In a recent blast from Eddie Jones on the Rugby Unity podcast, the Springboks' dismantling of New Zealand in their latest test match was attributed not just to strategy but to sheer athletic prowess, particularly spotlighting Damian Willemse as a standout star. After a lukewarm performance at Eden Park, the Boks came back with a vengeance, trouncing the All Blacks 43-10, thanks, in part, to a fresh-faced backline with limited Test experience but unlimited potential.
Jones highlighted the tactical genius of Rassie Erasmus in giving his youthful squad the green light to wreak havoc in the opposition's half while maintaining a conservative approach when playing from their own territory. "At the start of the week, he went early, and I reckon he said to those young blokes, ‘You got carte blanche to attack, but you don’t attack from our half, you kick everything from our half and then as soon as you get the ball in their half, you can go for your life’ – and that’s basically what they did," Jones explained. This strategy seemed to unleash the team's full potential.
Damian Willemse, who usually plays at centre but was shifted to fullback early in the game due to an injury to Aphelele Fassi, was a critical factor in the game's outcome. His performance was so dominant that Eddie Jones likened him to a force of nature.
"That try he scored close to the line where he ran the winger and centre – he just burst through them like a rugby league front-rower. You don't see that too often. That was incredible,"
Jones remarked.
Jones further praised Erasmus for the tactical balance achieved, allowing the Boks to play a strategically defensive game from their half while applying explosive offensive tactics in enemy territory. "I think they were unleashed – he backed them early in the week, telling them, ‘You are playing, but you’ve got to make sure you kick out of our half’. They kicked well, won the contest, and then from fractured ball in the opposition’s half, they were able to attack with a fair bit of freedom," he noted.
The success of these tactics not only highlighted the strategic acumen of Erasmus but also showcased how a well-executed game plan could elevate the natural talent of players like Willemse, turning them into game-changers on the international stage. With performances like these, the Springboks continue to be a formidable force in world rugby.
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In a recent blast from Eddie Jones on the Rugby Unity podcast, the Springboks' dismantling of New Zealand in their latest test match was attributed not just to strategy but to sheer athletic prowess, particularly spotlighting Damian Willemse as a standout star. After a lukewarm performance at Eden Park, the Boks came back with a vengeance, trouncing the All Blacks 43-10, thanks, in part, to a fresh-faced backline with limited Test experience but unlimited potential.
Jones highlighted the tactical genius of Rassie Erasmus in giving his youthful squad the green light to wreak havoc in the opposition's half while maintaining a conservative approach when playing from their own territory. "At the start of the week, he went early, and I reckon he said to those young blokes, ‘You got carte blanche to attack, but you don’t attack from our half, you kick everything from our half and then as soon as you get the ball in their half, you can go for your life’ – and that’s basically what they did," Jones explained. This strategy seemed to unleash the team's full potential.
Damian Willemse, who usually plays at centre but was shifted to fullback early in the game due to an injury to Aphelele Fassi, was a critical factor in the game's outcome. His performance was so dominant that Eddie Jones likened him to a force of nature.
"That try he scored close to the line where he ran the winger and centre – he just burst through them like a rugby league front-rower. You don't see that too often. That was incredible,"
Jones remarked.Jones further praised Erasmus for the tactical balance achieved, allowing the Boks to play a strategically defensive game from their half while applying explosive offensive tactics in enemy territory. "I think they were unleashed – he backed them early in the week, telling them, ‘You are playing, but you’ve got to make sure you kick out of our half’. They kicked well, won the contest, and then from fractured ball in the opposition’s half, they were able to attack with a fair bit of freedom," he noted.
The success of these tactics not only highlighted the strategic acumen of Erasmus but also showcased how a well-executed game plan could elevate the natural talent of players like Willemse, turning them into game-changers on the international stage. With performances like these, the Springboks continue to be a formidable force in world rugby.