Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids says it would be dangerous to lean into the favourites tag going into Saturday’s clash against the Barbarians in Gqeberha.
While the Barbarians traditionally have little time to prepare together, Davids says their unique identity and abundance of world-class talent make them a threat capable of troubling any international side.
“With the Barbarians, you have to understand their background, the way their squad is put together, and you cannot underestimate them because they are a bunch of experienced players, many of them with X factor, so you don’t want them to get on a roll,” said Davids on Monday.
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Davids expects the visitors – coached by Scott Robertson and Felipe Contepomi – to stay true to the attacking philosophy that has defined the Baa-Baas for generations.
“The Barbarians have a unique dynamic that goes back decades – they like to entertain, which is encouraged by clever coaches who pick players who can do just that.
“Because they don’t have much time to prepare as a group, they stick to a style that has worked for them forever – they want to give the ball air, they want to create opportunities by a mixture of structure and attacking adventure.”
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While much attention will focus on the opposition, Davids insists the Springboks’ primary objective is to assess their own progress after a lengthy preparation period.
“It is important that we have balance and control in our game. We must transfer what we have been training into a match situation so we can see what works and what needs improvement.”
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The Boks have based their preparations in Johannesburg before travelling to the Eastern Cape later this week.
According to Davids, continuity has been a key factor behind that decision.
“We had a training camp here in Joburg and felt that we would continue our preparation for the games in a place where we have grown comfortable.
“It has gone smoothly as we bring what we discussed in the alignment camps onto the practice pitch. It has been about setting standards and the game plans we are working on.”
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The post Davids sounds Barbarians warning appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids says it would be dangerous to lean into the favourites tag going into Saturday’s clash against the Barbarians in Gqeberha.
The post Davids sounds Barbarians warning appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
