Nelson Mail

No ‘ball on a platter’: coach

- RUGBY

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee is confident his side have laid to bed the ghosts of a 57-0 thrashing by New Zealand last month and are ready for another clash with the All Blacks at Newlands.

The humbling by the world champions was a record defeat for the Springboks, who drew 27-27 with Australia in Bloemfonte­in on Sunday (NZT) in their penultimat­e match in the Rugby Championsh­ip.

‘‘That 57 is out of the system already,’’ Coetzee said. ‘‘We’ve shown it by playing against a fantastic Wallabies side and being unlucky not to win.’’

‘‘To come back from that loss in Albany and then being in a position to win it [against Australia] in the end has certainly turned the tables around,’’ Coetzee added.

Any chance South Africa might have of a win over the All Blacks, who have beaten the Boks in 14 of their past 16 meetings, will be determined by decision making at key moments.

‘‘It’s important to start well and it is key how your key players manage the game. We have to be good at set pieces and win the mini battles on the field,’’ Coetzee said.

‘‘You can’t give the All Blacks the ball on a platter. They are a quality side.’’

Asked if there any lessons South Africa might take from the British and Irish Lions, who held the New Zealanders to a drawn series this year, Coetzee added: ‘‘The big difference with the Lions was how many more experience­d players they had. They had a composure that I don’t think you’ll see in our side yet.’’

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