Boks won't play like cowboys

2006-08-24 21:33

Morris Gilbert

Pretoria - Hard, intelligent rugby, rather than a Wild-West approach, will determine whether the Springboks will physically dominate the Tri-Nations rugby Test against New Zealand here on Saturday.

Gert Smal, coach of the South African forwards, said on Thursday the All Blacks were spot-on with their prediction that the Springboks would employ physical rugby to try to push the Tri-Nations champions on the back foot.

"What else, when you play a team such as the All Blacks?" asked Smal.

"To beat them, you must, physically, have the first and last say. But, to be physical without thinking won't do you any good.

"There is a decisive difference between intelligent physical play and an approach of putting your head down and storming in without knowing where you're going.

"At Test level, a Wild-West approach is of no benefit, especially against the All Blacks," said the former Springbok loose forward.

Wallabies were out to neutralise

Without equating the situation to Australia's physical onslaught against New Zealand in Auckland last week, Smal said the Springboks would not necessarily employ the same controversial tactics.

The Wallabies were out to neutralise, at all costs, New Zealand's ball-hunting trump card Richie McCaw.

In the process, they turned to illegal tactics, more often than not, even more so because the tactics were largely overlooked by English referee Chris White and his South African touch judges, Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert.

It took a South African disciplinary official to have Wallaby wing Lote Tugiri penalised for an extremely dangerous spear tackle on McCaw after the match officials also had missed that incident.

Smal said: "McCaw is a special player and a factor to be reckoned with. But our focus will not be on one player only.

"We have ways, different to the Wallabies, to make him less effective."

Physical intimidation, he said, was not about who was stronger, bigger or more aggressive.

"Rugby is by nature a very physical game, because you are involved in a contact battle with your opponents all the time.

"You 'infringe' in the comfort zone of your opponent by being in his face all the time.

"To get the upper hand there, does not depend on how physical you are, but how cleverly you do so. We will strive for that balance," said Small.

Referring to the inclusion of former South African Greg Rawlinson in the New Zealand team, Smal said the All Black lock was a good lineout jumper, but that the Springboks did not know much more about him.

- Beeld