Bob Dwyer – The Boks can win the World Cup

Former Wallaby World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer believes the Springboks can win the World Cup reports Peter Bills for the Sunday Independent.

“I have to say that for me, South Africa has absolutely improved out of sight in the last 12 months. A year or more ago, their execution of almost everything was almost completely incorrect. Okay, their set plays were pretty good, but not a lot else was.

“Their catch-and-pass skills, running lines and support work at the breakdown were, in almost every instance, incorrect. It was their phenomenal physical superiority that kept them in the hunt.

“This year, there has been a big change in the Springboks’ game. I don’t know how it has happened. But take the Springboks’ support lines at the tackle contest. They used to be so flat that the guy trying to transfer the ball was forced to transfer it like it was coming from a cannon. But things like that, and so many others, have changed. They’re playing a lot, lot better.

“Mate, I think they could win the World Cup. But to do that, they need all their best players to be fit and firing. The big problem is they are a bit short of a flyhalf. Butch James is not the perfect answer, but he is alright.

“But they have two very good centres in Jean de Villiers and Jacque Fourie.

“The key thing is not the individuals, but the strategy. And they have somehow developed very good running lines. They are also good at maintaining what little depth you need. The disadvantage of being flat in a backline is that it’s very easy to become too flat. Now I see them playing tight off the edge of the maul and putting two or three passes together, which is very good.

“As for the defence of the opposition, when you have a gorilla coming at you that can run very fast, you have problems. I think they have several individuals with super-human physical qualities, including speed.

“South Africa cannot win the World Cup on physicality alone. But if they keep up the massive improvement in their skills and execution, they can win it. But relying purely on physicality won’t be enough.

“To win a World Cup, a coach has to help rub the tiny rough edges off very good players. He has got to be able to say to his fly half, ‘You are just moving a fraction too early’. He has got to be able to say to his loosehead prop, ‘Get tighter to your hooker’. And you have to be able to say to your scrumhalf, ‘Your hands have got to finish facing the target at the end of your pass’.

“Tiny little things like that are important because players constantly have to be reminded of perfect execution.

“If the South Africans have the physical qualities for which they are renowned, and they have also got the technical perfection, they can win the World Cup.

“For me, last Saturday night in Melbourne, where the Wallabies beat the All Blacks, continued to sow the seed of doubt in my mind about New Zealand. I believe the All Blacks have been steadily but minutely playing worse month by month for the last 18 months. They are clearly still the best side in the world, but they are clearly beatable. Whether they will still be the best at the World Cup, I don’t know.”