Springboks look to make amends

THE Springboks will arrive in Wellington on Monday with their backs against the wall and well aware that they have to produce something special if they are to get the better of the All Blacks in New Zealand on Saturday.

There’s no denying that coach Rassie Erasmus’ charges are desperate for a win after successive defeats to Argentina and Australia in the Rugby Championship.

Faf de Klerk maintained a brave face after the defeat to Australia on Saturday and insisted that the All Blacks, who have only lost one Test match at home since 2009, are beatable.

“They are definitely beatable but it is going to be tough, especially playing away from home,” the diminutive scrumhalf said.

“No matter who comes in for them, they are a great team and the next guy is good but we want to beat them and make the country proud.

‘‘Hopefully we can go out and do that. They have weak points and Australia exposed them in their recent two matches.”

In the defeat to Australia, the Boks recovered from 7-0 down inside the first three minutes to lead the match at half-time by a point.

De Klerk said they would use coming days to correct some of their mistakes and take the fight to New Zealand on Saturday.

“Definitely, we can turn things around because a week is a long time,” he said.

‘‘I think the guys played well and those who made mistakes know what they did wrong.”

De Klerk said they have to be physical and keep the ball going to avoid unnecessary knockons if they are to beat rugby’s best national side.

“We need to respect the ball a bit more and we need to keep it,” he said.

‘‘When we have turn-overs, we need take control and those are some of the elements that we must work on.

‘‘Once we slow down and there are knock-ons, that is not good.

‘‘If we can work on correcting our mistakes and become physical, we stand a chance),” he said while looking back to Saturday’s 23-18 defeat to the Wallabies.