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The reasons why England admit Springboks pack has grown since 2019
The Springboks will arrive at Twickenham this Saturday having only played a dozen matches since being crowned World Cup winners in November 2019, but England assistant Matt Proudfoot has claimed this South African pack – which now includes Ox Nche – has grown in the two years since then despite their limited number of matches.
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Proudfoot was part of the Springboks staff that helped Siya Kolisi and co go all the way to glory in Japan and while he has since worked with England in their 18 games in 2020 and 2021, he believes there has been an evolution in the South Africans since the last meeting between the two countries.
Jacques Nienaber is now the Springboks head coach and while he will go into battle this Saturday at Twickenham with five of the same starting pack that won the day in Yokohama, England scrum coach Proudfoot reckoned the visitors’ forwards now pose an even greater threat than at the finals 24 months ago.
“They have grown, Ox Nche has been a revelation for them coming in and taking the starting loosehead position from the Beast [Tendai Mtawarira],” he insisted when asked to compare the then and now Springboks packs. “A very different player. He has got a very different skillset.
“If you look at the bomb squad that comes on with Steven (Kitshoff) and Malcolm (Marx), they have just grown in confidence, they know their role and they are very comfortable in their role so they have become a lot more experienced. They can handle different challenges that get presented to them.
It was the famed bench tactic that helped the Springboks to win the 2019 World Cup…#Springboks #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries #ENGLAND
https://t.co/r6C5fYCRjn— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 17, 2021
“The last two games (against Scotland and Wales) they have had to chase from late on, they were behind at stages and just how they were able to handle that. If you think in the World Cup they were ahead, so they were in the pound seats and they could control the game. I see there has been an evolution in their mindset and they are a lot more resilient, a lot more adaptive and that comes with experience so they have grown since 2019.
“Their pack is very important to them,” added Proudfoot. “As long as their pack goes forward their team does well. Their maul is just as important. They try to have two really big platforms that are important to them that if one day one isn’t working well they can go to the other. They try to have two big weapons.
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“They have a couple of powerful facets to their game but those tend to be two really emotive ones, they tend to drive them and it is going to be a challenge to confront those two. We have done our homework and have some really good plans and we are looking forward to the challenge of executing those plans.”
The Springboks embraced a myriad of queries about England at their Tuesday media briefing…#Springboks #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries
https://t.co/0xlpLo4u9r— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments