Rugby World Cup Blog | Jonah Lomu | 2007

Lomu on Springboks

Wed Sep 05 03:59PM

This year we've seen during the Tri Nations the most competitive South Africa team in a long time. They have one of the best forward packs in the game, but also a very dangerous and attacking back line.

I think they are one of the favourites to win this World Cup and have the team to win it. This year they have proven that they have depth in their side and ruthlessness in the forward pack, which is typical of South Africa and I guess they are more dangerous now because they have ball players in the forward pack. Schalk Burger has changed his game - he is a fast, rugged, dominating loose forward or openside flanker. Him playing in there is important to their chances.

Their locks are mobile. Victor Matfield is one of the best second rowers in the world: he wins the ball in the air. Also the likes of Bakkies Botha... those sorts of players can change a game for you, especially up front.

This World Cup can be defined by forwards. That's the only way this year you can win the World Cup, if the forwards get you the ball and dominate possession. That had never changed. In 20 years of the World Cup, whoever's forward pack has been dominant has been pretty much the team who has won.

Having the mix of the old and young [is important]. You have to have the players who have been there and done it. When you get that experience it makes a difference. That is what rugby is about: you learn from experiences and then when you have young guys and you harness their energy and youthfulness, it sparks something different in the older players. When the two mix and they mix well, that is a dangerous combination.

I think South Africa will have a big role in this World Cup. To me they have come into it well prepared. Jake White has put together a very strong South Africa team, consisting of the best players available to him. These guys are willing to go out and perform to the best of their abilities. I think they will scare some people in terms of the way they play. They've proven in the Tri Nations how strong they can be.

I don't think there's a lot of weakness in this South Africa team, apart from whether they can handle the pressure. In some games they've shown they can hold on and do it - it's just being able to manage the aggression factor. There's a boundary you push and it is whether they can hold right on the edge of that boundary or fall off the end of it. It is about getting that controlled aggression between the two because everybody knows in world rugby that South Africa plays with a lot of aggression and a lot of power in the forward pack.

When you are in a forward pack against them you've got to combat that, but if you can match them and push them to the boundaries it is about who cracks first - so at the end of the day they can be their own worst enemy.

Comments1 - 8 of 8

Fantastic, very realistic article. Cannot fault on anything regarding it and having read some of the other opinions I think it's fare. Keep in mind that Jake White has been swopping around a fare bit to get the right team combination which I think was reason for a lot of concern regarding the world cup and some tri nation matches. But saying that, I think we have a very good chance and certainly am proud to say I'll be wearing out my Bokke Jersey during the world cup....Go Bokke- Handre' Botha, Umhlanga Rocks
From marynutza_s on Fri Sep 07 01:30PM
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I am South African. I live in England. I am passionate about the SA team. What a wonderful article. Jonah Lomu, I wish you were still playing. It is so good to read balanced commentary from the Southern Hemisphere, where Rugby is a passion for three great rivals. Your knowledge of Rugby, your appreciation of healthy rivalry, and your balance in commentary, is a tribute to the person you are. I wish you had been born in SA and then played for the Springboks. You would have been an invaluable asset to us. Good luck to you mate.
From glenwoodza on Fri Sep 07 08:57PM
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I'm Irish, but my money's on the springboks to win the world cup. I think they've got a great chance this year.
From oompahloompahtapdancing on Sat Sep 08 01:08AM
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Hey Jonah, you rate how our forwards can win this World Cup for us... possibily. My concern is who Jake has put at 9 and 10. Knowing that he didnt have the best options as we havent had a good set there since the 95 World Cup, and not only just because we won, but because they managed to read, ditacte and go ahead with what they felt was going to win them there games. We can only wait and see what will happen this year. Good Luck SA. Im there like a bear. Wes
From wesscroo on Sat Sep 08 09:42AM
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Hi Jonah. 3Cpete here from Scotland. Great blog - especially your last two paragraphs - very accurate observations! When Scotland played them recently, SA managed to forge ahead in the first half but in the second half their slight forward dominance was met by Scotland`s forwards and negated and eventually overhauled by Scotland`s tenacity. Unfortunately, through a lack of creativity, Scotland`s backs were unable to convert forward possession into points which they should have done, despite ferocious SA defence. A warning to SA! and also a reminder to the rest of the world to watch out for Scotland at this World Cup, especially now that they`ve got back some of their crocked match winners like Sean Lamont and Jason White.
So let`s see if SA have learned from their experience in Scotland recently, and if they have, then look to SA getting at least to the semis.... and don`t dismiss Scotland! If they can get confidence by beating their bogey side Italy... watch out the rest!
Any thoughts on Scotland, Jonah?
From peter.isted on Sat Sep 08 11:04AM
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Solid analysis on all the teams Jonah, SA / NZ defences are awsome.
Only team that can maybe knock NZ off the cup is the Boks.
Im a Scot and love my rugby, but we do not have enough creativity now in our backs to mount any challenge against the Big Guns...against SA a few weeks back they sat back and watched us play for 20 mins, then cut us to pieces in a 10 min display of dynamic power rugby....then just went through the motions in the second half, not risking pre-cup injuries.
From supacentre on Mon Sep 10 01:48PM
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A very fair and true summary of The Springboks... I think NZ and SA are the teams to beat and one of them will surely win the cup. Both teams are fully prepared and have enough talent and depth to go all the way. It would be nice to see them in the final.
From tolliemonster on Mon Sep 10 03:40PM
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Hi Jonah - very unbiased article - you were (are?) a great player and now you seem to have just as much talent at journalism. I am and Italo-South Africa so a passionate springbok supporter - from what I have seen so far though, both in the tri nations and in the world cup New Zealand will be a tough team to beat. I think NZ play total rugby whilst South Africa still really too heavily on their forwards - pity because we have seen that when the line run they can be devastating - old habits die hard! As for Italy I think they were overawed by NZ but showed some flashes of potential - scoring three tries (yes 3 cannot believe they did not award the 3rd one) against NZ is no small feat - I think against Scotland they will not start with the same awe and therefore should have a good chance - a bit like South Africa though Italy need to believe in their backs - they kick away too much possession - which we saw against NZ cost them dear. All the best to you (I was in Cape Town 1985 and saw you play England - awesome!)
From ski.rabbit on Tue Sep 11 09:58AM
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