‘You have to evolve with the team’ – Jasper Wiese maintains ‘dominance’ mindset despite Springboks attacking shift
Springboks forward Jasper Wiese and an inset of attack coach Tony Brown.
Jasper Wiese has hailed the “amazing” influence Tony Brown has had on the Springboks’ attack but states the mindset of the forwards has not changed.
The 29-year-old has recovered in time from injury to earn his 35th Test cap for South Africa, his 25th in the number eight jersey – the fourth-highest tally of all-time.
Wiese’s injury
There were fears that Wiese would not be fit in time for the start of the international season, but the loose forward stated that his injury was not as severe as initially suspected.
“It wasn’t such a serious injury, I just had two discs that had to be replaced in my neck,” he explained.
“So the recovery time for that is usually three months; it wasn’t a long-term injury like six months to a year. I’m obviously very excited to be here, and it’s always a massive privilege for me to be in the Springboks camp with everybody.
“I just did the last part of my rehab with everybody here, so I’m very glad to be here.”
Wiese is renowned for his physicality on both sides of the ball, making him a perfect fit for traditional Springboks squads. However, Rassie Erasmus added former All Blacks fly-half Brown to his coaching team and tasked the attack guru with evolving South Africa’s style of play with ball in hand.
Attacking focus
A shift in style threatened players like Wiese’s involvement, but the loose forward is not too concerned and is willing to evolve his game to fit the needs of the team but maintains that his role still plays to his strengths.
“You have to evolve with the team,” he said ahead of the clash with Italy at Loftus Versfeld.
“Honestly, the attack that we have at the moment with Tony Brown is amazing and he helps a lot with the way we have to work on our game.
“For my personal mindset, it’s just getting momentum and stopping momentum and to support the guys around me as well as I can.
“As the game opens up more, just put yourself in a position to be there to support or to follow up a brilliant carry with another brilliant carry – be there to have a genuine impact on the game, I would say that’s really the goal for me.”
Japan and setting a benchmark
The Bok forward has been aided by his time in Japan, though, having made the move to the D-Rocks after a successful stint with Leicester Tigers in the Premiership.
“It’s a different style of rugby in Japan that I’ve experienced for the last four or five years in the UK,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to guys that has been there from 2017 and they’re saying the competition gets more competitive every year because more and more players actually go to the league.
“But I would say I’ve learned a lot, how to run, because it’s a running style of rugby over there.
“My team didn’t do too great this year, but there are a lot of learnings to take from that and hopefully, when we go back next season, we can get a few better results.”
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With attention now on the two Tests against the Azzurri, Wiese says that the Springboks’ pack must lay down a marker against Italy following the fine work done by the forwards in the comprehensive victory over the Barbarians in Cape Town.
“We have to put a benchmark for the year forward,” he said.
“Last week, the guys did well against the Barbarians and it’s up to us to build on that with a few changes but not too many.
“That has set us up nicely as a good base in the build-up to this Italian game.
“The forwards just want to show dominance. We are all switched on and know we are not facing a passionate Italian side who gets themselves up for games.
“They will be a good challenge for us, but for every Springboks forward, the mindset is to dominate.”
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