Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Legendary former prop Os du Randt says the Springboks were smart to play to their strengths at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
In an exclusive interview with Sport24, Du Randt said it was "special" to see the Boks use their scrum as an attacking platform in the tournament.
In the World Cup final in Yokohama, South Africa annihilated England at scrum time and it laid the platform for their 32-12 victory.
"It was special to see us establish our scrums as a great attacking platform and as a place to dominate and create penalties. Especially in playoff games, if you can scrum for penalties and then kick for territory or go for the three points it's gold in a semi-final and especially a final," Du Randt said.
Du Randt, a World Cup winner with the Springboks in 1995 and 2007, lauded coach Rassie Erasmus’ decision to stick to the traditional strengths of South African rugby.
"The team got behind Rassie and said: 'Let's use our strengths rather than try to play the rugby that everybody wants us to play.' Everybody wants us to compare with that New Zealand style of throwing the ball around or even England up until the final. They played spectacular rugby, whereas the Springboks didn't but the men in green and gold stuck to their strengths.
"I think that was absolutely brilliant from the Springbok side. In the first half of the final, I thought we really scrummaged well and in the second maybe not as well. But we still kept the pressure on England, did our job and that laid the platform for the solid performance we delivered."
READ Os du Randt’s full Q&A interview with Sport24
- Compiled by Sport24 staff
