Springboks great uses ‘proven stat’ to predict ‘big factor’ of the Greatest Rivalry series
Springboks Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff
Double World Rugby Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff predicts that the work rate of the respective tight-fives will decide the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Springboks and All Blacks.
The now-retired front rower says that Boks assistant coach Felix Jones regularly quotes the ‘proven stat’ that the tight five that gets through more work in a Test match is the one that more often than not comes out on top.
Kitshoff believes it will be no different when the top-two ranked teams in the world collide in four Test matches across August and September.
Springboks squad analysis
He made this prediction on the For The Love of Rugby South Africa podcast where he reviewed the Springboks squad named for the series along with fellow Bok prop Trevor Nyakane.
“There’s a good mixture between experience, youth, debutants, and just mixing up combinations, and we’ve been mentioning combinations quite often where we see Rassie has used 46-odd players in three games, which is unheard of in international rugby,” he said.
“Normally you see 15 guys being played in and out, but a squad of 23 stays very consistent and they maybe make two or three changes. But I think for Rassie, and this team and how big the Greatest Rivalry is, and of course we cannot forget about Argentina coming up, he has picked an unbelievable squad.”
Turning his attention to the front row selections, Kitshoff hailed the strength in depth the Springboks have at their disposal with Erasmus spoilt for choice on both sides of the scrum.
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While assistant coach Daan Human built scrummaging depth among the Boks props with South Africa also boasting one of the most powerful set-pieces in the world, Kitshoff hailed the ability of the front rowers around the park.
“It’s quite interesting because if you think about Thomas du Toit, Zachary Porthen, Boan Venter, they are all players that actually have massive work rates,” he continued.
“When it comes to the tight five, and I love to quote Felix on this one because he always said if the tight five gets through the most work within a Test match, you end up winning that Test match, and it’s a proven stat.
“If the battle rate of the props and locks is higher than the opposition, you tend to win that Test match. So for me, there are big workers. Thomas gets through a ton of work. Wilco [Louw] is a solid scrummager, him and Carlu Sadie, but they also have the engine to work. Porthen makes big hits, and he’s quite mobile ball in hand.
“We saw Gerhard Steenekamp chase down wingers. So for me, he is such a big player.”
Big factor in the Greatest Rivalry Series
Kitshoff adds that the scrum, as well as the work rates of the respective front rowers and their locks, will be a big factor in deciding the series.
“We are both props, and we love talking about it because there’s the one side which is the scrum, and when you mentioned Daan Human, I got a big smile,” the former prop said.
“I think it is going to be a big part, a big component, of the Greatest Rivalry but there’s also the work rate because what the All Blacks bring is speed, they’ve got dynamic backline players and become quite dangerous quite quickly and you need your front row to be able to make tackles in the midfield, hit rucks, slow ball down and that’s going to be a big factor when it comes to these Test matches.”
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Commenting on the hookers, he added: “We have only got two specialised hookers in my opinion, with Johan Grobbelaar and Malcolm Marx, with guys like Andre-Hugo Venter staying back to play against the All Blacks for the Stormers.
“But also Malcolm was World Rugby Player of the Year last year, and Johan is building into that role very nicely as Malcolm’s backup. So also it’s two very skilful poachers, busy players, and they’re going to have a big task coming up in this Greatest Rivalry when it comes to the hooker position.”
