Coetzee eyes ‘phase two’

“A window of opportunity” is how Springbok coach Allister Coetzee (above) views their daunting Rugby Championship away trip Down Under.

Having not beaten Australia since 2013 and the All Blacks since 2009 away from home, the challenge is massive, but Coetzee believes the class of 2017 view it as an opportunity.

“I believe this year we have created the kind of culture that we are rather looking at windows of opportunity and this is providing another one,” said Coetzee.

“This group has done well in the previous two matches against Argentina. But the next two away matches will pose completely different and difficult challenges.”

The confident Boks have scored 21 tries in five Tests this season, 12 in the three Tests against France and another nine in the last two Tests against Argentina.

But more importantly, they have just let in eight tries in these five Tests, four against France and four in the two Pumas Tests.

Coetzee has viewed this journey as “phase two” of the Championship, having just completed phase one which included backto-back wins against Argentina home and away.

The final and third phase will include the last two games at home against Australia on September 30 in Bloemfontein and against New Zealand at Newlands on October 7 – but by then the Championship could have been either won or lost.

Prop Coenie Oosthuizen was cleared to travel with the Springboks after a scan showed he did not fracture a rib against the Pumas last weekend.