They lost, but Marseille showed Boks the way forward
IF the Springboks save what was started in Marseille to a possible next meeting against the French in the knock-outs of next year’s Rugby World Cup, they will be blowing a great chance to put themselves in the pound seats in their quest to retain the trophy they won in Japan.
Perhaps it was the red card shown to Pieter-Steph du Toit early in the game at a raucous Stade Velodrome in Marseille that pushed Siya Kolisi’s team towards producing under pressure the approach that could significantly strengthen their arsenal when they return to French shores 10 months from now.
Or perhaps it was always intended. I lean towards the latter, for the Boks did telegraph their intent to run the French kicks back at them during the build-up week. Why they’d be so vocal about it is anyone’s guess (what has happened to setting your opponents up?), but while the French appeared shocked when the Bok back three ran back at them and speeded things up by taking quick throws, it shouldn’t have been a shock to those of us who’d listened to the likes of Kurt-Lee Arendse in online media conferences.
UNIQUE FRENCH STYLE DEMANDED SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Head coach Jacques Nienaber said it at the team announcement press conference - the French are unique opponents and they’d demand something different from the Boks. Both Du Toit and Arendse followed up the following day by saying this would be a game where the Boks couldn’t bank on the physical superiority they usually do and would also have to think on the hoof as they’d only know on the day what the French would throw at them.
As it turned out the Boks did win the physical battle, but they lost the war. That war would probably not have been lost though were it not for Du Toit’s red card. Yes, the French also had a red card later, but the early one that consigns a team to playing more than 70 minutes with 14 men is always the most impactful.