He pinpointed the risky nature of the Springboks' current defensive method. “I think this up-and-in linespeed they’ve got against the modern attacks is now becoming a little bit risky,” Plumtree remarked.
Despite a narrow bounce-back win in Cape Town, where the Springboks edged the All Blacks 33-26, New Zealand's ability to break through defensive lines was evident as they scored more tries. Looking ahead to the test in Johannesburg, Plumtree reiterated his critique on a podcast.
“I criticised the Springbok defence last week as being too narrow,”
Plumtree further dissected the tactical deficiencies he observed. “Again, we saw the All Blacks get the ball to the edge because our wingers are defending inside the 15m instead of on the outside. They are defending way too tight.”
He believes New Zealand’s structured attack will continue to target these vulnerabilities. “There is opportunity for the All Blacks to get them on the edge and that will still be their plan,” he explained, detailing the layered attack strategy that could pose significant problems for the Boks’ defense.
“Now if the defence comes up and comes in on those layers, there’s still an extra attacker on the edge.”
Plumtree pointed out the critical factor of execution in the All Blacks’ passing game against a rush defense. He highlighted the need for precision in the chain of passes required to exploit the edges effectively.
He warned about the potential consequences if the All Blacks manage to dominate possession, particularly from lineouts. “If the All Blacks can get the ball that they need this week, particularly around the lineout, they could be up by 20 points at half-time,” he asserted.
John Plumtree’s final prediction was a confident victory margin for the New Zealand team. “New Zealand are going to win by 15 points,” he announced, setting the stage for what he believes will be a decisive showdown in Johannesburg.
As the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series approaches its climax, the strategies and predictions laid out by experienced voices like John Plumtree will be tested on the field where the ultimate verdict will be delivered. Both teams will no doubt seek to address their previous flaws and capitalize on their strengths in what promises to be an exhilarating contest.
