Morné Steyn has scoffed at the widely held perception that Adi Jacobs is a defensive liability.

Jacobs has an opportunity to establish himself in the starting line-up in light of Jean de Villiers’s decision to join Munster, effectively ruling himself out of contention for selection.

However, while the 29-year-old’s prowess on attack is well known, it’s his defensive capabilities that continue to be questioned. Those concerns are now amplified with him starting in the defensively demanding position of inside centre.

The French coaching staff and players have made not-so-veiled suggestions that they plan to target Jacobs, who they seem to perceive as defensively vulnerable.

The British & Irish Lions’ midfield pair of Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll consciously attacked the diminutive (by international standards) Jacobs during the Test series in mid year, and while it would be unfair to say they profited greatly from that avenue of attack, Jacobs was hardly imposing at the tackle point, which allowed them to offload in contact and in so doing ensure continuity on attack.

France’s primary strike-runners, including the 105kg outside centre Yann David, will surely have implicit instructions to test Jacobs, but Springbok flyhalf Steyn has no concerns about his ability to front the challenge.

‘I don’t think Adi is vulnerable at all,’ Steyn told keo.co.za. ‘He knows what to expect, we all do, and that’s a physical onslaught from some big boys in their side. Adi is ready.’

Steyn did, however, temper those assertions by stressing that it would take a collective effort to blunt the attacking ambitions of Les Tricolores.

‘It’s important that we work as a unit in defence and help Adi out because we’re aware that they will look to target him,’ Steyn explained.

‘Our defensive pattern helps create opportunities for the double hit and if we can execute a couple of those on their big ball-carriers we’ll have the opportunity to turn over possession and counter-attack.

‘Adi has a senior player in Jaque Fourie on his outside and I’ll be doing my best to help him as well. It’s a team effort, we won’t allow them to isolate one of our players.’

Steyn said that after playing a full season with De Villiers on his outside, playing with Jacobs would require some adjusting. He also predicted that it would take ‘a couple of games’ for Jacobs to become accustomed to the demands of playing 12 at Test level.

‘He’s played most of his rugby at outside centre in recent years, so naturally he’ll have to adjust because the roles are very different. That doesn’t happen overnight, and like any player must be given the opportunity to settle in a new position, so must Adi.’

France’s attack is expected to centre primarily on forward play – manifested through the pursuit of set piece and breakdown domination – as well as tactical kicking. Steyn, however, noted that their penchant for the expansive in the back division should made them tricky to prepare for.

‘I don’t really know what to expect from them,’ he said. ‘They are equally capable of playing a direct, percentage-based style, which I think they will do, as they are throwing it wide. It’s a case of wait and see, but we’re prepared either way.

‘I suspect it’ll be a battle of the kickers, where they’ll look to pin us in our half and play from there,’ he continued. ‘They’ve got very good players to execute their kicking pattern, and if they do play a tactical game we’ll have to give support to our back three.’

By Ryan Vrede

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