Jake White: Springboks don’t need to change anything, the chasing pack has to catch up
Springboks forward Pieter-Steph du Toit and an inset of Jake White.
Former Springboks head coach Jake White says that Rassie Erasmus doesn’t need to change anything about his team and that it’s up to the rest of the world to catch up.
South Africa marched to a 3-1 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series victory, winning a hat-trick of matches over New Zealand after falling to a defeat in the opener at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
Erasmus’ side reacted to that defeat in Egoli by surging to a 33-26 victory in Cape Town with almost the same matchday 23 beating the All Blacks in the final two Tests in Soweto and Baltimore.
Among the 23 selected were many of the Springboks‘ old guard who won back-to-back Rugby World Cups, including the likes of skipper Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and centres Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, to name a few.
Ageing stars proved detractors wrong
There has been a running narrative that Erasmus hasn’t done enough to usher out some of the ageing stars, with questions raised about whether they will still have enough in the tank to compete at the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
However, White believes that those players proved their critics wrong during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series, while he also praised the All Blacks for clearly turning the corner under Dave Rennie.
“Well, that was a blast. What a series. As the dust finally settles, the first thing I’d say about Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is that South Africa and New Zealand are clearly the two best teams in the world. That’s not even controversial. It’s stating the obvious,” he wrote in his RugbyPass column.
He continued: “So, what have we learnt? Well, firstly, the Springboks have shown their cojones again. Down 1-0 and with their backs against the wall, they showed their teeth and bulldozed their way to a 3-1 series win. For that, you have to give them immense credit.
“As is often discussed, they have a clutch of ageing players, so to win three consecutive wins over three weekends shows their detractors that they still have the burning desire, and most importantly legs, to go the distance, because they’ll need to do just that in the World Cup knockouts.
“There have been question marks raised in some quarters over the longevity of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and even Deon Fourie, who is 40 in a week or so, but they’ve answered doubts unequivocally. They’ve gone to some dark places and come through the other side.”
As mentioned above, much has been made of the Boks’ player age profile but also their style of play and reliance on their set-piece prowess.
Tony Brown made a notable improvement to South Africa’s attack when he joined Erasmus’ coaching team after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but up until the final Test match against the All Blacks, the Boks reverted to a more conservative style of play.
Springboks don’t need to change
Looking ahead to 2027, White believes that Erasmus does have some selection issues to sort out, but he doesn’t feel like South Africa needs to change anything to stay ahead of the opposition; instead, it is up to the rest to catch up.
“It’s funny, I was asked yesterday, what should the Springboks change? Well, I would say nothing. Without being arrogant, it’s for the chasing pack to catch up,” he wrote.
“There are, of course, always going to be selection posers, for instance, who covers for Malcolm Marx at hooker? Could Ox Nche or Jan Hendrick-Wessels be converted over the next 12 months? Whoever it is, Rassie always seems to come up trumps. Whenever he unleashes a plan, it works. We openly pondered who would be the next top-quality scrum-half off the rank and then Morne van den Berg puts in a Player of the Match performance. He has had to bide his time, waiting behind Faf (de Klerk), Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, but that’s what you have to do to get a Springbok cap.
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“Then there’s the flanks. Ethan Hooker’s ability under the high ball has provided the perfect counterbalance to the hot-stepping wingers, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. Rassie has interchanged positions and personnel very well, and fellow Test coach rained plaudits in his direction, and I agree. Fans and pundits are quick enough to castigate you, but when you get things right, you have to pat him on the back.”
He added: “What has impressed me is Rassie’s powers to motivate, time and time again, because there was no doubt they were chastened and under pressure after that first Test loss. He has to bottle that special sauce and use it to fire the players, staff, wider support group and even fans to lift that squad to new heights.”
