How often do we hear it said that the Wallabies have the backs, the Springboks have the forwards and the All Blacks have both?
It is a common theme that runs whenever we discuss the abilities of each of these teams. However, when you really think about it, the debate should rather be focused around the mindset and rugby culture of each of these nations.
South Africa have always believed in the archaic system of using their forward pack to establish dominance, their backs are there to collect the ball, tackle the opposition and kick the ball away so that the forwards can play the game.
The opposite is true in Australia, the forwards merely serve as the necessary stock to restart the game. Their presence is only tolerated due to the fact that selecting backline players in the pack is not possible – fast players do not have the necessary size and strength to compete at the set phases.
New Zealand on the other hand have at some point in the past, realised that the presence of forwards are not only necessary for the set phases, but also highly effective in attack. Hence their total commitment to a complete player, be he a forward or a back.
Over the past century the battle lines have been drawn, teams have been identified and have cemented their reputations based on these cultures to a point where perception has become a reality for most of us.
Heyneke Meyer has the opportunity to change that perception. It is up to him to convince the SARU that South Africa should embrace a fifteen-man game. But before he does that, he needs to be sold on it himself.
Thus far dipping the toe infrequently has only shown glimpses of what the Springbok team is truly capable of, the truth of the matter is I have always believed that we can embrace a fifteen-man game, and there has been enough evidence over the past 18 months that if Meyer does choose to accept this mission he can and will be successful with it.
Yes, he will still lose matches to superior teams and the odd one to others, but he will bury inferior teams, the regularity with which inferior teams on their day come within a score of an upset or manage to win matches that they really shouldn’t, will become less frequent and ultimately be a thing of the past.
If Meyer takes a leaf out of the All Blacks’ book, it will be that you have to be relentless and remorseless in your attempt to annihilate any opposition all the time. The ‘aura’ New Zealand has built over the years is one of domination over inferior opponents to the point where there is little or no belief of a victory over the Blackness, an aura not evident about the Springboks.
Another point Meyer can pick up from New Zealand is that whenever a team manages to come close, draw or beat them, there is a collective obsession to avenge such a poor performance.
The difference between the first two Bledisloe Tests this year is the perfect example of this remorseless obsession. Australia managed a draw in the first Test, gained some confidence prior to the next, and before they could say “right we are”, the All Blacks smashed them by 30 points.
Although the focus will always be to catch New Zealand, it is important that the Springboks must first learn to annihilate inferior opponents. They need to establish an aura similar to that of New Zealand. The focus must be to break the spirit of any pretender who wants to surpass their standing in world rugby.
Pulling the proverbial rabbit out of the hat when conditions suit and hiding the rabbit when conditions aren’t perfect will only bring hesitancy and doubt about this new approach to rugby.
For the complete approach to become second nature, the Springboks need to live and breathe the fifteen-man game. To become efficient with the ball in hand approach, they must practice it and employ it in every match. They must continue learning as they make mistakes and improving their skills, instinct and decision making ability.
Only then will they close the gap and become the number one side in the world.
Meyer’s mission is simple. Go to Europe, pulverise your opponents, and come home.
Heyneke, you accept this mission?
