South Africa announced a somewhat surprising team composition on Saturday to face the France team on Sunday in the World Cup quarter-final. Former international Pierre Berbizier, guest of Intégrale Sport on RMC, is not convinced and sees the ego of the South African coach, Jacques Nienaber.
South Africa has decided to innovate for the World Cup quarter-final against the French XV. A more playful team than usual, less focused on physical combat, up to the bench in 5-3 (five forwards and three-quarters), compared to 6-2 or even 7-1 usually. That’s a lot of new stuff for a major international event, and it doesn’t convince former international and ex-Blues coach Pierre Berbizier at all.
“By depriving themselves of De Klerk and Pollard, they are depriving themselves of real scorers, he underlines on RMC. When we know the failure against Ireland of their scorer, where they left 11 points and the victory on the way… It’s this strategy that appeals to me.” In question, Manie Libbok, the South African flyhalf, who has only 55% success against the goal in this World Cup. “It’s unworthy of the international level,” continues Berbizier. “You don’t win matches with that percentage.”
“They deviate from their playing principles”
“I see there the ego of a coach who wants to show the whole world that he is right by choosing this number 10 who until now has not convinced, continues the former player of the XV of France. Be careful, it’s not quite the South African game. I have the impression that the coach wants South Africa to be appreciated for its spectacular play and not its committed play.”
Coach Jacques Nienaber wants to be very confident in his implementation, but therefore struggles to convince. “They have always been world champions with a big pack, a very distinctive game and very big scorers, underlines Berbizier. Today they are deviating from their playing principles. Is this a search for another identity? I wait to see the match but facing an opponent of the quality of France, I think it’s difficult to change your mind.”