Former Springbok flyhalf and current Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith says South Africa have become “a complete team” on track for another World Cup tilt in 2027.
He adds that the Boks are an intimidating prospect to prepare for from an opponent’s point of view.
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Speaking to News24, Smith praised the balance Rassie Erasmus has struck between experience and youth, saying the Boks’ long-term plan is clearly paying off.
“They are an 8/10 team across the board, 10 being the maximum,” said Smith. “It must be difficult to prepare for the Springboks. They have a big pack of forwards; all eight of your forwards are committed to the set-piece, the maul or the scrum, which means your defence has to adapt.”
The former Cheetahs boss said what separates the Boks is their ability to dominate in multiple areas of the game, and switch styles seamlessly.
“They can rip you apart from a counter-attack perspective. You get the boys turning the ball over at the breakdown, so you can’t afford not to commit. They’re physical in defence and put your decision-making under pressure because of their presence and line speed. They also handle the aerial and kicking battle really well, so it’s really tough.”
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Smith said the Springboks’ tactical and technical completeness makes them the benchmark for the rest of the world and difficult to catch.
“It’s actually intimidating if you look at it from an opposition’s perspective,” he said. “They have so much depth in each role with quality players; they can roll out top performances and can find different ways to win.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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