The legendary Jaque Fourie says the Springboks need to pick up their numbers on defence and dominate the point of contact in the tackle to overpower the All Blacks.
The former Bok centre and current Lions defence coach was speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash between the Lions and All Blacks at Ellis Park, and Saturday’s second Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Cape Town.
The All Blacks exposed gaps in the Boks’ defensive system in last week’s 33-16 win, with their sweeping movements and quick hands forcing the hosts to work hard to cover the width of the field.
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“You need to pick up the numbers. The All Blacks want to manipulate your numbers, and they sweep with their 10, 15 and wingers. They play where there are the least defenders,” Fourie said.
He believes the All Blacks’ deeper attacking alignment is also making it difficult for the Boks to establish their rush defence.
“The hand speed the All Blacks have been playing with … they’re playing a little bit deeper, so they’re getting around us. That forces the Springboks to get off the line a lot harder. And if we don’t make our tackles, it’s very difficult to reset again.”
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Fourie also identified the breakdown as an area South Africa need to address, particularly against the All Blacks’ strip-tackle strategy.
“You have to dominate contact first, that’s the main thing,” he said. “What the All Blacks did well is they have improved defensively. We saw on Saturday that at stages they went very low. They tackled the guys low, and their second guy was on the ball.”
The 43-year-old explained that the supporting defender has an important role in preventing the rip.
“We call it a ‘triple T’: the guy that’s supporting the tackler needs to get on his back and get him over that advantage line. Then it’s very difficult to rip the ball.
“Rassie [Erasmus] will look at the stats. I don’t think we were physical enough. They got over the advantage line, they offloaded quite a lot as well.”
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Fourie, who won the 2007 World Cup and earned 72 caps between 2003 and 2013, also believes the Highveld conditions have contributed to the attacking rugby seen in recent Tests.
“We’re playing at altitude so it’s a hard, pacey game. The pitch is fast,” he said. “Teams come here knowing that there’s a lot of air, and they just want to run themselves off their feet and play an exciting brand of rugby.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
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The legendary Jaque Fourie says the Springboks need to pick up their numbers on defence and dominate the point of contact in the tackle to overpower the All Blacks.
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