All Blacks great makes bizarre claim around ‘ball playing’ Springboks props

Springboks-front-row-and-Jeff-Wilson-1

Jeff Wilson believes that the make-up of the All Blacks front-row has provided an indicator for the game plan new boss Scott Robertson is going to employ.

The New Zealand head coach has selected six props in his 32-man squad with the headline inclusion being the bolter, Pasilio Tosi. The Hurricanes tighthead is a former number eight but has impressed in Super Rugby Pacific this season.

Tosi joins first choice duo Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax in the squad, with Fletcher Newell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Tamaiti Williams also being called up.

Looking at Ireland and Springboks

Wilson believes that there are plenty of “ball players” among that six and Robertson is following the example set by the two top teams in the world rankings, South Africa and Ireland.

“I sort of look at the selection, when you start looking at the team and who is probably going to play – I got a number of these players wrong out of this squad – clearly they’ve got a skill set they’re looking for,” he said on Sky Sport NZ.

“That comes back to the style that we play with our props, and what we ask our props to do. If you look across the world and the top teams – Ireland and South Africa are clearly in that conversation – their mobility, their versatility… their set-piece is still immaculate but their ability to be ball players, you get the sense that that’s what this All Blacks group are looking for.

“That’s their expectation and when you pick six, you’re giving six guys an opportunity to step up and say, ‘you know what, this is what we need to see out of you going forward. Other teams have set a standard, let’s see what they can bring.”

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It is an interesting comment, given that Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe were the starters for the Boks at the Rugby World Cup – both players who very much put scrummaging at the forefront of their games.

While Kitshoff is mobile around the field and superb at the breakdown, he is not renowned for his handling and off-loading.

Even Ox Nche, who is very quick for a front-rower and can carry well in traffic, does not tend to create space by moving the point of contact via his ball skills.

Ireland’s prop skills

Ireland are certainly more in line with Wilson’s claim with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, who are key carriers for Andy Farrell’s men.

Furlong is the most skilful of those named but his talents in the loose have not really been seen as much over the past couple of years.

In fact, it was the tighthead’s scrummaging which was the most impressive aspect of his game in the Six Nations and at the end of Leinster’s season, despite his struggles in the United Rugby Championship semi-final against the Bulls – Furlong’s only set-piece faux pas.

Nevertheless, Wilson and his fellow ex-All Black Sir John Kirwan are looking forward to what Robertson is preparing for the upcoming campaign.

Kirwan also addressed South Africa but looked more at the backline make-up and particularly who lines up at 15.

Centre Jordie Barrett and fly-halves Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie have both played that role plenty of times in the past for the All Blacks, while Stephen Perofeta, who is nominally a 10 as well, is listed as an outside back.

“For me, I think against northern hemisphere and South Africa, a specialist full-back is fundamental and we need to make sure we’re nailing that high ball,” Kirwan said.

“But I keep thinking back to how we’re going to play and it excites me. I’m really pleased because we’ve been cutting wingers out. It’s always been, ‘ah, we’ll take three and Jordie can cover there’.”