Bernard Jackman: ‘Suffocating’ Springboks tactics is why they aren’t ‘lauded’ as much as the great All Blacks

Former Ireland hooker and respected pundit Bernard Jackman has offered a reason as to why the Springboks aren’t lauded as much as the great All Blacks teams.

Despite winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series in between, the Springboks aren’t viewed in the same light as the 2010s New Zealand side that also won successive World Cups.

While many credit it to South Africa not winning as consistently during the World Cup cycles, Jackman believes it is their style of play and the manner in which they go about their business.

Springboks’ tactics

Many of the Springboks‘ wins over the years have been by small margins, particularly during the Rugby World Cup, where they won each of their knockout matches by a single point – including the final.

Since Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber returned to South Africa in 2018, the side returned to their traditional strengths focusing on the set-pieces and their defence.

Their style of play has often been likened to suffocating teams, while the term ‘slow poison’ was also coined by the side as they broke their opposition down.

“The reason this Boks team maybe aren’t lauded worldwide, well they got respect everywhere after that second World Cup win, but they’re never as pleasing on the eye or as impressive as the great All Blacks team,” Jackman explained on the RTE Rugby Podcast.

“The All Blacks would put 35 or 40 on you if you were off your game, whereas the Springbok team are more comfortable in the trenches and in battle.

“They have a way of playing which suffocates and strangles you, and it’s incredibly effective.

“It’s real cup rugby, but that’s part of the reason that they haven’t been lauded around the world as much as Rassie or Springbok fans would want.”

Fortress Loftus Versfeld

Looking ahead to the two-Test series between South Africa and Ireland, Jackman warned that Andy Farrell’s men should be wary of falling into the trap of playing the Springboks’ game.

He believes that Ireland should embrace the fact that the Springboks will be employing their suffocating tactics, and that’s before factoring in the home-ground advantage.

The ex-hooker feels that the last clash between the two sides, during the World Cup pool stages, was basically a home game for Ireland and while some supporters will make the trip out, Farrell’s charges will face one of the most partisan crowds in rugby.

“For Ireland, you can’t run away from that dog fight that’s coming, and they have to find one or two set-piece opportunities where they can hurt South Africa,” he added.

“But in general, it’s going to be about getting the basics right and they will need an 80-minute performance because that last 20 will be very difficult at altitude and it being at the end of the season.

“Added to that is the partisan crowd, and let’s be honest, in Paris, during the World Cup, it was effectively a home game for Ireland.

“And there is no doubt, this is a home game for South Africa in a partisan place that Ireland will ever play.”