VIDEO: The big 'trap' the Boks want to avoid
To use a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber certainly does not want to the labelled an insane lunatic.
Addressing a media briefing during the team’s first alignment camp this week, he gave subtle hints that the game plan will be tweaked,
The Bok coach said he does not want to court ‘disaster’ by failing to innovate and evolve.
“Other teams are chasing,” he said of their precarious position as the world’s top-ranked team.
“They are improving and looking to improvise,” he said of a chasing pack that includes Six Nations Grand Slam champions France, arch-rivals New Zealand, ever-improving Ireland, unpredictable England and their 2021 bogey team Australia.
“The big challenge for us is to remain creative.
“We shouldn’t get arrogant and say: ‘We know how to win Tests matches. We know how to win a World Cup. We know how to finish the year at No.1.’
“That will be our challenge. We should not become arrogant.”
The Bok coach said there are obviously some things that work for South Africa and make them a successful team.
He described their 2021 campaign as “fairly average” – with just eight wins from 13 starts, for a winning percentage of 62.
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“However, I do think that if you look at some of the victories – like the [series win against the] British and Irish Lions with the lack of preparation time the players performed exceptionally well.
“Also, the win against New Zealand after 16 weeks away from our families and in a bio-bubble, which placed massive mental strains on the players, was exceptional to pull of a win.”
He pointed to how New Zealand and Australia struggled on their year-end tour – with back-to-back defeats – showing the true grit of the Bok team members.
“We did some things well, but we will shoot ourselves in the foot if we are arrogant and think we have all the answers.
“We have to be innovative,” Nienaber added.
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