Jake suggests tweaks to 'rigid' Bok game plan: 'The way SA plays keeps other sides in the game'

Jake White has commented on the Springboks' "pretty rigid" structure and suggests they may need to tweak their game plan when they face France, who he rates as the "No 1 team in the world".

The Bulls mentor expressed his views via a column for the Rugby Pass website. He lauded the Springboks after their 2-1 series victory over Wales, but warned the real test will come on their end-of-year tour when they will face the likes of France, Ireland and England.

Ireland, fresh off a historic series win in New Zealand, currently lead the World Rugby rankings, but White feels second-placed France are the best team in the world.

"At the moment, I'd say France are the No 1 team in the world, even if they're not official No 1. They've won their last 10 Tests in a row, which is pretty impressive, and they have a massive pack which means they can play it both ways; with natural flair and raw power.

"It makes you think Les Bleus have the tools to stop the Springboks' mauling and set-piece game which is predictable but effective," White wrote. 

White hinted that the Bok game plan was too predictable.

"Look at the Third Test. It was a picture of how the Boks play in a microcosm. Wales would be on the attack in the 22. When they lost a lineout it would be a scrum [to] South Africa.

"They would then invariably win a penalty, hoof the ball to the halfway line and then win a maul penalty, before kicking the ball into the 22 where they'd switch to attack-mode without doing too much. That's a 60m gain.

"Now, if a side can stop them doing that - and there are sides who can - I'm not sure if that will be enough if the Boks don't have other ways to win the game.

"Tied into that is talk about the Boks' creative game and whether they can do more. I'd say