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Springboks won't change, All Blacks have players to beat them - Nick Evans

By Chris Jones
Beauden Barrett palms off Cheslin Kolbe /Getty

Former All Black Nick Evans, whose attacking expertise helped guide Harlequins to a stunning Gallagher Premiership title success last season, predicts the Springboks will not change their controversial style before defending the Rugby World Cup title in France in 2023 and is confident New Zealand have the keys to beat the most dominant team in the sport.

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The Springboks are either the best team in world rugby having increased their lead at the top of the rankings with successive wins over Argentina after defeating the British and Irish Lions 2-1, or the chief exponents of a brand of rugby that is boring and nearly put Ian Foster, the All Blacks head coach, to sleep.

Thanks to the impact of COVID-19, the Rugby Championship has been moved en bloc to Queensland which means the 100th meeting between the Springboks and All Blacks will now take place on September 25 at the 25,000 seater stadium in Townsville. This is the match that will help settle the debate over the way the Springboks play the game.

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Evans said: “Do I think South Africa will keep playing this style of rugby up to the next World Cup in 2023 in France? Yes, I do because it is their identity and I can’t see why it wouldn’t be sustainable because they are the best at it. It is up to other teams to try and break that down which is what we want. We want clashes of different styles and I know South African fans who look at the way their team plays and say “ that is South Africa” – bullish, physical and if you don’t turn up you will get run over and beaten up. That’s brilliant.

“If the Springboks were to try and change then someone would have to come in change the alignment of the coaching throughout South African rugby. I do think that the All Blacks have the keys to break down the Springboks who, because of their line speed in defence, do get narrow and if you can get parity at the break down and quick ball then there will be space in the wider channels.

“The thing about the All Blacks is that they are so ruthless around when the opportunity comes along to attack but prior to that they are very patient and stay within their attacking shape. New Zealand are the most ruthless team in the sport at exploiting attacking opportunities and one of Richie Mo’unga’s strengths is his ability to patiently wait for the opportunity and then make the right decision. When Finn Russell came on for the Lions in the final test he created space and a two on one. New Zealand play with speed in terms of decision making and when Russell executed quickly we saw him make an impact and I would like to think the All Blacks can do that a lot quicker than the Lions.

“If you get the opportunity to split the field against South Africa then all of sudden line speed in defence is not as effective. That is why they kick from No9 into the 15m channel because to come off an edge there is so hard. New Zealand have the players to beat South Africa and it will come down to matching them at the set piece and in physicality. If they can create four or five more unstructured opportunities than the Lions did, that will suit them.”

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Evans, 41-years-old, was capped 16 times by the All Blacks before becoming the most influential outside half to ever pull on a Quins jersey and he is now building a reputation as an attack coach that will, inevitably, lead him into an international role. Evans said: “I admire the Springboks because they are the world champions and are successful at what they do and to beat the Lions is no mean feat in itself. I admire the way they execute their plan and there is a total buy-in by everyone and they are very well coached.

“Personally, I don’t want to see all teams playing the same way and one of the great things about the Premiership- which isn’t talked about enough – is there are a of different styles in the competition. We have a very clear idea of why we kick to create a transition opportunity because we are the best the league at doing that. Our style suits our personnel and the characters we have in the club and is aligned to our identity, vision and purpose in terms of entertainment and inspiring people. That is how we play.

“We have to be very physical at the break down because teams will try and slow down our ball and we understand that will be the case. The public want entertainment but we are judged on results. The No1 team in the world plays a certain style of rugby and the second best something different. “

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Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

18 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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