Fourie: dominating contact key to stopping All Blacks’ attacking threat

Lions defence coach and former Springbok great Jaque Fourie believes South Africa must dominate contact if they are to prevent the All Blacks from using their ball-stripping tactics in the opening Test of the Greatest Rivalry series.

The All Blacks defeated the Springboks 33-16 at Ellis Park on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. The Lions are due to face New Zealand in Johannesburg on Tuesday night, with Fourie offering his assessment of the defensive issues exposed in the Test.

He said the All Blacks’ attacking shape, which sees them operate from deeper positions, helped them find a way around the rush defence used by the Springboks.

“So the hand speed that the All Blacks have been playing, they’re playing a little bit deeper. So they’re getting around us,” noted Fourie.

By starting deeper, New Zealand forced South Africa’s defenders to move up more aggressively, Fourie explained. That placed even greater importance on making the first tackle, because missed tackles made it difficult for the Springboks to rebuild their defensive line.

“They force the Springboks to get off the line a lot harder. And if we don’t make our tackles, it’s very difficult to set again.”

The All Blacks also targeted the ball in the tackle during Saturday’s match, repeatedly attempting to rip possession from South African carriers. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said afterwards that the tactic had caught his side out.

Fourie said New Zealand’s method relied on the first defender making a low tackle before a second player concentrated on attacking the ball. In his view, South Africa could reduce the effectiveness of that approach by winning the collision in the first place.

“I think you have to dominate contact first. I think that’s the main thing. I think what the All Blacks did well is they have improved defensively,” Fourie said.

“I think we saw Saturday that at stages, at times, they went very low. They tackled the guys low and the second guy was on the ball. So first of all, we have to dominate contact.”

The former Springbok centre also identified a specific role for the supporting player in preventing the ball carrier from being isolated and exposed to a rip.

“The supporting player needs to get on his back [the ball carrier] and get him over that advantage line. Then it’s very difficult to rip the ball.”

Whether the All Blacks repeat the tactic against the Lions will be one of the notable aspects of Tuesday’s match in Johannesburg.

Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00.