Head of athletic performance Andy Edwards has provided insight into the raw intensity and unique culture that drives the world champion Springboks.
The Englishman, who joined the Bok setup in 2020 from Premiership club Saracens, faces his countrymen at Twickenham on Saturday – a repeat of last year’s World Cup semi-final, where South Africa edged England in Paris.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with the UK’s Daily Mail, Edwards highlighted the distinctive blend of physical attributes in the squad.
“There is a perception of South Africans as huge blokes with huge physicality who try to overpower opponents, and that is a big part of it,” he said.
“But there are also a bunch of guys who are under 80 kilos. Cheslin Kolbe is under 80, Faf de Klerk is under 80, Grant Williams too. Kurt-Lee Arendse is around the 80-kilo mark.”
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Edwards emphasised how the Boks’ intensity sets them apart: “What I’ve noticed with the Boks is that their intensity is through the roof and their willingness to be brutal with the physicality side of things.
“That is a real standout feature of how they play.”
The former Sarries conditioning expert added: “The thing I notice about this squad is their toughness. There is no fluff, no messing around. They will say, ‘Tell me what to do, don’t give me any fluff, don’t bulls*** around, just tell me straight what’s going to happen.’”
This mentality, Edwards revealed, stems from deeper connections. “Within the Springboks, there is always a lot of talk about what they’re doing it for. Some of the players have come through seriously tough backgrounds to get to where they are now. That turns into them wanting to do what is right for South Africa.”
Looking ahead to this week’s clash, Edwards believes the Boks are primed. “This is the end of our international season, so we should be nicely connected and, by England, we should be in full flow again.”
Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
