Matt Williams: Ireland will have to get two scores ahead as early as possible if they are to beat the Springboks on Saturday
The Boks have studied the science and concluded that the pressure generated by using the negative, which is destroying their opponent’s space and time, is far easier to implement than the positive, which is creating those two essential elements for attacking rugby.
To master the corridor of power against the Springboks is the toughest assignment in world rugby. This is because South Africa enforces a suffocating defence that sucks time and space into rugby’s version of a black hole, where all attacking matter is destroyed. In their opening pool match, Scotland took this bait hook, line and sinker. The Scots’ error was toattempt to get the ball outside the Boks’ compressed defensive line by throwing long and slow passes, which is exactly what the Boks want from the attackers.
This is all part of the South Africans highly effective philosophy of placing huge physical, mental and scoreboard pressure on their opponents by denying them time and space across every contest in the game. In selecting only one back on their bench and, as their replacement hooker, Deon Fourie, who predominantly plays as a flanker, Nienaber and Erasmus are rolling the dice. The rugby gods have a wicked sense of humour and their tendency is to hit you where you are weakest. Any injury or card across the South African back line or to their starting hooker Bongi Mbonambi and the Boks will find their gamble hitting them like a custard pie in the face.
This is the planned crescendo to South Africa’s ultimate pressure plan. It is not pretty, it is packed with negativity and a fanatical reluctance to utilise the magnificent attacking talents that unquestionably lie within the players who wear the famous green jersey.
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