The Springboks’ aerial and attacking game has proved dangerous for New Zealand, former All Blacks star Ben Smith argues, and the Kiwis must adapt to it quickly.
Speaking on to the Highlanders’ YouTube channel, Smith believes Tony Brown’s influence was evident during the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series as the Boks adjusted their kicking strategy after losing the opening Test before winning the next three.
“Definitely had Brown’s fingerprints on there. I think they’ve got a really good balance to the game at the moment,” the ex-outside back said.
Smith was interested in how South Africa countered New Zealand’s attempt to disrupt their aerial approach. The All Blacks used wingers running backwards to catch kicks, but the world champions altered where they kicked the ball.
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“Brownie, being a smart operator, moved the point of contact where they kicked it, and it became a real battle of manipulating that whole battle in the air.”
The 2015 World Cup winner reckons Kiwis boss Dave Rennie will have studied the Boks’ approach and could arrive at next year’s World Cup with more ways to defend it.
“I think at times the All Blacks tried to move the ball a little bit more and go away from the box-kicking and try to shift the point of contact a little bit more,” Smith said.
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“Whereas South Africa were, you know, that’s a real point of difference for them.”
“The way that the South Africans were able to manipulate space and put it in the right areas to actually make it hard for the All Blacks to catch it, I thought they did that really well.”
He also notes the next challenge for Rassie Erasmus’ men, who lost 42-38 to the Wallabies last week, will be maintaining their adaptability when opponents have had time to prepare.
The Boks will reconvene at the end of October in preparation to face Italy, France and Ireland before the finals weekend of the Nations Championship in London.
Photo: Caean Couto/Getty Images
The post ‘Brownie has Boks playing smarter’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks’ aerial and attacking game has proved dangerous for New Zealand, former All Blacks star Ben Smith argues, and the Kiwis must adapt to it quickly.
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