The All Blacks are priority number one for the Boks
The Springboks will likely send an ‘A’ team to New Zealand with a split squad strategy in this year’s Rugby Championship for one very specific reason.
This is because the All Black scalp holds utmost importance for the Springboks, out of self-interest above anything else.
It is the tonic for South African rugby to alleviate any public pressure and has the desired impact of fuelling the confidence level of the side.
The Springbok brains trust knows this having seen the impact of the 2018 win in Wellington, which was deemed the catalyst for a belief shift within the squad.
Quite quickly the sub-par losses against Argentina and Australia from the previous two Tests were forgotten and the Springboks were deemed ‘contenders’ again.
The narrative around the Boks quickly changed and ultimately became a self-fulfilling prophecy despite Erasmus finishing with a worse record than Allister Coetzee in his first year at the helm.
It is an inconvenient truth but the history books show Erasmus with a 50 per cent win rate in 2018 and Coetzee with 54 per cent the year before. The Springboks lost four tests in 2017 and seven in 2018.
But there are two major differences not accounted for on the face value of the records, under Coetzee the defeats the Boks took were too lopsided at times and they were shamed against New Zealand.
Coetzee lost all four Tests against the All Blacks, in 2016 by 41-13 in Christchurch and a record home loss of 57-15 in Durban.
In 2017 they were demoralised 57-0 in the first Test in Albany before rebounding for a tight 25-24 loss at Ellis Park.
Under Erasmus and Nienaber the Springboks have never been embarrassed by New Zealand and have been in every contest played. They also have not been blown off the park in any Test the way that Coetzee’s Boks were.
In the eight Tests played between South African and New Zealand since 2018, four have been decided by two points. The All Blacks have won four, lost three and one draw has been shared.
It is vital for the Springboks to be competitive against New Zealand and Erasmus and Nienaber know this.
Doing so provides the coaching staff immunity and has the add-on effect of galvanising the squad and supporter base. Even if they lose to a second-rate Test side, beating the All Blacks brings back hope.
The current head coach and Director of Rugby were members of the 2011 coaching staff under Pieter de Villiers that learnt a valuable lesson.
In that World Cup year, they sent a ‘B’ side to New Zealand who were slaughtered as expected by 40-7 in Wellington.
South Africa’s lone win of that Tri-Nations came when New Zealand reciprocated their generosity and sent a ‘B’ side to Port Elizabeth.
Despite that, the Springboks did not have any momentum, finishing last in the Tri-Nations after also being swept by Australia.
The ageing 2011 Bok side were sent packing by Australia in the quarter-final of the World Cup, at the same stadium their ‘B’ side had been put to the sword in the Tri-Nations.
It was a big mistake to not pay appropriate consideration to the Tri-Nations and use the opportunity to knock-off the top dog at the time on home soil.
Erasmus and co opted to change this approach in 2019 before the Rugby World Cup in Japan by sending the top squad out to New Zealand while the second string side stayed home to play Australia.
They beat the Wallabies comfortably at home and drew with New Zealand away to set up the run into the Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks must find a similar results over both Tests in the Rugby Championship to reinforce the side’s momentum after losses to France and Ireland at the end of 2022.
Losing to Eddie Jones and the Wallabies at home is an unacceptable proposition, but they absolutely must push the All Blacks all the way.
Those two Tests will set up the Springboks’ year for success or failure, but particularly the All Blacks Test.
It is the ‘fix-all’ tonic the Boks crave, the shot of ‘dutch courage’ to invigorate their World Cup hopes.
The fact is every failed World Cup campaign by South Africa has ended in defeat to either Australia or New Zealand.
No other nation has knocked out the Springboks of a World Cup, which highlights how important the close foes are to South Africa.
If they flail in July they will fail in October, which is why the A squad will be given ample time to prepare for the All Blacks in New Zealand.
It is a necessity for the Springboks to put up a strong showing.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments