Neil de Kock: Springboks will target Wallabies in same areas as All Blacks
It’s difficult to assess the evolution of the Springbok attack owing to the fact that the British & Irish Lions series wasn’t conducive to attacking rugby. While it may be tough to gauge where South Africa are at on an offensive front, one aspect which they have improved is their counter-attacking ability.
Since returning to the national set-up after working for one season under former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, Mzwandile Stick has grown into his role of backline and skills coach. With a background in Sevens, I would definitely say Stick’s value is from an attacking and counter-attacking point of view. The Springboks counter-attack really well from turnovers and feed off the mistakes that they force opposing teams into making rather than employing a multi-phase attacking strategy.
I feel for the Wallabies because I expect the Springboks to follow on from where the All Blacks left off in terms of punishing them from turnovers. Contrary to public opinion, I believe the pressure to win for the Wallabies far outweighs their desire to entertain. I definitely don’t think they are going out there just to look good.
Dave Rennie’s men are playing with ambition and creating opportunities, but what is evident is that they need to marry their attacking endeavour with a strong defence. If they are to re-emerge as a dominant force in world rugby – akin to the Wallaby teams of the early 2000s – they need to cut down on said turnovers and limit their mistakes.
When I played for the Springboks against the Wallabies in 2002 their backline comprised: Gregan, Larkham, Mortlock, Herbert, Burke, Tune and Latham. By all accounts, Australia have never been short of great athletes, but the personnel I played against were so hard to beat because they boasted combinations for days. The aforementioned backline – from the golden era of Australian rugby – was potent and became experienced but, unlike the current Wallaby outfit, they possessed a forward pack to match.
The Wallaby class of 2021 are in a building phase and there are young guys on the block. The players I faced were experienced and played a lot of Test rugby by the time they finished. The Wallabies are trying to get onto the same page now with regards to bringing through the personnel. However, there is no substitute for experience.
The mooted return of James O’Connor from injury, coupled with Quade Cooper’s presence in the wider playing group is of value to Australia because both are senior players still at the top of their game. For the Springboks, who have forged an experienced side since last facing the Wallabies in Australia in 2018, the return of Duane Vermeulen and Faf de Klerk from injury will aid and abet their cause. While Jasper Wiese and Cobus Reinach served as able deputies, the presence of Vermeulen and De Klerk will make the Boks an even tougher proposition.
The Wallabies are currently chasing the game they want to play and in many ways I don’t believe they are very far off. They play incredibly expansive rugby and, while it is very entertaining from a neutral perspective, there were definitely times against the All Blacks in last weekend’s Test when they needed to kick in order to get into better parts of the field and give themselves more suitable options. They needed to buy themselves time with the boot.
However, they were running from everywhere – even their own goal-line – which is a recipe for disaster against teams like the All Blacks and Springboks. When you attack as much as Australia do, you are always going to be vulnerable somewhere in defence.
While the All Blacks exploited a lack of numbers on the blindside, I wouldn’t say it’s a particular area to attack the Wallaby defence. You rather want to force Australia into chancing their hand by attacking like they have been and then feed off the turnovers they offer.
While the Wallabies still need to find the right formula in terms of a holistic game plan under Rennie, they certainly won’t want to get into an arm-wrestle with Jacques Nienaber’s charges. The Springboks have set their stall out by selecting an incredible forward pack. With only two backs on the bench in a 6/2 split, it’s clear that South Africa will look to physically dominate Australia upfront.
I don’t foresee the Australians deviating from their game plan of speeding up the play and moving the ball around. They simply don’t want the game to slow down to a degree where they are playing the Springboks at their best. The Springboks will attempt to arm-wrestle, maul and scrum the Wallabies into submission and make use of their imposing physicality and water-tight defence. As such, it promises to be a battle of contrasting styles in the 89th Test match between the two nations.
Following an 11-year career with Saracens, which saw him earn 264 caps, Neil de Kock now works in the rugby division at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport in South Africa. De Kock, who featured in 10 Test matches for the Springboks, provides RugbyPass with expert opinion and insight focusing on the southern hemisphere sides.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments