After last season's parade of cards, the Springboks are fine-tuning their tackle techniques, determined not to be caught on the wrong side of the whistle. Jerry Flannery, the Boks' defence coach, spilled the beans on their fresh approach to tackling, emphasizing the need to go low and avoid head clashes that drew controversy in previous outings.
Flannery didn't mince words when he declared, "It’s pretty black and white at this stage around the ability to tackle low. It’s so important." This comes after Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert saw red in games against France and Italy, though Mostert’s card was later reduced to a yellow. Despite these setbacks, Flannery sees these challenges as par for the course, pushing the team to adapt and overcome.
"If you lose players during a game, you have to adapt – that’s something we challenge the players on all the time,"
When the chips are down, Flannery believes in the power of versatility. Players like Kwagga Smith and André Esterhuizen, who can toggle between forward and back positions, have become invaluable. "Kwagga helped us hugely at half-time in terms of adjusting. If you lose a loose forward or a lock, and you can bring a back on who adds to your ball-carrying or even your scrum, you can still function properly," he explained.
The notion of hybrid players isn’t just a fancy tactic but a necessity in modern rugby, where adaptability can make or break a game. This strategy was echoed by Duane Vermeulen, assistant coach and former Bok enforcer, who admitted that marrying aggression with accuracy in tackles is no easy feat, especially for the taller players who need to constantly adjust their game to avoid penalties and cards.
"The game is played at that lower height now – tackling, ball-carrying, breakdown, everything. For taller guys especially, that adjustment can be tough,"
And when it comes to discipline, Bok law adviser Jaco Peyper emphasized a tailored approach rather than strict numerical targets. "We don’t set a specific penalty target," he said, pointing out that context is key, and the focus is on avoiding "silly or indisciplined penalties." He reassured that the threshold for red cards would remain high, reserved for the most egregious non-rugby actions.
With a renewed focus on smart, low tackling and the strategic use of versatile players, the Springboks are not just preparing to play by the book but to redefine resilience and adaptability in rugby.
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After last season's parade of cards, the Springboks are fine-tuning their tackle techniques, determined not to be caught on the wrong side of the whistle. Jerry Flannery, the Boks' defence coach, spilled the beans on their fresh approach to tackling, emphasizing the need to go low and avoid head clashes that drew controversy in previous outings.
Flannery didn't mince words when he declared, "It’s pretty black and white at this stage around the ability to tackle low. It’s so important." This comes after Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert saw red in games against France and Italy, though Mostert’s card was later reduced to a yellow. Despite these setbacks, Flannery sees these challenges as par for the course, pushing the team to adapt and overcome.
"If you lose players during a game, you have to adapt – that’s something we challenge the players on all the time,"
When the chips are down, Flannery believes in the power of versatility. Players like Kwagga Smith and André Esterhuizen, who can toggle between forward and back positions, have become invaluable. "Kwagga helped us hugely at half-time in terms of adjusting. If you lose a loose forward or a lock, and you can bring a back on who adds to your ball-carrying or even your scrum, you can still function properly," he explained.
The notion of hybrid players isn’t just a fancy tactic but a necessity in modern rugby, where adaptability can make or break a game. This strategy was echoed by Duane Vermeulen, assistant coach and former Bok enforcer, who admitted that marrying aggression with accuracy in tackles is no easy feat, especially for the taller players who need to constantly adjust their game to avoid penalties and cards.
"The game is played at that lower height now – tackling, ball-carrying, breakdown, everything. For taller guys especially, that adjustment can be tough,"
And when it comes to discipline, Bok law adviser Jaco Peyper emphasized a tailored approach rather than strict numerical targets. "We don’t set a specific penalty target," he said, pointing out that context is key, and the focus is on avoiding "silly or indisciplined penalties." He reassured that the threshold for red cards would remain high, reserved for the most egregious non-rugby actions.
With a renewed focus on smart, low tackling and the strategic use of versatile players, the Springboks are not just preparing to play by the book but to redefine resilience and adaptability in rugby.