How lessons from Wallabies implosion fuelled Springboks' masterclass against All Blacks

Flyhalf Manie Libbok has been at the centre of the Springboks’ best and worst performances in the Rugby Championship this year.

Their lowest point came at Ellis Park, after racing to a 22-0 lead inside 20 minutes, they lost 38-22 to Australia in their tournament opener. Their high point, by contrast, was the 43-10 win over the All Blacks in Wellington, where they simply blew their fierce rivals off the park in the second half.

Libbok, speaking during a Bok press conference ahead of Saturday’s crucial Test against Argentina in Durban (5.10pm kick-off), spoke about the Wellington match as if the clash against Australia was responsible for the way they went about their business against the All Blacks.

In Johannesburg against the Wallabies, Libbok and the Springboks were accused of overplaying in that second half, when they tried to keep their foot on the accelerator after a blistering first 20 minutes. They clearly ran out of gas, which allowed the Australians to dominate the breakdown and the Boks’ set-pieces.

But in Wellington, Libbok, after coming on early in the match for a concussed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, varied his play brilliantly with a few superb high bombs, accurate cross-kicks and his quicksilver running game. The result was an all-encompassing Bok performance that will be remembered for a long time.

Reading between the lines, that experience against the Wallabies went a long way in getting the Boks to that sweet spot where their brutal physicality and skilful attacking play can coexist in perfect harmony.

“We have plans when we go into a certain game. But for me it’s about control and balance,” Libbok told the media unprompted.

“Sometimes you need to give the forwards some time to get their energy back so that they can come alive and punch holes and do the set-pieces well.

“I can’t overplay my forwards, so that they are fresh when they get to the set-pieces and into the opposition 22.”

Libbok was excellent in Wellington, but it’s not the first time that he has played a blinder against the All Blacks. He was also at fly-half in their brilliant win at Twickenham against the New Zealanders before the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

So, he was ready to take the field in Wellington despite having to come on inside 15 minutes, crediting the work they had done in the week for his performance.

“It was good, man. I came off the bench to do a job and fulfil my role within the plan,” said Libbok.

“Yes, the pressure was on when I got on the field, but I took a lot of confidence from the preparation we had throughout the week. We train with game intensity and it wasn’t something that fazed me.

“I needed to go on and do a job in the situation to add to the team and try and put the team in the best possible situation to get the result.”

While Libbok’s game management was excellent in Wellington, his kicking has come on in leaps and bounds this season. It’s the one area of his game that he needed to get right after it had become a bit of a monkey on his back.

For all his wonderful abilities as a footballer, his kicking off the tee had prevented him from taking that next step in his international career as the full package. But this year, with a new two-step technique, he has become an 80-85% kicker, which is what is required from a Test flyhalf.

“It’s definitely the new Rhino ball!” Libbok joked.

“I’ve put a lot of work into my kicking since I’ve been struggling with it. I’ve been trying to get it right and did everything in my power to get it right.

“I’m just happy everything is coming together and the hard work is paying off.”