Springboks remain true to tried-and-tested tactics

EMBRACING A DUAL-TEAM APPROACH FOR SUCCESS

Just four years ago, the Springboks divided their team into two squads, leading to massive success in the Rugby Championship and an unforgettable World Cup win in Japan.

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This year, coaches Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber aim to recreate that magic in the Rugby Championship by splitting their talent between two teams. One team will go head-to-head with the Wallabies in Pretoria, while the other faces the All Blacks in Auckland.

SPRINGBOKS EQUAL STRENGTH APPROACH

Nienaber has made it clear that both teams will boast equal strength, reflecting the winning formula that brought victory in 2019. This strategic move ensures that if either team faces defeat, critics can’t claim the Springboks fielded a weaker side. Yet, each team will keep enough star players to have a lekker chance of winning.

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THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF THE SPRINGBOKS

Back in 2019, the Springboks showed they’ve got the depth to spread resources across two Championship games and still come out on top. Players like Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Makazole Mapimpi, who started in the World Cup final, were part of the supposedly weaker team against Australia.

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This year, the Springboks aims to prove once again that their depth and strategic allocation of players can lead to major success.

MASTERSTROKE OR RISKY MOVE?

In 2019, giving the squad enough time to adjust to New Zealand’s time zone proved to be a tactical masterstroke. Despite trailing for most of the game, the Springboks managed to scrape a 16-16 draw with the All Blacks in this game.

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This year, they’re hoping to use the same advantage to plot their victory in the Rugby Championship.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: CHESS, NOT CHECKERS

The upcoming match against the Wallabies promises a unique challenge as Eddie Jones returns as coach after 17 years. But Nienaber is prepared and is set to select a team capable of withstanding the Australian onslaught.

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The Rugby Championship, especially in a World Cup year, involves strategic planning and testing the depth of the squad. As Jones also reportedly considers a two-squad system, this Championship promises to be a game of chess, not checkers, between the coaches.

Original article by Luke Menzies.