Less than a minute had passed since the opening whistle of Wednesday’s clash between the Lions and the Springboks – under the guise of South Africa A – when it became clear how the hosts would compete across the Test series.
Owen Farrell kicked off and, after a bit of juggling, Faf de Klerk hooked a box-kick into the Lions’ half. Liam Williams lined it up, leaped, and as soon as he touched back down with the ball in his arms, the sentient oak tree that is Eben Etzebeth clattered the Welshman.
Replays have revealed that the Springbok lock may have committed an offence and could yet be cited for a dangerously high hit. But the intent to cause harm and the ferocity with which he flung himself into the collision sent a reminder to Warren Gatland that this Springbok outfit will not deviate too far from its natural identity.
Physicality has always been a South African rugby trademark but with the Lions arriving in the country with a raft of mobile loose forwards and a backline with pace to burn there were questions around whether Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus might shed some bulk in order to keep up.
This question remains given the way the second half transpired with the South Africans flagging, but it does emphasise the need for the Springboks to land a few haymakers in the opening exchanges before their heavy hitters run out of puff.
The way the South Africans attacked the breakdown was noteworthy. Marco van Staden was the standout jackaller but every player, including centre Damien de Allende, lock Franco Mostert and replacement hooker Malcolm Marx were a menace once the ball went to ground.
Given the predicted size advantage South Africa will have in the back row they’ll look to exert pressure on the Lions and prevent them from securing the ball around the fringe.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, World Rugby’s player of the year in 2019, is instrumental to this. On Wednesday he served as a towering human shield for De Klerk to kick behind, preventing the Lions defenders access to the diminutive scrum-half. Without the ball he reprised his role from the World Cup final as a free roaming tackle machine. In a highly organised defensive system, Du Toit is the outlier given licence to do as he pleases.
This is what led to South Africa’s second try just after the half hour. Du Toit’s acceleration from the defensive line put Elliot Daly under pressure inside his own 22. The resulting kick failed to find touch and instead was gathered by Cheslin Kolbe with time and space to assess the situation in front of him.
Granted, the Toulouse winger produced a moment of brilliance, but the subsequent side-step of two Lions players and the offload to Lukhanyo Am does not happen if Daly finds touch.
This is what the Springboks’ game plan is all about. They might carry themselves like a band of knockout merchants but really they’re a team of counter punchers. They wait for the opposition to make a mistake, to rush a kick or a pass, to commit to overlaps and breakdowns and then exploit the space created in another area of the field. South Africa’s first try was also the result of a mistake from the boot. Though Farrell made the right decision to seek a raking cross-field kick to put Anthony Watson in behind around the 12th minute, Etzebeth’s block meant that possession was turned over. The ball was sent left for S’bu Nkosi to score.
The Lions enjoyed 62 per cent possession and a 65 per cent territorial advantage. They dominated every attacking metric including defenders beaten (27 to 5), carries (128 to 63), and metres gained (292 to 205).
And yet they still looked toothless with ball in hand.
Gatland suggested, rather wryly, that he had deliberately kept his players on a leash so as not to reveal too much ahead of the games that matter. Fans of his side will certainly hope that is true as wave after wave of inept attacks in the tight channels were easily repelled by a resolute defence. Even when up against 13 men following two yellow cards, the Lions looked incapable or unwilling to try a different approach.
Credit should go to the South African rush defence. Not only does it move forward but it also squeezes in, forcing the opposition ball carrier to choose between another short pass off the shoulder or a risky floated ball over the top.
The orchestrator of this is Willie le Roux. The former Wasps full-back serves as the team’s non-commissioned officer. When he presses, the wingers press with him. When he steps towards the ruck his centres shift as well.
Erasmus intimated that he also kept a few aces up his sleeve. The outside backs rarely saw much of the ball beyond counter attacks from deep kicks and it will be interesting to see if Handre Pollard – who, along with Siya Kolisi and Frans Steyn, has been self-isolating after a positive Covid test – will inject creativity into the backline.
Perhaps that is an irrelevant question. The South African plan, as it has been since Erasmus took charge in 2018, will be to wear the Lions down. Few national teams, if any, can field two elite level front rows to maintain a strong scrum throughout the 80 minutes. And with a probable 6-2 split on the bench, the forward pack is equipped to go the distance.
That will be imperative. The Lions looked most threatening just before Erasmus cleared his bench. This is when they are most vulnerable. If the Lions’ fleet-footed loose forwards can find room to run, as Tom Curry and Taulupe Faletau did on occasion, Gatland’s selection decisions may yet yield fruit. If not, this could get ugly for the visitors.
