Victor Matfield is inspired to see the Springboks experiment on assault, however believes it’s within the DNA of the world champions to make use of a set-piece dominant gameplan.
The Boks’ energy lies of their physicality and abrasive model, which has made them back-to-back world champs. Nevertheless, in Saturday’s win in opposition to Eire at Loftus Versfeld, the South Africans opted for a extra expansive and offloading technique.
Rassie Erasmus’ troops squeaked dwelling after they turned to the ability of their Bomb Squad, which yielded a pivotal 78th-minute penalty strive from a five-metre scrum.
Talking on the newest episode of Sky Sport NZ’s ‘The Breakdown’ with All Blacks icons John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina, former Bok Matfield highlighted the impression of Kiwi Tony Brown as a part of Erasmus’ backroom employees whereas addressing a few of World Rugby’s legislation adjustments from 2024.
“Tony Brown coming in, [there’s] undoubtedly extra width to our recreation and assault and enjoying a bit extra in our personal half as properly,” the 127-Check World Cup winner mentioned.
“Simply after half time I believed we overplayed a bit bit; being up by 5 factors we in all probability can be higher being a bit extra conservative, kicking into their 22 and making an attempt to get that turnover.
“Undoubtedly one thing new and that’s what’s good, Rassie may be very open with that. I believe we began very conservatively in 2018, 2019 earlier than that World Cup.
“Then a man like Manie Libbok got here in simply earlier than the [2023] World Cup and we performed a bit otherwise, and now Tony Brown coming in as attacking coach there’s undoubtedly one thing else to the Boks as properly. We carry on growing our play.”
Groups not having the choice to decide on a scrum from a free-kick has been interpreted as an try to restrict the affect of scrums within the worldwide recreation, particularly because it comes after the Boks used the set piece as a weapon to efficiently defend South Africa’s World Cup title final yr.
“For those who have a look at the principles I believe there’s solely two which have a huge impact; one is you’ll be able to’t go to scrum off a free-kick and that’s solely as soon as, possibly twice a recreation that you could’t go to a scrum and also you’d somewhat have a fast faucet,” Matfield added.
“However once more, when you have large sturdy ball carriers that may get you over the benefit line you should use that as properly.
“We’re not a workforce that actually kicks lengthy, we kick principally contestables [so] I believe that complete factor with guys who can’t advance … It doesn’t actually play that large an element in South African rugby, it’s extra the French who like an extended kicking recreation.
“We go extra for the contestables, we like that and wish to play off these turnovers. So I don’t assume the legal guidelines will make a giant distinction.
“I noticed [on Saturday] once more the followers love a giant maul and a giant scrum – it was the largest cheer after we obtained that penalty strive from a giant scrum.
“That’s the model we wish to play, that’s our DNA and I don’t assume we’ll go away from that.”
Photograph: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Photos