'We've seen them do that in the past': Foster not ruling out Boks booby trap
The All Blacks are expecting further aerial bombardment from the Springboks on Saturday night on the Gold Coast – but Ian Foster’s troops are also preparing for the unexpected.
The Springboks have utilised an exceptionally kick-heavy gameplan throughout 2021 and kept to script in Brisbane last weekend, hoofing the ball into the air 38 times.
While the All Blacks went into the match expecting the conservative strategy, the Springboks took things a step further than many anticipated, even choosing to use box kicks well inside NZ’s half. It made for a forgettable match with a nail-biting finish, with the All Blacks needing a late penalty from Jordie Barrett to secure them a 19-17 victory.
“It’s a different way to build pressure, isn’t it?” All Blacks assistance coach John Plumtree said earlier this week.
“We’ll know what to expect next week now because they’ll definitely bring that again.”
The Springboks used a similar strategy against the British and Irish Lions earlier this season, making 35 and 37 kicks in the first two games of the series, while they were relatively less kick-heavy in their recent matches prior to playing the All Blacks (favouring kick numbers in the late 20s).
Speaking following the team announcement of the All Blacks this week, coach Ian Foster backed up his assistants comments that the Springboks are likely to double-down on the approach this Saturday.
“I think they’ll be looking at their game and thinking they were probably one goal kick away from having a win,” he said, “and they probably trust some of the tactics they went about to do that so I don’t think [we’ll see] massive variations.”
Foster did, however, note that the Springboks haven’t been afraid to throw a few surprises into the mix in recent matches.
While they still opted for a kick-oriented game in the second test against Australia, they added some expansive running into their repertoire and tried to exploit their opposition out wide.
“We’ve got to come prepared for that because we’ve seen them do that in the past,” Foster said, “we’ve seen them do that in the second test against the Wallabies.”
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The tactic wasn’t necessarily especially effective, however, with the backs looking uncertain what to do will ball in hand and passes often finding the turf.
While there’s no doubt that the Springboks can play an expansive game and do have the artillery to cause some damage in the wider channels, it’s a strategy that will take some time to rebuild, given their propensity to give the ball as little air as possible – unless it’s via the boot.
While the Springboks have copped plenty of criticism for their inhibited play, Foster warned that it’s a strategy that has paid plenty of dividends in the past and not one that should be dismissed out of hand.
“I think that we’ve got to be careful we don’t border on disrespect for a team,” he said.
“They’ve chosen a style to play and it’s been very effective for them. It was very effective back in 2009 when they hailed bombs on the All Blacks and we lost three of four in a row to them so it’s not like this is new.
“And the last thing I think we will do as an All Blacks team is pass judgement on that because last week we saw how effective and good they are at it and we’ve just got to be as good at our game.”
Saturday’s rematch between the top two ranked sides in the world kicks off at 8:05pm AEST.
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