When the Springboks unleashed their open play lineout tactics against Italy, cruising to a 45-0 win, eyebrows were raised not just for the scoreline but for the cunning game plan. Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons has now spilled the beans on how to dismantle this strategy, which saw the Boks score twice using a cleverly orchestrated maul during the match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
The tactic made its debut 38 minutes into the game when Ruan Nortje took to the skies, catching a pass from Grant Williams before the team huddled into a maul. Italy tried to dismantle it, but Williams quickly passed to Canan Moodie who scored effortlessly. They repeated the dose in the second half, leading to Malcolm Marx adding another try to the tally. Parsons, who wore the All Blacks jersey in 2014 and 2016, reminisced about his time with the Blues, revealing their counter-strategy to such maneuvers.
"Sometimes we struggled at maul defence, even in a lineout we’d split open and we would send Ofa Tu’ungafasi just straight at the jumper and then it’s a tackle situation,"
Parsons explained that the key is to approach with patience and precision. The technique involves sending a strong player to target the jumper's back knee, collapsing the formation into what becomes a legal tackle rather than a maul.
"You see it when guys stack in a tackle. It’s not one person because someone comes and grabs their hips, so then it’s a maul, and then the opposition join in a panic trying to rip the ball and so it becomes a maul, it’s no different here. You just don’t but as soon as you touch, even just like that," Parsons illustrated, pointing out the finesse required to execute the move without drawing a penalty.
He added a cautionary note about the physical risks associated with incorrect execution, likening it to recent ruck laws aimed at preventing knee injuries. "The innovation is the lift, not so much the maul," Parsons concluded, subtly pointing out the tactical evolution in modern rugby. With these insights, teams facing the Springboks next might just have a fighting chance to neutralize what could otherwise be an overwhelming advantage.