Former Scotland coach Matt Williams has lavished rare praise on the Springboks and warns that Ireland could fall off the pace if they don\u2019t react.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He also slammed the team\u2019s reliance on their kicking and set-piece prowess and the perceived lack of willingness to keep the ball in hand.<\/p>\n
Ireland risk being left behind<\/p>\n
However, in his latest Irish Times<\/a> column, he says that the coaching team deserves \u2018great credit for how they are moving the game forward.\u2019<\/p>\n While he singled out the Springboks<\/a> coaches, he also praised the other Rugby Championship<\/a> teams for their attacking endeavours so far in the tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps the greatest example of the change in both mindset and tactics can be seen in the dramatic attacking philosophy the Australians are using.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The Springboks\u2019 attacking prowess was on full display in Wellington as they blew the All Blacks away, scoring six tries in an emphatic 43-10 victory.<\/p>\n That certainly caught the eye of Williams<\/a>, who continued: \u201cEven the Springboks, the greatest scrum, maul and kick team in the world, have developed a spectacular running attack.<\/p>\n \u201cWith smaller, more agile and lightning-fast backs being selected, the coaches deserve great credit in how they are moving the game forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt Williams: \u2018Rassie was just bullying me\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n The former coach hasn\u2019t been impressed with the officiating during the Rugby Championship, though, as he took aim at the referees for \u2018highly technical and very questionable decisions\u2019, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo 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,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n