Bok mentor on Les Bleus halfback combo: 'They will have a licence to roam'
INTERVIEW: Springbok assistant coach dissected the danger France’s halfback pairing of Maxime Lucu and Antoine Dupont poses ahead of Friday’s Nations Championship clash at Stade de France.
Les Bleus head coach named Dupont at flyhalf with his No.10 stocks depleted by injury.
*Also read: France v South Africa – Teams and Prediction
It might have been Galthie’s last resort, but it changes the dynamic of how the Boks will deal with the double threat of two players who can play both halfback roles, according to Stick.
“It’s a tough challenge to prepare for France, especially now with the team they selected for this match with Maxime [Lucu] partnering [Antoine] Dupont, who is named at flyhalf,” Stick told Rugby365 on Friday in Paris.
“I know one thing for sure; they will have a licence to roam around and switch between positions.
“I looked at Lucu’s profile; he’s very good when it comes to game management and has a very good kicking game.
“He can also give time and space to his outside backs when it comes to clearing his base at the breakdown quickly.
“And when it comes to Dupont in terms of time and space, he will stay on top of you, and he’s a difficult, tough player to deal with on the pitch.”
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Stick: “I’ve been there through tough times”
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Stick explained how it might impact the Boks during the match, where they might have to adapt to the ever-changing pictures the Les Bleus duo might paint.
“That will be the toughest challenge for us; they [Lucu and Dupont] are two different profiles, but if the players on the field are tired after 20 or 30 minutes, it will be difficult for them to navigate which player is in which position at that time.
“And maybe after a couple of minutes they might switch positions again; that will be a big challenge.
“But if we make sure that our systems are in place and ensure we win the numbers game, we’ll be able to handle whichever challenge they throw at us, but Dupont at 10 will be a good challenge for us.”
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Another challenge where France can be dominant is their breakdown. Les Bleus love to play off quick ball, which requires efficiency at the ruck.
Captain Siya Kolisi addressed how the Boks plan to nullify France’s breakdown strength and the Boks’ personal approach to the ruck.
“It is hard, and every team is different, but we have a system that works for us,” Kolisi told Rugby365.
“The breakdown ultimately comes down to being dominant in the carry and having cleaners who can get to that ruck quickly; it takes away a lot of the pressure.
“Someone needs to get to the breakdown first; that’s the most important thing.
“Sometimes it happens where you have to sprint, and if you get there late, you have to make adjustments.
“But ultimately, who gets to that ruck first and dominates the first point of contact generally wins that contest.
“Guys like Paul [de Villiers] find a way to get in there somehow, and he is very fast. I’m the opposite of him, where I enjoy protecting the breakdown, but he does both jobs.
“Even in a scrum or when someone is carrying the ball, they just have to give me an extra second to get there and be effective.
“The breakdown battle is huge in the Top 14, and they take those skills into the national side as well.”
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