Ever wondered what makes a world-class rugby team truly world-class? Eddie Jones, the veteran coach now leading Japan, recently revealed two key areas where he sees a massive difference in the Springboks since he last faced them. And trust me, these aren't just minor tweaks – they're game-changers. Jones' Japan side was soundly beaten 61-7 by South Africa at Wembley, a stark contrast to his previous encounter as coach of the Wallabies, where his team suffered a 43-12 defeat at Loftus Versfeld in 2023.
Jones didn't hold back in his post-match analysis, particularly highlighting the Springboks' dominance in the aerial and kicking game, an area where his Japanese team struggled due to its relative absence in Japan Rugby League One.
But the real insights came when Jones revisited the game on the Rugby Unity podcast. Show host David Pembroke asked him directly: How have the Springboks evolved since you last coached against them?
"Well, there were two areas that I noticed that were significantly different," Jones began. "One was their speed and the height of their work around the breakdown." In simpler terms, he's talking about how quickly and effectively the Springboks clear out opponents at the ruck – that chaotic scramble for the ball after a tackle.
"They were really quick, aggressive, and low," Jones elaborated. "There was one breakdown when Malcolm Marx cleaned out one of our players, who was over the ball and caused the turnover. He plays for Kubota [tractor and construction equipment manufacturer] in Japan, and he literally looked like a bulldozer." Imagine a powerful machine, relentlessly clearing obstacles – that's the image Jones paints of Marx. "He must have been half a metre in his height, and he just hit him and cleaned him out and took him off the ball. So that was really impressive." This highlights not just Marx's individual strength, but the Springboks' collective focus on winning those crucial breakdown battles.
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about brute force. It's about technique, speed, and relentless aggression at a critical point in the game. Breakdown dominance can swing momentum and ultimately, the match.
Jones also showered praise on Springboks fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who had a stellar game with two tries and three conversions. He reiterated this on the podcast, but extended his appreciation to the entire backline.
"Then secondly, the speed of their backs and their speed in being able to take advantage of unstructured situations has definitely improved," he noted. This is key! Rugby isn't always about set plays. The best teams can capitalize on broken plays, turnovers, and moments of chaos.
"Everyone's talking about Sacha, and quite rightly, he's a brilliantly talented player. He's got good feet, he's got a good fend, an eye for space. He wants to take people on, and he's a big fella too – he's not a small player. So he certainly looks like he's going to be a really good talent coming through." Jones is clearly impressed by Feinberg-Mngomezulu's natural talent and physical presence.
But here's where it gets controversial... Jones also added a note of caution: "There's obviously a lot for him to negotiate in the next couple of years to see whether he can keep his head on and keep applied to his task, but there's no reason to think he can't." Is this a subtle dig? Is Jones hinting that Feinberg-Mngomezulu's success hinges on his discipline and mental fortitude? It's a thought-provoking point.
Beyond the breakdown and the backs, Jones acknowledged South Africa's traditional strengths. "Obviously, just the power of the scrum and maul," he said when asked what else impressed him. "That's always been a vital part of the Springbok game, but they're so consistent in those areas now."
He added, "That's the thing, sometimes in previous years, their lineouts have been a little bit wonky, but they're so solid in the lineout and scrum, we couldn't get any sort of advantage – I thought we hung in there really well." This highlights the Springboks' all-around improvement. They've not only maintained their traditional strengths but have also addressed past weaknesses.
In the lead-up to the match, Jones had expressed his desire to catch up with Rassie Erasmus and share a bottle of wine. However, logistical constraints prevented a post-match meeting. "No, we didn't catch up [after the game], it was all a bit of a rush now with the arrangements, we were out on the road straight away," he explained. "But I had a quick chat with him before the game; he was in good spirits, and that's expected given the team he has."
So, what do you think? Are the Springboks now the gold standard in rugby? Is their dominance at the breakdown and in unstructured play the key to their success? And what about Jones's comments on Feinberg-Mngomezulu – do you think he's being overly cautious, or is he offering valuable advice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
