Morne van den Berg believes the Springboks’ defensive system can restrict Cam Roigard’s influence when South Africa face New Zealand in the third Test at Soccer City on Saturday.
The All Blacks scrum-half has been one of the outstanding performers in the opening two matches of the series, contributing in almost every area of the game. However, Van den Berg expects Roigard to find life much harder if the Springboks can force New Zealand’s forwards backwards and slow the ball at the breakdown.
Roigard has carried 13 times for a combined 74 metres across the first two Tests and has beaten 11 defenders. His distribution has been particularly prominent, with the 23-year-old completing 123 passes.
He has also kicked 15 times from hand, created two tries and scored one himself. In defence, Roigard has completed 10 of his 14 tackle attempts and won a turnover in the opening Test at Ellis Park.
Those statistics underline the extent of his influence and explain why he has outperformed South Africa’s scrum-half options, Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, in the first two encounters.
Van den Berg, who will again provide cover from the bench this weekend, said the key to limiting Roigard was preventing him from receiving quick, attacking ball.
That responsibility will fall heavily on the Springboks’ forwards, who must reproduce the physical intensity that helped them win the contact battle in the opening matches.
“Cam is a very good player, but we just refer back to our system,” Van den Berg said. “If we are good enough and we get right what we want to get right, then he’s going to have a difficult day behind a slow ruck,” he added.
“As a scrumhalf, it’s really difficult if your pack is going back. For us it’s just putting more pressure on them as a team, rather than focusing on him as an individual,” he explained.
The Springboks have already experienced the attacking threat posed by the All Blacks, whom Van den Berg described as the most attacking team he has faced during his career.
New Zealand’s willingness to move the ball across the field caused South Africa problems at both Ellis Park and DHL Stadium. The All Blacks scored nine tries over those two Tests, highlighting the challenge facing the home side in Soweto.
Despite that, the 28-year-old remains confident that South Africa’s defensive structure can withstand New Zealand’s attacking width and reduce Roigard’s impact.
“It [the Bok defence] wasn’t perfect at times, but if you stay in the system, it protects you,” said Van den Berg, who will again play from the bench this weekend.
“Obviously we know what Cam is capable of, but it’s more about shutting the All Blacks down than shutting Cam Roigard down.”
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