Former Scotland coach Matt Williams has lavished rare praise on the Springboks and warns that Ireland could fall off the pace if they don’t react.
The outspoken pundit has been a long-time critic of the back-to-back world champions, taking issue with the tactics deployed by Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff.
He has repeatedly hit out at the manner in which South Africa uses their replacements, as he strongly believes that the Bomb Squad and forward-heavy tactics are a safety issue for the game.
He also slammed the team’s reliance on their kicking and set-piece prowess and the perceived lack of willingness to keep the ball in hand.
Ireland risk being left behind
However, in his latest Irish Times column, he says that the coaching team deserves ‘great credit for how they are moving the game forward.’
While he singled out the Springboks coaches, he also praised the other Rugby Championship teams for their attacking endeavours so far in the tournament.
“In six weeks Ireland will face New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the Autumn Internationals. Ireland must be prepared to adapt to the rapid changes in attacking tactics we are witnessing in the Rugby Championship or risk being left behind,” he wrote.
“Perhaps the greatest example of the change in both mindset and tactics can be seen in the dramatic attacking philosophy the Australians are using.
“In the last two months against the Lions, the Springboks at Ellis Park and in the dying moments in Townsville facing the Pumas, the Wallabies have produced some astonishingly dramatic fightbacks.”
The Springboks’ attacking prowess was on full display in Wellington as they blew the All Blacks away, scoring six tries in an emphatic 43-10 victory.
That certainly caught the eye of Williams, who continued: “Even the Springboks, the greatest scrum, maul and kick team in the world, have developed a spectacular running attack.
“With smaller, more agile and lightning-fast backs being selected, the coaches deserve great credit in how they are moving the game forward.”
Matt Williams: ‘Rassie was just bullying me’
The former coach hasn’t been impressed with the officiating during the Rugby Championship, though, as he took aim at the referees for ‘highly technical and very questionable decisions’, but hailed Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson for his bold decision to press for a match-winning try in the first meeting between the two sides.
“Two weeks ago at half time in Townsville Argentina led 25-7. As full time approached, the Wallabies had attacked with such persistent flair that the gap was down to just three points, 25-28,” he wrote.
“In the dying seconds of the match, they received what the level-headed in the rugby world considered to be a get-out-of-jail penalty shot at goal. A chance to take three points and settle for an honourable draw.”
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Wallabies’ bravery
While Williams was willing to settle for a draw while watching Australia, captain Wilson was not.
“In the mind of the Wallaby captain, Harry Wilson, there was no settling for a draw. It was Sydney or the bush. All or nothing. Wilson made the ‘Go for it’ decision.
“The Wallabies kicked for touch and then attacked the Pumas from close range. The referee’s arm came up for another Australian penalty. This time only eight metres out and in front of the sticks.
“‘Come on Harry,’ I pleaded to an empty room. “Take the points.” The look of surprise on the faces of the Argentina players told me they were thinking the same.
“Twice more Wilson declined a shot at penalty goal and instead he ordered his team to tap the ball and attack. In the 86th minute Angus Bell crashed over to record an unlikely Wallaby victory. Wilson’s bravery to believe in his team’s attacking ability had won the admiration of his nation.”