The three significant threats the Springboks pose for the All Blacks
Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons and Crusaders and Maori All Blacks halfback Bryn Hall have pinpointed squad depth, a strong kicking game and defence as three of the biggest threats the Springboks pose for the All Blacks this year.
The Springboks got their 2021 Rugby Championship campaign off to a flying start last week as they dispatched Los Pumas 32-12 in Port Elizabeth.
The South Africans did so after making wholesale changes to their match day side after they clinched a series victory over the British and Irish Lions the week beforehand.
Ahead of this week’s re-match against Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Springboks head coach Jacques Neinaber has welcomed back a raft of his frontline players as South Africa aim to leapfrog the All Blacks at the summit of the Rugby Championship standings.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Hall said the depth at South Africa’s disposal, which Parsons described as “impressive”, was on full show in last week’s first-up victory over Los Pumas.
“When you can make that many changes against an Argentinian team, who beat the All Blacks last year and actually quite a tough nation to play, [was impressive],” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
The three-time Super Rugby champion and two-time Super Rugby Aotearoa winner added that South Africa’s game plan, that sees them play with minimal possession inside their own half, has proven to be effective.
“The only time they want to play is when they’re inside the 22. They build that scoreboard pressure, they build off their kicking game, their rush defence, and the only time they really play is when they are inside that 22.”
Parsons noted that the Springboks kicked almost twice as much as the All Blacks, Wallabies and Los Pumas in the opening round of the Rugby Championship, the same round of which New Zealand thumped Australia 57-22.
The former two-test international said it highlighted the contrasting styles of play between the world champions and their opponents.
“When they get the ball, they’re just going to pin you into your corner, so it’s like ruthless defence, and then, bang, go backwards, and then the big Argentinian forwards are running backwards all day,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“They kicked 46 times, the South Africans, in this game [against Los Pumas last week]. Compared to the All Blacks and Wallabies, the All Blacks kicked 26 and the Wallabies 25.
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“Argy kicked 29 times, but it does show that, off the back of their defence in a style of play that they want to play with their kicking game, it works, and it gets them results.”
Parsons added South Africa’s rush defence could also wreak havoc with their upcoming opponents, as it did for Los Pumas when halfback Cobus Reinach finished off a long-range try following an Argentina mistake during last week’s win.
“They’ve got so much confidence in their defence,” Parsons said.
“Off the back of their rush defence, they force a lot of errors, they make you have to make decisions a lot faster than other teams and, off those errors, they scored one long-range try early from those errors.”
It’s for that reason, along with South Africa’s admirable depth and vastly different style of play to that of their southern hemisphere rivals, that Hall is eager to see the All Blacks and Springboks go head-to-head in September and October.
“What I’m really looking forward to… is when the All Blacks [play the Springboks]. They want to play rugby, very similar to the Lions before they went into the series, they were playing a lot of rugby,” the 29-year-old said.
“It’s going to be interesting to see if the All Blacks can get through that defence system, because the defence system is pretty good at the moment.
“So, it’s going to be interesting to see if they have a Plan B if they can’t get their attacking structures right against the South Africans.”
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Parsons agreed as he said the result of those clashes could fall either way given how little there is between the All Blacks and Springboks.
“Two teams peaking into form as well. It’s just different styles of play and it’s the team that adjusts the best. You know what’s coming from both of them.
“If you talk about the turnovers, and the opportunities that the All Blacks create off turnovers, South Africa just do not play without the ball in their half. They’re just plugging the corners, so those opportunities are not going to go away.
“In terms of the build-up and talking and having a conversation, it’s just exciting because you don’t actually know which way it could go.”
The two tests between the All Blacks and Springboks were initially scheduled to be played in Dunedin and Auckland, but those plans have been thrown into disarray after New Zealand was sent into lockdown on Tuesday following an outbreak of Covid-19.
RugbyPass reported earlier this week that SANZAAR is now planning to relocate the entire Rugby Championship to the United Kingdom and Europe, meaning the All Blacks and Springboks could face off in London, Paris, Cardiff or Dublin.
South Africa have also come forward as potential Rugby Championship hosts, while Queensland is believed to be another contender the stage the tournament.
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Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments