Robbie Fleck, the former Springboks centre, has shed light on the tactical shifts that have elevated the South African team's performance with the ball. Historically known for their brute physicality, as seen in their World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus's guidance have taken strides to broaden their offensive strategies. The introduction of Tony Brown into the coaching staff has sparked a transformation, leading to exhilarating displays of rugby, highlighted by a recent thrashing of Japan 61-7, where South Africa ran in nine tries.
This evolution in play style was underlined by Springboks legend Jean de Villiers on The Verdict podcast, where he remarked,
"Now you add this attacking play, we are getting close to playing a fantastic brand of rugby."
Despite maintaining their strength in traditional areas such as set-pieces, kicking, and defense, Fleck points out a particular change that has significantly enhanced their attack. "We’re carrying low, we definitely won that height battle and that’s led to the [Japanese] mistakes," Fleck explained.
Fleck elaborated on the tactical nuance, "It was probably to be expected to give away a couple of maul penalties from Japan’s side and there was inevitably going to be a yellow card at some stage with the illegal sacking of the maul. What was interesting was one of the tackles was a head high shot, which was a yellow, but you've got to think about how that comes about. Generally, the Japanese guys are a little bit smaller than our big ball carriers so that means that we are carrying exceptionally low at the moment."
As the Springboks continue to dominate on the global stage, they look ahead to their next major challenge against France. This match is anticipated to be a highlight of their November tour. De Villiers emphasized the relentless nature of the team's gameplay, stating, "It just feels like the intensity on attack and defence is relentless. We don’t give anything easily away, everything is a fight." With their sights set on maintaining their top world ranking, the Springboks are not just evolving; they're redefining their game.
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Robbie Fleck, the former Springboks centre, has shed light on the tactical shifts that have elevated the South African team's performance with the ball. Historically known for their brute physicality, as seen in their World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus's guidance have taken strides to broaden their offensive strategies. The introduction of Tony Brown into the coaching staff has sparked a transformation, leading to exhilarating displays of rugby, highlighted by a recent thrashing of Japan 61-7, where South Africa ran in nine tries.
This evolution in play style was underlined by Springboks legend Jean de Villiers on The Verdict podcast, where he remarked,
"Now you add this attacking play, we are getting close to playing a fantastic brand of rugby."
Despite maintaining their strength in traditional areas such as set-pieces, kicking, and defense, Fleck points out a particular change that has significantly enhanced their attack. "We’re carrying low, we definitely won that height battle and that’s led to the [Japanese] mistakes," Fleck explained.Fleck elaborated on the tactical nuance, "It was probably to be expected to give away a couple of maul penalties from Japan’s side and there was inevitably going to be a yellow card at some stage with the illegal sacking of the maul. What was interesting was one of the tackles was a head high shot, which was a yellow, but you've got to think about how that comes about. Generally, the Japanese guys are a little bit smaller than our big ball carriers so that means that we are carrying exceptionally low at the moment."
As the Springboks continue to dominate on the global stage, they look ahead to their next major challenge against France. This match is anticipated to be a highlight of their November tour. De Villiers emphasized the relentless nature of the team's gameplay, stating, "It just feels like the intensity on attack and defence is relentless. We don’t give anything easily away, everything is a fight." With their sights set on maintaining their top world ranking, the Springboks are not just evolving; they're redefining their game.