Scott Robertson hails Springboks’ ‘impressive’ depth and warns teams not to get ‘caught in the matrix’
Scott Robertson and Eben Etzebeth with an inset of Springboks captain Siya Kolisi in action against the All Blacks.
Scott Robertson has hailed the Springboks’ depth after his Barbarians team was beaten 80-31 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
The former All Blacks boss returned to South Africa for the first time since he parted ways with New Zealand Rugby, leading the famous invitational team against the Springboks.
The fixture between the Boks and Baa-Baas kicked off after South Africa ‘A’ defeated Zimbabwe 40-0 – the double-header taking place after the Bulls were defeated by Leinster in the United Rugby Championship Final in Dublin on Friday evening.
Following the two matches, Erasmus added 12 Bulls players to his squad to begin preparations for the Nations Championship matches against England, Scotland and Wales, with Bath prop Thomas du Toit also linking up with the team.
Scott Robertson hails Springboks’ depth
Speaking after the Baa-Baas defeat to the Boks, Robertson said that the double-header in PE showed just how deep the back-to-back world champions’ depth is.
“Last time we were here they were one-score games,” he said in reference to the two All Blacks‘ defeats he oversaw in 2024 when in charge of the team.
“This is a few more scores game. It was a great occasion; we saw how passionate the South Africans are about their rugby, and I think tonight’s game just shows how much depth they’ve got, and that was really impressive. It was a great occasion.”
Los Pumas legend Felipe Contepomi, who assisted Robertson, also spoke glowingly about the Boks and their attacking evolution, stating: “It’s a team that you need to be brave and have a go at them if you want to be on the right side of the result at the end of the game. They are definitely evolving, and it’s dangerous.”
The former All Blacks boss expanded on that, stating that once South Africa get into their flow and the way they want the game to unfold – it’s difficult to stop.
‘Springboks are definitely evolving and it’s dangerous’ – Felipe Contepomi
Springboks squad: Six uncapped men named in Nations Championship group as World Cup winner returns
Getting caught in Boks’ matrix
He warned that if teams do want to beat Erasmus’ men, they need to stop them from getting into their groove and deny them scrum penalties and the opportunity to use their driving maul.
“If you fall into their blueprint, you’re caught in the matrix; you just can’t get out of it, and that’s what happened in the second half,” Robertson explained.
“Those scrum penalties, the balls in the second five’s hands and we are getting penalised, but then you’re in the corner defending a maul.
“They push you over, so they’re good at it; they’re clear on what they’re going to do, and you just need to stop them doing it.”
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
What’s next for Scott Robertson?
Having parted ways with New Zealand Rugby, there has been much speculation around Robertson’s next coaching role, particularly after being immensely successful with the Crusaders before taking on the All Blacks job.
The Baa-Baas boss did not shed any light on what might be next when asked at the press conference, as he kept his cards close to his chest.
“My next move is that next week, the Barbarians are playing Wales and that’s the next two weeks for me. Thank you,” he remarked.
READ MORE: Springboks and Wallabies snubs join Scott Robertson’s Barbarians squad for Wales showdown