Boks training to be tackle-smart

The Springboks are sharpening their tackle technique after a run of red and yellow cards last season.

Bok defence coach Jerry Flannery said on Monday that clarity around head contact and tackle height had improved since the end-of-year tour which was marred by controversial red cards to locks Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert against France and Italy respectively.

Mostert’s red card was later downgraded to yellow but the Boks were forced to play both of those matches a man down for lengthy periods.

“I don’t think it makes my job more difficult,” Flannery said. “If you lose players during a game, you have to adapt – that’s something we challenge the players on all the time. But it’s pretty black and white at this stage around the ability to tackle low. It’s so important.”

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While acknowledging there will always be “rugby incidents”, Flannery stressed there is no ambiguity in the Bok environment.

“The ability to tackle low, with the way the laws are being applied now, is a fundamental. It’s a habit like anything else – you’ve got to stay on the players, keep reminding them and make sure it’s ingrained. I’ve enjoyed how the players have taken that on board.”

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Adaptability proved crucial in Tests where the Boks were reduced to 14 men.

“We probably sound clever after the fact because it worked, but during the week you plan for different scenarios,” Flannery said. “When it happens in a game, under pressure, clarity can be difficult. Having hybrid players helps massively.”

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Flannery highlighted the value of players such as Kwagga Smith and André Esterhuizen who can double up among the forwards or backs.

“Kwagga helped us hugely at half-time in terms of adjusting. If you lose a loose forward or a lock, and you can bring a back [Esterhuizen] on who adds to your ball-carrying or even your scrum, you can still function properly.

“Those hybrid players make it much easier to be adaptable when you lose someone.”

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Assistant coach and former Bok hard man Duane Vermeulen admitted marrying aggression with accuracy is a challenge.

“It is difficult,” Vermeulen said. “The game is played at that lower height now – tackling, ball-carrying, breakdown, everything. For taller guys especially, that adjustment can be tough.

“That’s where alignment camps help. We can tell a guy: you’ve been slacking a bit at franchise level, you need to work on your height. In training we give live feedback, so you learn on the trot. You can’t always replicate match intensity, but you can fix habits.”

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Bok law adviser Jaco Peyper said discipline is about context, not arbitrary numbers.

“We don’t set a specific penalty target,” he explained. “If you defend for 30 minutes in your 22, you can’t expect only six penalties. But we don’t want avoidable ones. We call it ‘Bok smart’ – not too clever, just not conceding silly or indisciplined penalties.”

On red cards, Peyper confirmed the current approach remains.

“Full red cards are for non-rugby actions or clearly reckless acts – a kick, a bite, a gouge,” he said. “Technical errors won’t automatically go to a full red. We all accept there’s no place for non-rugby actions in the game.”