Boks' evolution: How Rassie's men are kicking opposition defences up the backside

COACH Robbie Deans looked rather shell-shocked following the Springboks' big win over his Barbarians on a miserable day in Cape Town on Saturday.

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The Barbarians were always going to be on a hiding to nothing against a Springboks team who has been preparing for this clash for a good few weeks. But it was more about how the Springboks went about their business on a drenched Cape Town Stadium pitch that left Deans in awe.

The Barbarians would have braced themselves for an exhibition of power at set-piece time and ferocious defending, which was the case in the first 10 minutes when the Boks climbed into the legendary invitation side with plenty of venom.

But it was the Springboks' willingness to chance their arm and vary their attack in difficult conditions that would have surprised Deans.

The Boks have been on a quest to evolve their game ever since coach Rassie Erasmus added former All Blacks flyhalf Tony Brown to his coaching staff. Last year there were plenty of signs that Brown was imprinting his philosophy, with the Boks making more passes out of the back and offloads to go with their power game.