“A rolling stone gathers no moss ...” This has been the Springboks’ mindset since winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups after their triumph in France last year.
The Springboks have added attack coach Tony Brown to their coaching team and his influence has been evident in the way they have gone about their business on attack.
The Springboks are holding onto the ball a lot more in 2024, producing a plethora of offloads so far this season. It was again evident last weekend in their Rugby Championship opener when they crushed the Wallabies 33-7, combing their traditional forward power with slick passing and running off the ball.
But it’s not only the backs who have varied their play, as this past Saturday saw the Springboks’ forwards produce an outrageous lineout variation that almost broke the internet.
In the first half half against Australia, the Springboks had a lineout about five metres out from the Wallabies’ line. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi threw the ball to flank Ben-Jason Dixon at the back, who, while in the air, threw the ball back to lock Eben Etzebeth who was lifted up at the front before they started mauling.
👏 Wild innovation from the Springboks at this lineout! #AUSvRSA pic.twitter.com/nqW9AWGjAo
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 11, 2024
The move resulted in captain Siya Kolisi going over for the try, with the Wallabies all at sea, not knowing what hit them.
But assistant coach Duane Vermeulen, who was part of the 2019 and 2023 World Cup-winning teams, says the Springboks aren’t going to stop there. Fans can expect more surprises and trick plays from the Springboks during the rest of the Rugby Championship.
Vermeulen was jokingly asked if World Rugby phoned about the lineout move after the law changes in the lead up to the Rugby Championship suspiciously looked like they were designed nullify the Boks’ power game.
But this team is evolving and already look like they are are a step of the rest of the rugby world.
“I almost want to say to you, hold my beer, and watch this space!” Vermeulen joked “We haven’t heard anything from World Rugby, but there was a few things that trended on social media.
“You have to be innovative in this game. It was something new that we tried and luckily for us it worked.
“There are new things coming, we always try to add something new. We have a week to work on those things.”
The Springboks take on the Wallabies in their second Rugby Championship match on Saturday at 11.45am.
@JohnGoliath82