Former New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald has identified Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth as one of the main dangermen the All Blacks need to shut down on Saturday.
The 2011 World Cup winner was speaking on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav podcast ahead of the third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Boks and Kiws at FNB Stadium.
“Big Eben, he’s being a menace at lineout time, a bit talismanic around the park. I think he’s hugely important for them,” Donald said.
“But just like with the All Blacks, all of a sudden I get on a roll and I start thinking of others too. [Malcolm] Marx is a problem too, particularly at the breakdown – he is so strong over the ball. Clearly, you’re not going to move him once he gets over it.
“But, they’re a good team, so there’s plenty to nullify.”
PLUM: Rennie picked wrong All Blacks problem
South Africa and New Zealand will lock horns on the Highveld for the second time in the series, with the Boks having levelled the four-match showdown in Cape Town last week after the Kiwis drew first blood at Ellis Park.
Donald believes the All Blacks must find ways to disrupt South Africa’s powerful set-piece structure and attacking momentum inn the 22 to come on tops before the final Test in Baltimore next week.
“If there are opportunities to get in and out of set-pieces like lineouts quickly, and to take the ball away from the big South African forwards, you do that.
PLUS: Barney calls out Rennie’s scrum tactics
“Other things that contribute to the tempo, which they have been doing brilliantly and which you can tell they’re encouraged to do, and they’re not holding back on, is the offloading game.
“You see at the moment the All Blacks are hellbent on trying to keep the ball alive. And that helps keep the tempo by keeping the ball going forward, not getting the defence a chance to set.
He added: “So around that sort of stuff, around the receipts of the high balls – which is always going to be huge playing South Africa …
MORE: ‘Boks haven’t discarded Tonyball’
“Where their points came from in test two, and where they’re at their absolute destructive, powerful best, is where they get a set-piece in your 22. Then it’s just a case of: they win their set-piece.
“If they don’t drive or they don’t get something out of that set-piece, then they’re going to have a big ball carrier come down a channel, like a Etzebeth or a [Jesse] Kriel, and then it’s just folding around the corner with these monster forwards.
“When they get that burst of energy, because they get invigorated once they’re in the 22 because they know this is their time to shine, they get around quickly and then they just come. Then it’s just a matter of: can the All Blacks withstand it?”
Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
The post Beaver warns All Blacks about big Eben appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former New Zealand flyhalf Stephen Donald has identified Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth as one of the main dangermen the All Blacks need to shut down on Saturday.
The post Beaver warns All Blacks about big Eben appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
