Sir John Kirwan to ‘boo’ Springboks Bomb Squad but urges All Blacks ‘to start thinking like South Africa’
Springboks Bomb Squad scrummaging and All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan.
Sir John Kirwan was left in little doubt as to what will be absolutely key for the All Blacks during their Rugby Championship encounter against the Springboks in Johannesburg.
Scott Robertson’s men go into the clash with one win in two and know that successive defeats will effectively rule them out of the title race.
In fact, a single victory is unlikely to be enough, which means that New Zealand will have to emerge triumphant in both Johannesburg and Cape Town to maintain their ambitions of claiming silverware.
South Africa are renowned for their forward power, despite their improvement in attack since Tony Brown’s arrival, while their bench impact has become crucial.
Disarming the Bomb Squad
The Springboks’ ‘Bomb Squad’ has helped turn the tide in several big games, especially at Rugby World Cups, and Kirwan knows that it needs to be disarmed.
“The bench will win us the game. I thought it was something we were really good at a few years ago, I don’t think our bench has been as dynamic or understood the importance of what the bench does,” he said on The Breakdown.
“If we’re going to win our first game, the bench is fundamental.”
Fellow All Blacks great Jeff Wilson would like to see Sam Cane start alongside Ethan Blackadder and Ardie Savea in the back-row but, if that’s the case, Kirwan still thinks Dalton Papali’i should be given plenty of minutes off the bench.
“Sam Cane, I’m hearing you, but then Dalton would be coming on with at least 30 to go. You’ve got to start thinking a little bit like South Africa,” he said.
“We’ve got to play an expansive game with skill, a great kicking game, can’t give away penalties in our half because you know what’s going to happen.”
New Zealand’s greatest impact from their replacements came against England where Beauden Barrett, who was in the 22 shirt, effectively decided the result.
Since that 2-0 series victory Barrett has been selected in the first XV, but they haven’t been nearly as effective in the latter stages.
In the first clash against Argentina in Wellington, it was the visitors who finished the stronger in the shock 38-30 success.
Although the All Blacks hit back a week later at Eden Park, securing a dominant 42-10 win, they only touched down once in the second period and were scoreless in the final 38 minutes.
Despite the theme that has developed in 2024, Kirwan would still start with Barrett, but the former wing insists that they need to rectify their bench.
The 59-year-old even joked about moving Savea to the replacements and having him primed and ready for the final 40 minutes – something the back-rower did incredibly well early in his Test career.
Taking advantage of ‘fatigued’ Boks
“The reason I spoke about Ardie and the reason you want to play Sam Cane, I don’t think Sam Cane should come off the bench because I think he’s better starting,” he said.
“Who is going to come off the bench like a Damian McKenzie did when they’re getting fatigued?
“They’re (Springboks) going to put the ‘Bomb Squad’ on and I’m going to boo at my television.”
Kirwan also spoke about targeting young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has enjoyed an outstanding start to his Test career, and skipper Siya Kolisi.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu has once again been handed the reins at fly-half for Saturday’s clash, while Kolisi returns as captain after missing the second Wallabies Test.
“We need to put this kid under incredible pressure,” the All Blacks great said.
“Siya will be back as their leader and he brings something a little bit special. For me, we really need to shut him down early, we need to get him on the back foot.
“We need to shock them into something that they haven’t seen before otherwise, if they get over the advantage line, you can’t put any pressure on them because they get a roll on.”
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