Former All Blacks scrumhalf Mark Robinson reviews New Zealand’s mini tour of South Africa. He talks about the pressure being transferred to Jacques Nienaber, the Boks needing to find a plan B and his pick for the Rugby Championship title.
The series ended one apiece and the next time the two teams meet is set to be at the 2023 World Cup in France. The Springboks may have claimed a 49-45 aggregate over the two tests but I feel aggregate doesn’t mean anything when you’re at the World Cup.
The All Blacks played heads-up rugby in the second test and brought back their flair and fluency. Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga gave them the direction that was missing the previous week. The All Black halfbacks were both absolutely outstanding in Jo’burg.
Previously I talked about Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan coming off their wings, which they now did. They caught the high balls and won the first aerial battles. The All Blacks made adjustments at the scrum so that area of dominance was taken away from the home side and they also attacked the line-out.
The All Blacks were tactically astute and ruthless in their actions. A prime example of this was how they studied Joseph Dweba pre-match at line-out time. Dweba is an absolute beast of a man but size doesn’t matter if you are susceptible to pressure at the line-out and also struggle with your throw-ins.
NIENABER NOW FEELING THE HEAT
I think Jaques Nienaber was sitting in the corner quite happily because all the attention had been on Ian Foster. All of a sudden, with Foster’s future now decided, Bok fans are looking at Nienaber and saying: “Ah, he’s only got a 61 per cent win rate which isn’t too great.”
Like with the All Blacks, South Africa are going to go into the World Cup as favourites. They are current world champions and recently beat the British and Irish Lions but what they’re questioning at the moment is what is their plan B? If the kicking game is nullified and the physical dominance they impose on teams is met with equal or even greater dominance, which occurred in the second test, what happens after that?
And if the Boks’ Bomb Squad doesn’t have the impact they expect, what is their plan B?
BOW NEEDS MORE STRINGS
The defeat against the All Blacks at Ellis Park is a good opportunity, if used in the right way, for the Boks to say: “Ok, if those tactics don’t work how do we want to play? Do we keep hammering it or do we look to get our backs into the game more and actually try to play a different game?”
I’m positive Nienaber and the team will learn from that and I think South Africa will be better for it. The second test showed chinks in the Bok game and, as with the All Blacks, what have they got if their plan A doesn’t work? I felt the Boks needed the leadership of the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Handre Pollard to bring that composure, which they showed by getting themselves back into the game and ahead late in the second half.
At the spiritual home of SA rugby, the Boks needed to calm things down, trust in their plan and skills and close out the game.
BENCHING MARX BACKFIRED
I feel not starting Malcolm Marx really backfired for the Boks. Marx has always been a bit of an impact player but I think his experience in the front row, coupled with his throwing-in and leadership was sorely missed. Having come off the back of an imposing Man of the Match performance the week before at Mbombela Stadium, Marx should have definitely started, with Dweba coming on as an impact player in the second period.
Discussing the Bok selections, and substitution tactics
The Springboks have been described as Jekyll and Hyde merchants which is pretty accurate. To go from absolutely dominating one week to getting physically dominated and outplayed the next was a shock for everyone. The Boks have to build consistency before the World Cup because if they lose a game in their pool, they may have a more difficult quarterfinal.
I’m hoping they get it right before next year, which I’m sure they will.
BOKS STILL TITLE FAVOURITES
The Rugby Championship has been thrown wide open with each team winning one and losing one after two rounds. What we have seen is that anyone can beat anyone on their day. No one is safe and everyone’s level has come up so much that if you have a slightly off day, you can easily get beaten.
What is making rugby great at the moment is that it’s not being dominated by one or two teams. Everyone feels like they’ve got a shot which makes it exciting from a viewing perspective. Even though it’s so unpredictable, I reckon South Africa will probably pip New Zealand in this year’s Rugby Championship. I have a feeling the final result will come down to points for and against or bonus points.
*** Robinson debuted for the All Blacks against England in 1998 and played the last of his three tests in 2001.