Head coach Dave Rennie says the Springboks’ game plan was exposed in Argentina last week, as the All Blacks brace for Ma’a Nonu’s Sharks presence to test them on Tuesday.
Fronting the media ahead of the All Blacks-Sharks clash at Kings Park, Rennie said that the Boks were forced into an arm wrestle by Los Pumas in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Felipe Contepomi’s men disrupted the world champions’ attack and forced them into uncharacteristic errors, before South Africa eventually prevailed 17-10.
While the All Blacks’ immediate focus is their midweek outing in Durban, Rennie is already looking towards the opening Test against the Boks at Ellis Park on 22 August.
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“It was an arm wrestle … I think 81 kicks in the game,” he said. “The Argentinians did a really good job defusing their kicking game. I guess what we saw, we are expecting to see.
“[The Boks] had put a pretty strong side on the field, but they’ve got more ammunition to come back.
“Our focus is on the Sharks, but we’re definitely preparing our plans for that first Test and well, at least we know they’ll be tough.”
The Sharks will have a familiar face in their ranks, with 44-year-old Ma’a Nonu set to make his debut for the Durban-based outfit from the bench.
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The two-time World Cup winner joined the Sharks as a mentor for young outside backs, but will now have the unusual task of facing his former international team.
“We knew he was coming over here and thought it was an outside chance [Nonu plays]. It’ll be different for him, won’t it? Facing the All Blacks,” Rennie added.
“It’s cool, he’s a good man. I had a lot to do with him when he was a young fella and just amazing to see him still playing at this level.
“Just shows what guys are capable of if you look after your body and are very professional.
“I’ll catch up with him [after the game], and hopefully we don’t give him too much time and space.”
Photo: Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images
The post Pumas showed All Blacks how to defuse Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Head coach Dave Rennie says the Springboks’ game plan was exposed in Argentina last week, as the All Blacks brace for Ma’a Nonu’s Sharks presence to test them on Tuesday.
The post Pumas showed All Blacks how to defuse Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
