Springboks won’t ‘go away’ from defence structures despite high scores as Junior Boks boss identifies the major benefit
Max Jorgensen of the Wallabies runs into score against the Springboks and inset of Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote.
The Springboks’ defence is not a problem despite Rassie Erasmus’ side conceding a high number of points in recent matches.
That is according to former assistant coach Gary Gold and current Junior Boks head coach Kevin Foote. The duo have both operated as defence coaches during their careers and detailed why it isn’t an issue that the Boks are leaking so many points.
Jacques Nienaber’s defensive structures were pivotal in the Springboks winning the last two Rugby World Cups, with Jerry Flannery taking over the role after the 2023 success.
While South Africa have continued to win big matches utilising the Irishman’s structures, it has come under scrutiny in recent times, particularly during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, with the All Blacks scoring 17 tries to the Springboks’ 14.
Gary Gold: Why the Springboks defence is not a problem
It has been thrust even further into the spotlight as the Wallabies managed to score five times in their 42-38 win over South Africa in Perth.
The duo shared their views on the Boks’ defence when appearing on the Boks Unpacked podcast.
“The interesting thing I’ll say is we lost the try count to the All Blacks 17-14. We lost the try count yesterday as well,” Gold said when reviewing the defeat to the Wallabies, where the Boks actually did match Australia’s try tally.
“There is one thing you need to see the bigger picture for. South Africa have made a choice; they want a high-risk, high-reward defence system, and that means that you’re going to make mistakes and they accept those mistakes.
“But look at what they shut down and what they’re looking to do. You can’t say to a team, ‘I want you to get off the line. I want you to exert maximum pressure on the opposition and, by the way, you’ve got to make every read that’s perfect’.
“You’ve got to understand that you’re asking for a high-pressure game, and understand that there’s going to be a couple of errors, but where the Springboks bail themselves out is their work rate off the ball to help each other is exceptional.
“So no, I don’t think the defence is a problem in my opinion. Would they want to tighten it up? Of course they want to tighten it up.”
Ex-Springboks coach: Why Wallabies defeat is a ‘good thing’ and won’t ‘worry’ Rassie Erasmus
Michael Hooper hides referee bias accusation behind call for World Rugby to protect Andrea Piardi
Junior Boks boss: ‘It’s our DNA’
Foote added that forcing the opposition into errors is part of South Africa’s game plan as it gives the Springboks more opportunities to scrum.
The Junior Boks utilise similar structures to the senior men’s team, and Foote says that the aggressive and high-risk approach won’t be changed.
He also gave the Wallabies credit for the way they attack and managed to find ways around the Bok defence.
“What our defence also does give us is their errors, which put our scrum into the game. When you’re making line speed like that, and they get panicked or spooked, and they make that error, we’re going to scrum,” the ex-Melbourne Rebels boss said.
“What Australia did show is that triple stack. So they don’t stack vertically; they’ve got the guys in behind them, and when that comes in, and you are a line speed team, if you can’t land on it, then they’ve got the ability to play around you.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
“So again, I agree with Gary. This is our DNA; we’re not going to go away from it. We’re going to put a lot of errors on you, but every now and again, they’re going to get a line break. But again, on Canan [Moodie], line break, he’s the guy who turns and burns and makes that tackle. So high risk, high reward.”