When you look at the Bok backs, these aren't the slower and more direct players of the past. With each new coloured chap that gets selected, another few thousands volts is added.
The game plan is starting to select itself at this point. These chaps are playing brilliant franchise rugby and forcing the Boks to select them. And as each one enters the squad, bit by bit, the Boks are realising that they have to start playing more attacking rugby. That's where all the "variation" talk is coming from at present.
We're selecting Arendse, Willemse, Moodie, Kolbe, Manie...combining them all together you get a very different player than you would were you to combine all our backs from 15 years ago together.
It plays well into the rush defence philosophy because they're all dang quick. And on attack, as a coach, you simply have to play them in a way that gets the best out of them by allowing them more prerogative.
The only fear I have is that we get cold feet and end up being caught between two worlds.
I say, be brave. Go for it. Lean into their strengths and let's see where it goes.
We've seen what the other option gives us...we have decades of data on that. Let's get a WC cycle's worth of data on a different style.
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Graeme Henry went into a 2007 World Cup with 2 All-Black teams -each of which was beating test teams.
They had so much depth - but then suddenly they went into a tight test match and it was clear they did not have an A-team combination.
It was unclear in many cases who the first choices were, so the All Blacks had 2 B-teams, with no clear A-team.
The combinations had not developed, because of chopping and changing the starting team to accommodate 30 players.
With the Springbok backline, so many of the positions are unclear as to who is the preferred starter.
9. Faff/Reinach/Williams/Hendrikse
10. Libok/Polllard/Willemse/Faff
12. Delande/Esterhuizen/Pollard/Willemse
13. Kriel/Moodie
14. Kolbe/Moodie/Aredense
15. Leroux/Willemse
11. Ardense/Mapimpi/Kolbe
With so many different combinations being tested, it is unclear
I feel it would be better to follow a similar approach to most teams in this World Cup, namely to start each game with the best team, just tweaking combinations and the bench to give some extra people game time.
This gives the backup players some game time, but focuses more on getting the A-team peaking as the tournament progresses .
Hopefully, RassNabber proves me wrong, but if things do go wrong for the Boks - questions will be raised.