A key characteristic of South Africa’s recreation is their blitz defence, their means to swarm groups and suck any aptitude – and hope – from opponents’ attacking models.
It’s simpler mentioned than finished, however Scotland can not panic within the face of such an imposing sight.
They have to earn the suitable to play expansive rugby, which comes first from incomes territory.
“It’s a must to play good tactically,” former England scrum-half Danny Care mentioned.
“It’s a must to win the aerial battle. The one place you suppose you will get at them is within the air.
“I believe you may see tactical kicking from Finn Russell, get Blair Kinghorn one-on-one with a kind of boys. You would be silly to throw the ball round.
“It’s a must to get behind them to get their forwards operating backwards. You try this by tactical kicking. Then there are probabilities to play and go vast.”
With South African-born Duhan van der Merwe and captain Sione Tuipulotu linking up with the likes of Russell and Kinghorn in Scotland’s back-line, Townsend’s facet have the power to bother any defence in world rugby.
The problem towards South Africa is that they typically do not permit groups the alternatives to take action, such is their dominance up entrance.
“There’s not many groups can match the Boks up entrance, however I have a look at Scotland’s backline – there’s world-class high quality there,” Monye added.
“Scotland have a backline to tackle anybody in world rugby. Can they get sufficient ball? Can they open up the sport to permit the perfect a part of their workforce to do what they will do?”
So as to take action, Scotland should discover a method to get parity within the forwards.
They can’t attempt to match the South African pack and play them at their very own recreation. They’re just too large, too robust and too skilled.
Anybody that tries it’s chewed up, spat out and stomped on.
It’s an 80-minute ordeal, too. The 7-1 cut up favoured by Rassie Erasmus means a completely new world-class pack enters the fray within the second half, with Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit able to wreak havoc off the bench at Murrayfield.
Care believes Scotland will look to alternate strategies to attempt to bypass the Springboks’ pack.
“You could be good,” he mentioned. “Fast scrums, get some fast throws in on the lineout. Perhaps hold the ball on the pitch extra.”
One different hope for Scotland followers is maybe that the South Africans can be barely undercooked.
Whereas Scotland beat Fiji final week of their first Autumn take a look at, South Africa’s final outing within the worldwide enviornment was a dominant 48-7 win over Argentina within the Rugby Championship on 28 September.
“They have not had that 80 minutes,” Care added. “They’re the perfect workforce on the earth, however typically you could get that recreation into your legs.”
You would not guess on it although. Scotland can be braced for a completely match and absolutely firing South African outfit at Murrayfield. Nothing however their greatest can be wherever close to ok to win.
