Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks have become too difficult to overpower, Lawrence Dallaglio argues, and only by thinking differently will teams find a way to beat the world champions.
Writing for The Times, the former England captain says South Africa’s power, breakdown work and ability to manage matches have exposed New Zealand’s lack of physicality during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
He claims that beating the Boks requires a perfect 80-minute performance, with teams taking early opportunities and avoiding weaknesses at scrum and maul time.
Dallaglio draws on his experience of winning the 1997 British & Irish Lions series in the Republic and says the All Blacks can still learn to compete with South Africa, despite trailing the Greatest Rivalry series 2-1 going into Saturday’s Baltimore finale.
He believes rival nations need to follow the example set by ex-England boss Clive Woodward, who encouraged the English to innovate rather than copy the leading sides.
Dallaglio sees Erasmus as a similar out-the-box tactician through his selection methods, use of the bench and approach to scrummaging.
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“What we have learned is that the rest of the world will need to be pioneers to beat South Africa, as it is just so hard to overpower them,” he writes.
“That’s what Clive Woodward always said to us: it’s no good looking at what New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are doing and copying them, because by the time you’ve managed to match them they will have moved on.
“You’ve got to stop being followers and try to be pioneers. That’s exactly what Rassie Erasmus has done. He’s been a disruptor in the way that Sir Clive was.”
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
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Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks have become too difficult to overpower, Lawrence Dallaglio argues, and only by thinking differently will teams find a way to beat the world champions.
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