The Springboks under coach Jacques Nienaber and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus have built a staggering list of achievements in almost no time and now they face another in the Rugby Championship.
After the recent 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions the target on the Springboks’ backs has grown larger. It’s not just a target because they have been winning and therefore other teams want to beat them, but also for all the joylessness the Boks seemingly represent.
And the Boks will know that they go into the Rugby Championship without the good wishes of the northern hemisphere after edging the Lions in a spiteful series.The constant narrative throughout the ill-tempered Lions series was that the Boks are somehow the sport’s version of global warming sucking the life out of planet rugby.
However, when you remove the 2018 season in which Erasmus had to rebuild a team, a style and a culture to be competitive at Rugby World Cup 2019, the reading is even better. Yet the Boks traits are somehow viewed as anti-rugby. As if kicking skilfully, chasing with purpose and organisation to be able to compete to regather the ball, set piece strength and strong defence, has never mattered in rugby.
Another overlooked issue is the Lions approached the series in much the same way as the Boks. In other words, they placed an emphasis on set piece strength, a strong kicking game and tough defence. Both sides tried to eliminate risks in a once-in-a-generation series. In 2017 when the Lions played the mighty All Blacks, the world’s best team at the time and widely considered the greatest side of any era, New Zealand only scored five tries in the three Tests. Five.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
GAVIN RICH: Rugby has many styles, and the Boks were certainly not boringWhile the team could do with an innovative backline coach, they don’t deserve all the whinging
Read more »
There's still hunger in the Boks, says Marx ahead of Rugby Champs“We didn’t play Test rugby for so long before the series so I’m still hungry to keep going.'
Read more »
GAVIN RICH: Rugby has many styles, and the Boks were certainly not boringWhile the team could do with an innovative backline coach, they don’t deserve all the whinging
Read more »
Boks coach Jacques Nienaber explains wholesale changes for Argentina TestSpringboks coach Jacques Nienaber made12 changes to the match day squad to manage workloads of players and create depth in the squad, and not to disrespect Argentina.
Read more »
We aren’t boring: Argentina challenge means different styles and tactics for SpringboksThe Springboks begin the defence of their RugbyChampionship against Argentina, and coach Jacques Nienaber is adamant that there is nothing ’boring about how his team go about their job. By Mike Greenaway IOLSport
Read more »
Nienaber makes wholesale changes to his match day squad for Gqeberha clash against ArgentinaSpringboks coach Jacques Nienaber has made wholesale changes to his match-day squad for the opening Rugby Championship match against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Read more »