Former All Blacks and Wales fullback Shane Howarth has lauded the Springboks’ “phenomenal” ability in the air.
The world champions repeatedly regained possession from their contestable kicks during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with their aerial dominance particularly evident in the 43-28 victory in Baltimore that sealed a 3-1 series triumph.
Speaking to Sport Nation, Howarth admitted he was stunned by South Africa’s ability to consistently reclaim their kicks.
“Their dominance under the high ball is frightening. It would be great to get an insight on how the hell they are that good at getting their kicks back because it was phenomenal,” he said.
“I don’t think any kick they put up we won, and it wasn’t because we weren’t giving it a crack; they were just winning it back.”
Howarth also reflected on how the Baltimore Test developed after an open start.
“Just looking at the first five or 10 minutes, the Boks threw the ball around, we threw the ball around, so I thought, ‘OK, here we go, it’s going to be a bit of an exhibition match’.
“But once the South Africans realised we could probably hurt them on the edges, they reverted to type and they’re bloody good at it.”
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While much of the focus during the four-Test series was on the Boks’ powerful scrum, Howarth believes their superiority in the air was just as significant.
“Can we get a spy cam or something and see just what it is they’re doing? I’ve never seen a team in international rugby put kicks up and retain every single kick they put up.
“That’s what they did in Baltimore and that’s frightening.”
Photo: Caean Couto/Getty Images
The post ‘Boks’ high-ball dominance is frightening’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former All Blacks and Wales fullback Shane Howarth has lauded the Springboks’ “phenomenal” ability in the air.
The post ‘Boks’ high-ball dominance is frightening’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
