Spingboks plot line-out bounce back

THE line-out is normally where the magic happens for the Springboks. It’s their biggest attacking platform and something they take a lot of pride in.

- JOHN GOLIATH

But last Saturday at Ellis Park they were outfoxed by a cunning Wallabies team in their Rugby Championship opener. The Springboks ended the match with a 68.8% success rate in that department, losing several balls on their own throw because of the brilliant competing by the Australians.

When you take away the Springboks’ line-out, you take away several options in their attacking arsenal. Their much-vaunted maul is immediately nullified, while their variety of trick plays are also null and void.

The strike plays when they go off the top of the lineout are also curtailed. This worked so well in that blazing 20 minutes of rugby in the first half, when centre André Esterhuizen and the loose forwards hit the line hard to gain attacking momentum.

The maul is also viewed as an energy sapper for the opposition forwards. So, it wasn't surprising to see the Wallaby pack still fresh in that final quarter of the match, which in the end seemed to be the difference in the 38-22 victory.