Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has dismissed the idea that he and Grant Williams were singled out by the All Blacks at Ellis Park, reports CLINTON VAN DER BERG.
Reinach insisted the visitors’ disruption came from a broader assault on the breakdown rather than a targeted plan against South Africa’s nines.
“I don’t think they targeted us as individuals at nine,” he said. “I think they went after the breakdown quite hard, trying to slow the ball down with their legs and things like that. All we can do is feel the pressure and find ways to get the ball out.”
Reinach confirmed the squad has been working specifically on breaking that pattern in training this week.
“When we get to the field we’ll find ways to do it,” he said. “The guys in training have been trying to emulate that, working on how we can improve.”
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On the yellow cards that punctuated the first Test, Reinach was candid about the difficulty of the post-match review, while praising New Zealand’s ability to force errors.
“It’s never good,” he said. “But credit must go to New Zealand, they put us under pressure and made us do things that led to the yellow cards. They did a good job there. Now it’s on us to look at how we can defend those situations better or make a different plan.”
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Asked about Pieter-Steph du Toit’s imminent 100th Test cap, Reinach did not hold back in his admiration for a teammate he described as a leader by example.
“Playing 100 caps is a huge milestone, and it shows what type of player and person he is,” he said. “He’s probably not the most vocal guy, but he talks with the way he plays and leads with the way he plays. I’d rather play with him than against him.”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Reinach: All Blacks targeted breakdown, not nines appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach has dismissed the idea that he and Grant Williams were singled out by the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
The post Reinach: All Blacks targeted breakdown, not nines appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
