As the Springboks prepare for a three-match tour of the Northern Hemisphere, James While caught up with one of the ‘Saffas abroad’, the massive frame of Harlequins lock Irné Herbst, who is relishing his countrymen’s efforts in the trip ahead.
Heritage and culture
Irné Herbst is a rare breed of player that attracts a premium in professional rugby. A massive tighthead lock of some 130kgs, the dark arts is Irné’s home, the engine room is his workplace and few locks have a more formidable physical presence in the Premiership than the 50-time Quin.
Mentioned in despatches as an outside bet for a cap last season, Herbst still hasn’t played a Test, despite his five U20 appearances for his country, but that doesn’t stop him feeling an integral part of the wider South African rugby culture.
“Look, there are five races and four main religions in South Africa,” Herbst said.
“But rugby is the race and the religion we all belong to – it’s a cornerstone of our national identity and it’s the glue that brings every part of the rainbow nation together and it makes me mightily proud to be an integral part of that.
“When you are one of the so-called ‘Saffas Abroad’, and playing professionally up here, then every time you take the pitch you are carrying that identity with you. It’s a pleasure to feel you have the weight of that heritage and that history on the shoulders of your shirt and it reminds you just of how important the sport is to our country and our traditions.
“It gives us a benchmark of excellence, an aura around South African people that there’s one thing we lead the world in – rugby.
“Rugby makes our people smile- what more could you possibly want? And, in short, it’s an honour to be a part of that culture.”
The journey
“I guess this started in 1995 – a real moment of unity for the nation that’s continued, with a few wobbles to the present day,” he added.
“But the current journey started maybe eight years ago with Rassie Erasmus as the leader. He’s able to connect the entire Saffa rugby community like brothers – inside or outside the squad – and that’s the reason why both the national team and the game itself is thriving in our country.
“We were always physical and big- that’s a given with the DNA of our nation. Rassie started by nailing- and I mean absolutely nailing- the basics of rugby.
“The scrums, the kicks, the set piece, the aerial battle and the breakdown. In 2019 and 2023 they were the cornerstones of our World Cup wins- basic but hard rugby, based upon a peerless commitment to executing the simple things flawlessly.”
Evolution
“Once all of those areas were perfect, then he saw the opportunity to build on what we had. Rugby is always changing technically and evolving from a law perspective. If you have a detailed understanding of delivering the basic skills, then, and only then, is it possible to build really innovative and exciting strategies on top.
“It’s like the Aussie cricket team in the 90s and 00s – nobody could or should have beaten them, so they then started evolving their game and setting their own internal targets of excellence and that’s now the themes that we’re hearing are taking place within the Springbok camp.
“Rassie is an amazing listener who has a happy and very laidback squad. Everyone is having fun and everyone is engaged. He demands excellence, but then he listens to how his players and coaches want to evolve their game and he gives them the framework, critique and encouragement to do it- an enabler and supporter in this instance.
“Take Deon Davids and his line-out innovations – the double pod moves we saw in the Rugby Championship – they require incredible accuracy and timing to execute. One slip up and the second pod becomes offside or detached and no longer a line out. So timing is absolutely key and that can only be done if your basic skill execution is perfect,” pinpointed the big Quins lock.
“We have more variety now, and the forwards have the intelligence to know how to create space for the backs in a number of ways. If the rolling maul is neutered – as happened against both Australia and Argentina – then we attack with waves off the back to commit players and create space for the third and fourth phases and so on.
“The evolution has created variety of tactics, but all are firmly based upon that bedrock of basic skill excellence I mentioned.”
Tour aspirations
“Extend that out to this tour and what success looks like. Rassie has picked a strong and experienced squad after blooding some newbies in the Rugby Championship. It’s a settled team coming up north with the purpose of winning all three Tests, but also, in my view, by winning them playing more expansively and more innovatively, as the Springbok style evolves into real maturity. It’s those internal targets of excellence I referred to and that’s what I see is driving this 2024 team.
“Scotland are playing well and will test us with their invention, with some great attacking threats from their backline, but you always feel that the Boks have enough power up front to revert to possession-based rugby if they choose to. A platform will be key there but I can only see it going one way, as per the Welsh game.
“England will be a tough assignment, made more difficult by the short six-day turnaround.”
