What it will take for the All Blacks to 'starve the Springboks'

The Rugby World Cup final is upon us and the pundits’ predictions are incredibly tight. Neutral heads are relatively evenly split while of course, the two competing nations are backing their respective teams to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a record fourth time. History is inevitable in Paris.

The Springboks’ world-renowned forward pack will come up against a much improved All Blacks unit in the final, and neither side is underestimating the criticality of the contest up front.

It was the set piece that put the Springboks so comfortably in the driver’s seat the last time the two met, a comprehensive and historic 35-7 victory for the reigning world champions.

WATCH as the All Blacks talk about ‘taking the gas out’ of the Boks bomb squad

WATCH as the All Blacks talk about ‘taking the gas out’ of the Boks bomb squad

Winning a scrum penalty in the opening minute, the Springboks entered the All Blacks’ 22 and held them there for 20 gruelling minutes, winning numerous penalties and eventually leaving the red zone with seven points and a two-man advantage.

That fixture was two months ago, a long time in international rugby, especially in the Rugby World Cup. Exactly how much has changed in that two-month period will be exposed in what promises to be a blockbuster final for the ages.

“I think the All Blacks win,” James Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “And where? I think it’ll be their defence, but more importantly their discipline.

“I think we know both sides are going to go hard at each other in the collision areas and I think that’ll be an arm-wrestle for the whole 80 (minutes).

“But, I just think seven penalties on the weekend, they seem to be getting less and less each week. So, I think that discipline will hopefully starve the Springboks of any opportunities to go into the 22 for a maul or chipping away with three points.”

The improvement in discipline has been stark and played an unmistakable role in New Zealand’s quarter-final win over an Ireland side that had overcome South Africa in the pool stages.

Ireland’s discipline was a tremendous strength entering the tournament, and it was a huge vulnerability for the All Blacks. New Zealand turned that on its head in the first round of the knockout stages.

“Well, the (All Blacks) were the most penalised team and they’ve come into the knockout stages and been very, very clinical around their discipline defensively and it’s been the difference for them so far.

“A clear, dominant difference in the semi-final. I just think both these sides are so evenly matched across the board and they have their strengths and weaknesses so it’s just how many opportunities you are going to give the opposition that will decide this game.”

Parsons’ analysis was echoed by his co-panelist, Bryn Hall. The former Super Rugby champion was equally as adamant that discipline would determine the game and also highlighted the importance of matching the Springboks’ imposing bench unit.

“The only thing that will get us in trouble is our discipline,” Hall said.

“We’ve lost Test matches, especially early on, if we give four or five penalties away and they have that scoreboard pressure, being able to tick away, whether that’s (Handre) Pollard or (Manie) Libbok in there, getting the three points, six points and being able to build pressure.

“I think that’s when we feel like we’re under a bit of pressure but we’ve got our discipline right, it seems, in this knockout stage. But, there’ll be plenty of those what-if moments if they don’t get it right.

“Being able to stop that bomb squad in that last 30 minutes will be massive as well. If the game’s close, we’ve shown enough with our bench coming on that we can nullify that, and being able to stop them and try and win set piece penalties or build scoreboard pressure or getting into that 22m zone and go to that lineout maul or building with their forward pack.

“I feel if we get those things right, it’d be a good result for us.”