Rugby Union Greats Heap Praise on Springboks’ Evolving Gameplay

South Africa’s back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2019 have earned the admiration of several All Blacks legends, who have lauded the Springboks’ innovative approach under head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Renowned ex-All Blacks such as Sir John Kirwan, Jeff Wilson, and Mils Muliaina have been impressed by the Springboks’ efforts to expand their game plan and become more potent in attack during the early stages of their 2024 Test campaign.

Kirwan, in particular, believes Erasmus is “one of the most innovative coaches in the world” and is already strategizing for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, hinting at the Boks’ potential to play a more expansive brand of rugby going forward.

“With these new rules, if South Africa can play that expansive game, that’s scary. That’s scary for a lot of teams,” Kirwan said, alluding to the Springboks’ ability to adapt their style while remaining a dominant force.

The former All Blacks wing also acknowledged the team’s recent victory over Ireland in Pretoria, where the Boks showcased their ability to play with “speed, depth and accuracy” and get over the advantage line.

Fellow All Blacks great Jeff Wilson praised the Springboks’ “innovation” and their ability to find space on the outside channels, something he believes the Irish struggled to do in their clash with the world champions.

Mils Muliaina, an All Blacks centurion, was particularly enthused by the Springboks’ evolving gameplay, including the introduction of their “Bomb Squad” substitution strategy, which has started to influence other teams.

As the Springboks continue their pursuit of an unprecedented three-peat at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the praise from these rugby union greats serves as a testament to the team’s adaptability and their potential to shape the future of the game.

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