Rejuvenated Reinach relishing 'Tonyball'

11/12/2024 09:52 AM

Cobus Reinach is brimming with excitement about the impact that former All Blacks flyhalf Tony Brown has had on the Springbok attack, ahead of Saturday's Test against England at Twickenham.

Under  Brown, the Springbok attack has evolved significantly from the structured, kick-heavy approach that delivered World Cup glory in both 2019 and 2023.

Known for his tactical acumen, Brown has injected a bolder philosophy that has seen the Boks embracing a more expansive style, aimed at unlocking defences with speed, skill, and creativity.

One of the veterans in the squad who has been playing Test rugby for around a decade, Reinach is enjoying newfound freedom in his role.

“I’m absolutely loving it. Tony has come in and changed the way we see attack. He has taught us to be brave on attack,” the scrumhalf said.

“We as scrumhalves can scoot a bit, take the ball and take three steps before we make a decision to hit. It’s nice to have the ball in your hands and not just pass it off the deck most of the time.

“Everyone has bought in and it’s been very good for us.”

Saturday’s clash marks the first meeting between these two sides since the Boks edged out the English in last year's semi-final, adding to the storied rivalry that also saw South Africa lift the trophy in the 2019 World Cup final.

The Boks have held a five-to-three advantage over the Roses under Rassie Erasmus's leadership, with two consecutive wins, including a 2022 victory in the Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham.

“Every Test match is special game,” Reinach said. “There’s rivalry between many teams.

“In the last two World Cups it has been close. Our last match against England was close in the World Cup semi-final, and then of course we faced them in the 2019 final, so there is history between the teams.”

The Springboks head into Saturday's game with an awareness of the pressure England faces, especially after home defeats to New Zealand and Australia.

"We definitely expect to face a team wanting to win this weekend,” Reinach said. “Especially after suffering defeats in their last two games, so the important thing for us will be to stick to our structures and focus on what we want to do on the field."

When it comes to tight encounters, Reinach says the Boks' meticulous preparation under their coaching staff has made a huge difference

“Rugby’s a strange game. Sometimes you are just on the good side of a close game,” he said.

“For me, it’s about how you put your week together and how you prepare. With our coaching staff, we are really trying to prepare for everything that can happen. We feel confident that we know what to do in certain situations.”

Photo: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images

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