Rassie Erasmus Hints at What Springboks Will in Final Greatest Rivalry Test Against All Blacks

• Rassie Erasmus signalled a shift in Springbok strategy ahead of Saturday's fourth and final Greatest Rivalry Test in Baltimore
• The Boks suffered a heavy 33-16 defeat in the opening Test at Ellis Park before winning the next two games with a more expansive approach
• Erasmus credited assistant coach Tony Brown for broadening the team's attacking game after the series opener backfired

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has strongly hinted that South Africa will adopt a more attacking approach in Saturday's fourth and final Greatest Rivalry Test against New Zealand in Baltimore.

The Springboks entered the series with a clear defensive blueprint: nullify the All Blacks' creative play through a dominant power game. The plan unravelled in the opening Test at Ellis Park, where New Zealand ran in five tries to one in a 33-16 victory.

Boks Find Their Attacking Rhythm

South Africa grew into the series from there. They claimed a 33-26 win in Cape Town, scoring three tries, before crossing for four tries in last weekend's 29-24 victory in Soweto to take a 2-1 lead into the deciding match.

Read also

Rassie Erasmus sends clear message on Springboks’ preparations for decisive All Blacks Test

Erasmus has now made clear that the Boks will not revert to a purely defensive strategy in Baltimore.

"I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make against the All Blacks is just to try and defend," he said. "At the end of the day you just need to outscore your opposition. If it means they score four tries and you kick five drop goals like Jannie de Beer at the 1999 World Cup against England, then that is what you do. You just need to score more points than them."

He added: "To try and contain New Zealand is extremely difficult — just ask our franchises and France in the Nations Championship in July."

Tony Brown's Work Behind the Scenes

Erasmus attributed the Boks' improving ball-in-hand game to the efforts of assistant coach Tony Brown, who has worked to widen South Africa's attacking options since the Ellis Park defeat.

"Tony has worked really hard since the loss in the first Test," Erasmus said. "Obviously we don't just want to score maul tries or scrum tries. We also want to use other opportunities, so we've been working hard at that. Damian (de Allende) was good on Saturday, Jesse (Kriel) was very good, Ethan (Hooker) did well, so I think the backs are getting better."

Read also

Rassie Erasmus sends clear message to Springboks ahead of fourth Test against All Blacks

Erasmus also reflected on his predictions heading into the series. "I always felt that the series would be decided in Tests three and four, and that we would get stronger further into the series," he said. "The important thing is we just have to score more points than them, however the points come."

The Springboks and All Blacks meet in Baltimore on Saturday, with South Africa looking to clinch the Greatest Rivalry series.

Source: Briefly News