4 November 2026
Springbok defence coach Jerry Flannery says a global shift toward high-scoring attacking game plans has put international defence coaches under massive pressure.
Speaking ahead of South Africa’s Nations Championship clash against Italy in Turin, Flannery highlighted how rapidly expanding attacking structures are altering the Test arena. The Irishman noted that point totals and try-concession numbers are rising significantly across world rugby each year.
“It’s the way the game is going. I think if you went back to even the previous year, my first year with the Boks, we conceded fewer points,” Flannery explained. “I think for every single team in the world, they’ve all been conceding more points. So defence coaches are all under the pump, but we’re trying to fix that as we go along.”
The reality of this shifting landscape is reflected in the Springboks' 2026 campaign, where they have leaked 30 tries across nine Tests. Flannery admitted the squad was disappointed to concede five tries during their recent 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth.
Tight turnaround times between fixtures further compound the difficulty of tightening up these systems on tour. “We’ve had a limited amount of time, so it’s about really pitching up on the day,” the Irishman said.
Ahead of Saturday's match, Flannery cautioned that Italy remains highly dangerous despite injury setbacks. “We respect them massively. When they came to Pretoria, the year before last, they were missing some key players as well,” he noted.
The coach highlighted Italy's formidable set-piece as a core strength that South Africa must neutralise. “Their scrum is probably up there with one of the best in the Six Nations. That gives them a big advantage going into the game,” Flannery said.
The Azzurri also possess dynamic broken-play threats capable of punishing any defensive lapse. “And they still have guys like Ange Capuozzo who can break a game open if you give them half a chance,” Flannery added.
Italy will be without influential midfielder Tommaso Menoncello for the Turin Test. “If they’re missing Menoncello, he’s one of the best centres in the world and incredibly powerful. But they’ve shown that they’re building depth in their squad,” Flannery said.
South Africa's primary focus will be delivering a cohesive defensive response to counter the Italian system as a whole. “We’re looking at defending them as a team rather than just defending the individuals,” Flannery concluded.
