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Scott Robertson's view of the Springboks and whether the All Blacks have to emulate them
New All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has offered his view on whether the All Blacks have to change and become like the Springboks in order to win World Cups again.
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South Africa claimed a fourth men’s Rugby World Cup title after defeating the All Blacks 12-11 in the final last year after goal kicking misses left points on the pitch in a tight affair.
Former All Black Sir John Kirwan said that the Springboks had completely “changed the way they play” just to win World Cups.
While Robertson stopped short of saying the All Blacks had to change everything and follow South Africa’s approach, the new All Blacks head coach said he wants the team to evolve in order to win in multiple ways.
“Test football is a game of strength, the World Cup is a game of finals and strengths,” Robertson told Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.
“That’s what they [Springboks] play too. They are a great defensive side, great kicking side, great set-piece side, and they kick the goals to win.
“The majority of major events with ‘kicking’ involved, finish with a kick to win it. Soccer, [American] football, rugby, league, the critical ones are won from the foot.
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“And they won it off the foot. They made the kicks. Incredibly tight margins at that level, they went back to what they were good at, and that’s the shape of the game.
“The big part for me this year is to win and evolve, so we can win in two to three different ways. That’s the key to bringing success over a four-year period.”
The champion Crusaders coach listed winning in wet conditions, winning away from home in different environments as key milestones to tick off, while embedding the “game management” understanding within the team.
Robertson wants different defensive structures for the different opponents the All Blacks will face, which will likely take time to master.
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The new head coach was optimistic about the squad he has inherited after having the chance to work with the players in January in camp.
“We’ve got a great balance of players that are in their late 20s that have been there and done it,” Robertson explained.
“We know that every World Cup cycle you are going to lose, guys are going to move on, that’s part of it.
“We’ve got a great group that are still hungry. Haven’t quite got there but know and experienced it, care deeply about the All Blacks.
“There is a young group coming through that are ready to take that opportunity as well.”
…I must say, you AB’s have developed a mean chip on the shoulder . Yikes !!
ABs defense is top notch. When was the last time the Boks scored more tries than NZ in a game of rugby where 15 men played against 15?
rugby’s biggest issue is the officiating and the appalling nonsense around Red Cards.
I’m not sure fiddling with different defensive structures for different opponents is the right noise coming from Razor. I think nailing one is the way to go. There were a few criticisms levelled against the ABs defensive systems that had not evolved very much “since Smiths days”.
The ABs have always been a team to win by scoring tries. And plenty of them. Home or away, wet or dry. In sickness and in health. That’s their DNA and that needs to be the focus.
All Blacks should just stick with what they do best. They have the players and right mentality and its a young squad. They will be right up there in 4 years and they have a good proactive coach now
The way Razor is being hyped up will leave some fans disappointed this year. So much pressure before he has even started, keep in mind Super Rugby is not the same as international rugby
The Boks outstanding win in the RWC was against France. I think only the Boks could have beaten England and NZ after that, so won it the hard way.
That said the ridiculous draw and scheduling made the winner out of the Top4 more of a lottery than it should have been (eg England could have and arguably should have beaten the Boks, which is ridiculous). If England beat the Boks, NZ win. If Ireland aren’t scheduled to play Scotland 7 days before NZ, do Ireland win the QTR?
Too much of a lottery with the bad draw and scheduling.
As an Irish supporter I accept a better team (on the night) eliminated us in the QTR. Can we all pressure the powers that be to have a balanced draw AND schedule from now on?
Diplomatic from the AB coach. He knows the Boks prefer to play without the ball and are a limited team outside the pack. Boks were winners of the LOTTO Cup, they’ll be handed their lollies by Ireland and ABs again. Couldnt score 1 try against 14 men, didnt even come close. Ireland spanked them, again, and Boks only scored from an obvious forward pass.
oh please please give us another quote from Jeffrey Wilson, “boks gonna fake an injury to one of their 4 half-backs, send him home and bring Pollard in” haha. Nobody picks 4 half-backs
Bula
So he's more or less saying if the Abs had world class goal kickers they would hold the world cup? The Boks only lost to Ireland because their sharpshooters had a ridiculously bad day with the boot,they had the best goal kicking in the tournament which in the end was the difference that won it for them.
If you don’t have to change everything and follow South Africa’s approach, then why would there be a need to “evolve in order to win in multiple ways”???
Just more gaslighting than hot air.