JDV: Japan 2015 victim has a word of warning for the Springboks
South Africa need to surprise Rugby World Cup hosts this weekend with variety if they are to win their quarter-final clash against the hosts in Tokyo on Sunday, believes former captain Jean de Villiers.
De Villiers was a guest on PRO14 Rugby’s podcast Under the Sticks where he said while it seemed the Boks had picked a side filled with power, they need to concentrate on variety to surprise the host nation on Sunday.
De Villiers was the captain of the Bok team that famously lost to Japan in Brighton, but said a loss to the host nation this weekend wouldn’t be considered one of the most famous upsets of the game because of the way Japan had progressed since then.
“You can tell a lot by the way the side has been picked. It is the same team that has played against Italy and certainly the approach there was to go in with a very physical game plan and overpower the opposition, which they did,” De Villiers said.
“It was probably the best showing from the Boks through the World Cup and they were angry, angry in defence, hitting guys back in the tackles and on the attack also being able to get that momentum. Against the All Blacks they were able to do it for a short period of time, but probably not getting the results they wanted and I suppose the points’ dominance they wanted given their physical dominance.
“Japan will be a similar challenge. They are a team that can really hold onto the ball for a lot of phases and you really need to starve them of possession and make them tackle and score points while doing that. It makes for a great game, and it will be quite a physical approach from the South Africans – a lot of mauling, a strong scrum and then getting dominance from the ball carriers to put pressure on the Japanese defence.”
De Villiers said the key was not to be “predictable” when facing Japan this weekend.
‘Alleviating pressures is really important. It’s a hell of a complex job to create a winning, competitive environment’
– Former @AllBlacks Wayne Smith tells @JLyall93 about coaching and culture in Japan where @rugbyworldcup has captured hearts and mindshttps://t.co/Z4Qi0q8ZoI— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
“They certainly won’t expect to go into this game and be predictable. You have got to have variety. Otherwise Japan will just chop them down at the legs, compete at the breakdown and look for turnovers. It is important to have those big runners, but also to have variety on the outside and to shift the contact point,” he explained.
“If you don’t have that it becomes very predictable and in times in the past we have found ourselves wanting because we just do that and there is no other plan to fall back on. I would like to see a bit more variety from the Boks. Yes, we want physical but also subtle touches and a little bit of a change to how we attack as well.”
De Villiers praised Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and said the experience he absorbed in his time with Munster changed his outlook for the game, and his time in PRO14 Rugby certainly ensured he became a better coach.
RugbyPass sifts through the Ireland wreckage following a torrid night in Tokyo, an elimination that was promised would not be repeated after mistakes were identified in 2015https://t.co/VzQ9eGwBIl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
“People underestimate the value he got from going to Munster and spending time away from South Africa in a totally different environment with different players and guys who look at the game a bit differently.
“He brought that back to South Africa and became a much better coach. Rassie has always been the kind of guy who has the ability to be a world class coach and when he was coaching us at the Stormers he was brilliant for us, but I think going into a new environment and learning from that has been good for him.
“What he has done is change everything around. He is meticulous in his planning and you see this puzzle fall into place. All his planning was done way before the World Cup, he studies the game and he has a good team around him and they are getting the best out of the players. It is a happy environment and once you have a coach who gives confidence to the squad, you get the results.”
A real head-scratcher. #ENGvAUS https://t.co/AUXeDNJbHG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
De Villiers said Japan’s progress puts the “Brighton Miracle” defeat in context and showed they aren’t a Tier two nation anymore.
“In a way it puts that result in context now, and I’m not alone anymore. It was a shock but I think now we have all realised that if that happens again it won’t be a shock anymore. They have shown they are contenders on the world stage and they aren’t a tier two nation anymore.
“They can compete with the best and can do it on a consistent basis now, and that is great for World Rugby. We felt bad and felt terrible for disappointing people but now looking back you take it on the chin. Credit to them for the progress they have made.”
The two sides meet in the final Rugby World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
– Brenden Nel/PRO14
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments