While the Springboks may miss some of the silky handling of Lukhanyo Am, they certainly benefit from Jesse Kriel's defensive steel
Last Friday night’s All Blacks versus Springboks clash at Twickenham was one of the most atmospheric occasions at English rugby HQ in many a year.
The best thing about a bulletproof strategy is that there is little need for another one. Four years ago in Japan, South Africa bulldozed their opponents on their way to glory.
Which is why I had to double-take at a tweet last month that started with the line, “The streets won’t forget Jaque Fourie”.
Victor Matfield, the most capped Springboks international of all time, has named his best South African XV.
Schalk Burger has labelled Samoan powerhouse Henry Tuilagi as the scariest thing he ever saw on the rugby field with the Springboks.
So there was actually much to like about how the Boks went about their work against the All Blacks. They forced turnovers and de Klerk’s box kicks were mostly on point. They will not care a fig if it was tedious.
A former Springboks coach has labelled South Africa's stupid decision to leave Super Rugby as a key reason behind their lack of recent international form.
The Springboks have only conceded 15 tries in their last 18 Tests, which equates to 0.8 tries per match. The Boks’ defensive success is a by-product of an undimmed focus from a coaching perspective on a system that is working incredibly well.
Victor Matfield says Alun Wyn Jones can still thrive as part of the old-boy network