All Blacks’ attacking style could backfire against Springboks, says Johan Ackermann

Johan Ackermann believes the All Blacks’ adventurous, ball-in-hand approach could prove costly when they face the match-fit Springboks in the upcoming four-Test Greatest Rivalry Series.

New Zealand showed the strengths of their high-tempo game in a commanding 50-19 victory over Ackermann’s Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. The All Blacks produced several impressive passages of attacking rugby as they continued to implement coach Dave Rennie’s fast-paced philosophy.

However, Ackermann said the challenge awaiting New Zealand against South Africa would be significantly tougher than the one presented by his Bulls team, who are still in pre-season preparations for the United Rugby Championship.

The Bulls coach believes the Springboks’ greater match fitness, established combinations and tactical experience could expose the risks in New Zealand’s approach, particularly when the All Blacks attempt to play from deep inside their own half.

“Obviously the Springboks are match-fit, and if there’s quality players, they’ve played a long time together, and they’ve got some of the best heads in the world putting a plan together,” Ackermann told reporters.

“So I think the Springboks will be well-prepared, and the time will tell. The All Blacks maybe had the scoreboard luxury tonight to try a few things from deep in their own half that I don’t think they’ll get away with against the Springboks.

“You know, that’s the way they do play sometimes, but they may find themselves a bit in trouble with that [in the Test matches].”

The four-Test contest is expected to provide a significant examination of Rennie’s plans, with New Zealand determined to maintain an expansive style against Rassie Erasmus’s side.

Ackermann also offered his assessment of how South Africa could approach the series. He said patience would be central to the Springboks’ efforts, particularly when they have possession and opportunities to attack the All Blacks.

He felt the Bulls could have made more of their own chances had they shown greater composure with the ball during Saturday’s defeat. In his view, that was an area South Africa would be likely to study before the Test matches.

“I think the Springboks will see that there are opportunities if you keep the ball in hand against the All Blacks, and I’m sure that they will look at the game and work on that,” Ackermann said.

“They will be well-planned, the Boks, but I feel that if we were a little bit more patient with the ball in hand tonight, we could have finished a few opportunities and I think hopefully the Boks will take that.”

South Africa will therefore enter the series with the benefit of a settled group, extensive experience and the tactical direction of Erasmus, while New Zealand will seek to make their attacking ambition effective against one of the most demanding opponents in world rugby.

Ackermann’s comments came after the All Blacks’ emphatic win at Loftus Versfeld, a result which demonstrated the potential of their approach but also provided the Springboks with material to analyse ahead of the Greatest Rivalry Series.