The pressure was palpable for the Springboks as they faced the formidable All Blacks in the first Test of their historic rivalry. Scrum-half Cobus Reinach, a veteran of the game, felt the weight of the opposition's tactics, particularly their relentless pressure at the breakdown. Reinach, who started the match in Cape Town after coming on from the bench at Ellis Park, highlighted the All Blacks' strategy of harassing both him and his replacement, Grant Williams, at the breakdown.
This pressure had a significant impact on the game. Early in the second half, Fabian Holland charged down Williams, leading to a score that put the All Blacks in the lead. Reinach himself was yellow-carded for an intentional knock-on at the back of a scrum, a move that he attributed to the pressure exerted by the opposition. He said, 'They put us under pressure and made us do things that led to my yellow card.'
Reinach noted that the All Blacks did not specifically target the scrum-halves but instead focused on disrupting the breakdowns. He explained, 'I don't think they targeted us as individuals as No 9s; they went after our breakdowns quite hard and tried to slow down the ball with their legs and other tactics.'
The Springboks coughed up possession a staggering 23 times in Johannesburg, which Reinach acknowledged as a significant factor in their defeat. Despite the loss, Reinach remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of reviewing and learning from the game. He stated, 'The review after a loss is never good, but it's about the learnings. As long as we take these lessons and grow as a team, we will be in a good place.'
Looking ahead, Reinach and the Springboks will need to find ways to counter the All Blacks' breakdown tactics and manage the pressure effectively. The series is far from over, and the Springboks will need to adapt and improve if they are to emerge victorious in the upcoming matches.
