nigel Owens taking the whistle for New Zealand’s clash with Ireland in Tokyo.
Frenchman Jerome Garces will take charge of England’s clash with Australia in Oita, while South African Jaco Peyper was awarded the Wales against France match-up and Englishman Wayne Barnes will officiate the Japan versus South Africa
encounter. to, adding that whichever team handles the pressure best will be successful.
“When we played them four weeks back, it was a warm-up game and less pressure on both sides. We’ve seen how they’ve grown in the past four Tests they’ve played.
“Going into this Test, we will adjust where we can. The team that controls the pressure will come out top.”
Meanwhile, Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick added that while dealing with Japan’s passionate crowd will be “tough”, he also took some comfort in how the locals have supported them until now.
“Playing against the host nation, we know they are going to be playing with a lot of passion, and the supporters are going to be behind them.
“We could hear the vibe at the stadium at Yokohama (for Japan against Scotland) when watching on TV. It’s going to be a tough challenge. But the people of Japan have also been good to us. We’ve been here for more than six weeks, and the hospitality since we arrived in Kagoshima, the people have been supportive.
“They are at the airports with banners and signs for the players. I saw with Kwagga Smith, in one of the cities we’ve been to, there were lots of signs and banners written about Kwagga.
“I also saw some funny images where Kwagga had his own supporters club, where his face was on the jersey. That shows we also managed to get a good support base in Japan.”