The Springboks’ primary objective when facing Tonga is to secure victory by focusing on their own game plan, according to Scrum coach Daan Human. While bonus points and points difference improvements are secondary concerns, Human emphasizes that the team’s immediate goal is to secure a win.
Human underscores the importance of concentrating on the basics of scrumming and mauling to overcome Tonga. He stresses that dwelling on points difference or bonus points during intense gameplay is counterproductive.
“First, we need to prioritize securing the win,” Human stated in an interview with Rugby365. “You can’t enter a scrum or a line-out with thoughts about points difference. In our preparations for the Tongan match, we need to focus on rectifying our performance and ensuring that we position ourselves to score enough points to secure victory before considering other factors, such as points difference.”
Human also mentioned that there will be minimal verbal communication during scrum training sessions, with the emphasis placed on improving scrum performance through hard work and dedication.
“We will diligently work on improving our scrum performance,” Human affirmed. “We have invested a great deal of effort to enhance our skills. We will continue to progress, and I have confidence in our players. We won’t just talk about it; we’ll put in the necessary work to improve.”
Human credits the work ethic of the Springbok pack, highlighting their commitment to training and their ability to handle the physical demands of the game.
“They never complain; they never say ‘no’ when asked to do more because they understand that it works,” said Human. “It has been effective for us in the past, and I’m confident it will continue to be in the future. The way the guys train is truly impressive. They are well-suited to this type of preparation; it’s what we do.”
