In a clash that could almost be mistaken for a one-sided slugfest, the Springbok bench, brimming with youthful zeal, turned the tide in a spectacular 80-31 rout of the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. While the scoreboard ticked over with a dizzying 12 tries, former Springbok coach Nick Mallett pinpointed the game-changing momentum to the fresh legs and fiery hearts that stormed the pitch in the second half.
"The influx of the young enthusiastic guys from the bench absolutely changed the dynamic of the team," Mallett commented on the Talking Boks podcast. He highlighted the seamless integration of the players, particularly noting, "There were seven Stormers players in that pack when they did the full replacement, so there was a lot of understanding and good co-ordination between those players."
"The speed of the ruck ball that they got was so much better. Suddenly Faf [de Klerk] and Vusi Moyo looked outstanding."
The injection of energy not only revitalized the Springboks' attack but also exposed the chinks in their armor. Despite the dominant display, Mallett expressed concerns over the team's defensive capabilities, particularly against offloads. "We weren’t able to close down their offloading game when they got it going and that is perhaps something we should be concerned about," he warned, underscoring a potential vulnerability that could haunt the Boks against more structured opponents.
While the veterans did their part, it was the performance of the greenhorns that truly stood out, offering a glimpse into a promising future. Rassie Erasmus, utilizing this game to shuffle his deck, must have been pleased with the glimpses of brilliance, albeit noting the defensive lapses that allowed the Barbarians to gain undue momentum in broken play.
Mallett also offered his two cents on Lions fullback Quan Horn, who was tested out in the flyhalf slot. "Quan Horn probably made less of an impact than he would’ve liked. He certainly played a good attacking, passing game and his kicking was fine, but I thought he’s a better defender than that and it was disappointing," Mallett critiqued, suggesting that Horn’s adaptability to the flyhalf role remains a work in progress.
This opening match of the season, while a feast of tries, laid bare both the explosive potential and the areas of concern for the Springboks as they continue to mold a team capable of defending their world title.