The Springboks need to tick five boxes if they’re to get the better of the Wallabies in today’s Rugby Championship match in Brisbane, writes Jacques van der Westhuyzen. Kick-off is 12.05pm
Start well
In Salta two weeks ago the Boks managed just a single first-half penalty and trailed 3-13 at the break, while a week earlier in Nelspruit the home team also trailed at the interval, 10-13.
They got up to win that game, but weren’t so lucky in Argentina, and it is clear the Boks are battling to get into their games.
They also struggled against Ireland in June, too often relying on the bench and a strong late rally to get them out of trouble.
It hasn’t helped that Elton Jantjies has missed a few kicks at goal, too, but overall the Boks need to start better, put the opposition under pressure and dictate the pace of the game.
Show grunt
Where are the charged-up, angry Boks? In days past we’d see Bakkies Botha, possibly Bismarck du Plessis, and even Eben Etzebeth showing some muscle, some fire. There’s been too little of that this year.
The Boks don’t need to get dirty or nasty, but they need to show the opposition they mean business. They must get into the Wallaby faces today, rush them, force them into mistakes, make them doubt themselves.
It must start up front, with Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, and the Boks must lay the platform in the scrums, in the line-outs and at the rucks. Let’s stop playing the role of Mr Nice Guy.
Kick well
As the team’s primary goal-kicker the focus is firmly on Jantjies again today. He is a player who admits he enjoys the responsibility of kicking at goal, that he thrives under pressure. Well, he’s under pressure now and needs to stand up and show his worth.
He needs to land the early kicks, to take the pressure off himself and his team and put it on the Wallabies. Early misses up to now have allowed the opposition to settle and get into the game without having to worry about the score ticking over.
Also, Johan Goosen and Morne Steyn need to kick their goals when called upon, while Faf de Klerk needs to find his range when kicking out of hand.
Make line-breaks
Scarily the Boks, who are supposedly trying to play more attackingly, have made just 16 clean breaks in their two Rugby Championship matches to date - eight in each game against Argentina - while they’ve offloaded in the tackle just 12 times in those games.
This suggests that the Boks are not breaking the defensive line enough to create try-scoring chances at the back and out wide, while too often the players are ‘dying’ with the ball, rather than keeping it alive and the game flowing.
De Klerk, Jantjies, Juan de Jongh and Jesse Kriel are all dangerous players with ball in hand. They now need to expose a rookie Wallaby back division.
Tackle hard
Oupa Mohoje was the Boks’ leading tackler in the two Tests against Argentina and, while some of his hits may have been a little high, he showed intent and determination to make his tackles - but he needs his teammates to join him.
The Boks missed 22 and 18 tackles respectively in the two matches against Los Pumas, with the Argentine backs especially carving up the Bok defence at the back.
This week there’s a new midfield pairing and a new wing, so there may be uncertainty about who must tackle who, but the fact remains the Boks need to step up in defence.
They need to close the spaces and hit the Wallabies hard. Simple.
Saturday Star