MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – South Africa is in a strong position to retain their Rugby World Cup title due to their depth and experience. The squad selected for their 2019 victory was largely chosen with the intention of competing in this year’s tournament in France, according to South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. Their triumph in 2019 was seen as a “bonus” while the focus was always on the 2023 World Cup.
Even though they have lost some players to injury, such as Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am, South Africa has impressive depth in all positions. This is a significant improvement from their strength four years ago in Japan.
The team selected for their opening match against Scotland has a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench, commonly referred to as the ‘Bomb Squad’. This selection strategy ensures good quality throughout the team and provides the head coach Jacques Nienaber with options for the entire 80 minutes.
Nienaber expressed confidence in the team’s depth, stating, “I definitely think we have more depth than we had in 2019. We have nine players participating in their third Rugby World Cup and a whole lot in their second.”
While the bench split may seem risky for some teams, Nienaber assured that he has forwards who can fill in as backs if needed. He did not provide specific tactical details but emphasized their ability to adapt if required.
Nienaber believes in certain fundamental principles when facing top test nations, and the Springboks have been reinforcing their depth to execute those principles effectively from start to finish. These principles include having a solid set-piece, building momentum in attack, containing the opposition in defense, and using the kicking game strategically.
South Africa’s strength in depth and experience gives them an advantage in their quest to retain the Rugby World Cup. Their team selection for the upcoming match against Scotland reflects their confidence in their roster’s quality and their ability to adapt to different situations. Nienaber’s coaching philosophy emphasizes fundamental principles that are important against top test nations. South Africa’s performance in the tournament will depend on their execution of these principles.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Credit: The Star : Sport Feed
