All Blacks legend Sir Steve Hansen has expressed skepticism about the notion that the Springboks are an invincible team, despite their recent successes. South Africa secured their second consecutive Rugby World Cup title in 2023 and continued to perform strongly in 2024, claiming their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. The Springboks also won 11 of their 13 matches in 2024, with their only losses coming against Ireland and Argentina, both by a single point.
What made these achievements remarkable was South Africa’s ability to adapt while rotating heavily, utilizing 50 players during the Test season. Nevertheless, Hansen believes they are not as dominant as some portray them to be.
Hansen’s View on the Springboks
Hansen highlighted that South Africa is far from unbeatable, referencing their losses to Ireland and Argentina, and noting that New Zealand also had an opportunity to defeat them. He explained that their consistent victories create a growing perception of invincibility, which boosts their confidence and makes them a tougher opponent. However, he pointed out that the Springboks’ reliance on their physically imposing players could be a vulnerability if injuries occur, though they have managed to replace those players effectively so far.
Hansen also emphasized that the Springboks’ dominance forces other teams to improve. He likened their current influence to that of the All Blacks during their peak years from 2011 to 2019, when they compelled other teams to strengthen weaker aspects of their game to compete. He believes every team has strong and weak areas, and progress comes from addressing those weaknesses.
The All Blacks’ Mixed Season
Hansen also reflected on the All Blacks’ performance under their new head coach, Scott Robertson. The team endured a challenging season, including back-to-back losses to the Springboks during a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign, ending their dominance in the tournament since 2020.
Despite these setbacks, the All Blacks showed promise during their year-end tour by defeating England and Ireland on their home turf. However, they fell narrowly to France, showcasing a mix of progress and areas for improvement.
Hansen reiterated the importance of strategy in modern rugby, emphasizing the need for New Zealand to maintain their commitment to using the ball effectively. He stated that the fundamentals of the game remain the same, particularly the critical role of the forward pack. Success, he explained, depends on positions one to five securing dominance or parity up front, which sets the platform for the rest of the team to thrive.