KEY TAKEAWAYS: France send out major warning as Boks slip up

Although there was some consolation for the Boks as they ended the year as the top-ranked side in world rugby, this season has presented plenty of lessons to take on board.

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FRANCE ON THE CHARGE

Just a few hours after the Boks slipped to defeat against England, France sent out a major reminder that they will be a serious force to be reckoned with when hosting the 2023 World Cup.

With world-class halfback pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack pulling the strings, France delivered a display of vibrant, fast-paced Test rugby to claim a stunning 40-25 win over the All Blacks.

It was a result that saw France edge up to fifth place in the world rugby rankings, and there is good reason to believe they will continue an upward progression between now and the highly-anticipated 2023 World Cup.

This is a quality team that is set to contend strongly for the 2022 Six Nations title, and with their innovative attack complemented by determined defence and real forward physicality, there is good reason to watch out for Les Bleus in the years to come.

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BOKS MUST DEVELOP KILLER INSTINCT

If there is any description that sums up the Boks this year, it would surely relate to their ‘slow poison’ approach that wears down the opposition through aggressive defence, suffocating forward play and relentless pressure.

It’s led to key victories over the British & Irish Lions, All Blacks and Wales in 2021, but there have also been painful losses suffered along the way, with several Tests this season decided at the death.

The Boks’ approach has come in for widespread criticism, but it plays to their strengths and undoubtedly puts them in a position to achieve winning results. However, far too often this year the Springboks have also lacked the necessary ‘killer instinct’ to make the most of their dominance and put the result out of reach.

In the final Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks, the Boks struck a beautiful balance between a ‘slow poison’ approach and some attacking innovation, and there needs to be more of that next year as the build-up intensifies ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

The Boks were solid this season, but they were far from brilliant, and they have to start making better use of the points-scoring opportunities they create and to ensure they don’t allow reeling opponents back into the game through ill-discipline, poor decision-making and lack of execution.

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BOKS’ SET-PIECE DEFENCE, GOAL-KICKING CONCERNS REMAIN

The Springboks were so reliant on an airtight defence during the 2019 World Cup, but there is no doubt that this reputation has taken a few hits in 2021.

There has been a mixture of individuals making uncharacteristic errors in slipping off tackles along with occasions where the renowned defensive system hasn’t operated like a well-oiled machine.

Particularly from certain set-piece platforms, there have been worrying occasions where the opposition have found ways to get in behind the Bok defence through certain innovations and set plays.

As the game evolves, it’s no surprise that teams will start to find new ways to break down a Bok defence that is no longer such a secret weapon, and it will be interesting to see what changes Jacques Nienaber might enforce ahead of next season.

If defence remains a key fundamental for the Boks to remedy, it’s also essential that they address some of the goal-kicking woes that have plagued them at different times this year.

Handre Pollard hasn’t always looked as assured from the kicking tee, while Elton Jantjies has also never been renowned for his goal-kicking consistency.

It’s essential that the Springboks have a reliable goal-kicker firing at over 80% success rate if they are to have the best chance of building a scoreboard buffer.

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