Victor Matfield is inspired to see the Springboks experiment on assault, however believes it’s within the DNA of the world champions to make use of a set-piece dominant gameplan.
The Boks’ energy lies of their physicality and abrasive fashion, which has made them back-to-back world champs. Nonetheless, in Saturday’s win towards Eire at Loftus Versfeld, the South Africans opted for a extra expansive and offloading technique.
Rassie Erasmus’ troops squeaked residence after they turned to the ability of their Bomb Squad, which yielded a pivotal 78th-minute penalty strive from a five-metre scrum.
Talking on the newest episode of Sky Sport NZ’s ‘The Breakdown’ with All Blacks icons John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina, former Bok Matfield highlighted the affect of Kiwi Tony Brown as a part of Erasmus’ backroom employees whereas addressing a few of World Rugby’s legislation modifications from 2024.
“Tony Brown coming in, [there’s] positively extra width to our sport and assault and enjoying a little bit extra in our personal half as properly,” the 127-Check World Cup winner mentioned.
“Simply after half time I assumed we overplayed a little bit bit; being up by 5 factors we most likely can be higher being a bit extra conservative, kicking into their 22 and making an attempt to get that turnover.
“Positively one thing new and that’s what’s good, Rassie may be very open with that. I believe we began very conservatively in 2018, 2019 earlier than that World Cup.
“Then a man like Manie Libbok got here in simply earlier than the [2023] World Cup and we performed a little bit in a different way, and now Tony Brown coming in as attacking coach there’s positively one thing else to the Boks as properly. We carry on growing our play.”
Groups now not having the choice to decide on a scrum from a free-kick has been interpreted as an try to restrict the affect of scrums within the worldwide sport, particularly because it comes after the Boks used the set piece as a weapon to efficiently defend South Africa’s World Cup title final yr.
“When you take a look at the principles I believe there’s solely two which have a big effect; one is you possibly can’t go to scrum off a free-kick and that’s solely as soon as, perhaps twice a sport that you may’t go to a scrum and also you’d reasonably have a fast faucet,” Matfield added.
“However once more, when you’ve got large robust ball carriers that may get you over the benefit line you need to use that as properly.
“We’re not a staff that basically kicks lengthy, we kick principally contestables [so] I believe that complete factor with guys who can’t advance … It doesn’t actually play that large an element in South African rugby, it’s extra the French who like a protracted kicking sport.
“We go extra for the contestables, we like that and need to play off these turnovers. So I don’t suppose the legal guidelines will make a giant distinction.
“I noticed [on Saturday] once more the followers love a giant maul and a giant scrum – it was the largest cheer once we received that penalty strive from a giant scrum.
“That’s the fashion we wish to play, that’s our DNA and I don’t suppose we’ll go away from that.”
Photograph: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Pictures
