Unleashed Boks now seek consistency
SA delighted as the Boks romped home 63-21 against Italy in Genoa on Saturday.
It was a nine-try romp in which the Boks initially used the slow poison of their forwards before running amok with unrestrained, almost uncharacteristic interplay in the second half.
“Jacques [Nienaber, the Bok coach] and Rassie [Erasmus, director of rugby] told us: ‘Get to the place that made you start playing rugby.’
“We want to score tries, run with the ball and offload,” captain Siya Kolisi said.
That is exactly what the Boks did, but first they earned the right to do so by gradually softening the Italians up front
In their last clash in Shizuoka during the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Springbok forwards pummelled the Azzurri into submission.
They then exacted a huge physical toll on the opposition that partly led to uncontested scrums.
Again the Boks got significant traction from the scrum and they bossed the collisions that eventually helped create gaps.
“As South Africans, we enjoy the physical part of the game,” Kolisi said.
“We want to bring that balance and bring it all together and I thought we did that well.
“We showed Italy the respect that they deserve.
“They’re a very different team from a few years ago,” said Kolisi, whose workmanlike was. We had to dig deep.” qualities helped set the tone for Kolisi said the team were the win. heading in the right direction,
“We knew we had to play to sentiments that were later the best of our ability, and it was echoed by teammates Kurt-lee clear by how tight the first half Arendse and Malcolm Marx.
Nienaber also confirmed the team were heading north, and not just in the geographical sense, this week.
“We certainly all want to see the team moving forward in this direction,” he said.
“We capitalised on the opportunities we created, but I don’t think it was a near-perfect performance. We can always get better.”
One of the elements of their general makeup that can be improved is the Springboks’ consistency.
Bok fans have delighted almost as much as they’ve despaired this year.
“One good game isn’t good enough,” Nienaber said.
“We need to get consistency. The challenge of course is, when things don’t always go your way, to dig yourself out of it and try to get consistency.”
Next Saturday’s clash against England will help provide answers to that question.
England delivered a stirring second-half comeback to draw 25-all against the All Blacks. They will test the Boks in every department.
The Green and Gold will tackle the Red Roses without their England- and France-based players.
One of them is Cheslin Kolbe who appeared to injure a hamstring in the act of scoring a gloriously individualistic try against Italy.
Wing partner Arendse also got on the score sheet with two tries as part of a standout performance.
“It was amazing to score and contribute to the team,” said Arendse, who added that the Boks had stuck to their plan for Italy.
“I’m proud of the guys. We said we needed energy after the two losses. We brought that energy and it paid off.”
About his own rapid rise, he said: “I can still learn. I will continue what I’m doing.” —