The Springboks will have the same result at Ellis Park as 2025 next Saturday, if the world champions don’t stick to and focus on their traditional strengths.
So says Nick Mallett, who cited last year’s 38-22 Rugby Championship defeat against the Wallabies in Joburg. Surging into a 22-0 lead within the first 20 minutes, South Africa collapsed as Australia mounted a comeback to claim a first win at the venue since 1963.
He was speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, ahead of the opening clash of the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Boks and New Zealand on the Highveld next week.
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The former Bok boss warned that the fast, expansive approach that backfired against the Aussies would suit All Blacks chief Dave Rennie’s high-tempo style.
“I just remember us overplaying against Australia. That for me was a hell of a lesson that we had to learn,” he said. “Against the All Blacks, if you play fast and loose like we did in that game at Ellis Park against Australia, we will have the same result.
“New Zealand will beat us because that is how they like to play.”
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Mallett urged the Boks to target areas the All Blacks will want to avoid: “We’ve got to concentrate on where we are strong and where the All Blacks don’t want to play us.
“They don’t want scrums, driving mauls or contestables. And they don’t want to be pressurised on defence.
“So what do you want to bring that’s new? Just bring that, and bring it properly, and we’re going to be in the pound seats.”
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He named the set-piece, an aggressive press defence and a contestable kicking game as the foundations the Boks must lean on.
“The pillars of South African rugby which have made us No 1 in the world are the best set-piece in the world. We’re the best scrummaging side and we win penalties from that area,” Mallett insisted.
“We have a contestable kicking game that’s unmatched, and a press defence that’s very aggressive; we use that to get turnovers and create scoring chances from transition.
“Those three areas – our defence, set-piece and contestables – we’ve got to get right against the All Blacks because those are the areas we can dominate them.”
Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
The post ‘Boks lose to All Blacks if game gets loose’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks will have the same result at Ellis Park as 2025 next Saturday, if the world champions don’t stick to and focus on their traditional strengths.
The post ‘Boks lose to All Blacks if game gets loose’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
