SA running rugby?

This is not to incite our SA posters but is a serious question. As long as I've been watching AB/Bok test (76b series), I can't really remember a Bok team that played an expansive running game, it has predominantly been forward driven. Correct me if I am wrong. Also can this current crop of Boks play the expansive game, the AB's seem the best at, the French when on their game also up there as well, but is it fair to say that this part of the game is not focussed on at the early levels in SA rugby with emphasis on forward dominance rather than running rugby?

Poly put the kettle on....

Things are a changing....if you note during the S15 two SA Sides that headed up the league and went the distance were two teams playing an expansive game plan. so i think the answer would be.

NO.

so you put the kettle on yet mate :-)

It is likely that there will be a mixture of attacking play and more conservative play - but we shall see in an hours time what is going to happen.   In the 1950's and 1960's there were cases where the Springboks did play running rugby - but they have not done anything similar since 1992.   The problem is that they always want to dsominate up front and consequently the coaches does not really allow any form of expansive play.   Meyer seems to be the same - but I really don't know what is going to happen today.

Incidentally the only SA coach who liked attacking backline play was Carel Du Plessis - but he did not last long and was undermined by his successor and his cronies.   The one example where Du Plessis showed that it can work was in the 1997 test in Pretoria against the Wallabies - won by the Springboks 62-22,.  That really was a run fest. 

Boks have had some great backline free runners,favorites of mine include  Ray Mordt, Danie Gerber, also to come to mind, Andre Joubert a magnificent FB in his prime, James Small, reminded me of Grant Batty for some reason. Whats funny is that am I mistaken in saying that Morne Steyn modelled his game on Nas Botha? Don't rate him as a great 1st five but his boot was feared, for some reason Gerald Bosch (I think, going on memory here) also was in the same mould wasn't he.

Harry Viljoen tried it, as did Mallett in his last two years. Then there was Peter. Those are three more who loved running rugby, but it didn't work. Primarily because they do not understand backplay. Muir in an interview in 2008 spoke about his vision with Peter, that being players had no roles, no set structures. Players just played randomly what was in front of them. It's absurd. Identical to Viljoen in fact. As Eddie Jones stated, nobody on planet earth plays like this.

Well played Boks.  Todays game partially anwsered the expansive play question, it showed that with space and go forward the backs looked good almost dare I say like an AB team. Today the Boks played the game the way the AB's have been looking to play this year but haven't got there.   Habana may still be the best winger in the world, he is a great finisher. Initially didn't rate Goosen but he looks to have a good future. If AB's lose to Argies will set up for a great game next week.

 Having a flyhalf that is a good runner is a start. Also one that does not stand too deep