Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer wants his team to be impenetrable on defence when they face the Wallabies in Perth next week.
Meyer identified Australia's back-line as their most important attacking weapon and said the Springboks will have to give a solid defensive display if they want to beat them.
"Australia are a dangerous side when they get quick ball, especially their backs, who are unbelievable. If our defence is not 100 per cent, they will punish us," Meyer told Reuters.
The Wallabies have come in for heavy criticism since their defeats to the All Blacks in Sydney and Auckland but Meyer expects a tough assignment against Robbie Deans' troops.
"Australia are a very good team and we don't have a good record against them," he said.
"New Zealand are just a way ahead of everyone at the moment and nobody's giving us a chance in Perth next weekend.
"Australia have a very good pack which you cannot underestimate and it should be a very good contest at the breakdowns.
"We need to be very direct and if we kick aimlessly, they are very good at counter-attacking.
"They will definitely test us on defence because they run different lines and they have a more backline-orientated team.
"I'm very realistic and I know how tough it's going to be against the Wallabies."
Meyer is not expected to make too many changes to his starting XV or his game plan for the clash with the Wallabies after his side's disappointing 16-16 draw against Argentina in Mendoza last week.
"You change the game plan week-by-week depending on the opposition, but they're just small tweaks and you still play to your strengths," he revealed.
"This whole thing about game plans is totally romanticised and unrealistic.
"80 per cent of the game plan is the same for every team in the world and there's no such things as Plans B, C or D, and you can't get to Point E on the field if you still haven't covered Point A.
"The game plan is the same one that wins World Cups and it's a game plan that suits the Springboks.
"But the base is not even in place yet and the only time a team really learns is when they're playing away.
"I'm a guy who backs the players, will give them continuity and once we've played away from home then I'll look at the combinations and be ruthless."
Comments
saffastormer says...
I wish HM would focus on SA's attack as much as he does on the Aussies'
Posted 07:30 04th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - that's a good point. If the coach and players are unable to react to the game as it is being played (the opposition, the ref's interpretation, the weather, etc), they're in serious trouble. The teams which adapt best and quickest are those which will succeed the most.
Posted 15:05 03rd September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Mayer "wants a brick wall". Its harder to predict what a brick wall will do next than a Bok attack.
Posted 12:49 03rd September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Head coach says there's no such thing as plan B... Hmm.
Posted 11:29 03rd September 2012
GoWalesGo says...
It's funny how people are saying the Boks are kicking too much... I actually think they aren't doing it enough. The current game plan is run, smash and ruck... Repeat.
I'd start Pienaar/a classic scrumhalf and stick Hougaard on the wing or the bench for impact. Steyn would fit a kicking game plan but his lack of form and confidence is toxic and he needs to have a mental break.
Posted 11:17 03rd September 2012
APV1 says...
I think he should concentrate on using big tough forwards to build a platform and then kicking for territory. How's that for innovation?!
Posted 10:12 03rd September 2012
Ruggernaut says...
I'm expecting a rather boring game between two struggling teams not wanting to risk anything for the sake of winning. Australia will be under more pressure to get the result as this is a home game. But if South Africa lose due to the same errors we saw in Mendoza, then believe you me they will be under immense pressure in the Republic. They may as well engrave New Zealand's credentials on that trophy already.
Posted 21:15 01st September 2012
new_j4a says...
So now we are going to add a whole new dimension to our game: instead of just playing Bulls rugby (which by the way works brilliantly, but only on the tennis court), we are now going to add a Stormers dimension.....give them the ball and then defend brilliantly. By the time we play New Zealand, we'll finally be adding the Sharks approach (and players?), but the All Blacks will have had just a little more practice at Champagne rugby....so those games will be pretty much look and learn. One can hope at least that Oz continues the downward spiral and that the Argies implode....allowing us to regain 2nd spot in the IRB rankings and the 4N.
Posted 21:03 01st September 2012
PREEST says...
If the implement the same game plan they had against the Pumas then they will loose to the Wallabies. I've always enjoyed SA vs AUS test matches, there have been some real crackers in recent years, really high scoring too. Wallabies should win. They have had the tougher opposition for the first two rounds, though they lost, should have prepared them for SA.
Posted 19:57 01st September 2012
melkdave says...
You change your gameplan week by week depending on the opposistion.This from HM who up until now refused to even look at tweaking or expanding the gameplan.Perhaps he is finally finding his feet or realises the bokke ,can no longrer just bully teams.,and what he had wasnt a wining formula.As i said lucky to get the series win against England ,where they managed to hang on in the 2nd and 3rd tests.I for one think the bokke have a great chance of wining in Perth,i believe the wallabies have some very serious weaknesses,which wont be solved anytime soon .,but the bokke certinally need to solve their breakdown problems ,to take advantage of the wallaby frailalties.If they can ,and here i think the call up of F.Louw is a very good call..I feel the bokke will win by 10 ,and dominate territory and possesion.
Posted 15:44 01st September 2012
Kiwikev says...
HM being overly kind to Oz...They will lose by 10...
Posted 15:36 01st September 2012
SACanuck says...
So I guess the Boks are just going to kick to the backs and then defend and hope to get a few shots at goal?
Posted 15:21 01st September 2012