While Ireland will be hugely pleased with the way they won against South Africa last night, the Springboks will be wondering how they managed to lose the game.
South Africa's goal-kicking was a huge issue, leaving 11 points on the table with missed kicks over the course of the 80 minutes. As well as that, their changes in the pack during the second half did not have the desired effect in terms of overpowering the opposition. In fact, the Irish would gain the upper hand in the scrum after those changes were made.
In the end, you could argue that Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber got their tactical approach wrong when it came to their changes off the bench and approach to penalties.
Williams & Kearney Clash Over South Africa Coaching Mistakes
Matt Williams has been a vocal critic of South Africa's use of the bench in recent times, believing the 7-1 forward/back split is not good for the game. In fact, he believes it came back to bite them in this game.
Speaking on Virgin Media, he said that this was a very poor coaching performance from the Springboks staff. However, Rob Kearney disagreed strongly with that claim.
Williams: I could not believe when these leaders were coming off, then they brought [Deon] Fourie on who is not a recognised hooker. The coaching staff and their selection timing of substitutions, I really was astounded at.
The first scrum after they brought their front row on they won, but after that they lost line-outs and scrums. They mustn’t have had faith in their line-out. There was the light saying go for kicks and don't go for touch, and they were missing them.
They were putting pressure on their players. Rassie was doing the talking, the coach [Jacques] Nienaber is drinking, who is running the show? Once they did 7-1, they felt they had to justify it. I couldn't believe when Etzebeth came off, I couldn't believe they took their captain off. Apart from the substitution of the two props which worked, I thought the substitutions were a disaster.
They didn't have a kicker on their bench. Because they went with seven forwards and one back they didn't have a kicker, so they couldn't replace the goal-kicker and their stats were diabolical...
Kearney: I disagree with Matt on the 7-1. I don't think it worked that strongly against them they don't have another goal-kicker in their squad. Pollard is there but they clearly thought he wasn't fit and up to speed, otherwise they would have put him in the squad.
They know they have no goal-kicker in that 23, so they know this is a big problem for them.
Williams: If they're aware why are they putting lights up to tell them to go for 50-metre kicks instead of going to the corner?
Kearney: Because this is something within the strategy of their team that the coaches make decisions.
Williams: I don't agree with you at all on that, mate. Look, you're entitled to your opinion, I don't mean that. I think they completely stuffed it up...
Kearney: I thought that change when they brought on the front row was as good a tactical substitution that I've ever seen in rugby...
It's not the coaches' fault that they don't have a kicker.
It will be interesting to see if South Africa persist with the 7-1 split moving forward, especially if they are to meet Ireland again later in the tournament.
You would imagine that their goal-kicking issues witll ease after the return of Handre Pollard to the squad, although the Leicester Tigers man is short on fitness at the moment.
In any case, Rassie Erasmus certainly will not be shy to make sweeping changes if he feels they are needed.
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