Nienaber hails Boks after ‘toughest week’
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber hailed his side after one of the “biggest tests” they had faced as a group, as they won their second consecutive test match against Argentina to start the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on a positive note.
Nienaber pointed to the fact that it was the sixth physical test on the trot for this group and they had come through it admirably, despite the challenges of keeping their level of play up to the same standards in a week that was very difficult off the field.
While Nienaber didn’t mention it, the physical toll on the side was apparent as they made early changes, and they failed to grab a bonus point against an extremely negative Argentinian side that survived on the mercy of a very lenient referee.
Still, the victory was a good one considering the challenges they had faced in recent weeks, and Nienaber was the first to acknowledge that.
“Our game management in the first three-quarters of the match was perfect, and while there were opportunities we created that we didn’t finish, one has to look at this in perspective. We are a team that has been playing six test matches in a row - if you take it from the SA A game, through the British and Irish Lions series and now two tough tests against Argentina,” Nienaber said.
“We played against a wellcoached, very desperate Argentina side and it is seldom that any side would play six tests of such quality on the trot, so it was well done for the guys looking for that bonus point, we would have loved it, but the bigger picture was more important.”
Nienaber said that while the results were important, the bigger picture for 2023 was just as important, so the fact that players such as Jayden Hendrikse, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Jasper Wiese and others all got another outing under the belt, was a plus point for the side.
“We gave several players more game time and made changes in positions so that we could get more experience into the squad. We have strategic goals and while it is good to defend the Rugby Championship and we want to win, the future of the squad in 2023, we needed to get some experience into the broader squad, and we believe we did it well.
“At the back end of it after six tests on the trot, it takes a toll on the squad.”
Nienaber hinted that the team had several challenges during the week’s build-up that could have derailed them in the game, and they also handled Argentina’s tactics particularly well.
“I’m unbelievably proud of this change room, and people outside the squad would not know it, but today was a massive test for us. Probably not in the sense of a World Cup final, or playing Rugby Champs in a place like Salta, but not far off the pressure, especially what we put on ourselves as a squad.
“It was unbelievable how the squad stood up when they were challenged during the week and they decided themselves what they wanted to deliver.”