Former Springbok coach reckons Bok tactics still 'a bit boring'

Former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers claims that the South Africans make it "a bit boring" with how they tactically approach the game.

De Villiers believes the Springbok centre pairing does not offer much attacking variety but is happy with Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok as the squad's fly-halves.

The 65-year-old likened Damian de Allende to a flank in the midfield based on how the robust centre carries the ball the whole game and believes having the veteran outside Libbok would make it easy for other teams to nullify.

"It depends on how they want to play for seven games who plays [at 10], although with those centres though I don't think we can attack much," De Villers told The Rugby Pod.

"The two [10s] that we have there now, Manie and Damian, can take us a long way.

"What they do need is some exciting inside backs to get the best out of them.

"If Manie plays at 10, I don't think any team will have a problem to stop the Boks because the 12 next to him, won't be able to catch up with him.

"De Allende, the big No 6."

De Villiers clarified that he has nothing against De Allende but sees inside centre as one of the creative positions on the field, and by playing the 31-year-old at 12 the Springboks are making the game boring.

"I don't have anything against him personally. To me, your most creative players should be 9-10-12. That's what the game was made of. We are making it a bit boring," he said.

"And then, at times the people are watching the game and giving the accolades of man of the match to some of these guys, and to me they are killing the game.

"Because now they believe that what we do is right. There is so much room for us all to improve.

"If we are only going to get to a mindset to allow the players to think and to play."

The former coach believes the mindset in the game has changed, and too much respect is being offered with teams looking to avoid defeat rather than searching for a win.

"Nations are respecting other teams so much, we too are gaining much respect from all the other countries," De Villiers said.

"People will come out against us playing not to lose, instead of their old mindset of 'do everything to win'.

"And that might count in our favour. The fact that people are already thinking about how do we stop the kicking, how are going to do this, forget about those things.

"Ask how are they [South Africa] going to stop us [as opponents].

"It's only New Zealand at this stage you can say, this is the way they play. All the other guys, you don't know how they play rugby anymore."

De Villiers highlighted his concerns with the Springboks' depth as he believes the side does not have a quality second team.

"To me, I think they [South Africa] have a very good chance to go back to the World Cup and do what they do best.

"The only thing for them that I'm aware of, and fear, is that they don't have a second team."