This is why the Boks are 'a lot more dangerous'
Ignorant and egotistical pundits would have you believe that the world’s top-ranked team, South Africa, is ‘ripe for the plucking’.
The back-to-back World Cup champion Springboks are – if those ‘pundits’ are to be believed – an ageing squad with a predictable game plan and were ‘fortuitous’ in 2019 and 2023.
However, they may want to sit down for an ‘information session’ with former All Black flyhalf and Springbok attack coach Tony Brown.
Brown, in a media briefing at Bok headquarters on Plattekloof this week, made it clear the team’s evolution is far from complete, and they are no longer as predictable as some would believe.
“I just think that probably over the last two years you’ve seen us [the Boks] not just defend for long periods of time,, just attack or go to the kicking game,” Brown said.
“The evolution of Springbok rugby is how we combine our attack, defence, set piece and kicking game, and try to put teams under massive pressure, to score points and win Test matches.
“We never look at a Test and [say] we are going to attack, put them under pressure with our attack.
“We always go: ‘This is how we are going to control the game. This is how we use our kicking game. This is how we use our defence to create turnovers.’
“We build our attack on those two aspects.
“That’s probably been the evolution,” he added.
The New Zealander believes the Bok players are enjoying the changes and have got better at it.
* (WATCH as Springbok attack coach and former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown explains why South Africa is in a position to push their ‘global’ advantage further ahead…..)
“They are starting to understand how it all fits together.
“I feel we are in a powerful position to push that forward in the next 12 months.”
Brown also addressed the predictability issue.
“No team can look at the Boks and say: ‘If we shut them down here, we’re going to win the Test’.
“We’ve got so many different layers to our game now.
“We can win with defence, the scrum, the maul, the kicking game, the counter-attack, turnover attack.
“We’re a lot more dangerous now, and it’s exciting to see where we can push it. over the next 12 months or so.”
The Bok attack guru also explained that the biggest ‘change’ has been the ‘mental shift’ made by the players.
“South African players have always had the skill set,” Brown said, adding: “It’s just been about getting more comfortable in attacking situations.
“You’re not actually doing it by yourself; you’re doing it with the other 14 players on the field.
“You’re playing the game together, and that’s something I’ve always driven.
“Ultimately, that’s what New Zealand players are doing, working with those around them.
“I think we’ve seen the Bok players getting a lot more comfortable in those situations as well, and their natural skill sets are coming out.
“There are players here who are as skilful as any I’ve ever coached.”
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
* Also from this week’s media briefing …
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The reason why SARU will show a rare profit
‘Global season won’t happen without compromise’
Tony Brown’s ‘magic potion’ for out-of-sorts Sacha
Why South Africa and New Zealand will never host a World Cup again
