Jake White

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Cape Town - Former national coach Jake White says a defensive-minded approach is the way forward for the Springboks.

White expressed his view via a column for the All Out Rugby website where he noted that South Africa’s recent wins over New Zealand and Australia were built on staunch defensive efforts.

In the 36-34 win over the All Blacks in Wellington, the Boks only had 25% possession and were forced to make a whopping 235 tackles, while the hosts were asked to make a meagre 61.

In last Saturday’s 23-12 win over the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth, the Boks enjoyed less than 40% possession and made 144 tackles compared to Australia’s 74.

“What has really been pleasing to me is that we’re not being seduced into running from everywhere anymore. South Africa is again seeing that defence is the cornerstone of winning Test matches,” White wrote.

White added that his Springbok team won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France employing similar tactics.

“We finished the 2007 Rugby World Cup with the leading try-scorer, the leading points-scorer and the trophy. People say ‘that’s not how you play the game,’ but the Boks are showing that’s exactly how you win.”

White said the Boks’ recent victories would have resonated around the world.

“South Africa produces great tacklers and great defenders and the Boks are hitting the nail on the head because not only are we gaining psychological victories by beating New Zealand and Australia, but the way we’re doing it is ringing alarm bells for the rest of the world.

“We scored 36 points against the All Blacks without the ball, and we mustn’t allow ourselves to be hoodwinked again into thinking that we have to run it from everywhere because that’s not how you score 36 points against New Zealand.”

“We scored 36 points against the All Blacks without the ball"

That's because we gifted you 14 FREE points Jake 

Welcome back Hakwa!

As you can clearly see the ABs don't get any credit for our gift to the hapless Boks. Where would they be without it? Certainly in deep despair and even lower down the international rankings. We also opened the door for Jake White and he could be back in a coaching or advisory role. Who could possibly be upset about that development?

Jake is correct, you cannot build on shoddy foundations. Defence is your foundation. That doesn't mean one never uses the ball though, it means playing a more rounded game. Even at the height of the Cheika era, when the Wallaby attack was deadly, they were still losing games because of poor defence. They nearly got swept up north. The frantic running game is one-dimensional and can be beaten. The perception is that New Zealand merely run. It's a gross over-simplification. 

Jake is always ahead of the curve of the South African rugby community.

We can talk about mistakes as gifts, buy then every try would be a gift. The important point is the pressure that made it a mistake. The Boks were up very quickly, recognizing and responding to the situation immediately. 

@Bluebok: Correction, when Lügnerin reads this he will lie.

AB's defense is pretty good, as is their kicking game. Some fans get blinded by the champagne attack but this is nothing if the defense is crap.

You did gift us 14 points. They were not free, we paid for them with pressure.

It could be argued that for the last 10 years we have gifted you the opportunity to play against a Bok side with often no more than 11 Springboks and two coaching terms where we had no coach.

The All Blacks definitely didn't respect the Boks. Not that I blame them. When I saw the traditional Haka come out, I know this wasn't seen as a real challenge. We'll receive the Kapa O Pango on Saturday. The All Black's usually play a more disciplined, tighter game. Their very wide game was rocked. Expect more physicality next time.

Stating the obvious was never contested by me and what is said by White is so obvious one wonders why he found it necessary to make that observation.  

I cannot be sure - but is this aimed at the Australians rather than the South Africans?   Reading his previous statement on eyeing the Aussie coaching job it is likely the case it is.

Stating the obvious was never contested by me and what is said by White is so obvious one wonders why he found it necessary to make that observation.  

I cannot be sure - but is this aimed at the Australians rather than the South Africans?   Reading his previous statement on eyeing the Aussie coaching job it is likely the case it is.

All these guys who took so much from rugby would be much inspired to return some to the community like by founding an academy to train local talents or stuff.

Always taking leaves nothing in the pot at the end of the day.

Yes to sound defence but no to one dimensional rugby.  Rassie thankfully has acknowledged you cant always win by defending like men ;possessed. We need a number of other assets as well./ All very obvious.

This guy got paid to write opinions that could be found on this forum, it tells of the quality, except that on this forum, this kind of no quality opinions are delivered for free.

Speaking of milking a status.

Depicting the success against NZ as built on defense.

SA got 34 points in the bag. NZ delivered one of their worst games in a decade on decision making, on efficiency, on patience, on flow control.

Yet they scored 34 points. It could have ended with 15 or 20 points more.

SA defense shined though it is claimed. When SA got 57 in the bag, defensively, they were good too.

NZ lost this game, they shot themselves in the foot too many times they could not recover.

A lucky win for SA that left them with nothing to build on.

You can tell how upset Trad is. Something positive to say about the Boks, so he emerges from his lair in a foul mood. If you want a nothing opinion, look at your activism on a little forum. 

I've said this before. Trad is either a commie Cape Allblack supporter or a commie NZ troll. He is not a South African, not even stupid Saffas are this ignorant. Pity duels at high noon are relics of the past.

Jake stating the obvious......funny he should mention it only after the AB win.

More correct is an attack based on the rush defence which proved successful in the last test.