Five Issues the Springboks Must Address Ahead of the Blockbuster World Cup Final Against the All Blacks and three public viewing sites in Cape Town for the Rugby World Cup final…

Five Issues the Springboks Must Address Ahead of the Blockbuster World Cup Final Against the All Blacks…

Despite narrowly winning both of their playoff matches to secure a spot in the Rugby World Cup final, the Springboks are aware of certain shortcomings that require attention in order to prevent the All Blacks from gaining an advantage in their upcoming Saturday match in Paris.

Leighton Koopman examines five aspects of their game that hindered the Boks from dominating England and France, and outlines the necessary fixes to thwart New Zealand (kick-off at 9 pm).

1. Defensive Tackling The Springboks missed 14 tackles out of 107 attempts. While an 88% tackle completion rate is commendable, it fell short of their own high standards. They must aim for a completion rate above 90% when facing the three-time World Cup champions, the All Blacks, to secure their title defense.
2. Improved Box-Kicking England’s fullback, Freddie Steward, exploited the Springboks’ box kicks without any pressure, leading to a crucial drop that turned the game. To put pressure on the Kiwis’ back three with kicks, the Springboks must apply pressure on them, thereby creating scoring opportunities. Failure to do so will allow players like Beauden Barrett and Will Jordan an easy time fielding the kicks, rendering this tactic ineffective.
3. Eliminate Slow Starts The Springboks have had two consecutive games with sluggish starts, allowing their opponents to dictate play. While they can keep up with fast-starting teams, the All Blacks present a unique challenge. South Africa must apply pressure from the outset to secure a strong beginning of their own.
4. Sharpen Kick-Offs New Zealand excels at chasing kick-offs with their wingers and loose forwards to create pressure on the receiving team. The Springboks must ensure they handle kick-offs securely, as England’s struggles in this area did not result in major threats. However, the All Blacks are adept at capitalizing on such mistakes, making it crucial for the Springbok receivers to be reliable.
5. Enhance the Rolling Maul While the Springboks diversified their line-out strategies against England, their rolling maul, particularly in the early stages, was disrupted by the English lineout disruptors. Players like Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, and Ardie Savea will be analyzing how England managed to thwart one of the Springboks’ most potent plays.

 

That’s great news for rugby fans in Cape Town!

Here are the three public viewing sites in Cape Town for the Rugby World Cup final:

1. Bree Street in the CBD: The main public viewing site is located on Bree Street in the Central Business District (CBD) of Cape Town. The area reserved for viewing the game is on Bree Street, between Church and Hout streets.
2. Monwabisi Sport and Recreation Centre in Langa: This is another public viewing site for the Rugby World Cup final, and it’s situated at the Monwabisi Sport and Recreation Centre in Langa.
3. Westridge Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain: The third public viewing site is at the Westridge Civic Centre in Mitchells Plain.

All three sites will have DJs, big screens, and music, creating an exciting atmosphere for fans to watch the Springboks take on the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final. The venues will be active from 5 pm, and kickoff for the final is at 9 pm.

The City of Cape Town is also taking measures to ensure the safety and security of those attending these public viewing events, with enforcement and rescue services deployed in and around the venues. It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy this exciting sporting event.