Springbok forwards coach Deon David believes that the efforts invested in ball movement are beginning to pay off as the Boks prepare for the fourth and final match of the great rivalry against the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday.
The greatest rugby rivalry
David noted that preparation throughout the season, including providing opportunities to a wide range of players, helped the Springboks strengthen squad depth, combination play, and the cohesion of their forward unit.
“Before this series, we understood that having good ball movement was extremely important for us,” said David. He added that the hard work put into scrums, outsides, and mauls is starting to show. “We are pleased that everything has come together at this stage, providing a solid foundation for our attack and defense.”
Nevertheless, David emphasized that the Boks are far from perfect and continue to look for areas for improvement. “We constantly evaluate our systems, individual efforts, and the overall commitment of our forward unit. There is still room to grow, and regarding ball movement, we continue to strive for improvement and better synergy between attack and defense.”
The effectiveness of the Boks' play in the outsides became evident during the victory in the third match in Soweto, especially when Malcolm Marx completed a powerful maul, scoring the decisive try. David acknowledged that the execution was particularly pleasing given the difficult conditions.
“It was quite difficult for us on Saturday because the conditions were very, very tough. Winds blew across the field from different directions, so it was not easy for the hooker to find the right spot and catch the timing with the jumpers. I must praise them for how they handled it and read the conditions. This allowed us to achieve one hundred percent success.”
David also noted the invaluable benefit of the experience accumulated in the Springbok squad, as players from different franchises constantly exchange ideas and learn from each other. “We have a lot of experience in the unit, and we have players from different franchises. We always try to learn from each other and share ideas. Obviously, we also analyze opponents in terms of where opportunities open up for us, as well as their strengths. We create a plan based on this for a specific match, and we are simply happy that it worked for us.”
Now the Boks have a chance to completely win the Great Rivalry series in Baltimore, holding a 2-1 advantage after the 29-24 victory in Soweto.