Jake White: What we now know about the Springboks camp
You want to know what I think about that France South Africa game? Three words. Wow. Wow. Wow. It was simply unbelievable.
All along, I have been speaking about the fact that the World Cup has the capacity to surprise us with its twists and turns and that game certainly delivered. It’s a wow to the South African rugby union for giving Rassie what he wanted, with Jacques Nienaber installed as his head coach. The second wow is over selection. It proved you can’t buy experience and they held their nerve. It takes guts to resist the public clamour for Handre Pollard to start and instead select Libbok but they did it.
You also have to say wow that they resisted the opportunity to bring another hooker in after Malcolm Marx’s injury and backed two flankers to play hooker. You look back at the last 18 months. There have been subtle changes to the squad. They’ve bought in new guys like Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damien Willemse and changed settled combinations. They didn’t bow to pressure and stuck to what they believed in. That comes with risks because if you err, you go backwards.
An example is the Wallabies. That youthful selection for the World Cup backfired miserably for them. I think Wales lost on the weekend against Argentina because they didn’t have the likes of Alun Wyn Jones or Justin Tipuric on the field. They were comfortably winning that game but didn’t have that experience in the final quarter. I’m not pointing the finger, but nous is key in knockout rugby.
I must stress how important it is having the backing of your bosses. By giving Rassie what he wanted, it imbued a collective belief in what they were trying to achieve. I remember Clive Woodward saying after he’d won the World Cup, that he wasn’t backed by the powers that be at Twickenham. Every time he talked to them about more support, they said, ‘We’re not going to give you what you want’. When the administrators back their coaches it makes a real difference. If the coach didn’t feel supported, there’s no way he would have made those calls – and I speak from experience, I can tell you.
When it comes to the players, I can’t give them enough praise. They put in some heroic performances. Damien de Allende carried hard and true, Cheslin Kolbe played with skill and intelligence and Eben Etzebeth played with his usual physicality and aggression. One of the more unsung heroes is Jesse Kriel. He played one of his best games in what has been a strong World Cup for him. Inexperienced coaches may have said, ‘Let’s pick Lukhanyo (Am)’, but by sticking to their guns, it sent out such a stronger message to the group. ‘We know what we’re doing. You have to trust us’. I’m not surprised they didn’t make changes to their selection for the weekend, those players deserved to start.
All sporting teams try to create a dynasty and prolonged success and this Bok side is no different. When the All Blacks dominated, they had books written about them, lauding their culture and environment. The Boks, hopefully, have two games for a shot at immortality.
What is interesting is how the whole narrative has changed from, ‘Is it possible to beat the home nation’ to, ‘have South Africa already played their final?’
Emotion in sport can’t be underestimated. Four years ago, no one gave England a chance against New Zealand, but they hit the perfect emotional tempo and won the Test match but they couldn’t back it up against the Boks. There are still 14 members of the squad involved in that 2019 World Cup final still in camp. This is not novices against experience; it’s experience against experience. What favours the Boks is they still have the continuity that comes with not changing their entire coaching staff 10 months out from the tournament.
Regarding tactics, South Africa will be hoping England stick to their kick-chase game that was similar to the Boks in 2019. Do that and I don’t see them troubling the Boks. This is where England’s coaching staff come into play. If Steve Borthwick is brave enough to try something different, and it comes off, they have a puncher’s chance. If they don’t bring anything new to the table, their chances of winning lessen.
It’s a shame Marcus Smith has been ruled out with concussion because no one expected him to play at 15 and be used as an attacking weapon against some of the finest athletes in the world game. It was a hell of a brave selection and Borthwick will need more of those. That’s the kind of leftfield thinking England need to beat South Africa.
They’ve picked Joe Marler over Ellis Genge to try and get some stability in the scrum early on and will have more mobile, ball-playing props in the second half with Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler. They’ve also got Danny Care and George Ford to come off the bench to match up with Faf (de Klerk) and Handre (Pollard). England were being written off to even exit their pool, and that motivation to prove people wrong is something they’re embracing. It drives them. To go from being beaten by Fiji in front of their home crowd at Twickenham to being the only unbeaten side in the competition is something no one foresaw at this stage of the tournament.
The fixture has a rich history. If you go all the way back to the start of professionalism and Nick Mallett’s tenure, there’s always been enough needle that they don’t need to press many buttons to fire up the players. England stopped South Africa from breaking the world record of consecutive games won when Gary Teichmann’s side seemed almost invincible. Flip it and you have the five drop-kicks from Jannie de Beer in the 1999 quarter-final. Few Bok fans will forget the 53-3 humbling in 2002, when Jannes Labuschagne got sent off, under Rudolf Straueli.
Since professionalism, England haven beaten the Boks on 13 occasions, going unbeaten between 2000 and 2006 and Rassie knows that. He won’t be underestimating them and nor should the Boks fans. These games have always delivered and thrown up unforgettable moments.
Indeed, when I was in charge, we beat them 58-10 and 55-22 in the summer of 2007, which was a massive boost going into the Rugby World Cup that year, and we beat them 36-0 in the Pool stages, but that final was very tight and we only just came through. There are warning signs if the Boks are complacent. This England side don’t have their L-Plates on. Okay, they don’t have a Martin Johnson, a Lawrence Dallaglio or a Jonny Wilkinson, so they will have to play differently to what we saw in 2003 and 2007, but if they’re bold they could surprise people who have already inked the Boks into the final next weekend.
In that vein, I read what Ian Foster said to the All Blacks just before the Ireland game. The message was, ‘Don’t die wondering. Make sure you give yourselves a chance’. That has to be England’s motto for the weekend. They have to be brave in every aspect; brave in physicality, brave in style, brave in the decisions they make. In essence, they have to play the perfect game.
This is an England side who will want to succeed for English rugby, which has had a tough time of late. Three of their storied clubs disappeared last season, some are fighting for survival and players have been forced to find clubs outside England. A win would serve as a massive fillip after a troubling period.
What will be interesting is who the French fans will back. They don’t usually support England, but they’re still smarting with the Boks for beating them, and depending on who they back, it could lift either side.
I’m coaching the Bulls and we’re facing Saracens in the Investec Cup. If you look at the spine of that side, it’s tasted continued success. Jamie George, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola and Elliot Daly all know how to win. Many sports teams never win a thing, but you can’t say that about this English team. Of course, I expect the Boks to win, but it might be closer than many people think.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
53 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
53 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
53 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
53 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
53 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
53 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
53 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
53 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
53 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
53 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
53 Go to comments